Opera New England of Northeastern CT. Inc. d/b/a Performing Arts of NE CT, is an all-­ volunteer nonprofit organization celebrating the 40th season of bringing high quality, enriching and accessible performing arts to the Quiet Corner. P/Arts operates with an active board of 40 people from area towns and they volunteer in every facet of presenting the cultural productions to the NE region.  

The 40th season performance of Madama Butterfly will commemorate the inaugural performance in 1974. Puccini’s rendition will be performed by Connecticut Lyric Opera at 7:30 p.m. May 10 at Hyde Cultural Center in Woodstock. 

Tickets may be purchased online at  www.performingartsnect.org  or by calling the Box Office at 860-­?928-­?2946. Reserved and general admission tickets may be purchased online or at Pomfret Spirit Shoppe, Pomfret, CT and Flying Carpet Studio in Putnam, CT. Student and Group tickets will be sold at these ticket outlets. 

In addition to a variety of professional arts performances each year, the free Educational Opera and Symphony Programs are central to our mission. To date, 150,000 local students (from 24 northeastern Connecticut and Massachusetts towns) have been treated to complimentary programming. Each year, four thousand school children are introduced to the creative artistries in third and fifth grade. We provide early arts exposure and educational opportunities some students might not otherwise have. Each music teacher is provided with a study guide and participating school classes are visited by an Artist for an in-­?school workshop prior to the performance at the Hyde Cultural Center in Woodstock.  

 Every spring these concepts come to life when students attend live, fully-­staged productions by Salt Marsh Opera Company and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. 

CT Executive Chairman, Lindsay Paul, said, “The level of commitment and professionalism seen in our programs and events give confidence to our donors, and to me, that we will sustain our mission to connect music and youth into the next 40 years. Many thanks are due to volunteers on the board and in the community who committed time, resources and professionalism to make all of our events and programs successful.”