Blinn College Music Department to stage operatic version of 'Little Red Riding Hood' on March 10

Students, faculty will perform roles in classic children's fairy tale

March 3, 2023

The fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” will come to life Friday, March 10, as the Blinn College District Music Department stages American composer Seymour Barab’s children’s opera of the classic story.

Blinn faculty and students will star as characters from the fairy tale. Lyric baritone Dr. Daniel Johnson, Assistant Choir Director, will perform as The Wolf. Charis Wirtley, a student soprano, will play Little Red Riding Hood and Sarai Mendoza, also a student soprano, will perform in a dual role as Mother/Grandmother. Pianist will be Pamela Connolly, Music Department accompanist.

“Little Red Riding Hood” will be staged twice at Finke Recital Hall in the Schmidt Building at 800 College Avenue on the Brenham Campus. A special daytime showing will be held at 10:30 a.m. for students of all ages. There also will be a public performance at 7 p.m.

Tickets are free and may be reserved at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice. The 7 p.m. staging also will be streamed live on the Blinn College Music Department YouTube Channel.

The opera is a way to get students the stage experience they need for a singing career, said Johnson, Blinn Voice and Choir Professor. Johnson said he is also looking at reviving Blinn’s Opera Outreach program and last month’s visit by award-winning mezzo-soprano Mandi Barrus, which included a performance of the opera “Trouble in Tahiti,” was planned with that in mind.

“We want to pick operas that are simple for the students to perform and accessible for the audience members – whether children or high school-age students,” Johnson said.

Blinn’s Music Department offers small classes, one-on-one attention, practical learning, and accessible faculty so that students are actively engaged in a superior learning environment. Students can pursue an Associate of Arts Degree in Music that provides a solid foundation in the creative and technical aspects of music, including music theory, history, composition, and performance. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/music.