Opera A La Carte was a professional opera company that toured between 1970 and 2015, specializing in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. Its mission is to preserve the authenticity and tradition of the music of Gilbert and Sullivan by delighting modern audiences across the United States and expanding the audiences of tomorrow through educational outreach.
Founded in 1970 by Richard Sheldon, a noted Gilbert and Sullivan performer and scholar, Opera A La Carte began as a dinner theatre ensemble that quickly grew to include concert performances. One by one, fully staged productions were mounted and the group began touring the country, performing all the major works in the repertory. The group further expanded in the 1990s to include touring with its own full orchestra. Opera A La Carte has performed in nearly every state in the contiguous United States.
In 2019, the company entered an inactive status, while retaining its name and 501(c)3 status.
In 2023 and 2024, the company was invigorated by the addition of new administrative and creative talent coupled with generous donations from supporting donors.
In 2025, the company rebranded under the name of Arts A La Carte, with an expanded mission to help amplify the voices of new and underserved artists by assisting in the development of their work. Reach out to us at contact@artsalacarte.org.
Hail Poetry:The Magic and Madness of Gilbert & Sullivan is currently available for production (contact@operaalacarte.org).