'It's An Exciting Time': Tulsa Opera Celebrates 75 Years, Offers New Experiences For Audiences

The Tulsa Opera is gearing up for an exciting year with several big events coming up.

District 7 Tulsa City Councilor Lori Decter Wright was with us on the Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch to share more. Because when she's not working in local politics, she's the Tulsa Opera General Director.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Tulsa Opera.

TESS: You did recently take on the new role as General Director for the Tulsa Opera. Share with us a little more about the organization and how the new job is going.

LORI: So Tulsa Opera is celebrating 75 years. We are the 12th oldest opera company in the country, and the first professional organization in the state. And so in our 75th year, we're reinventing ourselves as, you know, as needed in the world of opera post-pandemic. We're in our still launch and recovery phase of just trying to meet audiences in a new way. So as of November 6, I'm the new CEO and general director. I had been on the board for four years. But certainly, I think I was recruited as a city councilor to you know, serve in that capacity. And slowly people were learning about my background as a professional singer and artist. And so I brought all of that kind of to the table for this new role. So we're in the middle of our 75th birthday season. And in 2024, we have so much going on from now through June. And it's an exciting time to be reinventing ourselves. We've had longtime supporters, but we're reaching out and meeting new audience members every day.

TESS: Talk about some of the upcoming performances, because you have one coming up in February, right?

LORI: We do! We actually just closed three sold out performances at the PAC with our youth opera, "Amahl and the Night Visitors." And we're right into rehearsals for "I love you, You're perfect, Now change." That is February 9 through 11th at the Lynn Riggs theatre. And then in March, Raise Your Voice Tour is going out to dozens of elementary schools and bringing Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, which is a fictional story about a historical character. And there's a book that goes with it. So the kids will get the book. Teachers will have curriculum. And then our wonderful singers will be engaging with them in March. During spring break, those will be free performances in our libraries. And then in April, we're doing Opera Fizz, which is a night of bubbly and arias and duets, and just those classic opera tunes that people love. We're doing that at Living Arts April 6. And then we round out our season on June 1 at the Church Studio, a new venue for the opera. But we're doing Opera Rocks the Country and there's a little 30 minute, Western opera called "The Face on the Barroom Floor" that will be embedded in our evening of drinks, tours of the Church Studio, seeing the collection. And then we round out that night with a honky tonk band and some two steppin'. So we're really just trying to bring people in, in a new way to experience opera.

TESS: I'm sure you miss performing. Is there any chance we'll see you on stage?

LORI: I think my schedule is full right now just getting, you know, everything in line for the opera. And lining out, we're getting ready to hopefully announce next season, the next couple of months. So right now my singing is mostly in church, sometimes around town doing a Star Spangled Banner or two. And maybe I'll be on the stage again. I've done a few things with Theatre Tulsa over the last few seasons. Last was Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music. So I tried to find places but right now I'm really focused on the business side and letting our beautiful singers and creative talent really shine for the community.