2022 Season

GOLDILOCKS & the THREE SINGING BEARS

JULY 9, 2022 | A FREE opera for kids and families!

Over four years, OE has built a portfolio of educational programs that reach a range of students, offering mentorship sessions with our artistic advisor and Grammy-award winning soprano Christine Brewer, masterclasses with Northwestern University professor and President of the National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS) Karen Brunssen, and an annual opera for kids!


The opera for kids has been presented in a range of formats and has reached over 5,000 kids through school tours, free community performances, and a filmed presentation and virtual field trip offered online. We proudly presented our 2022 opera for kids, Goldilocks and the Three Singing Bears to a packed audience at the Edwardsville Public Library on July 9, 2022 at 10am.


This performance featured local artists from Edwarsdville, Glen Carbon, Collinsville, Alton, Belleville, Bunker Hill, and St. Louis. The cast featured Angel Nicole Riley, Spencer Domer, Amy Waller Prince, and Jacob Lassetter. The production was directed by SIUE’s Marc Schapman, with sets and costumes designed by Roger Spiedel, and music direction by pianist and OE Artist-in-Residence, Joseph Welch.


Our Edwardsville performance was presented with the City of Edwardsville Arts in the Park program and the Edwardsville Arts center who offered opera-inspired crafts and activities ahead of the performance. The performance also featured three sign interpreters, making the performance accessible to those with hearing impairment.


This event was free for the entire public to enjoy thanks to OE's 2022 Season Sponsors and Donors. OE would like to recognize 2022 presenting Sponsors: The Rotary Club of Edwardsville, the City of Edwardsville, Lewis Rice, and Stifel, and the Schmidt and Barton Family Fund. Additional support comes from 222 Artisan Bakery, Hortica, the Bank of Madison County, and Tessitura Music. Special thanks to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Edwardsville Public Library, and Scott Evers Photography.

Meet the Artists


This performance featured local artists from Edwarsdville, Glen Carbon, Collinsville, Alton, Belleville, Bunker Hill, and St. Louis. The cast featured Angel Nicole Riley, Spencer Domer, Amy Waller Prince, and Jacob Lassetter. The production was directed by SIUE’s Marc Schapman, with sets and costumes designed by Roger Spiedel, and music direction by pianist and OE Artist-in-Residence, Joseph Welch.

Angel Riley Nicole, Soprano as Goldilocks, a little girl who loves bugs

Jacob Lassetter, Baritone as Papa Bear, Peeks father and an avid gardener

Amy Prince, Soprano as Mama Bear, Peeks mother and an amazing cook

Spencer Domer, Tenor as Peek, a little bear and ambitious cub scout

ANGEL NICOLE RILEY

Soprano

SPENSER DOMER

Soprano

AMY PRINCE

Soprano

JACOB LASSETTER

Baritone

MARC SCHAPMAN

Stage Director

JOSEPH WELCH

Pianist

ABOUT THE OPERA

The world famous tunes of Mozart and Offenbach ring out in this operatic adaptation of Goldilocks and the Three Singing Bears that is brimming with fun and laughs for kids and the whole family! Join Goldi B. Locks, along with a family of singing bears, ass he learns the importance of asking for help and telling the truth.


This 40-minute opera features music from famous operas with silly new words and fun dialogue, presented in English, and perfect for the entertainment of our youngest audiences (and their parents too!). Thanks to donors and sponsors, this program is free for the entire family to enjoy at no cost. Warning, audience participation is likely!


Join before the performance when the City of Edwarsdville Arts in the Park series will be making crafts. Then, enjoy the performance in the main reading room of the Edwardsville Public Library at 10am.


The story: Goldilocks doesn’t just like bugs – she loves them. When a beautiful butterfly flutters off into the woods, she chases it, forgetting a promise made to her mom to stay close to home. Trying to find her way home after eating soup that doesn’t belong to her, Goldie meets Peek, a little bear. Peek confides to Goldie that a sneaky robber snuck into his family’s house that very morning, licked his spoon and ate his soup. Goldie is horrified, for she knows, of course, that she’s the sneaky soup robber. What should she do? Should she risk getting in trouble by telling the truth? Should she be dishonest and hope to avoid being punished?

40 minutes performance in English. Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan with words and story adaption by John Davies.

SPONSORS AND SPECIAL THANKS

This concert would not have been possible without the generous support of the 2021 OE Business Sponsors and individual donors. OE's 2021 Season was presented by the City of Edwardsville, Lewis Rice, Stifel, and the Rotary Club of Edwardsville. Additional sponsorship came from 222 Artisan Bakery, Bank of Madison County, Friends of the Wildey Theatre, SIUE Meridian Society, and the SIYAO Vocal Competition. Special thanks to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, the SIUE Arts & Issues Series, and the many individual donors who made our 2021 season possible.