Traveling opera
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 13 years, 4 months AGO
<p>Opera Coeur d'Alene performers will stage "The Toy Shop" Sunday at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Fifth and Lakeside, Coeur d'Alene. The show is free and open to the public.</p>
A live opera performance for the whole family will be offered Sunday at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Fifth and Lakeside, Coeur d'Alene. It is free and open to the public.
Opera Coeur d'Alene and the church are offering "The Toy Shop," a traveling show the opera company will be taking to 20 area schools throughout North Idaho.
"The Toy Shop," written by children's opera composer Seymour Barab, tells the tale of a magician who tries to steal two dolls, Paul and Pauline, from their toymaker father. His efforts are thwarted and with the help of a surprise character, they all discover that love is stronger than magic.
The traveling show is part of Opera Coeur d'Alene's long-standing "Opera-tunities" educational project, sponsored this year by STCU, Hecla Mining Foundation, the Herbert McAvoy Fund in Idaho Community Foundation and the Florence Wasmer Fund in Inland Northwest Community Foundation.
"The Toy Shop" is directed by Aaron St. Clair Nicholson, a seasoned Metropolitan Opera artist and general director of Opera Coeur d'Alene.
Bring the kids, the grandparents, the whole family, and "see what monkey business these dolls are up to," Nicholson said.
Up-and-coming soprano Courtney Rockman will sing as the doll, Pauline. She is a graduate of University of Maryland and has performed roles with Skagit Opera in her hometown of Mount Vernon, Wash., and with Emerald City Opera in Colorado. She is this year's winner of the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Young Artist Award.
Coeur d'Alene native Cody Bray will sing the part of the other doll, Paul. He earned his bachelor degree in vocal performance from Eastern Washington University and has been a frequent vocal performer in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene.
The singing role of the toymaker will be performed by Michael Heitmann, a Camano, Wash., resident who is working toward his master degree in vocal performance at the University of Idaho.
Nathan Heard, singing as the "Bad Guy" magician, has lent his voice to opera and musical theater around the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene region.
Sunday's performance is free and open to the public.