DESTINIES COLLIDE

Opera Orlando presents the world premiere of 4 Lost Santas, a comic Christmas opera commissioned by Opera Orlando and based on an original concept by Gabriel Preisser with music by Spicer Carr and a libretto by Rose Freeman and Spicer Carr. This fun, family-friendly piece is a lead-in to Menotti’s seasonal favorite Amahl and the Night Visitors, and promises to be an ideal remedy for the hustle and bustle of the season.

This pairing is a perfect balance between the commercial and sacred side of the holidays, told by a fantastic cast, featuring members of the Opera Orlando Youth Company, in the intimate setting of the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater. Sing along to some of your favorite Christmas carols, and let this new Christmas tradition tug at your heartstrings.

A pre-show talk, for all ticket holders, will be held on stage 50 minutes prior to each performance.

Join a barbershop quartet of Santas who find themselves lost on their way to what should be their big break: SantaCon! They are thankfully rescued by Judy and Rudy, a mother and son who are running late to their community theater production of Amahl. When they can’t fix the Santas’ car, they all pile into Judy’s car to get to town.

They arrive to utter chaos at the theater as the Three Kings and Page have quit the production. Rudy is particularly disappointed, but the Santas save the day as they volunteer to sing the roles in Amahl, because of course they have sung them before. As the cast breathes a sigh of relief, the stage manager yells, “Places!” and then begins Amahl and the Night Visitors, a poignant story of a beautiful Christmas miracle.

CAST

FESTIVAL OF TREES

The Opera Orlando Youth Company perform carols and holiday favorites at the Orlando Museum of Art Festival of Trees.

Saturday | November 16 at 3 p.m.
Orlando Museum of Art

Tickets start at $20
Buy tickets HERE.

SOUP OPERA

The Opera Orlando Youth Company present holiday favorites all for a good cause.

Saturday | December 14 at 2 p.m.
St. John Lutheran Church

FREE and open to the public
RSVP HERE

SYNOPSIS

setting: the present
place: the side of the road and a community theater, somewhere in America

A barbershop quartet of Santas (Barry, Gary, Larry, and Terry) are lost and stranded on the side of the road with a broken down car, missing their big break at SantaCon. A mother and son (Judy and Rudy), who are running late to perform in a production of Amahl and the Night Visitors, see them, and Rudy is amazed at the sight. He insists that he and his mother should help them, but Judy is reluctant to help as she is anxious to get to the show. Rudy, however, reminds her that, “The most important rule or creed is to help those in need!” After a lot of Christmas carols, friendship, and maybe even a little love at first sight, Judy yields. Not able to fix the car, everyone piles into Judy’s car and they head to the theater. They arrive to a stage manager in full panic mode. All three kings and the page have bailed on the Amahl production to go sing in a quartet at SantaCon. Talk about weird coincidences?! The production is about to be canceled until the Santas realize they can save the day and play the parts, because, “everyone’s done Amahl before!” The show is saved, and everyone gets their Christmas wish.

—

The lights dim and the community theater production of Amahl and the Night Visitors begins with Amahl outside playing his shepherd’s pipe. His mother calls him inside and tries to get him to sleep, but Amahl is full of stories and tall tales. Half listening, Amahl’s mother readies the house for the night. As they finally drift off to sleep, there is a knock at the door. Three Kings, on their way to deliver gifts to a newborn baby, ask to stay the night. Amahl is excited by the Kings visit, and what starts as any other night becomes a night of wonder and miracles reaffirming the importance of unconditional love, faith, and charity.