The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded First Coast Opera a $10,000 Challenge America grant for its upcoming March production of “The Trial of B.B. Wolfe.”
The award was one of more than $30 million in grants announced as part of the NEA’s first major funding announcement in fiscal year 2017. The Challenge America category supports small- and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations.
“The arts are for all of us, and by supporting organizations such as First Coast Opera, the National Endowment for the Arts is providing more opportunities for the public to engage with the arts,” NEA Chairman Jane Chu said. “Whether in a theater, a town square, a museum, or a hospital, the arts are everywhere and make our lives richer.”
Written by First Coast Opera Artistic Director Curtis Tucker and collaborator Nelson Sheeley, “The Trial of B.B. Wolf” is a family-friendly opera that puts the Big Bad Wolf on trial. It will be make its Florida premiere in March as part of a double bill alongside Gilbert and Sullivan’s courtroom comedy, “Trial by Jury.”
“We couldn’t be more proud,” FCO Board President Michele Bova said of the funding award to support the production. “This is our first grant from the NEA, and it shows that our company, based right here in Saint Augustine, is recognized for growing, both in scope and quality, and reaching a larger audience base.”
“The Trial of B.B. Wolf” will be presented March 16 at 7:30 p.m. and March 18 at 4 p.m. at Ancient City Baptist Church in St. Augustine. For tickets or more information, visit www.firstcoastopera.com.
