This production is made possible by a grant from the Jerome Mirza Foundation and in partnership with Illinois Wesleyan University.
We will be touring local schools and other venues throughout the month of May giving local school children the opportunity to experience the fun, excitement, and joy of live music in a format that is accessible and relatable to their age group.
𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦:
All ages are welcome to attend these performances!
- 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 9 – Hansen Center, Illinois Wesleyan University
- 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 10 – Bloomington Public Library
- 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 10 – Unitarian Universalist Church
2025 The Ghost in the Opera House
Mister Maestro knows his rickety old Opera House is in trouble. Pipes groan, things crash in the night, and what’s with all the knocking? Is it just an urgent need for repairs or–gasp–is there a ghost in the Opera House?!? If so, the timing couldn’t be worse because it’s time for the La, la, la, Lalapalooza Singer of the Year contest. This event is the very last chance for Mister Maestro to turn things around. Look! Here come the semi-finalists–Susanna, Adele, Papageno, and the Pirate King. They are here to compete, not to make friends. But . . . as thing fly around and treasured items disappear, the La, la, la, Lalapalooza contest itself falls into jeopardy. If there is a ghost, what does he want? Is it possible these opera superstars could find a way to work together and save the day?
This 40-minute operatic romp looks at empathy, teamwork, and why music matters.
CHILDREN’S OPERA MISSION & HISTORY
Part of Prairie Fire Theatre’s mission is to introduce local school children to classical music, such as opera. Toward that end, for almost 20 years, Prairie Fire Theatre has produced an annual children’s opera. In recent years, PFT has toured 40-50 schools and other venues and performed for approximately 10,000 children and adults annually.* Each children’s opera includes a cast of 4-5 singers (mostly local college students) plus a music director/pianist. To give the children an authentic theatrical musical experience, a portable set is designed and built by local set designers. The actors and staff move and “rebuild” the set, along with various props, at each school.
Since 2011, PFT has commissioned talented local author Nancy Steele Brokaw to write an original children’s opera. Ms. Brokaw develops a child-oriented story and then adapts the lyrics of classical arias by composers like Mozart and Gilbert and Sullivan to fit the story line. Each children’s opera contains a message or theme, such as caring for the environment, being kind to others, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, and “different can be good”. The performers engage the children throughout the performance by getting them to chant, cheer or boo the “bad guy”. Teachers are provided with a curriculum packet that includes activities and ideas for teaching the opera to a variety of age groups.
To see a clip of a children’s opera rehearsal, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0vxt282Bo