Saturday, October 1
DETROIT, Michigan, August 30, 2011… Michigan Opera Theatre’s annual Opera Ball will be held Saturday, October 1, 2011, at the Detroit Opera House. The annual fundraiser, entitled “Love, Fate & Fortune,” is a medieval gala in celebration of MOT’s first fall production, the company premiere of Carmina Burana.The elegant Opera Ball remains one of Michigan Opera Theatre’s largest fundraisers and in 2010 raised $400,000. Revenue from the event supports the company’s opera and dance productions, as well as educational and community outreach programs throughout the state and beyond.Joanne Danto chairs this year’s ball, with Marlene Boll, Juliette Okotie-Eboh, Patti Rhodes-Prowse and Shelley Tauber serving as co-chairs. Guests will enjoy cocktails beginning at 6 p.m., a seated dinner, desserts, and dancing on the Opera House stage to music from the Sun Messengers. To celebrate the company’s all-new production, the black-tie affair will be held amid sets for Carmina Burana.
Next Generation tickets will be available again, after last year’s ball brought in 200 new supporters between the ages of 21 and 40. The Next Generation event encourages a new audience to become supporters of opera and will be held on the box level beginning at 8 p.m. The party, chaired by Torya Blanchard, Ben Sharkey and Peter VanDyke, features heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts, fortune tellers, dancing, and entertainment by Sharkey.
Reservations for the ball are $500 per person; Next Generation tickets are $125. All tickets include valet parking. For tickets, visit www.MichiganOpera.org or contact Heather Hamilton at (313) 237-3425 or hhamilton@motopera.org. Sponsorships are also available.
