Season's last performances canceled

The Augusta Opera has canceled its remaining performances of the season and let production coordinator Kitty Reagan go.

Augusta Opera board President Jonathan Krauss on Monday said the board hopes to release a statement concerning its future and the possibility of restructuring the organization later this week.

He compared the Augusta Opera's current state with the Augusta Ballet in 2006, when the ballet chose not to renew contracts with its dancers and artistic staff.

The Augusta Ballet presents a season booking out-of-town companies, rather than producing.

The Augusta Opera was founded in 1967 and has traditionally staged four productions, including a holiday concert, each year.

It staged Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in September and its annual Augusta Opera at St. Paul's holiday concert in December. A production of Tosca was planned for March, and The Barber of Seville was slated for May.

According to the Augusta Opera Web site, the organization had an annual budget of $600,000.

Dr. Krauss said Managing Director Les Reagan was still with the opera, but he would be unavailable for comment.

Phone calls to Mr. Reagan at the Augusta Opera offices were unreturned.

Charles Scavullo, the executive director at the Imperial Theatre, confirmed that the opera's dates in March and May had been scratched.

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.