Austin Lyric Opera and Butler Opera Center Team for THE PAGLIACCI PROJECT, Beg. Tonight, 9/29

The Pagliacci Project is an exciting new collaboration between Austin Lyric Opera (ALO) and the Butler Opera Center at the University of Texas (BOC). This partnership will culminate in numerous live performances of Act II from Leoncavallo's renowned opera, Pagliacci, in public venues in and around Austin, reaching audiences and communities new to opera. Performed in English, with updated sets and costumes, The Pagliacci Project will take place in a variety of highly-visible locations, such as outdoor street festivals, shopping malls, and clubs. Performances are free to the general public. For more information, visit www.AustinLyricOpera.org.

"This is a wonderful chance for us to give back to the community and share opera with a broad audience-in places they would least expect-at no cost. For many, it will be their first experience with the art form." says ALO General Director, Joseph Specter. "We are thrilled to be able to collaborate with the Butler Opera Center and its talented young singers in such an innovative way as we build toward opening night of our main stage production of Pagliacci this fall."

The Pagliacci Project will bring traditional opera to non-traditional settings: an East Side bar; a popular shopping district; and a UT football tailgate event for the "Texas Exes." The project's reach will extend beyond Austin with performances in Georgetown, Bee Cave and more. The Pagliacci Project strives to make a lasting connection with the greater Austin community, fostering an appreciation for opera and the arts, and allowing the Butler Opera Center and Austin Lyric Opera to engage new audiences in Central Texas with this vibrant art form. The project will also raise public awareness for ALO's fully-staged production of Pagliacci, taking place at The Long Center for the Performing Arts in November of 2012. Dates for The Pagliacci Project are as follows:

Saturday, September 29 at 12:30 pm
Central Market North
4001 North Lamar Blvd, 78756

Saturday, October 13 at 2:00 pm
Georgetown Square
710 Main St, Georgetown, 78926

Thursday, October 4 at 3:30 pm
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East MLK Jr. Blvd, 78701

Sunday, October 14 at 3:00 pm
Longhorn Village
12501 Longhorn Pkwy, 78732

Friday, October 5 at 9:00 pm
Cheer Up Charlie's
1104 East 6th St, 78702

Friday, October 19 at 6:00 pm
Sun City Texas
2 Texas Drive, Georgetown, 78633