Arts & Culture

UK Opera Theatre Announces 2016-17 Season

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 2, 2016) With the curtain set to rise on the 2016 performances of "It's a Grand Night for Singing!" in only eight days, University of Kentucky Opera Theatre has announced the 2016-17 season. Tickets for next season are on sale now. Individual seats will be on sale the first day of classes of UK's fall semester, Aug. 24.

UK Opera Theatre will kick off the season with the Tony Award-winning musical "Ragtime." Based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, "Ragtime" is set in the volatile melting pot of early 20th century New York City. The musical weaves together three distinctly American tales — that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician — united by courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. "Ragtime" will take the stage Oct. 6-9, at the Singletary Center for the Arts.

The spring semester will see UK Opera Theatre bring Gioachino Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" to the Singletary Center stage. Considered one of the world's most popular comic operas, several of the work's most recognizable melodies have entered the general musical unconscious, most notably the introductory song of the swaggering Figaro, the title character. In "The Barber of Seville," Count Almaviva comes in disguise to the house of Doctor Bartolo and serenades Rosina, whom Bartolo keeps confined to the house. Figaro the barber, who knows all the town's secrets and scandals, explains to Almaviva that Rosina is Bartolo's ward, not his daughter, and that the doctor intends to marry her. Figaro, Almaviva and Rosina all plot to trick Bartolo and ruin his plans to marry her. "The Barber of Seville" will run Feb. 24-26, 2017.

UK Opera Theatre will close out its next season with its 25th production of the popular musical revue "It's a Grand Night for Singing!" The event, known for ushering in the summer arts season in Central Kentucky, features Broadway-inspired music as well as Top 40 hits to entertain guests of all ages. The 2017 production of "It's a Grand Night for Singing!" will be presented June 9-18, at Singletary Center.

Season packages for the 2016-2017 UK Opera Theatre season are on sale now for $115 for one ticket to each of the three productions. Season tickets can be purchased via the Singletary Center ticket office by phone at 859-257-4929, online at www.scfatickets.com, or in person at the venue (10 a.m-5 p.m. Monday through Friday). Fees will be added to the price upon completion of the transaction.

UK Opera Theatre is part of the UK School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts. The school has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, composition, and theory and music history.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu