From TOLEDO OPERA
Toledo Opera will return to live performance with a staging of “Scalia/Ginsburg,” Derrick Wang’s critically-acclaimed 2015 opera about the relationship between the two Supreme Court justices on April 16, 17, and 18, 2021, in the Valentine Theatre.
“Scalia/Ginsburg” will be presented as part of a double bill with Gilbert and Sullivan one-act, “Trial By Jury.”
These April performances will replace the Opera’s previously planned early-2021 productions of Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow and chorus showcase The Grand Tour. Those productions have now been postponed.
According to director Suzanne Rorick, the schedule change was primarily driven by health and safety considerations: “Scalia/Ginsburg” and “Trial By Jury” can both be performed with a small cast and a chamber orchestra, while the postponed productions require a larger number of musicians, making social distancing difficult.
“In the age of social distancing, opportunities to safely participate in shared cultural experiences are more valuable than ever,” said Rorick. “Our reimagined season schedule allows us to continue to provide world-class opera performances, while prioritizing safety and observing current Ohio public health guidelines.”
All tickets purchased for the Opera’s previously scheduled performances of Scalia/Ginsburg and Trial By Jury — slated for April 2020, but postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic — will be honored at the 2021 performances.
The Opera is currently assessing the possibility of releasing more in-person tickets for sale while maintaining socially-distanced audience seating, and expects to announce more details soon.
“The health and safety of our performers, audiences, and staff is our top priority,” said Rorick. “We’ve been closely monitoring the Ohio Department of Health’s guidance, and as soon as we’re confident we can safely release more tickets, we’ll do so.” Currently, an Ohio Department of Health order caps attendance at indoor venues at 15 percent of fixed seated capacity or 300 people, whichever is lower.
Rorick is especially eager to release more tickets, as soon as it’s possible to do so safely, because of the opera’s timely subject matter.
“Scalia/Ginsburg tells the story of a friendship that transcends deep divisions,” said Rorick. “In our current cultural climate, that story is especially powerful, and we want to share it with as many people in our community as possible.”
