ROOTABAGA COUNTRY

AUTHORS

Composer and Librettist: Rachel J. Peters

Adapted from the book Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg

SYNOPSIS

Gimme the Ax takes his two children, Please Gimme and Ax Me No Questions, to the whimsical-but-not-magical Rootabaga Country to learn more about the mother they never knew. The Potato Face Blind Man guides them to the adventures of Jason Squiff, Snippo Hike, and Henry Hagglyhoagly. In the process, they learn that families come in all shapes and sizes.

INSTRUMENTATION

1.0.1.1/0.1.1.0/pft-harp-gtr.-perc (1)/1.0.1.1.1

DURATION

1 hour 10 minutes

CAST

GIMME THE AX, early 40s, Tenor

PLEASE GIMME, 6

AX ME NO QUESTIONS, 9

THE POTATO FACE BLIND MAN, Bass-Baritone

TICKET AGENT

JASON SQUIFF, BLIXIE BIMBER, THE KERNEL, SHOPKEEPERS

SNIPPO HIKE, BEVO HIKE, MRS. AXENBAX, MAYOR, WEATHERMAN, DOCTOR, TRAFFIC COP

HENRY HAGGLYHOAGLY, HIS TWO MITTENS. SUSAN SLACKENTWIST

CHORUS (SAB with divisi) as THE ZIGZAG RAILROAD and CITIZENS OF ROOTABAGA COUNTRY

All roles except for GIMME THE AX and POTATO FACE BLIND MAN are played by treble children in approximately the same vocal range. All roles can be played by people of any shape, size, or color. Many roles can be played by people of any gender.

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

  • Upcoming, Sarasota Opera, 2026

  • Seattle Opera, 2024

  • Vivace Youth Chorus, 2018

  • World Premiere, Sarasota Opera, 2017

The work was revised following the world premiere, and the archival video does not match the updated performance materials.

This work is available for performance worldwide.

GET YOUR SCORE

IMAGES

World Premiere Production by Sarasota Opera Association | Directed by Martha Collins | Photos by Rod Millington

Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg

Production by Seattle Opera | Directed by Kyleigh Archer | Photos by Sunny Martini

Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Scene from Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, adapted from Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg
Previous

NO LADIES IN THE LADY'S BOOK
Next

SKETCHBOOK FOR OLLIE