Opera Look-In Performances Take Kids Behind-the-Scenes of Opera 10/16

Children and their families will experience the magic of the performing arts when Washington National Opera presents the Opera Look-In at the Kennedy Center Opera House, October 14 and 16, 2010. The one-hour performance features story telling, familiar opera tunes and interactive demonstrations in a program designed to entertain and educate children ages 6 to 12. Approximately 4,000 school children will attend performances on October 14; a public performance is offered on October 16. Program and ticketing information are below.

The Opera Look-In is an all-new, original production that tells the story of four young people who unexpectedly find themselves lost in an opera house. As the children try to make sense of their surroundings, they meet famous opera characters such as Figaro and Madama Butterfly, and learn about the myriad elements of the opera stage, such as lighting, the orchestra and the conductor. Woven into the narrative are musical excerpts from The Barber of Seville, The Magic Flute, Madama Butterfly and more.

The Opera Look-In features student-actors, professional singers from WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, the Washington National Opera Orchestra led by Steve Gathman, a special guest appearance by WJLA/ABC 7's Maureen Bunyan, and others.

Developed by WNO's award-winning Education and Community Programs department, the Opera Look-In is designed to engage children while meeting several learning goals. Like other WNO Education programs, the Opera Look-In meets standards set by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and Common Core State Standards: children in the audience will practice skills such as observation, drawing inferences, critical analysis and visualizing on the basis of text, and will learn music fundamentals, such as the ways in which music conveys emotions. All those attending the performance will also receive a learning guide to prepare for the program.

"Stories, dress-up and songs: They're childhood staples, but they're also the building blocks of opera, so the Opera Look-In is immediately accessible to kids. Because opera is a multidisciplinary, multicultural art form, it allows for infinite learning opportunities," commented Bruce Taylor, Director of Education for Washington National Opera. "Opera is not only a beautiful art form, it's an incredibly rich and engaging teaching tool. We want our youngest audiences to come away curious-curious about language, about music, about the characters' relationships, about the meaning of the stories. If, in the process, the kids find out that they like opera, it's a bonus."

As a corollary to the Opera Look-In, several of the participating schools are part of Washington National Opera's D.C. Public School Partnership Program. WNO Teaching Artists will spend approximately 40 hours in each classroom throughout the school year, working with students and teachers to implement a curriculum that builds upon the themes and ideas introduced during the performance. The program culminates with students imagining, writing, casting and producing their own original opera performances.

Program and Listings Information

About the Opera Look-In: Go behind-the-scenes to learn about the magical world of opera with the Opera Look-In, a one-hour performance featuring beloved opera arias, technical demonstrations and more. October 14 and 16 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. For more information, visit www.dc-opera.org or call 202.295.2400. The Opera Look-In is recommended for children ages 6 to 12 and their families.

Family Look-In (open to general public)
Saturday, October 16 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets ranges from $10 to $35 and are available by calling 202.295.2400, 800.US.OPERA or in person at WNO's Box Office.

Opera Look-In for Schools
Thursday, October 14 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Tickets are $7 per person (students, teachers, and chaperons), and available to schools and school groups. Groups may register through the Kennedy Center Registration Office, 202.416.8835 (ext. 5) or www.kennedy-center.org/education/schoolguide/schoolguide.html. For questions relating to anything other than registration, please contact Washington National Opera Education and Community Programs at education@dc-opera.org or 202.448.3462.

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