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Pub Operas canadian premiere will feature a presentation of new opera vignettes based on real-life stories in Glasgow’s historic Sloans Pub, produced in July for the 2011 Merchant City Festival. The Tapestry Songbook concert will showcase bravura arias from the extensive library of Tapestry produced operas, performed by artists from the Tapestry New Work Studio Company and participants from Tapestry’s New Opera 101 Master Class/Workshop. This season will also give you behind-the-scenes access to six new works in development at the New Opera Showcase and finally, after a thrilling workshop presentation of the first Act of Oksana G. last winter, is the next stage of this electrifying new opera by the Governor General’s Award winning playwright, Colleen Murphy and SOCAN award-winning composer, Aaron Gervais.

Tapestry has been very busy over the last three weeks and we, along with audience members, were thrilled to experience the 5th annual final performance of the 2011 INside Opera program.  Featuring youth from Regent Park and St. James Town, and with the assistance from composer Glenn James, librettist Alicia Payne, Outreach and Education Director Amber Ebert, and Tapestry Intern Dylan Hayden, participants created and performed new short operas based on their experiences living in their community.

Energetic youth participated through the The Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club of Regent Park; it is difficult to inspire youth ranging in age from 5-9 to do anything, let alone write, stage, and sing in an opera.   However, through positive motivation, colorful costumes, and a little bit of patience, Color World premiered to great success!  Telling the adventure of the Rainbow family as they set off to Mars to rescue the President of Purple Planet from the evil Spider Monkey and his sidekick Neat Freak, Color World presented the issues of sharing, inner beauty, and the importance of keeping the environment clean.

At the same time, Tapestry ran the INside Opera program at St. Andrew’s United Church with youth from St. James Town’s City Hope Summer Camp.  A slightly older group ranging in age from 6-14 allowed for a more critical discussion on the people, places, and things found in their communities.  Special guest, and Tapestry’s Emeritus Director Martin Hunter, a longtime resident of Toronto, gave us insights about what life was like growing up in the area when communities such as St. James Town had yet to be built.

With this foundation, the youth unleashed their brilliant and wacky ideas, learning how to tell their story through music and song while working towards their final performance.  Performed in front of excited supporters, Escape from Wonderland told the story of a group of campers trapped in a secret prison at Wonderland.  A whirlwind of secret identities, talking pets, and uplifting power ballads, led to the importance of working as a group, no matter what species you are, and the importance of each generation in a community.

As we move forward with the 2011/12 season, we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club of Regent Park, St. James Town’s City Hope Summer Camp, and St. Andrew’s United Church.  We also congratulate all of this year’s INside Opera participants!

After a thrilling workshop presentation of the first Act of Oksana G. last winter, is the next stage of this electrifying new opera by the Governor General’s Award winning playwright, Colleen Murphy and SOCAN award-winning composer, Aaron Gervais.