Creative OPERAtions and 3BR Distillery serve up a "Distilled" version of Bizet's "Carmen" on September 18th

Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 09/02/2026

(KEYPORT, NJ) -- This September, Creative OPERAtions and 3BR Distillery are serving opera a little differently. Bite-Sized Opera: Just a Taste of Carmen comes to 3BR Distillery in Keyport on Friday, September 18, 2026, offering audiences a "distilled" version of Bizet's Carmen filled with unforgettable music, theatrical storytelling, tarot imagery, and a dash of the unexpected. Doors open at 6:30pm, showtime is 7:00pm.

Co-produced by Creative OPERAtions and 3BR Distillery, this original adaptation brings one of opera’s most iconic stories out of the traditional theater and into the distinctive atmosphere of 3BR’s Soviet-punk tasting room. With handcrafted cocktails available throughout the evening, audiences can settle in, sip something inventive, and find themselves immersed in Carmen’s world as the music, drama, and storytelling unfold around them.

The program begins with a short recital exploring the music that inspired—and was inspired by—Carmen, drawing audiences into the passion, mystery, and romance of its world. Following a brief intermission, the evening continues with a one-hour adaptation of the opera, sung in the original French with dialogue and narration in English. Beloved arias and ensembles carry the story from flirtation and desire to jealousy, betrayal, and fate.

In this reimagining, each of the opera’s four principal characters is represented by a tarot card reflecting the beliefs, choices, and unseen forces that guide their journey. As the cards, music, and drama intertwine, the audience is drawn deeper into Carmen’s world—until fate reveals the final card.

“Bite-Sized Opera was created as an invitation,” said Corinne Schaefer, founder and artistic director of Creative OPERAtions. “It gives newcomers a welcoming first taste of opera while offering longtime opera lovers a fresh perspective on a story they may already know. Carmen is filled with extraordinary music and human drama, and the intimacy of 3BR Distillery allows audiences to experience both from just a few feet away.”

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The cast features mezzo-soprano Laura Virella as Carmen, tenor Edward Washington II as Don José, soprano Corinne Schaefer as Micaëla, and bass-baritone Eliam Ramos as Escamillo, with pianist David Maiullo.

Whether this is an audience member’s first encounter with opera or a return to a beloved masterpiece, Bite-Sized Opera offers an approachable way to experience the music, story, and drama without the commitment of a full-length production. Doors open at 6:30pm, giving guests time to purchase one of 3BR’s fresh, inventive cocktails and enjoy the tasting room before the performance begins.

The evening will also introduce audiences to Creative OPERAtions’ Feed the Soul initiative, which pairs free live performances with shared meals and meaningful artistic experiences for neighbors facing food insecurity and social isolation . Guests will have opportunities to support the initiative throughout the event.

Opera is about to be served in a whole new way—and this is only the first taste.

Tickets are $27.27 and available for purchase online. 3BR Distillery is located at 7 Main Street in Keyport, New Jersey.

Bite-Sized Opera: Just a Taste of Carmen is made possible in part through support from Monmouth Arts.

Founded in 2022, Creative OPERAtions is a New Jersey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to making opera and classical music more accessible, engaging, and connected to the communities it serves. Through imaginative performances, meaningful partnerships, and initiatives such as Feed the Soul, the organization brings exceptional live music into welcoming and unexpected spaces—creating experiences that invite new audiences in while offering longtime arts lovers a fresh way to connect with the music.

Located in downtown Keyport, 3BR Distillery is a family-owned producer of craft spirits, liqueurs, and fresh, inventive cocktails. Its story is rooted in a treasured family recipe passed down from the owners’ grandfather, Oleg, whose resourcefulness and rebellious spirit continue to inspire the distillery today. Known for its award-winning MENDEL 100% pea vodka and distinctive Soviet-punk tasting room, 3BR brings people together through live music, special cocktail menus, classes, and one-of-a-kind community events.