amargosa opera house inc death valley staff about

But I hope that future visitors to the Amargosa Opera House will continue to find more than ghosts.įor more information about the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel, call 76 or visit.

What happens after that is anyone’s guess. And Vazquez will continue her tribute performances every Friday and Saturday night through May, when the un-air-conditioned desert opera house becomes too stifling for dance. The opera house and hotel are now operated by a nonprofit organization trying to preserve and restore Becket’s dream.Ī weekend of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of Becket’s arrival at Death Valley Junction will be held at the opera house Feb.

By the late 1920s, the town was little more than a tourist stop on the way to the park. Less than a dozen people were at the recent performance I attended, but the atmosphere and performance were still magical, perhaps even haunting. Patrons wait for the doors to open at the Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley Junction, Calif. Like Becket, Vazquez performs every role herself, sometimes simultaneously, with a hat or false mustache denoting a change of character. The talented and energetic Vazquez now performs shows at the opera house of Becket’s dances as well as her own newly created interpretations. Young dancer Hilda Vazquez, who came to Death Valley Junction two years ago specifically to meet Becket, received the older dancer’s permission to continue the performances. Becket died last year, but I couldn’t help but feel her presence all around.Īnd, delightfully, the show goes on once again.

Amargosa opera house inc death valley staff about