Inside Opera Carolina’s new push for a younger audience

Not something you expect to hear at Belk Theater, but Opera Carolina is changing the game with its new “tweet seats” program for digitally savvy Charlotte influencers.

Director of marketing (and former Opera Carolina resident artist) Megan Miller is on a mission to make opera more accessible to younger audiences. From student night to a blogger ambassador program, Miller has tried to break down common stigmas like “it’s too expensive” or “it’s not for me.” Tweet seats are the latest iteration.

Modeled after a program started by Palm Beach Opera, tweet seats will officially launch during the April 10-16 run of “Pagliacci and Aleko.” Don’t judge my uncultured soul, but for awhile I assumed this show was a love story between two people named Pagliacci and Aleko. Turns out, it’s actually two separate operas running as a double feature. Who doesn’t love a little BOGO?

Image courtesy of Opera Carolina

The tweet seats special showing takes place on student night when Opera Carolina hosts 400 students from area schools. While students will sit in the front rows, the opera puts tweet seat attendees in the upper levels to take pictures, short videos, make memes, live-tweet, blog or Instagram – anything and everything to give Charlotte followers an inside look at the show.

Both “Pagliacci” and “Aleko” are about an hour long with an intermission in-between. During the student/tweet seat night intermission, attendees will have a chance to interview show principals in-person or through tweets.

“With students involved, we’ve been leaning towards tweeting questions,” Miller said. “This gives those who may be a shy a chance to get their questions answered. It also encourages people to connect with us on social so we can stay in touch.”

Image courtesy of Opera Carolina

While the first class of tweet seaters is fairly small, Miller plans to expand the program next season. Anyone with a Twitter and/or Instagram handle is invited to apply for the program. Information on how to do that should be on the website this summer.

The first people on board: @ErinMaddrey, @ScoopCharlotte, @LashawndaBecoat, @AndiPerullo and @Adaline13 for the 7p.m. showing tonight (April 8).

Their combined Twitter following: nearly 40,000.