City: Springfield, MO

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (417) 863-1960

Address: 411 North Sherman

Description: The stage of the Hammons Center is home to most of the productions of the Springfield Regional Opera. The opera began in 1979 and was the impetus of its first director, Dawin Emanuel. It has done much to further opera in the Ozarks and has performed much of the traditional operatic literature in some not-so-traditional performing spaces, including Fantastic Caverns (see the Day Trips chapter). Past productions have included Madame Butterfly, The Elixir of Love, Carmen, and The Girl of the Golden West and operettas H.M.S. Pinafore, and The Merry Widow. The latest production of Rigoletto featured internationally known tenor, Michael Spyres, a local boy from nearby Mansfield who has become a shining star in the opera world.Currently the SRO mounts two productions a year, with a fall and spring operatic offering. Casts are drawn from the extended area. The operatic chorus is volunteer but auditioned. Members come from communities as far flung as Gainesville, Marshfield, Branson, and Ozark, and local church and college choirs actively participate. Principal roles are auditioned from the general community, with some roles performed by imported stars.