‘Twas The Night Before Opening

A poem by Sara Nealy, Executive Director of Livermore Valley Opera

"Twas The Night Before Opening

‘Twas the night before Opening, and throughout the opera house
Not a creature was stirring, not even die Fledermaus.
The costumes and props were placed with great care,
In hopes that Bonnie soon would be there.

But back in the Green Room, there arose such a clatter,
Raquel turned to Doug and said, “What’s the matter?!”
The soprano was screaming, “My cold’s gotten worse!”
So Jim took off to go find a nurse.

When all of a sudden, she started to faint,
and Maestro exclaimed, “We simply can’t wait.”
“Now mezzos, now tenors, now lights from above …”
Come on - where’s the chorus for “Elixir of Love?”
On set pieces Mike hammered only last night,
On Monica’s flats that she painted so bright.
Stephanie can’t hold people much longer in the lobby,
“The show must go on!” said Teri and Bill Rabe.
Delma had counted the ticket sales twice,
TJ wore his top hat, which all thought was nice.

To the stage came the singers, and the curtain did rise.
The music made the audience fill up with sighs.
Arias, duets, orchestra: sublime!
Everyone transported to another place and time.
Critics praised the performance and wrote with delight.
And I said to the Board, “to all a Good Night!”

Photo Caption: LVO Board of Directors - Front R to L, Teri Tith, Sara Nealy, Mike Miller, Back row R to L, Jim Schmidt, Stephanie Petermeier, Alexander Katsman, Monica Kulander, Delma Kline, TJ Gilmartin.
Photo credit: Barbara Mallon