**The Oldest Opera Company in the United States,
Organized under a City Recreation Program**

The Municipal Opera Company of Allentown (MunOpCo) began as a part of the great recreation movement of the 1920’s.  This dedication to leisure time cultural activity became even more important during the Depression and the recovery years that followed.  As a result, MunOpCo is America’s oldest opera company linked to a Recreation Commission, and is the 6^th oldest Opera Company of any kind in the United States today.

The Opera Company was an outgrowth of the Allentown YMCA and YWCA choruses, both under the direction of Mr. Errol K. Peters.  Recreation Commission Director Irene Welty, along with Mr. Peters and General Frank Beary, decided to combine the two choruses and perform regular musical stage productions.  Both choruses agreed, the policy of two productions a year was established and the name changed to The Allentown Municipal Opera Company.  Mr. Peters remained general director and musical director until 1961, at which time he became our Director Emeritus.

The Municipal Opera Company Associates, during their tenure, were of inestimable value with carrying out the behind-the-scenes work.  For a number of years, the Junior Municipals provided preliminary stage training for children 9 to 16 years of age.

Recently the choruses of the Opera Company were reorganized after many years of inactivity.  The MunOpCo Chorus, all MunOpCo members, performs at Mayfair, summer park concerts and retirement homes.  A special group, the Septet, performed during the summer of 1986 and was well received by its audiences.

MunOpCo’s purpose is, and has always been, to provide the community at large with an opportunity to enjoy musical theater through performance, production assistance or an audience member.  This goal has been realized that from the time the company began, through the present, by regular productions of works by many of the world’s greatest composers and lyricists as well as important musical theater pieces from any era.

We are the first non-professional company to perform West Side Story, How To Succeed in Business, Promises, Promises, and Cabaret.  Further distinction came from having done a world premier of Miss Springtime and more recently a stage production of Cinderella from the television script.

Our friends for seventy-five years are our ticket purchasing patrons and our sponsors.  Grants from the City of Allentown and the Trexler Foundation have enabled us to be debt free.  We are deeply grateful to all of our supporters.

In 1995, MunOpCo acquired a building at 514 N. Poplar St. in Allentown.  A building that fits all of our needs; storage space for our sets, costumes, and props; a rehearsal area equal in size to our performance stage; and a heated set construction room.  It is our intention not to let the upkeep of the facility be a continued drain on our operating capabilities.  Therefore, on January 1, 1995, we initiated a Capital Campaign to retire the remaining debt and establish a fund to cover the ongoing operating expenses.  This fund will enable us to concentrate on our primary function, being a theatrical presentation company bringing the theater experience to the entire Lehigh Valley Area.

In 2000, MunOpCo President Williams suggested to the Board of Directors the need to become a full time community theater company.  Getting away from the traditional two major musical productions a year and initiating a full schedule of community outreach programs, additional productions, community theater workshops, and in addition to the MunOpCo Chorus, a smaller Show Choir.  In order to provide these additional programs to members and non-members, a full-time administrative position had to be considered.  Therefore, on December 11, 2001, after much research and investigation for funds, the MunOpCo Board of Directors changed the face of MunOpCo.  By unanimous decision, the Board voted to initiate an aggressive outreach program and hire an Artistic Director (Larry A. Williams) who would be responsible for the planning and implementation of all aspects of the stage and theatrical events of the Opera Company.  The Artistic Director would be responsible for the aesthetic statement of the Theatre Company.  This position would begin January 1, 2002.  The Outreach program would involve but not be limited to, a senior citizen theatre program, a theater program geared for the mentally and physically challenged youth of the area, theater workshops with guest presenters, a new performing show choir and continuance of the MunOpCo Chorus and major musical productions.   

MunOpCo has survived the Depression, the difficult WW II years, the turmoil of reorganization and change, and today continues to offer an even more aggressive community outreach program for the residents of the Lehigh Valley area and beyond.

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