That's Amato

An East Village opera house turns 50

Mom-and-pop opera may sound paradoxical, but Anthony and Sally Amato have been at it for half a century, and next month they celebrate their 50th season with a production of Verdi's Falstaff. The couple started the Amato Opera in 1948 to give young people stage experience. Their shoebox-size theater—in a turn-of-the-century building on the Bowery, in Manhattan's East Village—seats 107 and is often filled to capacity. Anthony directs and conducts each season's five productions; Sally does nearly everything else—"box office, bookkeeping, publicity, costumes," says Anthony. "I do lights too," she points out. Besides a small stipend for carfare, the 30 or so performers get a big meal on strike day ("Sally's specialty is ziti with meatballs and sausage"). Their orchestrina includes a piano and a seven-piece chamber ensemble. "We're doing Aida without the elephants, but we do have tusks for the procession," explains Anthony. "It's a hell of a lot of work," he admits. But, Sally adds, "it's our 50th anniversary and we still get excited!"

ALBERT INNAURATO