APRIL 22-28, 2024 8 · SBJ.NET by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net I n a famous set of scenes from “Pretty Woman,” Julia Roberts and Richard Gere don formalwear and board a private jet to an opera house to take in the classic “La Traviata” from lush box seats. Ozarks Lyric Opera had something different in mind when it decided to stage “The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets,” written by rock musician and songwriter Tom Waits and Beat author William S. Burroughs, April 19 and 21. In a season that also included Beethoven’s sole opera, “Fidelio,” first produced in 1805, maybe there’s room for edgier 20th century fare. And if it’s mounted at The Gillioz Theatre – a venue built for vaudeville and frequented by fans of rock music and comedy shows – that’s just another indication of something different in store. Something different was exactly what OLO’s leadership had in mind. The company was established in 1979, and brothers Sean Spyres, business and operations director, and Michael Spyres, artistic director, have been at the helm since 2015. The two jumped at the chance to stage “The Black Rider.” It’s a show that has been produced in the United States only two other times. The opera, which grapples with the theme of addiction, serves up shades of the William Tell legend, with the main character, Wilhelm, having to prove his marksmanship in order to marry a huntsman’s daughter – with predictably tragic results. It’s a story that likely resonated with Burroughs, who in 1951 shot and killed his own common-law wife in an apparent failed attempt to hit a glass balanced on her head. Waits, who is 74, wrote the music and most lyrics for the show. A songwriter, he is not a hitmaker, but rather is known for his gravelly vocals laid over music inspired by blues, funk, industrial and rock. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. OLO’s production is the Midwest debut, and Sean Spyres said ticket sales were brisk, though at press time the show was not sold out. “This was a dream project,” he said. “Not that we’re going to be less invested in something else, but you’ve got to keep it fresh for yourself. We’re almost a decade into this.” Sean Spyres and Lindsey Wheatley, OLO’s director of marketing and development, are the opera’s only paid staff members; Michael Spyres, an international opera performer based in Europe, offers his services as an inkind donation. Under the Spyres’ leadership, OLO has performed such classic shows as “Marriage of Figaro,” “The Magic Flute,” “Pagliacci” and “Don Giovanni.” Alongside these staples, the brothers have also enjoyed providing shows audiences can’t find anywhere else. One example is last season’s “Sweet Louisa,” an original gothic opera composed by local businesswoman Katie Kring, owner of the bakery Pickwick and Cherry LLC. “The Black Rider” is another. “In this business model that we’re going for, we will still provide traditional opera reimagined in a certain way, not so much for our budget or even just the limitations that we have in this historic theater, but we’ve done what we wanted to,” Sean Spyres said. “When Michael and I are looking at what we might be capable of doing, that’s really big. It’s like, what do we want to do now?” OLO has an annual budget of $229,000, according to its 2023 tax filing. Spyres said a single fully staged opera can be expensive to mount, breaking down to $12,000-$15,000 for the orchestra, $12,000-$15,000 for creative and technical personnel, $8,000-$10,000 for additional casting and covers, and $3,000- $4,000 for venue and staging rehearsal space rental. Promotion is an additional expense. Today’s audiences have less patience for a three-hour opera, according to Spyres, who said tastes are changing. One of OLO’s popular offerings is “Opera Rocks,” a show that features operatic vocal talent performing rock standards. Spyres said it can be hard to know what audiences want – but finding what that is can be magical. Home, sweet home In May 2023, OLO became the first tenant provided by OZARKS LYRIC OPERA “We want to show people opera is for you – it’s for everyone.” —Adie Williams, Ozarks Lyric Opera Board of Directors Ozarks Lyric Opera hits new notes for changing audience K it F ee r p e i s n h g “Fidelio,” Beethoven’s only opera, kicked off the 2023-24 season.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy