Not only does the Woodland Opera House provide good entertainment to the community, it provides goodwill as well. For many years,the Woodland Opera House has made a huge effort to make art accessible to those who otherwise wouldn’t have access. Executive Director Angela Baltezore states, “We are very plugged into the community. At staff meetings, we talk about ways we can bring art to as many people as possible, especially children.”
This past holiday season, the Woodland Opera House made several tickets available for CASA volunteers and their youths to see The Nutcracker. “It was a wonderful experience that my CASA child wouldn’t otherwise have had,” states CASA Volunteer Kirsten Ferries. “It was a really magical experience to share during a time of year that can be hard for foster kids.”
Angela echoes those sentiments, “We know holidays can be hard, and so we always try to do whatever we can for those in need.”
In fact, Angela has a personal friend who had a foster daughter for eighteen months. The friend brought her foster daughter to Ann of Green Gables while she was caring for her. Angela states, “After seeing it, my friend told me that her foster daughter didn’t feel alone anymore—that she felt she had a shared experience with Ann. That’s what art does, it brings literature to life and the common human bond that we all share.”
As for the future, the Woodland Opera House plans to continue to bring opportunities to foster children. “We are always willing to give CASA volunteers and their youths opportunities to come see our shows,” states Angela. “It’s what art is all about—shared experiences and enriching the community.”
