About Us

The Pescadero Opera Society celebrates its 16th year

It started in a tiny living room, with friends sitting on the floor watching an opera on DVD on a small 27-inch screen television. We grew over the years, moving to a large property on Cabrillo Hwy. With use of “The Barn” we opened our doors to anyone who wanted to come.  Each month we now accommodate between 30-40 novice and veteran opera lovers from around the Bay Area, most of whom have become regulars over the years.

Newcomers to Opera. These DVD presentations are a great way to learn about opera. The atmosphere is always friendly and informal, never stuffy. An introduction to the opera is given before the show, letting you know what you are about to see and hear, as well as opera trivia. Programs are provided that include a synopsis of the opera, the composer and a general history of the opera. The DVD has English subtitles, and there’s always room for questions and discussion.

The opera is held in our fabulous Event Hall (lovingly referred to as “The Barn”). It is shown on our wonderful giant-sized Gracie Anderson Memorial Movie Screen (donated by her son, Rodney), in six-channel digital surround-sound (donated by Jason Skinner and family, and several yard sales). Sit in our comfy theater seats (donated by Coastal Repertory Theatre), all set on our wonderful carpeting from the Ritz Carlton ballroom (donated by Kevin Palmer of Floors to Go, Premier Termite & the Long Branch Saloon/Event Center). Munch on popcorn from our fantastic popcorn machine (donated by Chris and Suneva from Aratas Pumpkin Farm). Keep warm and cozy with our 60,000 BTU heater and enjoy the show with our fabulous projector (both made possible by your generous donations).

Socializing and pot luck are held between 12:00-2:00 p.m. We provide the main dish, large salad, drinks and snacks. Please bring a dish that you want to share for the pot luck. The opera starts promptly at 2:00 p.m. with a brief introduction given by Phyllis Neumann.

Suggested donation: $10-20 per person. This covers the cost of food, supplies, heating, equipment, insurance, porta-potti pump-out, etc.

Join us at 12:00 NOON on the second Saturday of every month, from September through June.
No RSVP is necessary and no apologies if you can’t come. Drop-ins are always welcome.

We look forward to seeing you then…

Phyllis Neumann

Check us out in January 2017’s
Half Moon Bay Review Magazine

Phyllis Neumann

Born in Brooklyn, New York, I have been married over 55 years with two grown daughters. I started my career as an elementary school teacher, received my Masters degree in 1969 and worked as an elementary school counselor. After moving to California I received my MFT license in 1971 as a Marriage and Family Therapist and opened a counseling practice in Petaluma.

In 1993 my husband and I both retired, bought a 47-foot ketch named Adventure, sold our home in Penngrove of 22 years and headed out the Golden Gate Bridge in search of new adventures. We spent ten glorious years living on the sea, meeting new friends and visiting the wonderful countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. On the boat I took with me over 20 operas and enjoyed showing them to any cruisers who were interested.

When our two daughters started having families of their own we knew it was time to return to land. In 2002 we sold Adventure in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and returned to California in June, to settle down in Pescadero with our daughter, Andrea and her family, living very much as an extended family. We have been living together on the same property for over 15 years.

In 2003 I opened a new counseling practice in Half Moon Bay. Around that time I also started showing operas in my tiny living room. I was eventually able to move the monthly opera event to a larger building on my son-in-law’s property, opened it up to the public and formed the Pescadero Opera Society. Several years later we all moved to our current location on Cabrillo Highway and have been showing operas on a monthly basis in “The Barn” ever since. My favorite opera series has always been Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen,” which I present as a six-week course on alternate summers.

It’s been a wonderful and rewarding experience to share my love of opera to all who are interested and I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to enrich people’s lives.

Visit the Coastside Therapists website: Phyllis L. Neumann, MFT

We just published our cruising journal! Check it out on Amazon! Adventure Ho!