THE OPERA AT A GLANCE

Santa Fe Opera founder John O. Crosby acquired the property in September 1956.

Crosby was succeeded as general director by Richard Gaddes in 2000. He retired following the 2008 season when Charles MacKay became the third general director in The Santa Fe Opera’s history. In August, MacKay announced that he will retire following the 2018 season.

The Santa Fe Opera (building designed by John W. McHugh and Van Doren Hooker of Santa Fe) opened on July 3, 1957, with a production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. The theater’s capacity was 480 seats.

Eight years later, a partial roof was added, increasing capacity to 1,153 seats.

The building was destroyed by fire in 1967.

Architects McHugh and Bradley Kidder designed a new, 1,550-seat theater.

In 1998, the current 2,128-seat theater (with an additional 106 standing-room places), designed by Polshek Partnership Architects of New York, had its inaugural performances.

The opera property totals 155 acres.

economic time for tribal gaming.

State economists are projecting modest growth in the industry in New Mexico over the next five years.

There also is the possibility of some contraction in the industry because of a lack of growth in both the state population and the personal income of New Mexicans, according to one economist.

Contact Thom Cole at tcole@ sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3022.