Pacific Opera Project

#TBT It was four years ago tonight that the lights went out on Elixir of Love, but the show went on. What an experience! Here's how our Artistic Director recounts the story: At 7:00 I was sitting at Las Cazuelas having dinner before the show, somewhat surprised that despite the crippling rain in LA, everything seemed to be going pretty well leading up to another sold-out night of The Elixir of Love. A minute later I found out that the theater and the entire block was dark due... to a transformer blowing. There wasn't even time for panic. An hour later the show was starting with a generator blasting just outside the side door, two par cans lighting the entire stage, supertitles miraculously working, a packed house attentively sitting in the dark, and a cast and crew ready to make the show happen no matter what. And that's exactly what they did! No monitors to see the conductor, no blackouts or isolations to lead the audience's applause, no bells or whistles, just the constant hum of the generator. In all the years I've been doing opera I've never seen a cast and crew pull together so quickly and efficiently. (And I've been in a lot of weird situations and locations for opera.) I admit I had my doubts as to whether the show would go on, but I didn't see those doubts in a single person around me. It was kind of amazing. The generator was noisy and it ran out of gas just a few minutes in. Before I could even get outside to refill it, the audience was lighting the stage with their cell phones. We carried on from there without a hitch and even decided to tempt fate and turn off the generator for Kyle Patterson's Una furtiva lagrima, lighting him only with a few flashlights. It was magical. And the show ended without a blackout, but it didn't matter because the crowd was on its feet before the cast could even begin bows. See more

Act 1 in the books!

45 minutes to showtime!

Board member Rob Webb arriving in style for Boheme!

Today is #WorldOperaDay, and we'd like to take a moment to celebrate our amazing community that has supported POP's every zany idea over the past ten years and given us the opportunity to entertain you with the highest quality opera. Even though we can't perform in LA County for the forseeable future, we hope you will make the hour-ish long trek to Camarillo to allow us to perform for you live again in November and December! #meetopera OPERA America

Time for a dress rehearsal!

The props (along with masks, hand sanitizer, and gloves) are rolling in from Amazon. Set pieces are being built and tracked down on Craigslist. Costumes are being sewn. Things are starting to feel almost normal around here. It's so great to be back in the business of making opera! Get your tickets now. COVID fan tutte opens three weeks from tonight!!!! https://www.pacificoperaproject.com/covidprograms

So how long does it take to get to the venue in Camarillo? We will show you the drive coming from Burbank on a Sunday afternoon! Tickets to see LIVE OPERA are going fast at www.pacificoperaproject.com/covidprograms

What does it take to bring two Gluck US staged premieres to life? A lot of time and effort from our music director and arranger, Kyle Naig! He worked from this original manuscript (picture) to make this (picture) in over 45 hours of transcribing! Get your tickets for La Corona and Il Parnaso Confuso LIVE IN PERSON before they sell out at www.pacificoperaproject.com/covidprograms

Meet Eric McKeever (Eric McKeever Baritone), our latest #POPArtistinQuarantine: POP: What shows have you done at POP? EM: I was Germont in La Traviata in 2018. It was my debut and I loved the artists, the company and the production.... POP: Where are you during COVID? EM: During COVID, I am at my house on Long Island in New York. POP: Any new quarantine hobbies? EM: Writing, cooking, having time to work in my garden, playing Rummy 500, binging a LOT of TV and trying to avoid answering my cat's burning question: "Why are you always here?" POP: Want to share any new work you've done? EM: As far as new work is concerned, I've been busy with some wonderful projects. During the summer, I participated in a socially-distanced recording of Kamala Sankaram's opera "Looking at You." Currently I am working on a digital production of "La Cenerentola" with Opera on Tap NYC and recording the role of Ford from home for the Social Distance Opera's recording of "Falstaff." I've also been writing and my sitcom pilot/audio comedy "The Coach" recently placed as a Semi-Finalist in the Page Turner Screenplay Feature and TV Genre Competition and the pilot and second episode were heard in a live reading through the New York Library's Culture Pass Program.

#TBT to two years ago today when we were loading in to Thorne Hall at Occidental College for our big production of La Traviata. Hard to believe that was already two years ago! It's also hard to believe that two weeks from today (what????) we'll begin loading in our stage, sets, and lights for our Drive-In Season in Camarillo. And this thing is going to be BIG. Be there! Parking spots for opening night of COVID fan tutte are selling out fast. Don't miss out. 5:30 start time s...o you can drive up during the light and be home by 9:00. Details and tickets at: https://www.pacificoperaproject.com/covidprograms

Josh Shaw put 150 hours into making this adaptation of Cosi fan tutte (with suggestions "mostly ignored" by E Scott Levin) ! Get your tickets for the first in-person, live opera you've seen in a very long time - less than a month away! www.pacificoperaproject.com/covidprograms

Come for the wine, stay for the opera!! www.pacificoperaproject.com/donate

Josh Shaw heads to Camarillo to show you how our drive-in operas will be experienced, performed live with video screens, supertitles, and sound broadcasted through your car's FM radio! Tickets: www.pacificoperaproject.com/covidprograms

While we can't offer concessions at our drive-in operas, you are very welcome to bring in your own picnic or take out food to enjoy with your car-full of friends! Camarillo is full of great food and drink, including these local favorites. Cagami Ramen Lure Fish House Wood Ranch Waypoint Cafe Drive In Tickets: www.pacificoperaproject.com/covidprograms

Named for its founding family of ranchers, Camarillo is steeped in small-town charm. Ventura County is kind enough to allow live (outdoor) performances, so here's just a little bit about what we love about Camarillo, CA! Spanish Hills Clubl Old Town Camarillo Camarillo Ranch Foundation Institution Ale Co. Drive In Tickets: www.pacificoperaproject.com/covidprograms

Our November drive-in productions are at 5:30pm and last approximately two hours, to ensure maximum convenience for those traveling from LA. As you can see, it's just a short (for LA) drive to the beautiful town of Camarillo! Get your tickets now at www.pacificoperaproject.com/covidfantutte

#POPArtistinQuarantine Brian Cheney, Tenor in Tosca!

Finally, #POPArtistinQuarantine Brian Cheney, Tenor in our famed Star Trek production of Abduction from the Seraglio!