Opera to Go!

Do you want that for here, or Opera to Go!?

Opera to Go! is the education ensemble of the Houston Grand Opera that brings opera to schools (K-7) in the Houston area.
Shown here is the ensemble for the 2004-2005 school year.  From left to right we are:

Adrian Porter, stage director;

Kade Smith, music director/manager;

David Paxton, tenor;

Todd Trebour, baritone;

me, Dennis Arrowsmith, bass;

Nicole Sikora, soprano;

Shelley Auer, mezzo-soprano;

Bruce Power, accompanist.

Opera to Go! is sponsored by:

A I M Investments

City of Houston through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston
      / Harris County Texas

Commission on the Arts through the Cultural Arts Council

George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation

John P. McGovern Foundation

Lee and Joseph D. Jamail Foundation

Lynne Murray, Sr. Education Foundation

Robert W., Sr. & Pearl Wallis Knox Charitable Foundation

Rockwell Fund, Inc.

Wells Fargo Bank

William E. and Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust

Opera to Go! is company-in-residence at the Houston Community College - Central Campus, Fine Arts Department.

Costume designs by: Andrew Cloud

Composer: Mary Carol Warwick
Librettist: Kate Pogue

"Real" is a magical word to the Velveteen Rabbit -- he doesn't know quite what it means.  But the Rocking Horse, who is old and wise, knows, and he shares the secret: being real means being loved.  Margery Williams's classic story of how a boy's love transforms a velveteen rabbit into a real one has resonated in the hearts of children for over 75 years.  The perfect story for any child who cherishes a stuffed animal -- and believes in magic.

This world premiere adapted from the classic story by Hans Christian Anderson is retold with exciting and colorful music composed by Mary Carole Warwick and through the comic eye of librettist Mary Ann Pendino.  A true comic opera of a heart-sick Prince searching for love in all the wrong places, his cantankerous mother, and a beautiful Princess who against all odds finds her way into the hearts of the Kingdom.  Read all about it in the Houston Chronicle.

Artwork for The Princess and the Pea 
World Premiere T-shirt by Edwin Rodriguez.

A wicked stepmother; the original mean girls; an enchanting young woman; a handsome prince.  This bilingual opera is based on the Spanish version of the classic fairy tale.  The magical story of Cinderella as she is transformed from a simple muchacha into a captivating princesa.