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