Bi-Weekly Newsletter

July 4,2023

Farewell to long time Executive Director, Angela Baltezore

As the month of July begins, we say farewell to Angela Baltezore and thank her for her years of service to the Woodland Opera House, not only as Executive Director from 2014-2023 but also in her role as Education Director from 2002-2014. She did many wonderful things while with us and we are grateful! Some of you may have attended the retirement celebration we held for her last month, but if not, all of the photos in the above collage were taken that evening. Please enjoy!

Emily Jo & Barrett Shepherd performing; Angela/Box Office team, Cathy Oliver & Irma Weldon; Angela/Guild Board representatives, Kelly Coleman, Pat Aukes, and Erik Daniells; Andrea St. Clair and Education Program students performing;

Angela’s whole family in front of the marquee; An American in Paris dancers, Anna Walton, Erik Catalan, Naomi Catalan, Lela Rosendale; Crissi Cairns, Spenser Micetich, Katie Carlson-Cartwright performing; Cast and crew singing the program's closing number; Angela with JP Cahn, her Junior High Drama teacher; Darryl Strohl-De Herrera performing with Lori Jarvey accompanying; Angela/Board of Trustees representatives, Steve Cairns and Lou Anderson. 

A message from new Executive Director, Tom Burmester

Dear Friends,

I wanted to take a moment to express how grateful and humbled I am to be the new Executive Director of this historic institution. It's no secret that theatres across the nation are facing tough times, with major venues shutting down or suspending programming in the wake of the pandemic. However, despite these challenges, our community continues to show up and support the Woodland Opera House. That kind of dedication is truly inspiring, and I am excited to work together with you to keep the magic of theatre alive and thriving for years to come.

Moving forward, I am committed to preserving and building upon the Opera House's legacy by programming works that uplift and inspire our audiences. Theatre is a powerful art form that has the potential to create meaningful change in our world, and I look forward to exploring new ways to engage with our community and make a positive impact.

You probably know that our education program is truly amazing, and I am eager to expand its offerings by providing even more opportunities for theatre training, masterclasses and professional performance workshops. By nurturing the talents of our young artists and providing a platform for performers of all ages and experience to hone their craft, we can ensure that the WOH remains a vibrant cultural institution that brings joy and inspiration to our community.

I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome that you have extended to me, and with the same spirit, I call upon all of us to come together in a shared mission to welcome new audiences into the Woodland Opera House family. By exploring new programming avenues and engaging with diverse communities, we can broaden our reach and inspire a new generation of theatre-goers.

Sincerely,

Tom Burmester

How do we Celebrate the 4th of July?

With The SpongeBob Musical, of Course!

Tickets for the show go on sale – be sure to get yours early as this will be a popular one! Loaded with a wild and wacky cast of characters, hilarious undersea antics, and something that may surprise you…a plethora of original songs written by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, John Legend, David Bowie, just to name a few. If you’re not familiar with SpongeBob, no worries! We know you’ll love the music alone. Find tickets for sale at the button below, or visit/phone the Box Office tomorrow. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Another Festive 4th Announcement:We’re kicking off our Sponge-Tastic Photo Frenzy Contest today with a “bang!” We want to see what you think about SpongeBob. Show your love of the zany (and charming) underwater phenomenon…and WIN! Join us by posting a picture of yourself celebrating SpongeBob.

Get creative! Post on Facebook and/or Instagram and tag Woodland Opera House. Include the hashtag #WOHSBCONTEST. Deadline is Tuesday, July 25. Your submission will put your name in a raffle for an awesome SpongeBob Party Pack, and 2 tickets to opening night of the show (plus after show reception) on August 11th. 

The SpongeBob Musical

More Ways to Celebrate During the Month!

Yolo Community Band

Saturday, July 8 at 4:00 p.m.

“Feel The Beat: Disney, Dances, and Delights.” Young and old alike will enjoy this musical treat. Yolo Community Band is a full concert band (from piccolos to tubas!) made up of volunteer amateur and professional musicians from throughout Yolo County, under the musical direction of Michael Loya, band director at Woodland High School. For tickets contact the Box Office at (530) 666-9617 or reserve online Here. Adults $10, children 17 & under $5, balcony seating $5.

The Woodland Chamber Singers

Saturday, July 15 at 2:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m., Sunday, July 16 at 2:00 p.m.

“Choose Something Like A Star" will be a great way to spend an afternoon or evening relaxing to the beautiful music provided by these talented vocalists, all from within our very own community!

Tickets are always available at the door, or from chorus members. If you would like to purchase tickets with your credit card or bank account, please use the secure PayPal link Here. When purchasing online, please specify a name in the text box for entry to the concert. Tickets valid for any performance. Pricing: $20 for adults, $10 for children 10 and under.

Upcoming Auditions

The Addams Family

Do you have a creepy and kooky side? Well then, we want you! Let your macabre personality shine through on our stage as a cast member of the upcoming production of The Addams Family! Auditions will be held next month for this quirky and very entertaining show.

Sunday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. and Monday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. - Held at the Theatre And Dance Annex, 520 Court Street, Woodland.

Open to actors ages 10 and up. No appointment is necessary. All roles are available. We promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in our casting. Rehearsals to begin most likely the first week of August. Show run Dates: October 6-29, 2023, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Find full details including the show synopsis, list of roles, and how to prepare for your audition on our website by using the button below. We hope to see you there, snap-snap!

Auditions

Classes for Youth and Adults

Enrollment for Summer and Fall Classes Now Open

TADA is located at 520 Court Street, Woodland.

Hours are Monday - Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Phone: (530) 650-8203.

Find All Class Information and Register Online HERE

TADA News

Show Biz Kidz

Now in Progress!

Our annual musical theatre summer camp, Show Biz Kidz, is well underway and the students, ages 5 - 17 (and teachers) are having a blast! Here to have fun and learn the mechanics and techniques for musical theatre, the workshop will culminate in a musical review July 21-23!

This year’s theme is “Broadway, Here I Come!” Now in its 26th year at the WOH the tradition continues and we couldn’t be more excited to be creating a new show to highlight these very talented young actors, singers, and dancers!

Tickets for the show go on sale to the public via our website next Monday, July 10.

July Happenings - Don't Miss Out!

Fall Musical Theatre Workshop Registration began July 3rd! We have 6 workshop classes open for ages 3-4 up to the 12th grade! These usually sell out quickly, so be sure to grab your child’s spot! This year’s theme is “Mischief & Mistletoe” – a delightful holiday musical revue that will culminate in performances on December 2nd and 3rd. All workshops $160. Please visit our website for more information about how to register. Workshops start the week of September 26th.

Flow – Dance for Stretch & Strength – New Start Date!! We sent out a small survey to students and we listened! We have opted to move Flow to Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m.

This 90-minute class will cover stretch and strength training for dancers wishing to stay strong this summer. Open to ages 13+. Please visit our website Here for more information about how to register. Class starts July 8th.

Update from the Guild Board

We are so excited for the upcoming 2023-2024 season of shows and special events, as well as some new activities for the Guild and its members. If you haven't already, now is a great time to renew your annual membership or become a member. You may visit our web page Here, for more information about the Guild and the benefits of membership. Then click on the “REGISTER & PAY DUES” link in the middle of the page to sign up. We look forward to welcoming you as a member of the Guild!

An election was held in June, and we are happy to present the new Board: Kelly Coleman, President; Erik Daniells, Vice President; Christopher Olvera, Treasurer; and Sharon Day as Secretary. Sharon (pictured) is a relatively new Guild member/volunteer. We are thrilled that she is joining us! One of the changes implemented this season is that meetings will be held the 2nd Monday of each month. These are open to all members.