When Opera Colorado decided earlier this year to consolidate its main production season into four months in the winter and spring, that left it largely out of the public eye in the fall.
To offset that absence and give the company at least some onstage presence now, it is presenting “Sideshow! An Opera Cabaret,” a semi-staged, informal evening of short works and art songs.
Included will be Leonard Bernstein’s one-act 1952 opera, “Trouble in Tahiti,” a duet about a circus knife-thrower and his wife and songs by Kurt Weill and Benny Andersson of ABBA fame.
“The whole theme ends up being about relationships not being black and white and cut and dried like a sitcom,” said director Brad Trexell.
Taking part will be the Opera Colorado Young Artists, five emerging singers who are in-residence with the company for seven months, along with pianist Allan Armstrong and Denver actress Jessica Robblee.
“Sideshow!” debuts at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Studio Loft, a flexible black-box theater that opened in May on the top story of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. ($40 and $45, 303-468-2030 or . )
The final two performances will be held at 8 p.m. Nov. 12 and 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St. ($35 and $45, 720-509-1000 or ). Kyle MacMillan
