Toledo Opera and Toledo Spirits to host “Get into the Spirit of Opera”

Published Monday, April 8, 2024

Toledo Opera and The Toledo Spirits Company will host the pop-up event, “Get into the Spirit of Opera,” on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at The Toledo Spirits Company, 1301 North Summit Street, Toledo, OH 43604.

To celebrate the upcoming performance of Ragtime, the evening will feature a signature cocktail, crafted by The Toledo Spirits Company, a performance by members of the Ragtime cast, and a drawing for two tickets to opening night of Ragtime on Friday, April 19, 2024 and a $75 gift certificate for Toledo Spirits/Bellwether.

“Toledo Opera is excited to be producing this iconic broadway musical for the first time ever! We are especially happy to be celebrating this timeless story with our friends at Toledo Spirits – whose continued partnership is greatly appreciated. Join us for a drink; there is nothing like camaraderie to lift the spirits of a community” shared Suzanne Rorick, executive director, Toledo Opera.

“We are excited to see the return of Toledo Opera, and we are just as excited to be able to experience their world class talent along with outstanding cocktails here at our cocktail bar Bellwether” added Andrew Newby, CEO Toledo Spirits.

More about Ragtime: Nominated for 13 Tony Awards® including “Best Musical,” and winning for “Best Original Score” and “Best Book of a Musical,” Ragtime makes its premier to Toledo Opera audiences! Based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, this musical tapestry depicts an African-American family, a Jewish family, and a wealthy white suburban family in turn-of-the-century New York. As they collide in pursuit of the American Dream, they discover the surprising interconnections of the human heart, the limitations of justice, and the unsettling consequences when dreams are permanently deferred. Ragtime is a powerful portrait of life at the turn-of-the-20^th century, exploring America’s timeless contradictions of freedom and prejudice, wealth and poverty, hope and despair. Ragtime stars baritone Derrick Davis (Toledo Opera’s I Dream) as Coalhouse Walker, Jr., Broadway soprano Raquel Suarez Groen as Mother, and baritone Joshua Jeremiah as Tateh. J. Ernest Green returns to Toledo to conduct as James M. Norman brings this poignant musical to life. Book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Ragtime is “rated” PG-13 for language and will be sung in English with English supertitles.

For media access, please contact Rachael Cammarn at rcammarn@toledoopera.org or Malynda Goolsbee at malynda@toledospirits.com.

Toledo Opera will perform Ragtime at the Valentine Theatre on Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 21 at 2 p.m. To learn more about Ragtime cast and production team and to buy tickets, visit: toledoopera.org. Ragtime is made possible by Owens Corning. For media access, please contact Rachael Cammarn at rcammarn@toledoopera.org.