Presentations are locally produced, featuring outstanding vocal artists from around the world, singing with a strong local chorus, accompanied by the superb musicians of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. In addition to its main stage productions, OGR annually offers a limited range of educational and outreach programs.

Why Opera Grand Rapids Needs A Permanent Home
Throughout its 42 year history, the Opera has led a nomadic existence. All of its operations have been housed in rented or borrowed facilities. The office spaces have moved frequently – three times in the past ten years. Rehearsals are held in a variety of different locations, usually vacant store fronts. In the past six years, the company has held its rehearsals in twelve different spots that were often secured at the very last moment. The costume shop has led a similarly vagrant existence, being housed in a new location for nearly every show

Many of the rehearsal and costume shop spaces were only marginally adequate, but were used because they were the only spaces available. The lack of permanent facilities has meant that for every production we must load in and set up both its rehearsal hall and costume shop all over again, investing labor and money in spaces it does not own, which adds further to the cost of each show.

Currently the company has to lease space to provide educational or public programming. This constriction significantly limits the ability of the Company to expand its educational programs, special events, fundraisers, and additional opera programming without the need to rent and try to schedule off-site facilities.

With the opening of The Betty Van Andel Opera Center, all of the Company's operations will be centralized. Although performances will still take place at DeVos Hall, rehearsals and other educational programming will finally have a place to call home.