Opera In The Ozarks Proudly presents an afternoon movie and live appearance by its star: “Goodbye, Mr. Chips”- an opera reimagined for film, starring OIO alum (‘92, ‘93) Nathan Granner.
Based on the book “Goodbye Mr. Chips” by James Hilton, this film tells the story of a teacher at Brookfield, an all-boys English boarding school to which “Chips” dedicates most of his adult life. The film chronicles Chips’ story of love, loss and learning over his decades-long tenure at Brookfield. Directed by Brian Staufenbiel, the film stars tenor Nathan Granner as Mr. Chips, soprano Marnie Breckenridge as Kathie, baritone Lester Lynch as Merrivale,. and Kevin Short as Ralston and Rivers. The orchestra is conducted by Nicole Paiement. Members of The Young People’s Chorus of New York City represent the boarding school students.
Nathan will join us on Sunday afternoon, November 9, to talk about the making of the opera film, his career, and his time at OIO.
“Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” received its world premiere—as an opera reimagined for film—on Sunday, November 14, 2021. The public screening, presented by Festival Napa Valley in partnership with the Mill Valley Film Festival in San Rafael, CA. Since then, it has been screened by Opera Philadelphia, New York City Opera, and OPERA America. This past summer, the film was screened at Des Moines Metro Opera.
The composer of this opera, Gordon Getty, has written multiple works for the voice, including four operas and many chamber and orchestral works. At 91, he is still busy revising and composing.
Opera in the Ozarks invites you to celebrate the season with Gifts from the Heart, a new holiday-themed musical entertainment created especially for this year. This festive program combines opera, song, and storytelling in a heartwarming exploration of generosity, community, and the spirit of Christmas.
The first half of the program features Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena, a one-act opera for children and adults that tells the touching story of the Christmas flower — the poinsettia — and the power of giving.
In the second half, four Opera in the Ozarks alumni from 2025 bring to life a loosely scripted retelling of the Nativity, woven together with beloved seasonal music by Ralph Vaughan Williams and other holiday favorites.
Guests are also invited to visit the theater lobby, where local charitable organizations will share displays encouraging small “gifts from the heart” — donations that make a difference in the community.
Experience the magic of Handel’s Messiah with VOCE (Voices of the Ozarks) NWA, a newly formed ensemble of professional local singers, at Opera in the Ozarks. This authentic chamber performance features a double quartet of singers with orchestra, echoing the scale and intimacy of Handel’s original oratorio. The result is a rich, immersive musical journey that captures the true spirit of the season.
Be part of the tradition—lift your voice with VOCE NWA in the stirring Hallelujah Chorus during the second half!
Recommended age: 9+
Length: Just over 2 hours, plus intermission
Extras: Seasonal treats and Christmas-themed options available for purchase
Just because you’re attending an opera doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be comfortable! Opera in the Ozarks doesn’t have a dress code; so if you’d like to dress up or dress down, please feel free to do so. Because our opera season is in the summe, we recommend you dress comfortably and dress cool. The good news is that air-conditioning was installed for our 64th season.
Although Opera in the Ozarks performs many of its operas in their original languages, we also project English supertitles above our stage. While our artists are singing in French, German, or Italian, you’ll be able to follow the words and the actions in English.
Our performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with an Opera Talk at 7:00 p.m. If you would like to hear the Opera Talk we suggest you arrive 20-30 minutes before 7:00 to find a parking spot and look around. If you’re only coming for a performance, arriving 30-40 minutes before 7:30 p.m. should leave you enough time to find a parking spot and your seat.
Our Sunday matinee shows, in our own theater at Inspiration Point, begin at 3:00 pm. Opera Talk will begin at 1:30PM.
Being on time to a performance is a courtesy to other opera goers who are seated and listening attentively. Late-comers may not be seated until a break or an intermission.
The Opera Talk is your chance to hear a sneak preview of the opera you’ll be seeing that evening. Our General Director, Nancy Preis, generally leads our Opera Talks and you’ll also hear from 2 or 3 of our singers. The singers usually talk about the characters they play and musical devices you should listen for. Time allowing, they will answer any questions you have about the opera or their experiences at Opera in the Ozarks.
We do have a small concession stand where we sell water and soft drinks. We suggest making an evening out of attending one of our performances and enjoy one of the many fine restaurants in Eureka Springs, just 6 miles east of our theatre. Please see our area attractions page for some dining ideas.
As a general rule of thumb, there are a few key places where clapping is a good idea:
When the conductor comes out to start the overture.
After a particularly well-sung aria.
At the end of an act or the end of the opera when the singers are taking bows.
If you’re unsure of where to clap, following the crowd is always a good idea for your first experience at an opera.
Also, feel free to shout “Bravo!” if you’ve heard or seen something you really enjoyed. Although, the word you shout changes depending on the situation. Here is a quick “Bravo” guide:
Say Bravo (Brah-voh) for a male performer’s exceptional performance.
Say Brava (Brah-vah) for a female performer’s exceptional performance.
Say Bravi (Brah-vee) for a group’s exceptional performance.
Here is our 2021 production of The Magic Flute. Due to Covid, our 2021 Family Opera could not go in to the community, so we decided to perform it live on our MainStage, and video for our audiences that could not get to our theater. This is a re-working of the classic opera, that has been themed around ecology and the preservation of our planet. Below is the full production video, photo gallery with concept art, as well as behind the scenes videos from our Costume Designer Kim Welborn and Director Robert Swedberg.
USITT- The Association for Performing Arts and Entertainment Professionals asked Kim Welborn to come on their podcast “TECHnically Speaking” to share her experience creating the costumes for “The Magic Flute”.
We have selected one performance of each cast of three of our 2024 operas that you can purchase in our store: either streaming or DVD. Each show has been recorded with multiple microphones for clear, balanced audio, English translation subtitles and in HD.
