The Golden Ticket facts for kids
The Golden Ticket is an opera based on Roald Dahl's famous 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. An opera is a play where the story is told mostly through singing, often with an orchestra. This opera was created by American composer Peter Ash. The words for the opera, called the libretto, were written by Donald Sturrock.
The Golden Ticket was asked for (or "commissioned") by American Lyric Theater and Felicity Dahl. It was first performed on June 13, 2010, at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. This first show was a team effort (a "co-production") with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Ireland's Wexford Festival Opera, and American Lyric Theater.
Contents
Music and Performers
This opera uses a special group of 23 musicians called a chamber orchestra. It also features 12 main singers and a chorus of 24 adults. Sometimes, a children's chorus can be added, but it wasn't used in the very first performance.
Who are the Characters?
The characters in the opera are sung by different types of voices:
- Charlie: A young boy's voice (Treble)
- Willy Wonka: A deep male voice (Bass Baritone or Baritone)
- Mike Teavee: A high male voice (Countertenor)
- Veruca Salt: A middle female voice (Mezzo Soprano)
- Lord Salt: A male voice (Baritone)
- Violet Beauregarde: A very high, flexible female voice (Coloratura Soprano)
- Augustus Gloop: A high male voice (Tenor)
- Grandpa Joe: A high male voice (Tenor)
- Mr. Beauregarde/Grandpa George: A very deep male voice (Bass)
- Mrs. Gloop/Grandma Georgina: A strong female voice (Dramatic Soprano)
- Mrs. Teavee/Grandma Josephine: A low female voice (Contralto or Mezzo Soprano)
- Candy Mallow/Squirrelmistress: A middle female voice (Mezzo Soprano)
Some members of the chorus also have small solo parts, like the Floor Manager, Camera Man, and Oompa Loompa. The chorus itself plays many roles, including gargoyles, townsfolk, Oompa Loompas, and squirrels.
First Performance (World Premiere)
The very first performance of The Golden Ticket had a special team and cast:
- Director: James Robinson (He guided the actors)
- Conductor: Timothy Redmond (He led the orchestra and singers)
- Scenic Design: Bruno Schwengl (He designed the stage sets)
- Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz (He designed the clothes)
- Choreographer: Seán Curran (He created the dances)
This first show was a joint project by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, American Lyric Theater, and Wexford Festival Opera.
The main singers for the first show included:
- Charlie: Michael Kepler Meo
- Willy Wonka: Daniel Okulitch
- Mike Teavee: David Trudgen
- Veruca Salt: Jennifer Rivera
- Lord Salt: David Kravitz
- Violet Beauregarde: Tracy Dahl
- Augustus Gloop: Andrew Drost
- Grandpa Joe: Frank Kelley
- Mr. Beauregarde/Grandpa George: Oren Gradus
- Mrs. Gloop/Grandma Georgina: Kristin Clayton
- Mrs. Teavee/Grandma Josephine: Mary Ann McCormick
- Candy Mallow/Squirrelmistress: Jennifer Berkebile
Other Performances
After its first showing, the opera traveled! Wexford Festival Opera presented the European premiere in October 2010. The Atlanta Opera also put on a performance of The Golden Ticket in March 2012.
Was it Recorded?
Yes, the Atlanta Opera's performance in March 2012 was recorded. This means you can listen to it! The recording featured many of the singers from that production.
The main singers on the recording were:
- Benjamin P. Wenzelberg as Charlie
- Daniel Okulitch as Willy Wonka/Mr. Know
- Kristin Clayton as Grandma Georgina/Mrs. Gloop
- Jamie Barton as Grandma Josephine/Mrs. Teavee
- Keith Jameson as Grandpa Joe
- Jason Hardy as Grandpa George/Mr. Beauregard
- Gerald Thompson as Mike Teavee
- Krista Costin as Candy Mallow/Squirrel Mistress
- Abigail Nims as Veruca Salt
- David Kravitz as Lord Salt
- Ashley Emerson as Violet Beauregard
- Andrew Drost as Augustus Gloop
The recording was led by the opera's composer, Peter Ash, as the conductor. The recording was released by Albany Records.
See also
In Spanish: The Golden Ticket para niños
