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Third Graders at St. Anne's produce original opera about dangerous thrills
Performances will be on
Wednesday, March 12,
and
Thursday, March 13.
January 23, 2008, Middletown, DE
For the past several years, the third grade classes at St. Anne’s Episcopal School have written, produced and performed an original opera. This year’s opera, produced by the Third Grade Crystal Clear Opera Company, is titled Dangerous Thrills.
According to Michael Fiorile and Joseph Sardo, members of the Opera Company’s Public Relations Team, the story line for Dangerous Thrills includes a situation where a person is teased, and to then to retaliate against the person who did the teasing, dares the individual to journey into a zoo – at night, by himself.
Third grader Tyler Gross said he likes it when Danielle, one of the characters, ends up in the zoo, and then hides from the guard trying to find her.
There are 31 students in the two third-grade classes at St. Anne’s Episcopal School. This year, they formed the Crystal Clear Opera Company. The students then auditioned for jobs in the opera company, such as public relations team, composer, carpenter, make-up artist and costume designer, set designer, electrician, performer, historian, writer, stage managers, and production manager. They have worked together to write the script, compose the music, design and build sets, wire foot lights, design makeup and costumes, and publicize the show. There’s even an historian who documents the whole process.
“I like to be assistant stage manager because I get to spend time with performers and I think the Opera is very funny to watch,” said Andrew Ball. Andrew’s sister was the stage manager when she was in third grade at St. Anne’s.
Mrs. Jo Harney, choral director at St. Anne’s, brought the idea of a class opera with her when she came from another school who performed one every year under her direction. “Every year is different,” she said, “and each year’s opera is very good.”
G. Harvey Zendt, Head of St. Anne’s School, says that when children talk about their experience at St. Anne’s, they always talk about their memorable experiences with the third grade Opera. “I love to watch the preparation, he said. “The children are involved in every aspect — from building the sets and wiring the lighting, to performing in the show. It’s a unique experience and a great education for the children involved.”
Creating Original Opera is a program of the Metropolitan Opera Guild. This Creating Original Opera project is made possible by the Metropolitan Opera Guild Education Department, the G.E. Fund, and Geraldine R. Dodge Fountain.