Festivities were in full swing in January as Opera Birmingham celebrated “Madame Butterfly.”
The cast was welcomed to town with a barbecue dinner, which has become an Opera Birmingham tradition, hosted by Kathy and Jim Emison in their home. Drs. Amy and John Johnstone, with their daughter Anne, joined the Emisons in greeting the cast.
The following week, Birmingham Opera Guild members–among them Jane Paris Smith, president, and Dr. Chandler Smith, Joyce Heslip and Bill Williams, Tonie Bone, Mimi Jackson, Dianne Rossmeisl, Anne Nelson, Louise Schrimsher, Herb Patterson, Anne Chace, Sue Watkins, Janice Zeanah and Dottie Thompson—heard a preview of music from “Madame Butterfly” when cast members performed selections from the show at the January Guild Luncheon.
Members of the Opera Club were treated to an exclusive opportunity to dine with the cast and company of the show before its debut in late January. Members gathered at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse for a meal and to hear behind-the-scenes stories from principal cast members.
General Director John D. Jones presented a short introduction of the cast.
Guests included Paula and Shannon Price, Mildred and Dr. Edward Taub, Board President Dorinda Smith and Dr. John Smith, Dr. Julius E. Linn, Jr., Diane and Scott Selman, Patrick Cather, Melva and Dr. Rayburn Jones, Jan and Dr. Jim Briley, Martha Pezrow, Dr. Bill Baxley, Jane Hinds, Susan and Lee Reeves, Jean Shanks, Charles B. Rountree, Pat Scofield, Amy Carr and Tallulah Hargrove.
Also at the dinner were Inna Los, Dona D. Vaughn, Maestro Israel Gursky, Patrick Miller, Corey Trahan, Magdalena Wor, Todd Thomas and Jennifer Bryant.
In keeping with the setting of “Madame Butterfly,” Kobe’s chefs prepared an authentic Japanese meal on an open-flamed grill.
The excitement of opening night continued after the performance with a cast party hosted by Amici (Young Friends of Opera Birmingham) at Cantina, where cast, crew and Amici members gathered for festive food and margaritas.
Attendees included Amici President Erin Moore, Lee Ann Petty, Karyn Uptain, Kelty Bartholomew with her parents Mollie and Rob Bartholomew, Randy Mayo, Alex Tino, Angela King Layman and Nick Layman and Brian Denton.
The month’s events concluded after the final performance of “Madame Butterfly” with a sendoff to cast members at a farewell dinner hosted by Nanci and Steve Chazen at their Mountain Brook home.
Principal cast members, including Won Cho with his wife Kyoung Cho, and Opera Birmingham staff members celebrated the performances. Sandra Oden, wife of Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden, stopped by to express good wishes to cast members as they concluded their time in Birmingham.
