Opera in the Ozarks, fresh off the grand opening of its brand-new multimillion-dollar theater just west of Eureka Springs, is expanding its artistic programming beyond the summer season with a new film series. The inaugural event will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, featuring a screening of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips”– an opera by Gordon Getty, reimagined for film and starring Opera in the Ozarks alumnus Nathan Granner in the title role.
After the screening, Granner — an acclaimed tenor with an international opera career — will appear live on stage for an engaging conversation about the making of the film and his personal artistic journey. Both the film screening and the post-show talk will take place at Inspiration Point Center for the Arts in Eureka Springs (16311 Highway 62 West).
Based on James Hilton’s beloved 1934 novella, “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” tells the moving story of a devoted schoolteacher at an English boys’ boarding school whose decades of service become a testament to love, loss and the lasting power of education. The film, directed by Brian Staufenbiel, features Granner as Mr. Chips alongside Marnie Breckenridge (Kathie), Lester Lynch (Merrivale) and Kevin Short (Ralston and Rivers), with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City portraying the students of Brookfield. The film’s score is performed by an orchestra conducted by Nicole Paiement.
Since the film’s 2021 world premiere at Festival Napa Valley in partnership with the Mill Valley Film Festival, Getty’s cinematic opera has been screened by leading opera institutions including Opera Philadelphia, New York City Opera, OPERA America and Des Moines Metro Opera.
“Launching this new film series in our new theater — with one of our own alumni at its heart — feels like the perfect way to extend Opera in the Ozarks’ spirit into the year-round calendar,” said Nancy Preis, general director of Opera in the Ozarks. “We’re thrilled to welcome Nathan back and to invite our community to experience opera in an entirely new form.”
Composer Gordon Getty, now 91, is celebrated for his lyrical and emotional works for the voice, including four operas and numerous chamber and orchestral compositions. “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” continues his legacy of combining timeless stories with lush, modern musical storytelling.
This screening marks the first in a planned ongoing series of opera- related film presentations at Opera in the Ozarks’ new theater, offering audiences new ways to experience the art form year-round. Details for future screenings will be announced in the coming months.
Tickets for Goodbye, Mr. Chips are $20 and are on sale now at opera. org or by calling the box of fice at 479-253-8595.
