Audience Development

Audience Development at Toledo Opera

Since its founding in 1959, Toledo Opera has been committed to creating opera experiences that engage, connect, and inspire – in the theater, in the classroom, and through the community. Each year, our mainstage productions, educational programs, and outreach initiatives reach nearly 30,000 people of all ages across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

Our Audience Development initiative builds on this legacy by ensuring that opera is accessible, relevant, and welcoming to all. This work as we know it today began with community programming around the world premiere of I Dream and has since evolved into a holistic approach to connecting with audiences on and off the stage. Audience Development now guides Toledo Opera in two interconnected ways: expanding access and enhancing the experience.

We design and promote core programming that lowers barriers and creates new entry points for the community to experience opera. From free public concerts like Opera ‘Round Town and Opera Cabaret, and through strong partnerships with schools and community organizations, we make opera available in spaces where people live, learn, and gather.

We curate companion programming that enriches our mainstage productions and deepens audience engagement. Panel discussions, interdisciplinary collaborations, and site-specific performances allow audiences to explore the themes of each opera and connect them to contemporary life in Toledo.

Together, these efforts reflect Toledo Opera’s mission, vision, and values: to pair world-class storytelling and artistry with authentic community connections, to create space for everyone, to act as responsible stewards of our resources and relationships, and to innovate while honoring tradition.

Through Audience Development, Toledo Opera strives to ensure that our audiences – like our city – are vibrant, diverse, and reflect of the many voices that make our region unique.

2025-2026 Audience Development Committee Members

Kate French, Co Chair
Dominique Lash, Co Chair
Rachael Cammarn
Raina Dawson
Chris Dziubek
Cynthia Eddy
David Foley
Jordan Killam
Susan Hartman-Muska
Ebone Waweru
Leah Whitaker