December 2019
My dear friends,
As you settle into the coziness that comes with the holidays and anticipate the dawn of a new decade, I send my thanks for your longtime support of FBN Productions, Inc. Opera for Kids. And I want to share with you some changes in how we share opera.
You may notice one thing right way – this simple letter in place of our annual newsletter. Late this summer it became increasingly clear that touring is not a viable option for us right now. Our Spring 2019 tour was successful in every area save one – financially. We shared opera with over 11,000 children at festivals, libraries, museums, classrooms and senior living facilities in South and North Carolina. Everyone loved the music and our singers were wonderful. Yet so many schools were unable to pay our modest fee of $750 per performance, so we made deals or gave away the shows, much as we’ve done, in accordance with our mission, since our beginnings in 1996. Unfortunately, the cost of touring has proved too high- obvious costs such as gas, van rental, lodging, payments to musicians and collaborative artists, storage costs for sets, costumes, legal and professional fees have all risen. Different school districts demand different insurance coverages, effectively doubling our costs.
The board of directors has agreed that it is time for FBN to take a step back and take a careful look at the best way to share opera with children in this ever-changing world. Evolve- that’s what opera has been doing for the last 500 years, and now FBN Productions is evolving, too. We are very excited to announce plans are underway for a children’s opera festival in Columbia, SC for June 2021!! Instead of touring, our audiences will come to one location.
It will take the next 18 months to prepare for this festival – there are performing spaces to secure, new operas will need sets, costumes, props, nationwide auditions to find the great young singers, and sponsors to secure. We are hoping that Elijah’s Violin by Meira Warshauer will be among the new operas produced. And maybe The Three Little Pigs will make a return appearance. All of this will cost a great deal of money. (You knew that was coming!). So please, consider making a donation( on line or use the enclosed envelopto keep FBN thriving as we continue to plan this exciting 2021 Festival. I humbly ask you to continue your support. And thank you.
Be well,
