Season Calendar

Behind Barbed Wire - WORLD PREMIERE

Friday, January 31, 2025 | 7:30pm | Clark Center in Arroyo Grande

Behind Barbed Wire: A Glimpse at Central Coast Japanese American Life During WWII centers around 1942, a few weeks prior to graduation, when nearly 45% of the Arroyo Grande High School Graduating Class were bussed with their Japanese-American families to isolated internment camps. Historian Jim Gregory (author of World War II Arroyo Grande), composer Deon Nielsen Price (Behind Barbed Wire), and conductor Brian Alhadeff (OperaSLO Grand Orchestra), are pleased to present a commemoration of that tumultuous time.

With a live orchestra and a big band, guest performers, video, poetry, swing music of the 1940’s and narration, this special production shares this region’s local heritage of sacrifice, friendship, patriotism, hard work, and community solidarity.

Featuring: Darryl Taylor, Countertenor; Chika Inoue, Saxophone; Mary Au, Piano; Narration by Jim Gregory, People of Honor; Video Editing by Highlight Media – Christina Bearce; Musical Compositions by Deon Nielsen Price; Justine Prado Manro, Stage Director; Friendly Neighborhood Big Band, Mitch Latting, Director; and the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra with Brian Asher Alhadeff, Music Director and Conductor

Sponsored by: Culver Crest Publications, Osumi Agricultural Company Inc., South County Historical Society, Hayashi Family Farms, Opera San Luis Obispo, an the Clark Center for the Performing Arts.

The Little Mermaid - WORLD PREMIERE BALLET

Saturday, March 1: 2pm & 7:30pm | Sunday, March 2: 2pm at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara

The Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra joins forces with State Street Ballet Santa Barbara and OSLO Resident composer Charles Fernandez in a world premiere ballet featuring all-new sets, costumes, life-sized puppets. In this heartwarming tale, The Little Mermaid takes the ultimate adventure, sacrificing her tail and her voice to experience life as a human and pursue true love. An imaginative take on a classic story, this production is perfect for all ages.

Choreography by Megan Philipp and Cecily MacDougall
Music by Charles Fernandez (World Premiere)
Featuring the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra
Conducted by Brian Asher Alhadeff

*Young audience members are invited to enter the theater at 1:15 pm on March 2nd to take a photo with a real ballerina and hear her tell the story of The Little Mermaid.

*Families with special needs or small children are invited to our first sensory-friendly Performance on March 1 at 2:00 pm. During sensory-friendly performances, the lights in the theater stay on, the music is played more quietly, fidget items are welcome, and patrons can move, vocalize, and behave in ways that are often unfamiliar in other performance settings. Tickets are $20; subsidized tickets are available upon request.

*This is a State Street Ballet Santa Barbara season production which OperaSLO is honored to collaborate.