A new opera will be performed for the first time this weekend at the Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd.
Over the course of five years, 1,300 young people were asked what matters to them, how they see themselves in the world and how to change it. Their texts and drawings became the basis for Future Perfect.
The story of Miranette begins in an enclosed society, fearful of all that lies beyond “the fence.” Curious, the young girl breaks out to follow an adventure that like her predecessors, Dorothy and Toto, the Little Prince and Pamina in the Magic Flute, brings her to a host of characters from whom she will learn a lot and give a lot.
“We want to bring all of Chicagoland to the beautiful Kehrein Center for the Arts for the world premiere of Future Perfect,” said Claudia Hommel, executive director at Working In Concert.
The Bellissima Opera production is led by award-winning director Nick Sandys and the award-winning creative team of librettist/singer Christine Steyer and composer David Shenton, along with conductor Tim Pahel, an orchestra and a cast of 30 performers, ages 4 to 79.
The performance, appropriate for children as young as 5, runs from June 23-26. Because the group producing the opera is “eager to bring this magical musical work back to young people, especially those who live in and around the Austin neighborhood,” $5 tickets are available to anyone 18 or younger or to any adults who bring at least four kids to the performance.
To purchase the $5 tickets use this email: claudia@workinginconcert.org. VIP tickets cost $50 and can be purchased online here.
Thursday and Friday night performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; the Saturday show starts at 7 p.m.; and Sunday’s performance begins at 4 p.m.
A third of the cast is under the age of 18, with special support from an Illinois Arts Council Summer Youth Employment grant and a host of sponsors, including Robert L Beach and Paul D Dykstra, Doug Costamire, Rich Pokorny, Suzanne Walsh and Dominique Frigo.