About Light Opera Works
All LIGHT OPERA WORKS mainstage productions feature a full orchestra with the original orchestrations. |
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LIGHT OPERA WORKS is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater in Evanston, Illinois, founded in 1980. The mission is to produce musical theater from a variety of world traditions. In its 30 seasons, LIGHT OPERA WORKS has presented more than 100 productions on its 1,000-seat Mainstage and 250-seat Second Stage venues.
All productions are in English, with foreign works presented in carefully edited modern translations. Maximum scholarship is employed to preserve the original vocal and orchestral material, as well as the spirit of the original text whenever possible. All Mainstage productions feature a full orchestra with the original orchestrations.
Audiences know that at LIGHT OPERA WORKS they will experience musical theater, which is often unavailable on the stages of commercial theaters and opera houses, in beautiful, colorful modern productions with professional artists and full orchestra.
Representative repertoire includes:
European operettas
Works by Léhar, Kálmán, Offenbach, Gilbert and Sullivan, Johann Strauss, Jr. and Oscar Straus, including The Merry Widow, Countess Maritza, La Belle Hélène, The Mikado, Die Fledermaus and The Chocolate Soldier.
American operettas
By Romberg, Friml and Herbert, such as The Student Prince, Rose-Marie and Sweethearts.
Classic American musicals
From Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe and Cole Porter, including South Pacific, My Fair Lady and Kiss Me, Kate.
Contemporary works
Ragtime, A Little Night Music, Soup du Jour, No Way to Treat a Lady, C’est la vie and others.
Revues
Tintypes, Side by Side by Sondheim, Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill and others.
Rarely performed pieces
Including Knickerbocker Holiday, Utopia Limited, Carnival!, One Touch of Venus, Wonderful Town and Babes in Toyland.
Crossover works
Including Kismet, Candide, The Golden Apple and Lady in the Dark.
Visit Archives for complete repertory, photos and cast lists.
Notable productions
2005 Staged revival of Darling of the Day.
2004 American premiere of the English National Theatre’s version of Bernstein’s Candide.
2003 First English translation of Offenbach’s The Island of Tulipitan.
1998 First English translation of Kálmán’s The Duchess of Chicago.
1995 Full staged revival of the rarely performed The Golden Apple.
1993 Chicago premiere of Houston Grand Opera’s revised version of Herbert’s
Babes in Toyland, starring Ray Rayner.
1989 First production of Weill’s reconstructed Lady in the Dark.
Awards and recognition
• General Manager Bridget McDonough recipient of 2009 Public Service/Nonprofit Award from Evanston Chamber of Commerce.
• LIGHT OPERA WORKS artists continually recognized by critics for outstanding performances. Most recently, Megan Long (Petra in A Little Night Music) was named one of the Chicago Tribune’s “Hot New Faces of 2009.”
• Exchanges and collaborations with international companies and artists from Russia, Hungary and China.
• Repeatedly named to “10 Best” and “Best of the Year” lists by Chicago media.
• Recipient of 2002 Evanston Mayor’s Award for the Arts.
Community involvement
An active participant in the Chicago arts community, LIGHT OPERA WORKS is a member of the Arts Alliance Illinois, League of Chicago Theatres, Chicago Classical Music, North Shore Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, Evanston Chamber of Commerce and National Alliance for Musical Theatre.
LIGHT OPERA WORKS has collaborated on artistic and educational projects with the Union League Club, Boys and Girls Club, Chicago Theatre Company, Pegasus Players, Evanston District 65 schools, Theatre Building Chicago and other organizations.
The company also presents concerts and outreach programs at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, civic organizations, festivals and other community events.
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