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Guide to the Valerie Post Starlight Opera Collection
MS 60
MS 60
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Table of contents
Title: Valerie Post Starlight Opera Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 60
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.75 Linear feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1946-1978
Abstract: This collection contains programs, newspaper articles, and other papers regarding the San Diego Civic Light Opera Association
(also known as Starlight Opera) compiled by performer and board president Valerie Post from 1946 to 1978.
creator:
Post, Valerie
Biographical / Historical Notes
The San Diego Civic Light Opera Association, commonly known as Starlight, was established in 1946, opening with an inaugural
performance of The Mikado. The company changed its name several times, including Star-Light, Starlight, Starlight Opera, Starlight
Theatre, Starlight Musical Theatre, and then finally back to San Diego Civic Light Opera Association. The company’s mission
was to bring light opera and musical theatre to San Diego, as well as to provide opportunities for local performers to acquire
training and performance experience. The company brought numerous Broadway hits to the San Diego stage, and its yearly casting
calls attracted actors, dancer, and musicians from all over the county.
The first two seasons were held in the San Diego Zoo’s Wegeforth Bowl. The company’s first president, Robert J. Sullivan,
was also a Zoo director. There were several problems with the venue, which was used for seal shows during the day, including
a moat between the stage and seats that had to be drained daily, and noise from nearby animals. In 1948, Starlight moved to
the Balboa Park Bowl. It remained at this location until 1968, when financial concerns made it necessary to move again. The
company collaborated with the United States International University (USIU) and moved performances to the San Diego State
University amphitheater and later to the Wegeforth Bowl. By 1974, Starlight had regained full control again. Performances
were moved back to the Balboa Park Bowl, which was later renamed Starlight Bowl.
Valerie Post (b. 1904; d. 3/23/1993), was born in Russia and moved to the United States with her family as a child. She received
two degrees in Chemistry from the University of California Berkeley. It was during her college years that she first decided
to pursue a career as a musician, after attending a concert at the university. From there she performed with the San Francisco
Grand Opera Company, the Los Angeles Opera Company, the New York Opera Company, and the Columbia Grand Opera Company. In 1927,
she married Lauren C. Post, a professor of geography at San Diego State University. She performed the lead in the first Starlight
production and played roles in many productions throughout the years. She was the first female member of the Starlight board
of directors, and served as president of the association from 1964-1969. She was involved in the formation of the Starlight
Women’s Society, an auxiliary of the San Diego Civic Light Opera Association. She also taught voice lessons to San Diego students
for many years, and some of her students went on to perform for Starlight.
Mrs. Post was also active in a fundraising association known as COMBO, or the Combined Arts of San Diego. COMBO hosted auctions
to raise funds for local performance groups such as the Old Globe Theatre, the San Diego Ballet, the San Diego symphony, and
Starlight Opera. This collection mainly reflects Mrs. Post's involvement in COMBO II in 1967; the first COMBO auction took
place in 1965.
This collection contains programs, newspaper articles, and other papers regarding the San Diego Civic Light Opera Association
(also known as Starlight Opera) compiled by performer and board president Valerie Post from 1946 to 1978. Other papers include
invitations to events, newsletters, photographs, audition notices, promotional materials, and information regarding the performing
arts fundraising organization Combined Arts of San Diego (COMBO).
The collection is arranged by material type and subject.
Valerie Post Starlight Opera Collection, MS 60, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Collection processed by Julia Cagle in March 2007 and Samantha Mills in March 2017.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Combined Arts of San Diego (COMBO).
Music Teachers' Association of California .
San Diego Civic Light Opera Association.
San Diego Civic Theatre.
Starlight Opera.
Starlight Women’s Association.
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Opera
Programs
San Diego (Calif.)