Features » New Stuff » Uncategorized
Opera For Kids? Most Definitely!
Opera for Kids? Most Definitely! by Leah Parodi
Omaha is a city known for wonderful music, theater and shows. Top notch Broadway events, accomplished musicians and up and coming stars frequently make their way to the Orpheum and Holland as well as other Omaha venues. And now, more than ever, children’s performances are taking place and they are entertaining and educating our children in the ways of the arts. In November, Opera Omaha will continue such a fine tradition of performance art for children by presenting Hansel and Gretel, a show that will not only entertain children, but their parents and grandparents as well.
Over the past few years, Opera Omaha has been focusing on education for high school and college aged students. But after a children’s performance of All the Kings Men in 2008, which included local children in the cast, Opera Omaha realized that the time was right to branch out to include younger children. Over the next few years Opera Omaha has worked to present more and more shows for children, works like Brundibar, an opera written by a child Holocaust survivor. This season, Opera Omaha will continue to work to attract younger fans with a rousing rendition of Hansel and Gretel that will be performed at the Rose Theater. And this version of an old story has some new, original and fun twists.
J. Gawf, Resident Music Director and Chorus Master for Opera Omaha will also be the Conductor for Hansel and Gretel and promises that this will be a fun and entertaining show for all ages. “The target audience for Hansel and Gretel is from the second to sixth grades,” he says. “But we do have a wonderful stage artist coming in to create a set that will amaze everyone.”
According to J., this adaptation of Hansel and Gretel is a lot more fun and a lot less scary than the original Grimm version. “We’ve taken a little liberty,” he laughs. “We took out the idea of cannibalism. People disappear versus people being eaten.”
“It’s been contemporized,” he adds. “The brother and sister have a lot of energy. Gretel is the older sister who is always scolding her younger brother, Hansel. Hansel gets into trouble and cannot seem to stop bouncing around.” J. adds that there is a new character addition of Hansel and Gretel’s grandmother to join traditional characters like the Sandman and Dew Fairy.
“It’s very different,” he says. “The witch is a bumbling Julia Child-like witch who loves to cook. And although she likes to capture children, eating them is not mentioned.” And while we will not give away the ending of the opera, it is a very happy and funny one. “Let’s just say that grandma had a bad day,” smiles J.
What is also very exciting about Hansel and Gretel is the fact that James Othuse, the scenic and lighting designer for the Omaha Playhouse, designed a spectatular set just for theRoseTheater. “It’s a brand new set,” says J. “It (the set) changes four times in an hour and includes a lighting extravaganza.”
The cast of Hansel and Gretel is equally exciting and top notch. Both Hansel and Gretel are played by female leads that came through the Valmont Voices Program that encourages new artists in a community program designed to educate, engage and enrich in all areas of opera. J. says that in general, roles such as the ones for Hansel and Gretel are limited so tryouts are very competitive, resulting in exceptional performers on stage for this particular performance.
And then there is the music. The arrangement was commissioned and will be conducted by J. “We are using local talent for this orchestra,” he says. “It’s beautiful music. Opera is totally acoustic. If you allow yourself to feel the music, let yourself go with it, you will be amazed at the emotions that it brings.”
Hansel and Gretel runs about an hour in length and has no intermission, which is perfect for an audience made up of children. And as far as manners go, J. says that if the audience should happen to like what they see and hear, they should definitely applaud. But J. does encourage all to stay in their seats and not to use flash photography.
There are several school performances during the week before the public performances and study guides and music are available for the students before they attend. “The students can then sing along to two of the songs,” says J.
As to the importance of opera for children, J. feels that as with other live art performances, it is irreplaceable. “It is truly amazing to see what the voice can do,” he adds. “It isn’t like hearing a voice on the radio; it shows more of the ranges that humans are capable of. And opera provides huge emotions like death and love. And it plays out history and general ideas that have always existed, it makes us understand.”
“Hansel and Gretel is just going to be fun for everybody. You will love the characters; you will find this to be a visual and oral treat at a great, intimate venue. The Rose is a perfect place for this performance.”
Public performances will run from Friday, November 11th through Sunday, November 13. Please visit www.operaomaha.org for more information. In addition to scheduling and pricing information, be sure to click on the Get Involved tab for more information on children’s activities and events.
Hansel and Gretel as performed by the Opera Omaha will not only entertain but educate area kids. Thus, continuing a wonderful tradition of the arts for all ages inOmaha.
By lhath1
