Speaking at a press conference Thursday in the lobby of Boise’s Egyptian Theatre, Opera Idaho’s board of trustees announced that, fuck it, they plan to go ahead and do another season. The board announced that, despite dwindling state-allocated arts funding and record low attendance rate, the semi-professional nonprofit company will continue to produce full-scale operatic productions in Boise and the surrounding area.

“What do you think, is this gonna work?” asked Artistic Director Janet Cull to reporters and visitors wandering off the street into the theatre’s lobby.
“Doesn’t matter, we’re doing it. Buckle the hell up."

Members of the board went on to begrudgingly detail plans for the season, emphasizing that it would “continue to serve Opera Idaho’s mission of facilitating a thriving Idaho arts community,” and hinted at some specifics.

“What the hell, we’re doing ‘La Traviata’ over Christmas,” said Musical Director Allen Kang to sparse applause. “Any other ideas? ‘The Ring Cycle’? I guess so. Who gives a shit?"

At press time, the company had been forced to cancel its fall production of “Porgy and Bess” as Samuel Harrison, the state’s sole African American baritone, was unavailable.

Article tools

• Print
• Email
• Tweet