Celebrating 75 Years with a New Theater and a Blockbuster Summer Season
This summer, Opera in the Ozarks turns the page to an exciting new chapter. The beloved summer music festival and professional opera training program celebrates 75 years of artistic excellence with the grand opening of its brand-new 300-seat theater, Inspiration Point Center for the Arts – a breathtaking mountaintop venue located just five miles west of historic Eureka Springs. The 2025 season raises the curtain on this milestone with a vibrant mix of performances, expanded state-of-the-art facilities, and a bold vision for the future of opera in Arkansas.
Running through July 25, the season features 18 fully staged and costumed performances of three celebrated operas this month: Georges Bizet’s Carmen, a smoldering tale of passion, jealousy, and fate set to unforgettable Spanish rhythms; Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, a witty and poignant musical journey through fractured fairy tales and the complexity of human desire; and Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow, a sparkling romantic operetta brimming with charm, intrigue, and lavish Parisian elegance.
Opera in the Ozarks General Director Nancy Preis describes the season as “a transformative moment” for the organization. “For 75 years, Opera in the Ozarks has been a beacon for aspiring opera artists,” she says. “The opening of this new theater is a powerful step forward – providing artists with a stage that reflects the caliber of their talents and offering audiences an immersive operatic experience like never before.”
The new theater, designed by Polk Stanley Wilcox architects and built by Crossland Construction with acoustic and theater design expertise from Jaffe Holden and Schuler Shook, was made possible by a $34 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation. Alongside the performance space, the new facilities also include expanded rehearsal and production areas, practice rooms, and faculty housing – ensuring that the program continues to attract and nurture the next generation of opera singers and musicians.
The season’s mainstage productions will rotate throughout the month, with performances most evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.
Beyond the mainstage performances in Eureka Springs, the season also features more than a dozen performances of The Bremen Town Musicians, by John Davies, at locations throughout the Northwest Arkansas region, including area libraries and community centers. Featuring Opera in the Ozarks’ Studio Artists, these traveling performances are free of charge.
Other season highlights include the beloved Chamber Music Concert on July 21 at Inspiration Point, and two not-to-be-missed Broadway Cabaret events – one in Springdale on July 17 at The Medium (with heavy hors d’oeuvres), and one in Eureka Springs on July 22 (with a buffet dinner). Both feature company members performing musical theatre favorites in a relaxed and festive setting.
Whether you’re a longtime opera lover or a curious newcomer, this historic season offers the perfect opportunity to experience Opera in the Ozarks at its very best – in a stunning new home, high on a mountaintop, where music soars and stars are born.
Tickets for the 2025 season are on sale and moving quickly. Single tickets to mainstage opera performances range in price from $30 to $50 depending on seatselection, with special $10 pricing available for children and students under 18. Tickets for the Springdale cabaret performance are $60. Tickets for the dinner-inclusive Eureka Springs cabaret performance are $80. Tickets for the Chamber Music Concert are $25.
Tickets may be purchased online at opera.org, or by calling the box office at (479) 253-8595.
