Capitol Opera Harrisburg was founded in July, 2000, by Kathleen Torchia (a native of Harrisburg); having recently moved back to the area from California, she has now taken over the company. Mayor Stephen Reed and the Harrisburg School District have offered the company the use of the William Penn Campus Auditorium as its new home. The campus is scheduled for complete rennovation in the somewhat-near future after the completion of Harrisburg High School (in approximately 2007/2008). Meanwhile, some preliminary necessities have been approved to get things started. It is a marriage that will benefit both Capitol Opera and the Harrisburg Community in many ways: performance opportunities for both its young/developing and its seasoned artists, set/prop building and printing by its vocational school students and more, all while Capitol Opera enjoys working in the grand facility…it is truly one of the most beautiful theatrical structures in the area!
To date, there have been seven opera productions in the theater...Puccini's Tosca in March, 2006...Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, November, 2006...Bizet's Carmen, April, 2007...Verdi's "La Traviata" and Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci", May, 2008. Students from William Penn (Harrisburg Career Techinal Academy) have participated in all three of those productions. There was also an annual event in February, 2009...Capitol Opera's "Night At the Opera!", Puccini's La Boheme & the World Premiere of
Davidson's Summer of the Swans.
The plans for William Penn Campus to become a cultural hub in the Uptown Area are well underway!!
If you have questions about Capitol Opera Harrisburg or would like to be involved in its projects, please send an e-mail to: capopera2004@yahoo.com
In the Fall of 2008, Capitol Opera Sacramento-Davis will begin its 19th Season, Capitol Opera Harrisburg its 8th Season, and Capital Opera Raleigh its 5th Season.
Note: "New launches have been put on hold, due to Kathleen's current family obligations."
