The Alberta Opera will be performing Aladdin at Boyle School on April 30.
The event is closed to the public, but teacher Debby Delage explained it will be a great experience for the students.
“We have had the Alberta Opera come to our school for a number of years,” she said. “It’s a rare opportunity for our rural students to view and take part in a production such as this.”
A select number of students will be chosen to be coached and mentored by the performers, and those students will appear in the afternoon’s performance of Aladdin.
“It helps to make students aware of the implications of music in our society and music careers,” Delage said.
Students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 will participate in the production.
“It also helps them develop an appreciation and understanding and enjoyment of music and drama,” she explained.
Each year, the Alberta Opera chooses a different fairytale to act out. In its 30th year, the opera chose Aladdin. In 2012, the cast performed Sleeping Beauty, and in 2011, they chose Pinocchio and Jack and the Beanstalk.
The sole purpose of the Alberta Opera is to travel to schools across Western Canada. Last year, the company performed more than 245 times, and more than 72,000 youths watched them perform.
“It is put forward in a way that children can understand,” Delage stated. “They adjust the tale to a little more modern take on it so the students can relate.”
Delage explained these performances foster an appreciation for dramatic arts.
“They often focus on working to resolve problems and conflict in relationships and making positive choices that will lead to happy and healthy lives,” she said.
Grade 6 students will assist the crew with setting up the props on the stage, and Delage stated the students are very engaged when watching the performance.
“The students who were mentored then take part in the production,” she said. “It also engages the audience, because they see their classmates involved as well.”
The celebration of the arts will continue this Friday with performances, visual arts and “A taste of Boyle” at the school gymnasium at 7 p.m. “A taste of Boyle” offers up drinks, desserts, cultural dishes and more to try.
Editor’s note: the version of this story that appears in the April 29 issue of the Athabasca Advocate states that the Alberta Opera is coming to Boyle on April 29. In fact, the opera is coming April 30. The Advocate regrets the error.
