Sugar creek Opera

News & Announcements

Sugar Creek Opera Receives NEA grant for 2016 Production

[Watseka, IL]— Sugar Creek Opera has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support it’s 14th Season of presenting live, world class, professional opera to the countryside of East Central Illinois. The NEA is the federal agency that supports and funds the arts to give all Americans the opportunity to experience creativity and participate in the arts. NEA programs and funding support thousands of activities in communities large and small across the country, including about 30,000 performances and 3,000 exhibitions annually.

NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, “I’m pleased to be able to share the news of this award to Sugar Creek Opera. In each community the arts have the power to create new avenues for economic health and physical vibrancy, and for people to feel a sense of pride in their locality. This grant demonstrates this power and affirms that the arts are part of our everyday lives.”

“This is stunning news”, said Helen Todd, Sugar Creek Opera’s Founder and General Director. “To be recognized in this way by the National Endowment of The Arts is an honor and it is a privilege to collaborate with the NEA. This award will help us to strengthen our next, Fourteenth Season, upcoming Summer 2016.”

To learn more about the National Endowment for the Arts, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov. Follow the conversation about this and other NEA‐funded projects on Twitter at @NEAarts.

Sugar Creek Opera is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Founded fourteen years ago in Watseka, IL, Sugar Creek Opera presents live, professional performances of the great opera classics as well as new, American opera every summer. Sugar Creek Opera is based in Watseka, IL. For more information or to make a contribution, visit us online at www.sugarcreekopera.com or by mail at 323 West Mulberry Street, Watseka, IL 60970. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Sugar Creek Opera.

Sugar Creek Opera Announces 13th Season of Opera in The Country

Sugar Creek Opera (SCO) will present Wolfgang Mozart’s endearing and family friendly opera, The Magic Flute for it’s 13th season, upcoming the weekend of July 11th, 2015. SCO Founder and General Director, Helen Todd says of the selection for the 2015 opera season, “I want to produce a family friendly opera for our patrons; The Magic Flute will be a wonderful experience for the entire family. Set in a mythical land, where a magic flute provides protection in the age-old battle of good versus evil, this opera is funny, lighthearted and entertaining!”

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Introducing Sugar Creek Opera Cleveland

We’re pleased to announce our expansion into Cleveland in late 2014. Learn more about our mission with Sugar Creek Opera Cleveland. Sign up for our mailing list to get more news and updates.

Cleveland’s Helen Todd To Star In Hong Kong’s Musica Viva Production of Turandot

Sugar Creek Opera is pleased to announce that General & Artistic Director, Soprano Helen Todd (www.helentodd.com), has been engaged to sing the title role in Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, with Musica Viva in Hong Kong. Todd will star in a new production of Puccini’s masterpiece with Luciano Berio’s ending on December 13 & 14, 2014 at the Hong Kong City Hall, Concert Hall in Hong Kong.

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Insight Into The Opera

General Director, Helen Todd and three other members of the talented cast discussed the 2012 festival on the July 30, 2012 episode of Live and Local with Kevin Kelly, WILL 90.9 FM in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.

Listen now »