Opera House gearing up for 8th season

For seven seasons, the Grand Opera House has worked to bring great talent to Crowley and improve upon the previous season.
Kim Gattle, director, believes the Opera House is set to do so once again this season, their eighth, which begins in September.
“It’s hard to believe that in September we will be starting our eighth season at the Opera House,” she said. “Every year, we strive to have a season that’s better than the last.”
Speaking to the Rotary Club of Crowley Tuesday afternoon, Gattle outlined the variety of performers that will grace the Opera House stage this year.
As has become tradition with Opera House seasons, the season opener in September will be a Louisiana performer, Carencro’s own Marc Broussard.
Broussard, 33, is an American singer-songwriter that pulls from his bayou roots as well as soul to mix the elements of funk, blues, R&B, rock and pop with his Southern flair. A veteran of the music industry, Broussard has released five studio albums and a live album.
His album “Carencro” probably the most successful with two singles charting on Billboard’s Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks.
In recent years, Broussard’s notoriety has grown even more and Gattle expressed her excitement for having such a notable, contemporary Louisiana name to open the season.
The season opens Friday, Sept. 11. The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. and a complimentary social for ticket holders will be held prior.
Other performances will include country music, jazz and Broadway and more. Then, there is also the “add-on” performances that are not a part of the five-event season but will keep Opera House patrons entertained even more. This includes a Christmas traditional performance and a performance from Peace Frog, a tribute band to Jim Morrison and The Doors.
Gattle also talked about the annual Family Series presented by Ted and Judy Carmichael which will feature puppets, music and more. She reminded the Rotarians that the Family Series is a “no shushing zone” meaning the attendees, which do not have to just be children, are encouraged to dance, sing along and more at the events.
Tickets will also go on sale Sunday, July 12, for the Miss Crowley pageants slated to once again be held at the Opera House. Tickets for the event are $20 and Gattle urged everyone to get their tickets early as the event typically sells out.
The pageants are set for Saturday, July 25.
To conclude her time at the microphone, Gattle explained the perks of being a season ticket holder of the Opera House and invited anyone with any questions regarding season tickets, donations, etc. to contact her at the Opera House at 337-785-0440 or visit the venue’s website at http://thegrandoperahouse.org/.
Earlier in the meeting, Adrianne Vidrine was formally recognized at the Crowley club’s Rotarian of the Year for 2014-15. Aside from her normal duties as Youth Service chair, Vidrine has donated her time and energy to the area’s youth through several projects and through grant writing. She also donated her time this years as a chair in the club’s planning of the Rotary International District 6200 conference.
The seven-year member of the club was quick to express humble thanks to the club Tuesday stating that it was she who was honored and privileged to be a member of the club and that she had enjoyed her time thus far with the projects.
Past District 6200 Gov. Ezora Proctor also presented the Crowley club and fellow past district governor Ralph Cowen copies of the district’s newly published history book.
Books will be on sale soon through the district office for $20.