Operas for Children by Denise Page Caraher

 

Children's Opera Scores for Rent

Indianapolis Opera offers Denise Page Caraher's children's opera scores for rent.  The Indianapolis Opera Ensemble (IOE) has performed these audience-pleasing productions since 1993.

 

All of these operas are intended for audiences from preschool through upper elementary grades.  Unexpected twists, humor, and entertaining characters combine with socially relevant values and great opera music.  The shows are written for four singers: soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and baritone, with piano accompaniment.

 

The set and costumes used by the IOE were designed to be simple and easily transportable.  Production guidelines are available.  Royalty fees are as follows:

 

1 to 5 performances –   $50 per performance
6 to 10 performances –  $40 per performance
More than 10 performances –  $30 per performance

 

 

For more information about renting children's opera scores, contact:

 

Patty Harvey
Director of Education
Indianapolis Opera
(317) 283-3531

 

 

Fairy Tales

 

 

Goldilocks and the Three Bears in Outer Space  NEW

Astronaut Goldilocks travels through space, experiencing awesome sights and awful food.  She crash-lands on an unknown, desolate planet.  Little does she know it is Planet Yogi, a once-thriving habitat and still home to the Three Bears.  Pollution and global warming have ruined the planet.  The Bears even have to buy the air they breathe.  Will the scary Lava Larva of the hot air volcano be soothed by Papa Bear’s magic flute and let them get their air supply?  Will Goldilocks overcome her fear and listen to what the Bears have to say about taking care of the environment?  Will Planet Earth listen?  Mozart’s beautiful music provides the background for the story’s important lesson.

 

Carmenella
Of course, the music is Bizet's.  The stepsisters are gang members, the ball is a bullfight, the Prince is a toreador, and the Fairy Godmother is the Hairy Godmother.  The stepsisters finally figure out that violence is a no-win proposition, and everyone learns that trying to make a positive difference for others makes for a happy ending.  The show includes rock-and-roll parodies: the Hairy Godmother sings "Why Be That Way?" (The Village People's hit, "YMCA") and the bull sings George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone."

 

 

The Emperor's New Clothes
It is easy for the swindlers, Calvin and Klein, to trick the vain Emperor.  He cares nothing for others and worries only about appearances, especially his own.  When he is finally presented with his dream outfit, all is revealed.  This tale of human folly reveals our weaknesses in a way that allows us to laugh at ourselves.  The music is by Donizetti.

 

 

Figatroll and the Three Billy Goats Gruff
There is sibling quibbling in the Gruff household.  Silly, Willy, and Milly are trying to get to opera auditions on the other side of the bridge, but they are afraid of the dreadful troll who lives under it.  Subterfuge as advised by the consultant, karate, and other not-so-witty plans all overlook the obvious—that the lonely Figatroll might not really be mean at all if anyone bothered to get to know him.  Learning the pitfalls of uninformed opinions and prejudgment, the Gruffs discover they can depend on each other—and on their new friend.  The music is by Rossini.

 

 

Hansel and Gretel

Hansel is always saying, "Just one more..." and always putting off doing what he's supposed to be doing.  After he and Gretel meet the characters in the forest—the Do and Don't Fairy who sings to them about good eating habits, Elvis the Grease King who tries to persuade them otherwise, and the infamous Witch—Hansel and his sister decide to take responsibility for their own actions.  The music is from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

 

Can be adapted for three singers: soprano, mezzo and tenor.

 

 

Jack and the Beanstalk
This fast-paced story has lots of laughs as Jack encounters the rapping old lady who buys his cow, an enchanted fairy princess, the Giant's lonely wife, and the unforgettable selfish Giant.  After an exciting chase, Jack and his new friends parachute to safety, followed by the Giant, who finally comes to his senses when he hits his head and wakes up as a kindhearted country western singer.  Jack and the Giant learn that love is more important than fame or gold, and that friends and family (and cows) are the real treasures of life.  The music is from Gounod's Faust.

 

Can be adapted for three singers: soprano, tenor and baritone.

 

 

Little Red Walking Hood
Little Red walks, then runs, right into trouble on her trip through the woods.  The wicked Wolf turns on the charm and tries to waltz her away from her common sense, but the stories and advice from the older people in her life pay off in the end.  To add to the fun, Granny and her friend Vilia, the fairy wood sprite, get in some high kicks and good licks.  As the females unite to subdue the furry felon, Girl Power rules!  The music is from Lehár's The Merry Widow.

 

 

Pinocchio
The nose knows in this story!  So do the loyal and loving Don Gepetto, the cold Blue Fairy, and Conscience Cricket.  If only they can get Pinocchio to figure it out before it's too late... before he ends up as a mindless zombie on Video Island.  The importance of education, being honest, and making the right choices add up to a positive sum total, but Pinocchio's math is as shaky as his judgment.  This is a truly awesome adventure set to the magical music of Mozart.  And yes, the whale sings, "Don Gepetto, you are my dinner!" à la Don Giovanni.

 

 

The Three Not-So-Little Pigs
The Big Bad Wolf definitely likes his bacon, but when a letter from his doctor warns him about his cholesterol, the Wolf vows to change his diet after one last porky feast.  Anxious to be out on their own, two of the three not-so-little pigs disregard their mother's advice and come close to being barbecued.  The pigs learn that a little common sense and cooperation go a long way.  Of course, the Wolf has to learn to like vegetables!  The music is from Donizetti's The Elixir of Love.

 

 

The Ugly Duckling
Life isn't easy when you're different.  Hugo, the one they call the ugly duckling, discovers this unfortunate truth in this heartwarming tale.  Although Hugo thinks he wants to be like everyone else, an encounter with the evil Dr. Ego makes him reconsider.  The pecking order and politics of the animal kingdom are playfully paired with the music of Offenbach as Hugo finds that each one of us has a special individual light.  When that light shines, surprising things can happen.

 

 

Original Stories

 

 

Operamania: The Light in the Lobby
"Let someone else do it."  "I'm too busy."  "I don't feel like it."  "I don't care."  Apathy loves to hear those words.  It's part of his plan to rid the world of feelings.  Music will be the first to go.  Who will stand up to Apathy and his sidekicks, Igno and Ramus?  Meet Operamon, the super superhero of Operamania, the tiny land of song hidden deep within the light in the lobby.  It's the home of the Operamaniacs, those sheroes and heroes of Opera.  Carmon and Cio Cio San are the sheroes in this story, but they need Everymon and people like you to get the job done.

 

 

Operamania II: The Word War
Welcome back to Operamania!  Since Apathy failed in his plot to destroy music, he has decided to go after words, and to eliminate all the expressive words of beauty and kindness.  There will be no words for singers to sing and no words to make people feel good.  Apathy's new buddy, Trash Talker, already knows how to fight dirty.  Their target will be the Operamania LIFEBRARY—the place where words come to life in books and stories.  Can Apathy make people believe it is a LIE-brary?  Can our heroes and sheroes, Operamon, Everymon, Cio Cio San, and Carmon, save the day?  Words have power; words can hurt or words can lift up.  Can they defeat Apathy?