1. To support this new work as part of the American opera canon. 

Our 2024 production of The Snowy Day will be the West Coast premiere of this work, and only the second production of this opera which first premiered in 2021 at Houston Grand Opera—continuing our commitment to staging and supporting new works. World premieres are so exciting, and second productions are vital to the long-term success of new additions to the canon.  Let's make opera history together!

2. Experience the magic of opera with the whole family.

The Snowy Day is a perfect introduction to opera for young people, and a bittersweet reminder for audiences of all ages about impermanence and the wonders of youth. The matinee on March 24th will be family-friendly, a new way of welcoming the next generation of opera lovers to experience the beauty and joy of opera. There's even a snowball fight on stage! 

We're listening to community members and will share more information about what a "family friendly" opera looks like for the Sunday matinee, so that we are all on the same page about how to welcome the next generation of opera fans to the theatre.

3. To bring your favorite childhood story to life.

The Snowy Day is based on the beloved children's book by Ezra Jack Keats. In addition to its literary and visual brilliance, the publication also broke barriers as the first mainstream children's book to feature a person of color as the main character. In an article for Houston Grand Opera, librettist Andrea Davis Pinkney wrote:

"The Snowy Day is among Keats’s most notable books, a masterwork that has become a classic, enjoyed by generations of readers. It won the 1963 Caldecott Medal, the highest honor an illustrated children’s book can receive. In his Caldecott speech, Keats said, 'I can honestly say that Peter came into being because we wanted him.' And Keats reminds us that Peter is timeless because he bestows 'the wisdom of a pure heart.' This is why The Snowy Day has endured for half a century and remains relevant today."

Fun fact: The Snowy Day is the most checked-out title in the history of the New York Public Library.

4. The creative team.

We are so excited about the creative team for The Snowy Day. Interim Music Director & Artistic Advisor Damien Geter will be at the baton, and Omer Ben Seadia, who directed our recent production of Thumbprint, will share her vision of this world. Amy Rubin and Jessica Jahn will make their company debuts as Scenic Designer and Costume Designer.

5. The delightful music.

The San Francisco Classical Voice described it like this:

"Just like Peter’s coat, Thompson’s score often wraps the audience in a warm hug. Chirping woodwinds suggest freshly fallen snow and bright winter mornings; jazzy pizzicato bass and mischievous xylophone follow Peter’s tentative, then joyful, steps around the neighborhood."

We can't wait to share this beautiful story with you!

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