Coming Up next for HTYP: Brundibár!

Brundibár will be coming to the Sir James Dunn theatre May 16 – 19th. 

Halifax Theatre for Young People (HTYP) presents the children’s opera Brundibár from May 16-19th at the Sir James Dunn Theatre in Halifax, with school shows at 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. on May 16th, and 10:30 on the 17th.

Currently we only have tickets remaining to our school shows at 9:15am on Thursday 16th, and 10:30am on the Friday 17th

Other performances are Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 regular and $10 for students through Ticket Halifax by clicking here:
https://www.tickethalifax.com/events/94107401/brundibr-a-childrens-opera

Brundibár is an opera written for children by Hans Krása with lyrics by Adolf Hoffmeister, composed in Prague in 1938. The opera received its premiere in German-occupied Prague at the Jewish Orphanage before the mass deportations of Jews to the Theresienstadt concentration camp began in 1942. There, Krása reconstructed the music for the available instruments from a smuggled in copy of the score, and it was performed 55 times in the camp, including a production for the Red Cross, who were duped by the Nazis into believing Theresienstadt was a model institution where prisoners were well treated. In reality, all of the children, the composer, director and musicians were sent to Auschwitz for extermination following the final performance. Of the 15,000 children interned in Theresienstadt, only just over 100 survived the war.

The opera tells the story of children who sing in the marketplace to raise money for their sick mother, but are chased away by the organ player, Brundibár. With the help of animal and bird friends, as well as other children, they defeat Brundibár and continue to sing. All watching understood that Brundibár represented Hitler and were uplifted, even momentarily, by the fact that good could triumph over evil.

Despite the background of its creation, the opera itself is light-hearted and provides a great opportunity to introduce children and youth to the topic of the Holocaust and racial discrimination, and the need to work together to defeat oppression.

The Halifax production is directed by HTYP’s Artistic Director Tessa Mendel, with musical direction by Eszter Horvath, and features professional musicians including Scott Macmillan and members of Symphony Nova Scotia, children from the local community and professional set and lighting designers. The production includes an educational component, guest speakers and a photography exhibit. A committee of local supporters has been working behind the scenes for several years to bring the production to Halifax audiences.

Composed by Hans Krása
with lyrics by Adolf Hoffmeister
Director: Tessa Mendel
Music Director: Eszther Horvath
Choreographer: Veronique MacKenzie
Design: Matt Downey, Elizabeth Perry, Katrin Whitehead
Repetiteur: Tara Scott
Stage Manager: Virg Iredale

 

 

HTYP has two shows available for touring!

Art Attakk! & Red Fish

 

Art Attakk!

See our schools page for more information, and how to bring Art Attakk! to your school!

 

Red Fish: A Comedy About Depression

Liz and Ethan are navigating the pitfalls of being a teenager in 2019, while dealing with their own depression and anxiety. Along the way they meet the Superhero Redfish who claims he’s here to help them… but what happens when our innermost voice becomes our worst enemy?

Grades 6-10

See our schools page for more information, and how to bring Red Fish to your school!