Hawaii Opera Theatre facts for kids

The Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT) is the main opera company in Hawaii. It started in 1960. This company performs three or more operas each year. Their opera season usually begins in October. It finishes in the early summer of the next year. Most shows happen at the Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu.

HOT also performs in other cool places. These include the historic Hawaii Theatre and even warehouses. Since 2004, HOT has also put on summer shows. These are often funny operas by Gilbert and Sullivan. Sometimes they are popular musicals. In 2016, they performed a concert of Verdi's Rigoletto. It starred Quinn Kelsey, a famous singer from Hawaii. Quinn Kelsey started singing in HOT's chorus. Now he performs on stages all over the world.

History of Hawaii Opera Theatre

The very first opera performed by this group was Puccini's Madama Butterfly. It was shown in 1961. This happened at McKinley High School in Honolulu. For the next 20 years, the company was part of the Honolulu Symphony. In 1980, it became its own independent company. This meant it could run itself.

The first independent season was in 1981. It included three operas: La Bohème, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Carmen. In 1987, Supertitles were added. These are words shown above the stage. They help the audience understand what the singers are saying. By 1989, all tickets for shows were sold out before opening night. By 1993, more than 2,000 people were members of HOT. Karen Tiller is currently the Interim General Director.

In 2002, HOT had a special "Bad Girl Season." It featured operas like La traviata, Salome, and Carmen. The sets and costumes for Salome were designed by artist Thomas Woodruff. In 2007, the production of Madama Butterfly was a team effort with Opera Omaha. The famous artist Jun Kaneko designed the sets and costumes for this show.

Summer Shows and Special Events

The Summer Season began in 2004 with The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan. Other summer shows included The Pirates of Penzance (2005) and The King and I (2006). The actor Richard Chamberlain starred in The King and I. Later summer shows were South Pacific (2007) and A Little Night Music (2008). The summer show for 2009 was canceled. This was due to money reasons. Since 2007, Charity Navigator has given HOT its highest rating. This means they manage their money very well.

In 2014, HOT put on a modern version of The Mikado. This was performed in Honolulu and on Maui. The show included anime, harajuku girls, and characters inspired by yakuza style.

In 2015, HOT started something new called "Opera in a Warehouse." This was part of their #ImHOT campaign. The goal was to bring opera to more people. They wanted to help a new generation enjoy opera. The company used an empty warehouse in Kaka'ako. They turned it into a performance space. They staged Siren Song by Jonathan Dove. This was a story about a young sailor who gets tricked online. The show got great reviews. It combined a modern story with cool video designs. These designs danced on the white warehouse walls. It was a unique experience.

In 2016, HOT added two special concerts. One was Rigoletto in Concert with Quinn Kelsey. The other was the Hawaii debut of Sol3 Mio. Sol3 Mio is a group of classically trained singers from New Zealand. They mix opera and pop music. They have excited audiences all over the world.

Educational Programs

HOT started a classroom education program in 1981. It grew to include more elementary and high school students by 1984. A program called "Opera Highlights" became part of the University of Hawaii's College of Continuing Education in 1983.

Today, HOT has several educational programs. The most well-known is "Opera For Everyone" (OFE). OFE lets students take part in all parts of an opera production. They can be part of the technical crew. They can perform on stage. Or they can simply watch an opera. The final dress rehearsal is open to students at a lower price. This usually happens on a Wednesday night. OFE participants can also help with other parts of the show. They can assist with building sets, making costumes, or doing makeup. This is a special chance for students. It helps those who might want to work in opera in the future. This program makes HOT very special.

HOT's Education Team helps over 25,000 children and adults each year. They do this through their creative programs. The OFE program puts on more than 75 performances. These happen at schools on many islands across Hawaii.

See also

• Beebe Freitas – Former Head of Music