In 2020, we had the privilege of contributing to Tulsa Opera’s innovative production of Baseball Rigoletto: An operatic comedy reimagined in a baseball world.
From baseball mascot costumes to sports announcers delivering ridiculously awesome operatic announcements over the PA system, it was an incredibly fun romp. The energy was electric, blending high culture with America’s pastime for a truly unforgettable show.
Performing Arts Services Used
Challenges We Tackled
- Designing an animated show logo that felt celebratory and fun. The COVID lockdown had been going on for seven months, and we wanted to give people something light and bright to look forward to.
- Sourcing vintage baseball and Italian footage from the right eras. We were editing right up until one hour before curtain call!
- Delivering the trailer in just 24 hours: Shots from dress rehearsal were captured, edited, reviewed, and published by morning.
- COVID safety was still very much a thing, and there were a lot of extra graphics and requirements around making sure we were compliant with that criteria.
Good Memories
- This was the last live performance my mother attended before succumbing to COVID on December 31, 2020. Mom was a lifelong musician, and was so proud of our involvement with Tulsa Opera.
- At the finale, a spectacular fireworks show lit up the night, lifting everyone’s spirits. In that moment, we felt like a community again: Free, connected, and joyful. During one rousing crescendo, I remember one of the camera operators saying, “F— YES.”, which captured how we all felt perfectly in that moment.
Funny Mishaps
- The fireworks show was fanatic…until one of the adjacent building had a teensy fire. Fortunately, it was quickly put out and no real damage was done.
The Stars
- Joshua Wheeker as The Duke of Mantua
- Todd Thomas as Rigoletto
- Sarah Coburn as Gilda
- Morris Robinson as Sparafucile
- Kevin Thompson as Monterone
