FOODIE ALERT: Brad and Cindy LAZARENKO of Culina restaurants, raise up the humble pyrogy to bolster a unique Badlands opera production of CARMEN!

Hot on the heels of their sell – out production of La Traviata at Chez Pierre’s and Studio 96, Mercury Opera is turning their head to Spain, Bizet, and opera’s baddest girl Carmen in the Badlands.

On June 1st Mercury Opera will be hosting a PYROGY DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION with Live Entertainment TO SUPPORT CARMEN IN THE BADLANDS, a three way co-production with Mercury Opera, Opera Classica Europa and the Badlands Amphitheatre in Drumheller Alberta.

It may seem like an odd combo for an opera set in Spain, but there is a connection.

“Taking the Latin word for kitchen and cooking, and combining it with some Ukrainian heritage, Brad Lazarenko christened his former Mill Creek restaurant neighbourhood bistro “Culina,”Growing up in a Ukrainian home he knew the translation of the highbush cranberry plant was known as “kalyna” in his parents’ native tongue. That sealed the deal on the restaurant’s name. “ The Edmontonian

Mercury Opera’s Darcia Parada known for staging opera productions in unexpected places: back alleys, tents, subway platforms, and boats, for years has been dreaming of presenting Carmen on Canada’s largest outdoor stage. The Badlands Amphitheatre home to the Badlands Passion Play, and its landscape, lend themselves to the opera’s Spanish setting,and many opera plots. This debut production may give birth to an annual outdoor opera festival in addition to Mercury Opera’s other activities.

WHEN: FRIDAY, JUNE 1

DOORS OPEN AT 5 p.m.

DINNER SERVED BETWEEN 6PM AND 8 p.m.

SILENT AUCTION CLOSES AT 9 p.m.

WHERE: London Villas Hub
9620-109th Avenue
Edmonton T5H 1C8
Tickets $25.00
Children 5-12 $12.00
5 and under- free

TICKETS: tixonthesquare.ca (780) 420-1757

MORE INFO: mercuryopera.com (780) 803-1849

Unable to attend but still want to support the project? No problem. We are happy to accept your contributions.