Opera In The Rock

Hey, guys! Check out Taskesha Meshe Kizart Thomas being feartured on KATV 7. Get Your Tickets today for The Phenomenal Woman at The Hall on 9th tomorrow. For tickets, please visit https://operaintherock.ticketspice.com/the-phenomenal-woman

Opera in the Rock honors Women's History Month Opera in the Rock is honoring Women's History Month with a show this Saturday March 4th at The Hall called

Get your tickets today!

Get to know international superstar soprano Takesha Meshé Kizart-Thomas in this month's episode of Let's Talk Opera!
Hear from the passionate singer, producer, and arts leader about:

Opera and performance
Finding and operating in your purpose
Creating more narratives about women in opera
Tips for high performance leaders

Let's Talk Opera with Takesha Meshé Kizart-Thomas This month on Let's Talk Opera, learn more about international soprano superstar, Takesha Meshé Kizart-Thomas! Hear more about her path as an opera singer, m...

We are so excited that Nicky Parrish was featured in this month’s Inviting Arkansas! She has been a part of our community and has made such a difference. We are proud that she will be severing as Musical Director and a featured artist in our performances of Diva’s in the Rock this weekend. Get your tickets today!

The Real Nicky Parrish - Inviting Arkansas By Kim Meyer-Webb | Photography by Jamison Mosley It’s a moment that Nicky Parrish will cherish all the days of her life, when she was recognized at BET Apollo Live [ … ]

Get out those sequins, lace gloves, and high heels—it’s time for Diva’s in the Rock: A Whitney Houston Tribute! Immerse yourself in timeless tunes gracefully interpreted by unbelievably talented singers from across the city and state. Experience classic hits like “How Will I Know” and “Greatest Love Of All” live here in Little Rock this February 11th & 12th. Grab your tickets now online at https://littlerockhall.com/tickets/ or visit The Hall on 9th box office- 721 West 9th—we can’t wait to see you there!

Centering Justice & the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Opera in the Rock gives us the opportunity to reflect and take action - one performance at a time.

Centering Justice and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.   Centering the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. MLK Day means a lot to us at Opera in the Rock. It's more than just a holiday, it's an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved together and how

2022 is almost over! Don't miss your chance to support Opera in the Rock before The Ball drops!
#2022
https://conta.cc/3WAIHXj

Last Chance to Support in 2022!   Music has the amazing ability to bring us all together across identities, experiences, cultures, and locations. Opera has the ability to connect us through the power of music and storytelling. It ha

Your generosity makes opera happen! Donate now to support Opera in the Rock before 2022 ends.
#2022
https://conta.cc/3jMlp24

Make Opera Happen Today!   Music has the amazing ability to bring us all together across identities, experiences, cultures, and locations. Opera has the ability to connect us through the power of music and storytelling. It ha

Get Your Tickets for the 2022 + 23 Masked Ball!
Join Opera in the Rock for an evening on the red carpet with a cocktail reception, a wonderfully prepared culinary experience curated by a local chef, and world-renowned, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves.

Masked Ball Tickets Are Selling Fast. Get Yours Today! Opera in the Rock 2022 + 23 Masked Ball   Masked Ball Tickets Are Waiting For You! Bring your mask and your best smile for a night of elegance and excellence at the Opera in the Rock 2022 + 23 Masked

Celebrating Black Artistic Expression through Opera!

We are proud to announce our new 2022-2023 season as the only opera company in the United States devoting its entire season to black artistic expression through opera. Everything on the new season schedule will feature a Black composer, a Black cast or a Black featured act.

From Artistic Director Ella Marchment: "We decided to dedicate a season to Black artists because all of our senior management team are technically 'racial' outsiders. I am of mixed-race Asian, South American heritage, and my family is more predisposed to listen to reggae music than opera."

In September, we're starting the season with a red carpet Masked Gala for an evening with Denyse Graves, a critically acclaimed and wildly popular operatic superstar. Porgy & Bess takes center stage in November in a concert version of this beloved, most famous 20th-century American opera, featuring your Arkansas Symphony Orchestra!

For full season details, read more here: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/jun/01/opera-in-the-rock-to-focus-2022-23-season-on-black-performers-composers/

We were thrilled to host Marcia Sells, the first chief diversity officer for the Metropolitan Opera in its 138-year history, alongside Dr. Victoria Ramirez, executive director of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, for the third discussion in our Let's Talk Opera series.

They covered topics like building sustainable community-centered arts organizations, women and leadership in the arts, and the importance of diversity, inclusion and equality in the arts.

Sells emphasized the necessity of "making sure organizations and the people who manage them are thinking about the communities where they are sited; that conversations are not just surveys, but real, actual conversations" with people in the community. Ramirez also added that being community-centered is "caring as much about the community and the people who walk through your doors" as about what's being presented.

Read more for additional details:
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/jun/02/opera-company-offerings-feature-black-experience/?news-arkansas%20(news-arkansas)

West Side Story's original Conseulo, Reri Grist had an incredible 50+ years career as one of the first women of color to perform & star at some of the best opera houses in the world. She is one of the many reasons we celebrate

Harlem's Reri Grist, A Trailblazing Global Soprano Superstar Who Worked With Ossie, Oscar, Eartha, And Many More1932 - Reri Grist, born February 29, 1932, is an American coloratura soprano, one of the trailblazing Harlem vocalists to enjoy a major international career in opera. Become a Harlem insider - Continue Reading →

Celebrate with us by remembering and honoring some of the local women that have graced the stage of Opera in the Rock productions.

Tonight is the big event and we hope to see you there! Tickets are still available at: tickets.operaintherock.org

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Philander Smith College UCA Gospel Choir Westwind School For Performing Arts Nish Gold

Our Chief of Staff Jaimee Nicole Jensen-McDaniel, soprano and Theresa Timmons-Shamberger from Westwind School For Performing Arts were on The Vine this morning highlighting our March 1st event - Lift Every Voice! Check out the video below...

Opera in the Rock hosting special event called 'Lift Every Voice.' Theresa Timmons from Westwind School for Performing Arts and Jaimee Jenson McDaniel with Opera in the Rock join us for a preview.

Check out our interview with Nisheedah Golden (Nish Gold ) and get to know one of the many incredible local artists performing at our March 1st event, Lift Every Voice, being held at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

Read the interview here: https://oitr.org/meet-your-local-artists-nisheedah-golden-mezzo-soprano/
Get your tickets at https://oitr.org/tickets

Meet Your Local Artists: Nisheedah Golden, mezzo-soprano Tell us about your journey - how did you come to be an opera singer? My journey began as an undergrad at the University of Central Arkansas. As a sophomore, I was given my 1st two arias: "O mio Fernando" by Gaetano Donizetti and "When I am laid in earth" by Henry

Happy President's Day Opera fans! Presidents have been the topic of many operas, and the 42nd president, Arkansas's own Bill Clinton is no exception! Composed by AR native Bonnie Montgomery, Billy Blythe is a one act opera, which gives a brief look into Bill Clinton's childhood. Produced by Opera in the Rock's in 2016, the photo features Stephanie Smittle and Clay Sanders.

Philander Smith College Collegiate Choir is one the many artists/groups performing at our March 1st event. Check out the images for some fun facts and get your tickets today at: tickets.operaintherock.org

- to our 2018 production of Troubled Island by William Grant Still, in honor of Black History Month. This opera tells the story of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who led a revolt against the French. Dessalines became the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1805 constitution. Under his rule, Haiti became the first country to permanently abolish slavery. Unfortunately, as illustrated in the opera, his rule was short lived: he was assassinated in 1806 by opponents who resisted autocratic rule.

Happy Lunar New Year!
Welcome to the year of the Tiger! 🐅

Did you know that Chinese opera is one of the oldest dramatic art forms in the world? One prominent feature of Chinese opera is elaborate masks which can represent changing the moods and personalities of the characters

Learn more about Chinese Opera:
http://ow.ly/wv0C50HJCSO

Works by Little Rock native Florence B. Price are finding new audiences as Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra are featuring and recording Price’s symphonic repertoire.

Check out the Playbill Article Below:
http://ow.ly/y0xA50HGP8P

https://arktimes.com/rock-candy/2022/01/25/fred-owens-new-ceo-of-opera-in-the-rock-is-in-search-of-operas-untold-stories

Many thanks to the Arkansas Times for this piece, highlighting our CEO Fred Owens. Click to read more about the exciting future which lies ahead for our company!

"Owens doesn’t look like most of his peers in the opera management world, where leadership is predominantly white. An African American native of Pine Bluff, Owens got a degree in theater from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. 'I am passionate about all of the arts,' he said. 'I come from a theater background. My super passion is theater because that is where I started. I have always been interested in arts management. Anytime you can create positive change is interesting. I see this as an organization that has a lot of potential.'"

Fred Owens, new CEO of Opera in the Rock, is in search of opera's 'untold stories' Opera has long been the realm of the rich and the white. Fred Owens wants to change that in Arkansas.