Opera A La Carte is a professional touring opera company 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. To date, Opera A La Carte has performed in nearly every state in the contiguous United States.
Opera A La Carte’s school outreach programs are designed to nurture and educate our youngest fans into becoming the audiences of tomorrow. Performances are customized for different age groups; middle-and high-school students experience the shows in an abridged format, while elementary-aged students enjoy narrated versions of the shows with opportunities to participate throughout the presentation. Opera A La Carte also offers master classes and lecture demonstrations for choral and theatre programs at the high school and university levels.
The company is currently inactive. It retains its name, board of directors, and 501(c)3 status.