Hawaii Opera Theatre’s Annual Meeting to be held on July 30
Honolulu, Hawaii – Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT) will hold its Annual Meeting for Members on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at the Pacific Club, starting at 530p. Highlighting the meeting will be a presentation by HOT’s Artistic Director Henry Akina and Executive Director Simon Crookall, with reception to follow.
HOT experienced a successful year artistically, with three acclaimed productions on Oahu and made its return to Maui for the first time in eight years. Financially, the company saw significant growth in ticket sales by 31%, which resulted in an increase of income by 21%. The company also experienced a rise in support from the community, with contributed income growing to $1.1 million. Of note, HOT was able to reduce expenses by 11% from the previous fiscal year.
HOT’s Education & Outreach Team brought 77 performances of its Opera Express Program to students on four islands. This past year’s Opera Express showcased a condensed production of The Mikado and the cast was comprised entirely of Orvis Opera Studio Members. HOT Education & Outreach also held 4 Opera Residencies on the island of Oahu. The Residency program provides an opportunity for a school to transform into an opera production company, where students are the cast, creators, and producers of an opera for their community. This year also saw the creation of the Orvis Young Voices Studio, which provides Hawaii’s young singers (grades 7-12) the opportunity to explore and develop in solo voice performance.
This past March, HOT, the Islands’ only operatic company, announced the 2014-2015 Opera Season. Last season saw the presentation of a production from another company (Portland Opera’s Pagliacci & Carmina Burana) for the first time in nearly 40 years, the upcoming season will also feature two productions brought in from Finland’s renowned Savonlinna Opera Festival (Madam Butterfly) and the Glimmerglass Festival (The Flying Dutchman).
HOT also reverses a trend seen across the nation by expanding its repertoire to four full-scale productions. This includes the creation of a contemporary opera, Siren Song, which will be held in a new venue developed by Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu’s evolving Arts & Warehouse District of Kaka’ako.
Should a member of the press wish to attend the Annual Meeting, please RSVP with the HOT Administrative Office at (808) 596-7372 by July 25, 2014.
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Since 1961, Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT), formerly a division of the Honolulu Symphony Society and incorporated in 1980, has served to enhance the quality of life in Hawaii by presenting opera performances of the highest standards, while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Through four productions annually in the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall, HOT offers opera to almost 18,000 residents and visitors each season thereby increasing the public’s awareness and exposure to opera as a multi-media art form.
HOT’s educational programs for youth serve as both catalyst and active participant in the artistic education of Hawaii’s youth. Opera for Everyone provides a special performance of each opera for a large and enthusiastic audience of students. Resident Ensemble takes operas specially adapted operas, into elementary and middle schools with special tours to all neighbor islands. HOT’s Mini Residency program takes our education and production staff members into an elementary school to work with students and teachers to compose an opera production centered around curriculum components. Adult education is offered with Opera Highlights, a non-credit course at the University of Hawaii; Opera Previews, at the Honolulu Academy of Arts; pre-performance Lanai Lectures on the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall lanai; and other presentations at stores or shopping centers.
Led by Artistic Director, Henry Akina, and Executive Director Simon Crookall, HOT partners with the Hawaii Symphony. Auditions are held, generally in NY, to cast principal roles from mainland, European, Asian and local singers. The Opera Chorus is a local volunteer organization.