How Opera (and a Big Bad Wolf) Found Their Way Into 11 Elementary Schools This Spring
This May, hallways in Chautauqua County echoed with something unexpected: the soaring sounds of Mozart, the laughter of children, and yes — even a few theatrical howls.
In a spirited collaboration between Chautauqua Arts Education and the Chautauqua Opera Company, the Opera in the Schools program returned for its fifth year, bringing live opera to more than 3,000 elementary school students across the region. Eleven schools participated in this year’s tour, which featured Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf — a clever adaptation of Mozart’s Don Giovanni by librettist Joshua Borths.
In this version, Mozart’s music becomes the backdrop for a familiar but reimagined tale, where Little Red Riding Hood, the Third Little Pig, and the Boy Who Cried Wolf work together to help the Big Bad Wolf change his bullying ways. It’s opera with a twist — playful, imaginative, and deeply human.
The cast featured Chautauqua Opera’s 2025 Young Artists, including Joel Clemens as Big Bad Wolf, Kathiana Dargenson as Little Red Riding Hood, Rosamund Dyer as Third Little Pig, and Lindsey Weissman in the dual roles of Grandma and the Boy Who Cried Wolf. The performance was led musically by Kerry Byard, with artistic vision from Stage Director Nora Winsler and Music Supervisor Valerie Trujillo — both seasoned voices in this program’s evolution. Behind the scenes, Resident Teaching Artist and Arts Education Project Coordinator Stephanie Dawson, wore many hats as tour director, stage manager, and educational liaison.
Each school visit was more than just a show — it was a hands-on exploration of music and storytelling. In participating second and fourth grade classrooms, students worked alongside the artists to create their own mini-operas using Mozart’s “Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman,” the familiar tune behind “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Using the story of The Ugly Duckling as a foundation, students experimented with dynamics, tempo, and emotion — just as a composer might. The process transformed them from passive listeners into creative collaborators.
After their classroom sessions, entire student bodies—from PreK through sixth grade—gathered for the full performance. There were colorful sets, expressive puppets, and, perhaps most memorably, the return of a Chautauqua Opera favorite: So You Think You’re Louder Than an Opera Singer? This audience-participation game delighted students, who competed in earnest to out-howl the Big Bad Wolf.
“It was a delight to watch students of all ages get completely caught up in the opera,” said Director of Arts Education Suzanne Fassett-Wright. “At each school, students couldn’t wait to howl along with the Big Bad Wolf. Keeping the attention of students for 45 minutes straight can be a challenge — this production kept them glued to the stage every time. It’s our hope that students go home singing loud, knowing that opera is for everyone.”
And the music doesn’t end at the school door. Students who participated in the howling contest have been invited to reprise their performances this summer — on the grand stage of the Chautauqua Amphitheater — during the Opera Pops Concert on July 22.
So if you hear a well-placed howl on a Chautauqua County sidewalk this summer, you’ll know: opera made its mark.