Cowtown Opera has become a signature artistic company of Calgary, surprising audiences with cheeky, English-language interpretations of operatic classics, remarkable vocal calibre, and daring new projects. This Spring, cSPACE King Edward welcomed Cowtown Opera as a member of our tenant community. Our Studio Theatre has welcomed the Cowtown Opera 2018/2019 season and enjoyed the guests and Cowtown Opera patrons who have visited us.

Bethany Yon Executive Director of Cowtown Opera recently shared with us on what it means for Cowtown Opera to be a member of the cSPACE community. A trained Opera singer, Bethany has worked with Cowtown in several capacities since it’s inception in 2011. She has developed in her position as a performer, to production manager before assuming the position as Executive Director in 2017.

There is so much to love! The constant flow of inspiring art on every wall, the opportunity to connect with new organizations and the ability to work day to day AND have our productions ‘live’ as a performing arts company all under the same roof are all at the top of the list for us.

Since that time, Bethany has been fondly celebrated for her dedication to phenomenal leadership which has seen her receive the Rozsa Award for Emerging Arts Administrator, presented at the annual Mayor’s Lunch.

“Being a member of cSPACE is incredibly meaningful for Cowtown, says Bethany, “we are thrilled to be welcomed into the community this year. We have been very encouraged to see the work being done in the space for the furtherance of the cultural health and well being of our city over the past few years and appreciate the community and collaborative spirit within the building that completely resonates with our own mandate.”

For Bethany and Cowtown, “The opportunity to connect in new and renewed ways with other organizations within the building and support the mission to create vibrant community as a tenant of cSPACE – an organization that thrives on collaboration internally and externally, was exciting to us.

With our season of shows being held for the first time in the cSPACE Theatre, our artists rehearsing in the space at Quest Theatre, our ongoing relationship with the Rozsa Foundation and the Farmers and Makers Market as well as budding relationships with organizations like Making Treaty 7 (started in our shared few months in the building!) and the Casa Mexico Foundation, being present in the building has already been so meaningful for us.”

This year marks Cowtown Opera’s first year of hosting their entire season of productions at the cSPACE Studio Theatre. According to Bethany, the blossoming company “Cowtown Opera, has had a fabulous experience taking 3 shows so far from rehearsal to production in the cSPACE. Our interaction with the cSPACE Studio Theatre includes the installation of sets, the programming and use of the amazing lighting rig and tools, the rehearsal of each production in its final days before an opening and the hosting of 400+ patrons each run as we fill the space with the power of the human voice.”