What the Opera Colorado Staff Did Last Summer

August 12, 2022 | By Opera Colorado | 40th Anniversary Season, OC Stories

Colorado flags (blue-white-blue stripes with a red “C” with a yellow center) hand vertically above a street with tan buildings on both sides and cars lining the edges. — Source: 303 Magazine

By: Angelica DiIorio

When the curtain closed on our May 2022 production of Carmen, the Opera Colorado staff had a little downtime before fully kicking off our 40th Anniversary Season this fall. While we used this time to prepare for the exciting season ahead of us, we also made sure to make room for fun! Hear how our staff engaged with our Colorado community this summer.

SUPPORTED OUR FRIENDS AT THE COLORADO SYMPHONY

Our neighbor in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Colorado Symphony, put on several amazing shows this summer. Our Individual Giving & Special Events Manager, Leah, got to attend one of their performances featuring Boyz II Men at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater in Greenwood Village this July.

A stage illuminated with yellow light against a night sky in the middle with a large crowd of people in front. — Boyz II Men with the Colorado Symphony at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater.

SAID HUZZAH AT THE COLORADO RENISSANCE FESTIVAL

The Colorado Renaissance Festival is full of artisan vendors, fun costumes, hilarious theatrics, and traveling singing groups. In other words, it is perfect for anyone who loves the arts! Our Human Resources Manager, Sandy, went out to Larkspur with her son to watch jousts and support local artists at the same time!

VOLUNTEERED AT THE CHEERY CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL

A woman in a red shirt stands on the right side of the image. A red sculpture shared like a cherry with the word “art” in the center is in the background. — Marketing Manager, Advertising & Publications Angelica at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival

As for me, I spent a weekend of the summer at the Creators’ Station at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver. I helped kids draw, paint, and collage a few different art projects with the help of CherryArts. The festival helps showcase local artists, and I might have met a future artist at my station!

STAYED ACTIVE

Coloradans tend to be very active people. Our staff kept busy exploring the great outdoors and testing the limits of their strength on adventures this summer. Our Director of Marketing and Communications, Jennifer, climbed the dunes at the Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado, while our Director of Development, Erin, practiced her tennis game.

A woman in a white shirt and tan pants stands in the sand with a mountain range in the background. — Director of Marketing and Communications Jennifer at the Grand Sand Dunes National Park.

A woman with a black shirt stands on a tennis court holding a racket with her left arm across her body. — Director of Development Erin practicing tennis.

ATTENDED THE OPERA, OF COURSE

Three women stand in front of a tan building in front of a large sign reading Die Fledermaus credits. — Patron Services Manager Vee and Marketing Manager, Digital & Content Suzanne attend a performance at Central City Opera featuring former Opera Colorado Artist in Residence Kira Dills-DeSurra.

Our neighbors at Central City Opera put on a summer festival where some of the featured artists include performs who are dear to our hearts: Troy Cook, who was with us this winter as Mark Torrance for The Shining; Kira Dills-DeSurra, a former Artist in Residence; and Francesca Mehrotra, an incoming 2022-23 Artist in Residence. Some members of our Marketing Team, our Patron Services Manager, Vee, and our Marketing Manager, Digital & Content, Suzanne, went to support these artists in Die Fledermaus.

CHEERED FOR THE COLORADO ROCKIES

Many members of the team went to a baseball game together to watch our Colorado Rockies beat the Pittsburg Pirates thirteen to two! Whatever the season, whatever the sport, we are happy to cheer on our Colorado teams!

Two rows of people sit in a populated stadium. — The Opera Colorado staff at a Colorado Rockies baseball game at Coors Field.

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We all had a great time exploring our wonderful state this summer! Look out for our Education Team which travels around the state all year, delivering programs to schools and community centers. We love being an opera house, but we especially love being one in Colorado!