Boston Lyric Opera, the Open House is back

Go behind the curtain at Boston Lyric Opera! Company offers FREE day of fun activities for families and fans at the Shubert Theatre:

WHAT: Boston Lyric Opera’s second annual Free Open House at the Shubert Theatre

WHEN: Saturday, NOVEMBER 6 from 11am to 5pm

WHERE: Citi Performing Arts CenterSM Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street, Boston

The morning after BLO kicks off its 2010-2011 Season with Puccini’s Tosca, the Company will welcome the community to the historic Shubert Theatre for performances, backstage tours and musical activities for

all ages.

Open House highlights include:

Backstage and dressing room tours: see where the diva and Maestro prepare for opening night! Experience a performer “warming up” backstage. Open orchestra pit and stage: see Tosca’s musical score and wave the conductor’s baton. Experience the Shubert stage and footlights from a star’s perspective. Performances by emerging Tosca artists. Costume dress-up station with wigs and make-up. Characters from Hansel and Gretel, representing BLO’s upcoming Opera for Young Audiences, February 27 – March 6. (For more information, go to http://www.blo.org/families.html.) Hansel and Gretel puppet-making craft station led by Brookline’s Puppet Showplace Theatre.

The day also features the final competition of BLO’s second annual Aria Contest for Teens, emceed by acclaimed arts and entertainment critic Joyce Kulhawik. The contest will take place at 3:30 p.m.

Finalist performers are:

Soloists: Tal Heller of Sharon; Jessica Price of Millis; and Anna Shneyderman of Brookline Ensemble: Ariel Galford, of Sharon, with Katie Doherty, Caroline Orsi, and Jessica Price, all of Millis. The judges’ panel will include Ashley Rizzo, Miss Boston 2010, whose platform is Music and Arts Funding in Early Childhood Education Programs. Ms. Rizzo is a mezzo-soprano currently pursuing her Master’s Degree at the New England Conservatory of Music. She is excited to serve as a judge, as this event helps fulfill her mission of bringing music to children in Boston.

Last year’s Open House, the first in the Company’s history, attracted nearly 900 guests. We expect even more this year! For more information, visit blo.org/open_house.html or call 617.542.4912 x242.

BLO’s Open House is just one event in the Company’s week-long celebration of National Opera Week (October 29 – November 7), organized by OPERA America.

Other highlights include the opening of Tosca on November 5 and a free final dress rehearsal for Boston-area high school students on November 3. For more information about Tosca and BLO’s events, please visit blo.org and follow BLO on Twitter at @bostlyricopera. For more information about National Opera Week events around the country, please visit operaamerica.org/now.

Follow the National Opera Week conversation on Twitter with #operaweek.

(Press release)