SANTA FE, N.M. — All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
“As You Like It,” Act II Scene VII
— William Shakespeare
Beginning of July it starts, with Opening Night – a veritable Santa Fe institution and de rigeur milestone event. Everything begins when the Opera does, announcing summer is officially here.
It’s a festive and dolled-up occasion for the first performance of “The Season,” and a really fruitful opportunity for good people-watching! Because honestly… what about those most spectacular garments that you’d love to put on and don’t have anyplace to wear? Opening Night of the Opera!
And there is always a weirdo or two there in a bizarro statement costume, just to spice things up. Opening Night of the Opera!
Opening Night pre-performance activities start late afternoon with patrons tailgating, which can range from the ultra-bas bohemian to the Ultra-Elaborata. Or you can grace one of the posh Opera patrons’ house parties, or do the buffet at the Dapples Pavilion on the lush poolside Opera grounds.
And there’s another option: the Opera Business Council Dinner in lovely Stearin Hall, overlooking the view, with abundant good food and drink, and the scintillating company of interesting community leaders. Only one requirement – you must be a member of the Opera Business Council. Which is easy! Become one! Unlike the main Opera Board, which one is invited to join, any professional can sign up for the Business Council and, for a minimum donation, join the team to support this August institution.
Opening Night isn’t the Business Council’s only entertainment. About 150 business owners recently attended the kickstart cocktail party at the Hotel Santa Fe for the Opera Business Council’s fundraising activities. The Council’s goal for 2018 is $240,000, and on this night several businesspeople raised their hands at the opportunity to donate $10,000 in one pop! They raised $80,000 in five minutes on the microphone.
The Opera is good for business! Is there another entity with as much impact on our community and economy as the Santa Fe Opera?
Our internationally renowned company draws millions of people to town, to our stores, restaurants, galleries, museums!
It gives us glory and panache when many of our rankings are, ahem, quite low. It draws brilliant stars to perform, and it puts us on the map in the music world. And if you’ve never taken the Opera tour and peeked behind the scenes, from the incredible costume shop (a fabricoholic’s dream!) to the brilliant set shop overflowing floor to ceiling with imaginative props, well, that’s like living in New York City and never having been up to the top of the Empire State Building. You just have to do it!
Same thing with Opening Night, coming up … whatever the venue you choose, put on something special and go! You just have to do it!
Ashley Margetson has a BA in English from UCLA, is a senior real estate broker with Sotheby’s International Realty and has a finger on the pulse of philanthropic activities in Santa Fe. To tell us about an upcoming event, email apm@ashleymargetson.com.
Musician Beth Van Arsdel with Robin Smith and her mother Bobbie Smith.
Kay and Chip Chippeaux of Century Bank.
Kurt Faust of Tierra Concepts Builders.
Joe Kelley of La Posada and Alfonso Camarena of Goler Shoes.
City Councilor Signe Lindell.
Liddie Martinez with the Opera’s Kathy Murphy.
Opera executive director Charles MacKay with Paul Margetson, chair of the Opera Business Council.
Larry Stoerner of Merrill Lynch.
Michael Trujillo of Michael’s Valet.
Ellen and Bob Vladem of the Opera Board.