LOADING...


The Cell Phone

Last changed: 05/01/2018 5:23pm
Add Favorite
6 , 7 , 8 Theater Visual Art Music
Theater English
Both Grade Level and Arts/PE Program Access
1 other
1 other
Recommended time allotment is ONE HOUR. While the opera itself is only 30 minutes long, there is a 20 minute pre-show talk covering how 20th century opera differs from operas of earlier periods, and how expressionism in art is also reflected in expressionistic opera of the same period. The performance ends with a Q&A session as your school's schedule permits. The Q&A sessions can be as long or short as the school would like. Please note, if you are under a time constraint, we MUST START ON TIME, meaning everyone must be seated and ready for the show by the scheduled start time. If we start late, the performance will run late. Please be sure the stage is clear and we are allowed access to set up at least 2 hours prior to the performance. After the show, we will need at least one hour to tear down the set. This means the stage will not be available for other activities during setup and tear down times (as well as during the show.)
In-School Performance In-School Performance (intended for the entire grade level to experience together)
all year
$10 45
no Phone , Email , In-Person
A fully staged and costumed opera performance with live piano accompaniment, a pre-opera talk, post-opera chat session, and a disc of learning materials related to the opera including the original libretto and our updated version.
1.School must provide a piano, reasonably in tune, for the performance (88 keys; not a toy piano). 2. School must provide one working microphone for the performance. 3.School is responsible for the space/set-up requirements listed below. 4. School must allow adequate time for the whole performance including the talk (see "Length of Program").
1. A performance space no less than 15" w x 10" deep, plus wing space. 2. A piano that is in tune 3. A microphone for the talk sessions 4. Access to restrooms for the performers 5. An area near the performance site to park for load-in 6. Enough time to load in & set up (at least 2 hours prior to show) 9. Enough time to pack up the sets after the show (no less than 90 minutes)
I CAN ask and answer questions regarding opera production they have just seen. I CAN give emotional responses to the opera including what part of the show was their favorite. I CAN learn and be able to give specific examples of how ideas and emotions are expressed in opera through music as opposed to merely through text. I CAN see how visual arts and musical arts influence each other.
"The Cell Phone", an adaptation of Menotti's "The Telephone", is a 20th century one-act opera in expressionistic style that is a comic take on a situation which is still relevant today: Ben wants to ask Lucy an important question, but can't get a word in edgewise because her cell phone keeps ringing. The program begins with a brief talk about opera - what opera is, and how we use music in opera to express ideas and emotions. During the talk, the expressionistic movement in art is examined, along with its influences on 20th century opera. Musical examples are given to compare and contrast 20th century opera with opera of prior centuries. Q&A session follows the opera as your schedule permits. All operas include a pdf booklet of classroom learning materials with activities and worksheets that tie into the selected opera (math pages, vocabulary exercises, coloring, crosswords and more). Lollipop Opera brings the excitement of live theater to students, exemplifying the culmination of arts that is opera. Each performance is fully staged, complete with beautiful sets and costumes. Our goal is to expand the horizons of youth through exposure to the arts. Students will see how opera is a true marriage of the arts, incorporating: 1.) gorgeous music, sung by professional singers; 2.) acting, featuring thoughtful characterizations of each persona; and 3.) visual arts, exemplified by our professional scenic design. Through our question and answer sessions, students can learn how a touring company functions; how we design our sets to be portable, how the sets are constructed and changed, how long it takes to mount a production, and how original works are created. The opera pre-show talk gives kids a basic understanding of opera and its history, teaching by example, and by comparisons to everyday activities and experiences with which they identify. The talk and the Q&A sessions are tailored to meet the common core criteria of each grade level. Excerpts from our performances may be viewed on our website, http://buffa.sharepoint.com.
Please be sure you have allotted enough time for the entire performance, including and Q&A period you would like to have following. Please make sure we are allowed enough time to set up the stage and to clear it afterward. Please be sure there is a piano (88 keys) and working microphone in the performance area for us, and that the stage is clear for us to set up. If your stage area has other things on it ( e.g., set up for a band concert or other performance) those things will need to be moved out before we arrive. Kindly check the stage before we arrive to be sure no one has set it up for another event.
Volunteers are always welcome to attend the performance.

Grade 6

Grade 6: Reading Standards for Literature: Key Ideas and Details #3: Describe how a particular story"s or drama"s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
Grade 6: Reading Standards for Literature: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas #7: Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they "see" and "hear" when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.
Grade 6: Theatre: Connecting: Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding. A. Research and analyze two different versions of the same drama/theatre story to determine differences and similarities in the visual and aural world of each story.
Grade 6: Music: Connecting: Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding. A.Demonstrate understanding of relationships between music and the other arts, other disciplines, varied contexts, and daily life.

Grade 7

Grade 7: Reading Standards for Literature: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas #7: Compare and contrast a written story, drama, or poem to its audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version, analyzing the effects of techniques unique to each medium (e.g., lighting, sound, color, or camera focus and angles in a film).
Grade 7: Speaking and Listening Standards: Comprehension and Collaboration #1C: Pose questions that elicit elaboration and respond to others" questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas that bring the discussion back on topic as needed.
Grade 7: Theatre: Connecting: Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding. A. Research and discuss how a playwright might have intended a drama/theatre work to be produced.
Grade 7: Music: Connecting: Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding. A. Demonstrate understanding of relationships between music and the other arts, other disciplines, varied contexts, and daily life.

Grade 8

Grade 8: Reading Standards for Literature: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas #7 Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.
Grade 8: Speaking and Listening Standards: Comprehension and Collaboration #1C: Pose questions that connect the ideas of several speakers and respond to others" questions and comments with relevant evidence, observations, and ideas.
Grade 8: Theatre: Connecting: Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding. A.Research the story elements of a staged drama/theatre work and compare them to another production of the same work.
Grade 8: Music: Connecting: Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding. A. Demonstrate understanding of relationships between music and the other arts, other disciplines, varied contexts, and daily life.
Get to Know Our Arts Provider:

Lollipop Opera

http://www.buffa.org/