What is the school fee for a performance?

The school fee is $780 for one performance booked before the deadline, and $810 for shows booked after the deadline. The actual cost is over $1,800 for each show. The school fee covers 43% of the expenses, and we underwrite each performance through our own fundraising efforts in order to keep the school fee affordable.

Just as expenses in the world rise, so do they at Opera for the Young. The rate of inflation determines any increase in school fees from year to year.

When does OFY tour?

OFY's season begins in early October and ends in May. Due to the very busy schedules of schools at holiday time, we take a break from mid-November to mid-January.

Where does OFY tour?

OFY tours all of Wisconsin; Chicago and northern Illinois; Minneapolis and northern Minnesota; the Quad Cities and NE Iowa; NW Indiana, and parts of Michigan. OFY is available for extended tours in other areas of the US by special arrangement.

Can our school reserve a performance for a particular day or week?

The tour schedule has to make geographic and logistical sense to be financially feasible for OFY and our very busy artists. Our goal is to perform two shows a day and stay within an area for several days or weeks when possible. This makes it difficult to accommodate exact requests from schools. It is a balancing act between what makes sense for OFY, our artists, and our schools. When you send in your reservation form, we ask that you note the dates in your school calendar that DO NOT work best to host an OFY performance.

How long is the performance?

The performance is 45 minutes long. The cast does a 5-10 minute question and answer session with the audience afterward.

Do you really prefer a gym over an auditorium?

Yes! We like to be on the same level as the audience for better interaction and audience participation. We will (and do) perform in auditoriums but the show is designed for a flat, open space.

Audience size?

The audience size is only dependent on how many students fit comfortably in your gym with room for a center aisle. (Usually, our audience is the whole school.)

I can't understand all the words that are being sung — am I missing the story?

As with any type of music such as rock, rap, jazz, etc., the words are not always clear on the first (or second!) hearing. The meaning is usually understandable by paying attention to the emotions, movements, facial expressions, and interactions of the singers.

Last Updated: NOVEMBER 6, 2011