CIVIC LIGHT OPERA ASSOCIATION
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Mission Statement
The mission of Civic Light Opera Association is to produce quality musical theatre for Pacific Northwest audiences.
About This Cause
Seattle Musical Theatre (SMT) was founded as Seattle Civic Light Opera (CLO) in 1977 by a group of Seattle opera enthusiasts, including Joan Galstaun and Barbara McHargue. With a keen interest in offering theatre to North Seattle communities, they pooled personal resources, located a venue above a music store in Northgate, (Heritage Theatre), and launched CLO’s first season with German composer Johann Strauss’ “The Gypsy Baron”. By 1978, the venue was running at capacity, so the troupe moved to the 750-seat auditorium in the Jane Addams School in Lake City. In response to audience requests, CLO began including contemporary musicals as part of their 1980 season. CLO remained at the Jane Addams stage through 2002 until the K-8 program moved into the building. From 2002 to 2004 CLO operated, temporarily, from the Shoreline Center; while pursuing a contract for the theatre in Magnuson Park. it was during this time (2004) that a rebranding campaign for SMT was launched. In 2008 the new Seattle Musical Theatre moved into Building 47 of the Historic Magnuson Park with a 10-year lease. When the City decided to put the building out to bid in late 2018 to attract investors, the SMT board began a venue search that brought the company back to Shoreline Center for the 2019 holiday season. The company suspended operations during the Covid Pandemic, and has begun fundraising in anticipation of the 2021/22 season.