So this is Christmas...

So this is Christmas...

What a year it has been, with the official opening in March and now 35 shows later the Oamaru Opera House is closing for the Christmas break. Everyone has worked extremely hard from the executive team, staff and volunteers to make it such a successful year. Enjoy your break you deserve it.

To all patrons, thank-you for supporting the Oamaru Opera House in 2009. We look forward to seeing you next year for a great line-up of shows, events and meetings.

The OoH is now closed and will be open from 10am 11th January 2010. If you would like to book ticketdirect tickets over this period you still can at http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz/ 0800 4 ticket or the Oamaru i-Site.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from:

Richard
Viv
Stu
Gregg
and our Wonderful Volunteers.

Remember the Fiat?

Love it or hate it, everyone remembers the plastic round window sporting the Oamaru Borough Council emblem on the Opera House pre-restoration.

When the Opera House was restored the decision was made to replace the plastic emblem with the original nine pane window design that we have now. However it was also recognised that although not very old the plastic window held social importance and should be retained.

The plastic window has been in storage and has now been mounted inside the atrium stairwell of the new south wing addition to the Opera House. Other old signage is to be installed in this area and didactic panels are being prepared to give information about the signs. As the window was mounted crocked in it original position we thought it appropriate and a little humorous to do the same in its new position.

If you have any information about the history of the window we would love to here from you.

Music Hall Selling Fast

Music Hall is selling fast but there are still tickets available.

A box office hit in 2006, The Star and Garter Players return to make the Opera House an old time Music Hall again. Audience sing-alongs, 30 authentic songs, plus a fruity melodrama, "The Devil Within". With a guest appearance by Dame Kate Harcourt, " My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen!" takes you back to the time when black-hearted villains (Boo!! Hiss!!) roamed the stage, threatening innocent maidens with a fate worse than death until, of course, they were finally foiled. (Bravo!! Hurrah!!). If merriment, music and a little bit of tearstained pathos is your idea of a jolly good show, then you should certainly book early for this jolly good show.

On Tuesday 1 December a very special production plays at the Opera House. Fresh from an acclaimed Sydney season, ‘mozart & ME’ is the life-story of Lorenzo Da Ponte, Mozart’s librettist.

This is a wonderful opportunity (opera-tunity?!) to see some real Opera in our Opera House. But this is more than just Opera and Lorenzo Da Ponte was much more than just a librettist!!! – he was a Jew who converted to Christianity, became a priest, was defrocked, played the violin in a Venetian brothel and who befriended Casanova! Da Ponte moved from country to country around Europe (often just in the nick of time..) and wrote the librettos for Mozart's Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro and Cosi Fan Tutte. This hilarious script will have you laughing aloud as well as enjoying the sumptuous music. Acclaimed Bass Damian Whiteley performs an amazing catalogue of Mozart/Da Ponte hits amongst many others (including Salieri, Martini, Martin y Soler, Paisiello). Nominated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as ‘Outstanding Newcomer’ Whiteley ,described by Australia’s Limelight Magazine as ‘Australia’s answer to Teddy Tahu Rhodes’, is rapidly carving out a stellar international career.Writer and director of ‘mozart and ME’, Melvyn Morrow has been acclaimed for his work with Australian Opera on updated lyrics for Gilbert and Sullivan performances at the Sydney Opera House, Mel also scripted the ABC simulcasts of the Sutherland-Horne-Bonynge Gala, A Masked Ball, and the ABC-Australian Opera Tribute to Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge. More recently he has achieved huge success as co-author of the Australian musical smash-hits ‘SHOUT!’ and ‘Dusty’ (to be staged in Dunedin in 2010).
We do hope you can join us for this exceptional performance. As one reviewer wrote of the Sydney production: ‘ …after seeing Damian Whiteley in Melvyn Morrow’s ‘mozart & ME’ we have deleted him from our list of successful singers and opened a GENIUS category!’

The Topp Twins, A Topp Night!

Well, they were a sell out and a show which everyone enjoyed. It was 100 years of the top twins and most likely their last New Zealand Tour. The show was fantastic and everyone enjoyed themselves. With a little bit of audience interaction the locals got in on the act. I wonder if Richard will ever be the same again? Shelly and Phil had the night off ushering and were in fine form playing Camp Mother and Camp Leaders games. It was a Topp night.

The Top Twins finished the night off with a signing. Have a look at the photos and video of Donna's dogs having a sing along with The Topp Twins.

Donna getting her skirt signed

Opera House Encore Staff

Don't forget to keep on looking to see what's coming up so you can book early. www.oamaruoperahouse.co.nz www.ticketdirect.co.nz

"Swan Lake" What a Show!!!

Swan Lake presented by The Imperial Russian Ballet.

All the seats were booked, and it was the first time we have had a full house in The Whitestone Contracting Auditorium since The OOH re-opened.


What a night! Everyone arrived nice and early to have a drink before the show. The theatre doors closed at 8 and the lights went out. The music started and the curtains opened. The night was filled with magic in air as the dancers tip-toed around the stage. It was a performance that left everyone speechless. It was the first time many people in Oamaru had seen a ballet in their life, I will guarantee it wont be their last.



So a friendly reminder... If you don't wont to be disappointed by missing out on a ticket, book early at The Oamaru Operahouse, www.oamaruoperahouse.co.nz, www.ticketdirect.co.nz or call us on

03 433 0770 or toll free 0800 4 Ticket.

So much is happening at The OOH

Yesterday row A, B and C went in in The Whitestone Contracting Auditorium. More seats but still not enough for Swan Lake and The Top Twins which are both sold out

.

On Friday...Presenting the Summer 2009 Fashion Show designed with the everyday woman, man and child in mind. This event showcases the latest offerings from labels such as Chalky Digits, Icebreaker, Marmot, Under Armour, Peak XV and Keen Footwear. The garments presented in the Summer 2009 Fashion Show are all top quality and only just fresh for the summer season, come and be some of the first to see the 'newest of the new'.

So another busy week for all of us at The OOH.