Opera at Your School - Phoenix
Arlyn M. Brewster OperaTunity Program
Performances are designed to be all-school assemblies and performed in your gym, cafeteria, performing arts center, or other venue at your school.
- To perform Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, we must have a space at least 20 ft wide, 20 ft deep, and 10 ft tall.
- You may reserve up to two performances per day (exceptions can be made).
- Both shows run 40-minutes with an optional 5-10 minute Q&A.
- Performances are schedule on a first-come-first-serve-basis.
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? SOLD OUT!
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Written and adapted by Joshua Borths
Based on the opera Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte
Offered: January 16 - May 17, 2024
Grade Level: K-5
Title 1 School Cost: FREE
Non-Title 1 Cost: $400/$600 for one or two performances
This popular work is an engaging adaptation of Mozart’s Don Giovanni that reinvents the "Don" as the infamous Big Bad Wolf. Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs, and friends must work together to show the Wolf the error of his ways. Using the music and themes from one of Mozart’s great operas, young audiences learn the dangers of bullying, the beauty of friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.
Who Wants to be an Opera Star? SOLD OUT!
Offered: January 16 - May 17, 2024
Grade Level: 4-8
Title 1 School Cost: FREE
Non-Title 1 Cost: $400/$600 for one or two performances
This popular, 35-minute program presents a fun, engaging operatic crash-course to students. Through its gameshow style format, the performance runs through a series of questions and competitions between each opera performer and voice type. Students will learn about the different voice types, arias, and participate in the interactive aspects of the performance!
Joshua Borths, Writer (operaclassroom.com)
Joshua Borths is a stage director, writer, educator, and administrator with over a decade of experience in the opera industry.
Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Borths currently works with Des Moines Metro Opera and Virginia opera after having served as the Director of Opera & Musical Theater and Professor of Music History at Capital University in Columbus, OH and as Director of Education at Arizona Opera. His children's opera adaptations have been seen by hundreds of thousands of students across the country, and he is a frequent guest lecturer.
At Capital University, Borths produced and managed all of the opera and musical theatre programming while also serving as the Professor of Music History. Additionally, he created a joint Resident Artist Program with Opera Columbus creating innovative programming for both institutions. With Arizona Opera, Borths more than doubled the reach and scope of the department through innovative programming and cultural engagement.
As an educator, Borths has taught at Shenandoah University, been a Visiting Professor at the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), directed Maryland Opera Studio, and been guest panelist at the Opera America Conference. He collaborated with TED Ed on their first opera resources and was featured in Opera News for his innovative approach to opera education.
