Learning at the Opera House: Operetta Workshop

Another great summer music program was launched this week as part of Learning at the Opera House. The Operetta Workshop is a three-week day camp for young people to learn acting, singing, and dancing. This year they are working on The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan. The show is directed by Julie Smith, who is enjoying her third year as director of the camp. Around 35 participants ranging in age from 10 to 18 meet at the opera house five days a week for three weeks, leading up to a final performance that will take place on Friday, July 30, 2010 at 6 pm in the Opera House. They are performing the full opera, including costumes and sets, so there is no time to waste!

They got started right away on Monday morning, introducing the show, rehearsing music, and going over audition tips. Auditions were held on Wednesday, and the cast was announced the same day. The auditions are held in front of everyone; it allows the cast to get comfortable singing in front of an audience. Every participant is given a recording of the music so they can practice at home. The goal is to have all music and dialogue memorized by the end of the second week, but some cast members will be off book before that.



I sat in on a rehearsal today to see how things are progressing and was blown away by the talent of the cast! Everywhere I looked I saw work being done; while a sectional was held to review parts of Act I with Julie in one room, some were in the hall reviewing lines and a few were listening to a recording and singing along. The voices are young but strong, and well-suited to the music. I was only hearing the very beginning of music rehearsals, I can only imagine what I'll hear in two weeks at the final performance!


I talked to director Julie Smith about what makes this workshop so special, and she remarked that all summer music programs are special because they provide the "extra oomph" that most kids don't get during the school year in a music class. Gilbert and Sullivan is a great choice of repertoire for this age group because the music is well-known but not too difficult, and the plots are accessible, with issues young people can relate to. Julie hopes that the cast will leave with a sense of accomplishment, increased confidence, and new friendships.

Michelle, a 15-year-old who is back for her second round of Operetta Camp, says she first came to the camp because of her music teacher at school, who encouraged her to get involved in summer music activities. Michelle returned to the camp this year because even though the end goal is the performance, the camp still feels like a workshop.

I looked over the schedule for this week and was amazed at all the material that is covered in such a short time! Over the course of the camp, the cast will be introduced to music history, character development, diction, staging, costumes, rehearsal etiquette, and many other things that are required to get a show off the ground.


The Operetta Workshop is a great opportunity for young people to be introduced to opera, performing, and putting a show together. They meet other people who love performing, and in the end they get to sing on the Opera House Stage! I can't wait to see the final performance!