IHN Families Night Out at the Tivoli

Following the magnificent performance of Menotti’s opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” the young father said that he now knows to not be afraid of music that has not been in his life up to this point. He is anticipating taking his family to a symphony concert in the next few months. This would not be noteworthy if his family were not homeless and temporarily housed at a Chattanooga area church.

Through a grant from Opera Volunteers International, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Guild provided a week of musical education and activity for 5 area homeless families while partnering with Interfaith Homeless Network. IHN is a non-profit organization which uses a network of churches to house homeless families. The families are given support, training, and counseling while receiving loving care from church members. “Amahl and the Night Visitors” was chosen as the centerpiece of the project because of its comfortable length, its being sung in English, and the theme of the opera which resonates with the families’ situation.

According to Gloria Stewart, CSO Guild President, “The CSO Guild was honored in being selected by OVI for a grant for our participation with IHN. This collaboration was a rewarding experience for all of our volunteers and we were excited to have “Amahl and the Night Visitors” performed for our special guests from IHN.” Mary Earl, member of the Board of Opera Volunteers International added, “I have been so impressed with this project.  It has to be one of the best applications OVI has received.  This is the type of project we love to support.”

After viewing DVDs of the original production that had been provided to the two churches, the five families heard presentations from CSO Guild docents using a guide written especially for this project. The tone was light with emphasis placed on the experience. Each family was given a beautifully illustrated book of “Amahl…,” and each person was provided with a booklet that had been prepared for their education and enjoyment. The booklet contained a word search, crossword puzzle, and scrambled words that related to the production. There was a page for a drawing or writing following the performance. Pictures and bios of the principals gave a place for autographs, and a gift certificate for a ticket to a future CSO Masterworks concert was included.

Performance night was a true collaboration. The CSO Guild provided T-shirts for all of the participants to wear to the opera. IHN provided volunteers to bring dinner to their headquarters for the families and a volunteer to keep the younger children there. Van drivers, a case worker, and the IHN Executive Director accompanied the families to the Tivoli Theatre where they were welcomed by CSO Guild members. CSO staff, “Amahl…” cast and crew members, and Maestro Robert Bernhardt conducted the group on a fun and informational backstage tour. Explanations of sets, props, costuming, rehearsals, cast, and orchestra responsibilities and preparation were fun and educational.

Mary Ellen Galloway, Executive Director of IHN said, “It is so important for families to have opportunities to have time together, exposure to new experiences, and to just plain have fun.  Our families are no different. Homelessness is a dispiriting experience; however, the IHN families were given the opportunity to escape the stressfulness of assembling new lives and experience opera and the symphony together with their families, wearing beautiful tee shirts that were the envy of those in attendance. The backstage tour, meeting the actors and Mr. Bernhardt, seeing the makeup area, costumes, and set was an exciting and educational experience for all of us.  We felt like VIPs and very welcomed. All involved need to know that when we left, and said goodbye to each other, we were singing in our opera voices after a memorable evening of entertainment, education and fun.”

The CSO Guild is grateful to Mary Earl and Opera Volunteers International, Kathy Allison who conceived the idea of the collaboration, Maestro Robert Bernhardt for his heartfelt support and participation, Mary Ellen Galloway and the IHN churches and volunteers, and most of all, to the families who participated.