When one thinks of summertime in St. Louis, the opera might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Maybe it should, though. After all, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis defies the stuffy stereotypes and embraces what everyone loves about a good show.
“There’s some fear around the word ‘opera,’” says Anh Le, director of marketing and public relations at Opera Theatre of St. Louis, “so we’ve curated an inclusive, warm, and welcoming experience. It’s the most social arts experience you’ll find in St. Louis this summer.”
If you think you know opera, think again. Put OTSL at the top of your summer must-do list. This thoroughly modern experience may surprise you in myriad ways.
This opera isn’t snobby or boring. Opera Theatre of St. Louis is telling important stories that are unique, culturally relevant, and fun. This season, it’s celebrating the strength, beauty, and wisdom of Black women through Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, including a memorable spin with an all-new epilogue and prologue that imagines Joplin himself as part of the story. And Così fan tutte combines Mozart’s gorgeous music with a lighthearted story of unrealistic love that is playful, sexy, and full of slapstick humor.
No matter where your seats are, you’ll have a great view. The theater has a thrust stage, which means the stage extends into the auditorium, and the audience sits around three of the four sides. “During the performance, you can see how others are reacting, which makes it a vibrant social experience,” says Le. “It’s intimate, dramatic, and exciting. And the front few rows are very close to the stage. You’re right in the heart of the action.”
You can have dinner at the opera, and everything is on the menu. There’s no need to make 5 p.m. dinner reservations and then fight for parking to get to the show on time. The theater’s gardens open two hours before the show, so you can enjoy a pre-show picnic. You can purchase catered boxed dinners from OTSL in advance or bring your own food and drink.
“I’ve seen everything from five-course, home-cooked meals to Popeye’s chicken,” says Le. “People can bring anything they want and enjoy being outdoors with friends before the show.”
If you stick around afterward for a drink, then you could meet the cast. After the show, those same gardens are transformed into an open-air bar with tables and twinkling candlelight, where you can enjoy post-show drinks under the stars. The cast of that night’s performance comes out to meet with the audience for drinks and discussions. “This isn’t an experience with a VIP price tag,” says Le. “Everyone who attends our shows is invited into the fun.”
This opera is in English, and there are subtitles. Following a complex story in a foreign language can be a barrier for some theater goers when they’re first introduced to opera. Every Opera Theatre of St. Louis production is sung in English, however, putting the spotlight on the story and performances. “You don’t have to speak Italian, French, or German to enjoy opera,” says Le.
Yes, you can afford to go. Opera has a reputation as being for the elite, so you might think it comes with an elite ticket price. But tickets to OTSL productions start at $25. And OSTL recently started a new tradition of giving away 50 free seats to every performance. Called “Phyllis’ Seats,” named in honor of a generous supporter and friend of OSTL, these free seats are available to any member of the community on a first-come, first-served basis. Phyllis’ Seats are available online and by phone in weekly lotteries at 10:30 a.m. every Monday during the Festival Season.
2023 Festival Season:
- The Road to Freedom: May 12
- Treemonisha: May 20—June 24
- Tosca: May 27—June 25
- Così fan tutte: June 4—23
- Susannah: June 10—24
- Center Stage: June 20
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. To learn more, visit opera-stl.org
