On May 11, 2019, the Pittsburgh Festival Opera will host its annual gala celebrating Fred Rogers and his work as both television producer and composer.

The event is titled “A Beautiful Night in the Neighborhood,” a nod to the theme song of  Rogers’ long-running PBS program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood which was filmed at Pittsburgh’s WQED Studios.

Throughout Rogers’ career, he composed several short operas, two of which will receive their stage premiere together at Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s 2019 Festival Season in July. The gala will be held at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, where guests will be able to view several of the original puppets from Rogers’ television program, join a sing-along, or record their favorite memory of Mister Rogers, which may be featured in the season’s opera productions.

Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s production of Mister Rogers’ Operas will include “Windstorm in Bubbleland” and “Spoon Mountain,” each lasting approximately 30 minutes and will be directed by Tomé Cousin.