ARTS & CULTURE
Text and photos courtesy of Opera in the Ozarks
A Grand New Stage for Opera in the Ozarks
Celebrating 75 years with a new theater and a blockbuster 2025 Summer Season
This summer, one of Arkansas’ most cherished cultural traditions marks an extraordinary milestone. Opera in the Ozarks celebrates its 75th anniversary and unveils a dazzling new 300-seat theater atop its scenic mountainside home, Inspiration Point Center for the Arts, located on Highway 62 West overlooking Beaver Lake, just five miles west of Eureka Springs. The 2025 season promises to be the most exciting yet with a dynamic lineup of performances, a new state-of-the-art venue and a renewed commitment to nurturing the next generation of opera stars.
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Running June 27 through July 25, the 2025 Summer Season features 21 fully staged and costumed MainStage performances of three celebrated operas: Georges Bizet’s Carmen, a smoldering tale of passion, jealousy and fate set to unforgettable Spanish rhythms; Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, a witty and poignant musical journey through fractured fairy tales and the complexity of human desire; and Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow, a sparkling romantic operetta brimming with charm, intrigue and lavish Parisian elegance. All three works spotlight strong, independent female characters — a nod to the 50th anniversary of the United Nations’ 1975 designation as International Women’s Year.
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Opera in the Ozarks General Director Nancy Preis describes this season as “a transformative moment” for the organization. “For 75 years, Opera in the Ozarks has been a beacon for aspiring opera artists,” she said. “The opening of this new theater is a powerful step forward, providing artists with a stage that reflects the caliber of their talents and offering audiences an immersive operatic experience like never before.”
The new theater, designed by Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects and built by Crossland Construction with acoustic and theater design expertise from Jaffe Holden and Schuler Shook, was made possible by a $34 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation. Alongside the performance space, the new facilities also include expanded rehearsal and production areas, practice rooms and faculty housing, ensuring the program continues to attract and nurture the next generation of opera singers and musicians.
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This season’s MainStage productions will rotate throughout the month-long music festival, with performances most evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.
2025 MainStage Schedule:
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Carmen – June 27, July 2, 6, 11, 14, 19, 25
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Into the Woods – June 28, July 3, 7, 9, 13, 18, 23
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The Merry Widow – July 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 20, 24
Beyond the MainStage performances in Eureka Springs, the 2025 Summer Season will also feature more than a dozen performances of The Bremen Town Musicians by John Davies at locations throughout the Northwest Arkansas region, including area libraries and community centers. Featuring Opera in the Ozarks’ studio artists, these outreach performances are free of charge. In addition, the singers will visit area schools and senior communities with a program that celebrates the unamplified human voice.
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Other season highlights include the beloved Chamber Music Concert on July 21 at Inspiration Point, and two not-to-be-missed Broadway Cabaret events — one in Springdale on July 17 at The Medium with heavy hors d’oeuvres, and one in Eureka Springs on July 22 with a buffet dinner. Both feature company members performing musical theater favorites in a relaxed and festive setting.
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While the season officially launches June 27, the celebration began early with a sold-out gala May 31, marking the official grand opening of the new theater and featuring performances by more than a dozen renowned opera stars, including Latonia Moore, Leona Mitchell and Mark Delavan — all distinguished Opera in the Ozarks alumni.
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Whether you’re a longtime opera lover or a curious newcomer, this historic season offers the perfect opportunity to experience Opera in the Ozarks at its very best — in a stunning new home high on a mountaintop, where music soars and stars are born.
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Tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now and are moving quickly. Single tickets to MainStage opera performances range in price from $30 to $50 depending on seat selection, with special $10 pricing available for children and students under 18. Tickets for the Chamber Music Concert are $25. Tickets for the Springdale cabaret performance are $60. Tickets for the dinner-inclusive Eureka Springs cabaret performance are $80.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.opera.org, or by calling the box office at (479) 253-8595. The website also includes a complete list of performance dates and other details as they are announced.