SKETCHBOOK FOR OLLIE

AUTHORS

Composer and Librettist: Rachel J. Peters

Adapted from the book Life Is a Jar of Paint by Bill Folman

SYNOPSIS

Eight-point-five-year-old Ollie questions the meaning of life after the death of his grandmother. He is frustrated with grownups avoiding his tough but important questions. The only answer that satisfies him comes from his Aunt Leeza, a composer, who shows him that life is like her music sketchbook. She shows him a wide variety of methods to make and share the ongoing compositions of our lives, whether professionally or through altruistic interactions. With these new tools, Ollie creates his own song involving the whole family and audience. Aunt Leeza gives Ollie his own blank sketchbook for the hard questions yet to come. This opera is designed to tour to elementary schools for grades 3-5.

INSTRUMENTATION

piano/vocal

DURATION

35 minutes

CAST

OLLIE, Tenor

AUNT LEEZA, Mezzo-Soprano

MOM, Soprano

DAD, Baritone

There is some audience participation.

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

  • Lyric Opera of Kansas City, 2024

  • World Premiere: Lyric Opera of Kansas City, 2022

This work is available for performance worldwide.

IMAGES

World Premiere Production by Lyric Opera of Kansas City | Directed by Nedra Dixon | Photos by Andrew Schwartz

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