REAL Exclusive Magazine

Sarasota Opera Partners With Sarasota Chalk Festival.

As part of their fall 2011 production of Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, the Sarasota Opera will partner with the Sarasota Chalk Festival for a unique and special collaboration on November 6, 2011. The Sarasota Chalk Festival and Sarasota Opera will present scenes from Madama Butterfly on an outdoor stage with sets created in chalk by Baltimore designer and artist Michael Kirby.

“This collaboration is pushing Sarasota Opera beyond the walls of the Opera House”, said Sarasota Opera Executive Director Susan Danis. “We believe that Sarasota is the first City and County in the world to present opera on a set rendered in chalk.”

There will be three one hour performances over the course of the day at 11am, 3pm, and 8pm at the corner of South Pineapple Avenue and Dolphin Street.  Admission is free! 

Michael Kirby, who was described by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the best street painters in the world”, creates dynamic 3D chalk art around the world. His technique of using sharp angles and adjusting the image to the viewer’s point of view was adapted from Kirby’s time while creating sets and props for Opera companies and Movie/TV sets.

Kirby will work with local artisan Kumpa Tawornprom and contractor Richard Hoffman to create this unique performance venue. He says, “Unlike traditional opera sets where the best seats are center and level to the stage, this set will focus on the floor paintings and the seating will be stadium style.”