Toledo Opera will hold Family Opera On Wheels on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. in Armes Hall at the Marathon Center for Performing Arts (200 W. Main Cross Street, Findlay, Ohio 45840). This free event will feature a performance of Toledo Opera’s Opera On Wheels production of Beauty and the Beast along with family-friendly activities designed to inspire creativity and bring families together.
Doors will open at 12:00 P.M. for family-friendly activities. The performance will take place at 1:00 P.M., after which the cast of Beauty and the Beast will be available for a meet and greet, and activities will resume until 3:00 P.M. This event is made possible with support from The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, and will be presented free of charge as a part of the foundation’s “Fun for All” series of free community events. Registration is required. This event is sold out. For questions about availability, please contact Marathon Center for Performing Arts.
For Toledo Opera General Director, James M. Norman, the partnership with Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation represents an exciting opportunity to expand the reach of opera in the region: “Toledo Opera is thrilled to collaborate with the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation on Family Opera on Wheels. This partnership allows us to bring the magic of opera directly into the heart of the Hancock county area, creating accessible and engaging experiences for families. By combining storytelling, music, and education, we hope to inspire a new generation of opera lovers and demonstrate the power of the arts to enrich lives. We are grateful for the Foundation’s support in making this meaningful initiative possible.”
“Opera combines a captivating blend of music, drama, and storytelling, creating a visually and emotionally engaging experience that appeals to people of all ages,” shared Kimberly Bash, Chief Community Engagement Officer at The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. “We are thrilled to offer Family Opera On Wheels with the Toledo Opera to local families as part of The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events!”
Based on the original French fairytale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont and featuring music inspired by the operas of André Ernest Modeste Grétry, this adaptation of Beauty and the Beast promises to captivate audiences of all ages. The story underscores the timeless message that true beauty often lies within, challenging our perceptions and encouraging a deeper understanding of others. Joshua Borths of James Madison University School of Music adapted the score and wrote the libretto, and Toledo Opera General Director James M. Norman directed the production.
The story begins when a wealthy merchant's ship is destroyed in a storm. The merchant sets off to recover the wreckage, but his journey leads him to a castle ruled by a Beast and sustained by a magical rose. Belle, the merchant’s daughter, ventures into the woods to find her father and embarks on an adventure that transforms her understanding of the world. Beauty and the Beast features the Toledo Opera Resident Artists; chosen from a national pool of over 150 applicants, for a one-year residency in Toledo. Toledo Opera’s 2024-25 Resident Artists are Sarah Rachel Bacani (soprano), Emily Cotten (mezzo soprano); Brady DelVecchio (tenor), Robbie Raso (baritone), and Alessandro “Alex” Rotundo (pianist).
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all in the community. Established in 1992 as the result of an estate gift from L. Dale Dorney, The Community Foundation has granted more than $85 million to fund projects to support the community. Please contact Genna Freed, Communications Director, at gfreed@community-foundation.com or at 419-425-1100 for more information.
For more information about the performance please visit https://www.mcpa.org/events/detail/toledo-operas-opera-on-wheels-beauty-and-the-beast. For more information about The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, please contact Genna Freed at gfreed@community-foundation.com. For media access or more information about Toledo Opera, please contact Rachael Cammarn at rcammarn@toledoopera.org.
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