Allied Arts

Here’s a group with big voices and a big mission. It’s time to hear all about Central Oklahoma’s professional opera company from its general director, Bradley Williams. Meet Cimarron Opera!

Give us the gist of your organization, Twitter-style (that means 140 characters or less).
Cimarron Opera is Central Oklahoma's professional opera company providing educational touring and community arts programming with a vision to grow into the grand opera company for the Oklahoma City metro. Our motto: "Opera for Everyone!  Experience the Joy!"

What does your organization bring to Central Oklahoma?
We bring the joy and grandeur of the most challenging and all-inclusive performing art - OPERA. We share opera with Oklahoma's children through annual school tours and our summer opera camp and with the general public through innovative programming.

List a few things that your organization is looking forward to in the coming year.
• Annual Scholastic Opera Tour - we are taking two operas into Oklahoma's schools: "The Owl, the Tree, and Me", and "Hansel and Gretel". (throughout the academic year)
• "Amahl and the Night Visitors" - a collaborative project with Norman North High School’s choral program.  High school students will play the shepherds with professional singers in the principal roles.  Members of the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra will be featured as well. (December 11 – Nancy O'Brian Performing Arts Center)
• "Divas Unleashed" - an operatic play by Todarte Productions in New York which combines the physical comedy styles of "The Carol Burnett Show" and Victor Borge with opera singing.  (January 23, 2010 - Sooner Theatre)
• 40th Annual Festival of Spirituals - this Norman traditional celebrates our cultural diversity and the uniquely American song genre of the spiritual.  Soloists and choirs come together for this event which will be held at company founder Thomas Carey's home church.  (March 28, 2010 - First Presbyterian Church, Norman)
• 15th Annual Summer Opera Camp - this popular summer adventure for youth produces a fully staged Gilbert and Sullivan operetta each year.  (June 7 - July 2, 2010)

How can people get involved with your organization?
Call Cimarron Opera at 364-8962, or email us at info@ccocopera.org.  We welcome anyone who wants to share their time, talent, treasure, or all three to help us bring an annual grand opera season to the OKC metro.

Name your favorite piece of art or art performance.
The aria "Nessun dorma" sung by Luciano Pavarotti.

Which artist would you most like to meet?
As an international opera singer for the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of performing with many of the world's most renown opera singers.  While I do not have an artist in mind that I would like to meet, I have many great artists in mind that I would like to present to the Oklahoma City arts-supporting public in a Cimarron Opera production.

For more information, visit www.ccocopera.org.

This is a repeat picture, but we just love Bradley’s Pavarotti ghost!

I hope you all know about the OKCityCard, not only because it benefits Allied Arts, but because it’s the best Central Oklahoma discount card out there.

Not familiar? Here the deal – If you donate $50 or more to Allied Arts, you can choose to receive an OKCityCard. The OKCityCard is an entertainment discount card that offers reduced rates at arts events, as well as at top retail and restaurant locations. Right now the card offers discounts at more than 140 hot spots. Check out more information here: www.okcitycard.com. 

Confession – I’m a girl that loves to make smart shopping decisions. While the CityCard was technically a donation, I’m obsessed with making my $50 back through the discounts. So, I started tallying every time I saved. And then I challenged my fellow blogger, Bailey, to do the same.

Hence the CityCard competition was born. We’ll keep you all posted on how much we’re saving and who’s saving more. We’re hoping it will inspire you to A. get your own CityCard (hint, hint) and B. put it to good use!

I got my CityCard in September and check out my savings so far – I’ve already surpassed $50!

Lindsay’s Savings (September 2009 – October 27, 2009)

• Iguana Mexican Grill (free queso): $5
• Java Dave’s (10% off): $.50
• BJ’s (free pizookie): $6
• State Fair (buy one-get-one free tickets): $14
• Flip’s (free Italian nachos): $9
• Krispy Kreme (buy one dozen, get one for $.99): $6
• Jiffy Lube ($15 off an oil change): $15
• Prairie Thunder (20% off): $2

TOTAL - $57.50 savings in less than 2 months

How do you save with your CityCard? Any hidden gems on the card that you want to share?

After taking a slight hiatus, Allied Arts is back blogging with a commitment to more frequent updates. You can count on us to give you the scoop on OKC’s cultural community, as well as keep you informed about the coolest upcoming arts events.

To keep you on your toes (ballet pun), we’ll be offering giveaways to our most loyal readers. We hope you’ll include us on your RSS feed – and take a quick work break to check us out often!
 
And just to introduce ourselves, your main bloggers will be Bailey Gordon and Lindsay McIntyre (although our entire team will contribute to posts at times).

Now on with the show…