State Opera have today announced that they will be taking opera to some of our youngest South Australians with the launch of their new show, The Frog Prince which will tour primary schools across the state this summer.
Originally produced by Opera Queensland and shake & stir theatre co, The Frog Prince is a modern retelling of the classic Grimm tale.
The Hon Andrea Michaels MP, Minister for Arts said it is fantastic that children across South Australia will enjoy the magic of opera through State Opera South Australia’s presentation of The Frog Prince.
“Our state is renowned for its love of the arts, and immersing our young people in the world of arts and culture while at school helps spark that joy and connection which lasts a lifetime,” she said.
State Opera Executive Director, Mark Taylor agreed and said he was thrilled to bring this bright, quirky productionto our young South Australians.
“The Frog Prince is a perfect vehicle to foster opera in young people’s vernacular. Firstly the vibrancy of the performance is a wonderful platform to introduce kids to opera, but the show is also a means for our young artists and performers to build and develop their career,” said Taylor.
The Frog Prince follows the journey of a spoiled princess and her encounter with a sassy frog, where an unlikely friendship blossoms. They embark on a fantastical and uplifting adventure, learning lessons about friendship and the importance of looking after the environment along the way.
In addition to a contemporary storyline, the show features a rich variety of popular operatic arias including Mozart, Rossini and Bizet, revisited to transport some of the greatest composers of all time to the 21st century for a fun and accessible experience for our kids.
Soprano Lucy Stoddart who is performing the role of the princess called Juniper May, is thrilled to be involved in this production.
“This is a magical merging of my two passions. I’m an educator and a vocal coach for young people as well as a performer – to bring them together in this production is so exciting. There’s nothing quite like the squeals of excitement and the look of wonder when I hit a high note,” she said.
Tenors Callum McGing and James Nicholson will leap into their first lead roles with the company after working in the State Opera Chorus for various productions over the past few years.
“The support we receive as young artists from State Opera has been invaluable. This is an incredible opportunity for us both and demonstrates that the company nurtures local talent, future-proofing the artform in our state by developing the next generation of artists and audiences alike,” McGing said.
The Frog Prince is suitable for ages 12 & under and the tour will begin in Term 4, 2023. Teachers and Principals interested in booking a performance of The Frog Prince in their school are encouraged to submit an expression of interest before the end of Term 2 on Friday 7 July.
The announcement of The Frog Prince tour also creates opportunities for tax deductible donations to support State Opera in broadening the schools program and opportunities for young people to access opera.
