Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City is an organization whose purpose is to promote and enrich the cultural life of the metropolitan area by producing fully staged operas and operettas using accomplished volunteer singers under professional direction. Many of these singers are students or they have careers and this company allows them to develop their talents while handling other obligations
Founded by Barbara Dahlor and Edythe McNown, under the name Meistersingers Civic Opera, the group presented its first production, The Gift of the Magi, in December of 1984 on a small church stage. In 1994, the company, along with Kaw Valley Arts and Humanities, Inc. the Kansas City Museum and KCPT Public Television, received the Jack Henry Pyramid of the Arts Award, honoring Edythe McNown as outstanding volunteer. Mrs. McNown, now retired from the board of directors, was recently honored by the board for her years of devoted service.
In 1990, Martha Longmire, professor emeritus and former chair of the voice division at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music, was named General Director. Under her leadership a new course was set. The name of the organization was changed from Meistersingers Civic Opera to Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City to better reflect its mission. She was a prime mover in bringing about the 1995 Kansas City premiere of Conrad Susa’s Christmas mystery fable, The Wise Women, which delighted audiences of all ages for nine consecutive years through the Christmas season of 2003.
In 2000, Martha Longmire again pulled off a coup when she contracted with composer Mark Adamo to bring his opera Little Women to Kansas City. The opera, based on the classic Louisa May Alcott story, had been performed only once before at the Houston Studio Opera.
Andy Anderson is now Artistic Director of the company, following Martha Longmire’s retirement from the board in 2002.
Goals expand a Civic Opera Theater moves into the 21st century. 2004 saw Kansas City’s first ever puppet opera in the form of a collaboration between Civic Opera Theater and Paul Mesner Puppets to present Gilbert and Sullivan’s beloved Mikado. The following year brought another collaborative effort, this time teaming with the Kansas City Civic Orchestra to present a semi-staged version of Puccini’s Edgar.
The most recent production was the world premiere of John Mueter’s Everlasting Universe. In December, the perennial favorite Gift of the Magi will be presented. The final offering of the 2007-2008 season will be Ned Rorem’s Our Town, based on Thorton Wilder’s play of the same name. 