Behind the Blue Curtain
Your Backstage Pass to the Season at Sarasota Opera
Welcome to Season 2 of the official podcast of Sarasota Opera, offering listeners an insider’s view of the people, history and stories that bring each production to life this season.
Episode 11 'Rootabaga Country: From Stage to Page' is now live! Listen below on Apple or Spotify.
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What's On This Week
This Week on Behind the Blue Curtain
Episode 11: Rootabaga Country: From Page to Stage
In this episode of Behind the Blue Curtain, we explore Rootabaga Country, Sarasota Youth Opera's fall production by composer and librettist Rachel J. Peters. Inspired by the whimsical stories of Carl Sandburg, Rootabaga Country follows Gimme the Ax and his two children, Please Gimme and Ax Me No Questions, on a fantastical journey through a world filled with imagination, humor, and heart. Along the way, they discover unexpected friendships, unforgettable adventures, and new understandings of family, belonging, and home.
Host Hallie Geyh sits down with Peters to discuss the creation of the opera and its journey from inspiration to libretto and score. Then, Director Martha Collins and Conductor Jessè Martins share how Sarasota Youth Opera's talented young artists bring this imaginative world to life on stage. Together, these conversations offer a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative process that transforms an opera from page to stage.
Rootabaga Country will be performed at the Sarasota Opera House on November 7 at 5:00 p.m. and November 8 at 12:00 p.m. Special thanks to the Les and Carol Brualdi Foundation for their generous support of Sarasota Youth Opera and Rootabaga Country.
Discover the Stories of Opera
Created for both longtime opera fans and those new to the art form, this podcast series features conversations with singers, directors, historians, opera fans and members of the Sarasota Opera team. Listeners will get the inside scoop on upcoming performances, learn about the creative process, and discover what makes Sarasota Opera’s programming and community unique.
From artist interviews and opera previews to historical insights and personal stories, Behind the Blue Curtain engages audiences to experience the season in a deeper, more personal way.
Whether you’re celebrating your 67th season at Sarasota Opera or planning your first visit, this podcast is your backstage pass to everything Sarasota Opera.
Meet the Host
Senior Digital Marketing and Content Producer
Hallie Geyh
Hallie Geyh is the host of Behind the Blue Curtain and Sarasota Opera's Senior Digital Marketing & Content Producer. Since joining Sarasota Opera in 2024, she has expanded the company's digital storytelling initiatives through podcasts, video, social media, and other content designed to bring audiences closer to the art form. Previously, she served as Digital Marketing Manager for Indiana University's renowned Jacobs School of Music. A lifelong performer and arts communicator, Hallie is passionate about sharing the stories behind the music and making opera accessible, engaging, and relevant for audiences of all backgrounds.
Episode Archives & Videos
2026-27 Season
1) Episode 8: Showing Up: Richard Russell and Sarasota Opera' Next Chapter - Listen here
2) Episode 9: Behind the Scenes: The Art of Orchestrating an Opera- Listen here
3) Episode 10: Into the Woods: Hansel and Gretel- Listen here
2025-26 Season
1) Opera 101 at 100 - October 3 - Listen here
Videos Shorts: The Opera Lover's Responsibility to Opera: Watch here
2) Modern Love for a Classic Art: Why Opera Still Resonates - October 10 - Listen here
Videos Shorts: Modern Love for a Class Art: Watch here
3) Così fan tutte: Duplicity, disguises and delightful deception - October 17 - Listen here
Video Shorts: A tale of duplicity, disguises, and delightful deception: Watch here
4) Brundibar: The Youth Opera with a Powerful Past - Listen here
Video Shorts: The Story Behind Brundibàr’s Powerful Prologue: Watch here
5) La bohème: Poetry, Poverty, and Passion - Listen here
Video Shorts: "It was literally bohème!": Watch here
6) The Merry Widow: Money, Mischief & Matchmaking - Listen here
Video Shorts: "Onstage Chemistry": Watch here
7) Il trovatore: Serenades, sieges, and family secrets - Listen here
Video Shorts: "Marco Nisticò on Directing Il trovatore for Maestro DeRenzi's Final Verdi": Watch here
8) Susannah: Sin, a Loss of Innocence, and Repentance- Listen here
Video Shorts: "A rare, first-hand account of working with Carlisle Floyd": Watch here