Opera Workshop brings opera to life with canned food drive

The Department of Music's Opera Workshop, under the direction of Associate Professor Frances Brockington, will perform Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel and Gian Carlo Menotti's Martin's Lie this Friday and Saturday evening in Schaver Music Recital Hall.

In addition to performing, the Opera Workshop will collect cans for a discount or in lieu of the cost of admission. One canned good will get you $3 off the cost of admission, while four canned goods will cover the entire cost of one ticket.

Brockington believes each of these operas resonate with the homeless and hungry children of the 21st century. "Both operas are about hungry and disenfranchised children, they both represent the need for children to be fed and nurtured."

Hansel and Gretel is a familiar fairy tale about two children who have been sent into the woods to gather food for their family. The duo gets lost and find a magic cottage with food on the facade and a witch that offers them food and shelter. They soon discover that this is not a friend but definite stranger danger.

Martin's Lie chronicles an orphan who continuously searches for his father and love. He lives in an orphanage with other abandoned children. They are hungry and cold, have nothing, and the orphanage is plagued with rats. A Stranger running from the authorities convinces Martin that he is his father so that Martin will help to hide him, something that leads to the ultimate horror.

Opera Workshop
Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck
Martin's Lie by Gian Carlo Menotti
Frances Brockington, director
Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21
7:30 p.m. in Schaver Music Recital hall
$8 General Admission
$5 Student Admission
$3 discount for one canned good and free admission for four canned goods