Stories with music—that’s what opera’s all about! Reserve now for this fun, kid-friendly event.
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum…Before Spider-Man, there was Jack and his Beanstalk! Watch as Jack scrambles up a magic beanstalk, takes on the nasty giant who lives at the top, retrieves his family’s stolen hen that lays golden coins, and then heads back down with the giant in hot pursuit! Jack saves the day in this musical adventure that also illustrates that being nice is always right—and bullies never win.
Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan. Words and Story adaptation by John Davies, with piano accompaniment.
All tickets are just $5! $4 per ticket when you also purchase The Elixir of Love! Purchase both online here or call Patron Services at 214.443.1000 Mon-Fri 10am-5pm.
View the full program here or in the Flip Book below. Programs and artists are subject to change.
This performance is suitable for children aged 3 and older and is approximately 40 minutes in length with no intermission. All seating is general admission in the beautiful Winspear Opera House. We ask that you please maintain some distance between your family and others when selecting your seats. Note: In response to COVID-19 safety precautions, there are no pre-show family activities planned at this time.
Masks are strongly encouraged, but not required for all guests in the lobby and performance hall. As a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, The Dallas Opera adheres to the health and safety protocols and policies in our home venue, the Winspear Opera House. Together, we put the safety of our patrons, artists, volunteers, and staff first. The Winspear has best-in-class protocols in place for every step of your experience with us and we invite you to read about the details here. Additional information to prepare for your visit can be found here.
The Dallas Opera production. Program and artists are subject to change.
Show Details
Language
Sung in English with English Supertitles
Cast
Kayla Nanto
Jack B. Nimble (Feb. 6)
Claire Choquette
Jack B. Nimble (Apr. 3)
Hilary Grace Taylor
Mrs. Nimble/Giant's Wife (Feb. 6)
Janine Dworin
Mrs. Nimble/Giant's Wife (Apr. 3)
Prosper Makhanya
Trouble-Man/Giant (Feb. 6)
Christopher Curcuruto
Trouble-Man/Giant (Apr. 3)
Jordan Hammons
Narrator (Feb. 6)
Olivia Duncan
Narrator (Apr. 3)Creative Team
Ryan Lescalleet
Director
Tommy Bourgeois
Set and Costume Designer
Eric Watkins
Lighting Designer
Gi Gi Coker
Wig and Make-up Designer
Mary Dibbern, Ph.D.
Music Director and PianistSynopsis
Para español haga clic aquí.
THE STORY OF THE OPERA
Jack and the Beanstalk is a one-act opera based on the traditional children’s story. The story is set in a fictitious old English village. The action takes place in and near the small cottage of Jack and his mother.
The opera opens with a narrator introducing the story. Jack enters and introduces himself in the first aria of the opera. He is the famous Jack B. Nimble, the center figure for all fairy tales involving a boy named Jack.
Jack’s mother enters. She tells Jack that they must sell their cow to buy food. She asks Jack to take the cow to Old Market Street and sell her. Jack is sad at the thought of selling the cow, knowing that she in turn will become someone’s dinner.
On the way to Old Market Street Jack meets a Trouble Man. He is a dustman, a stranger, who offers to buy the cow. He offers Jack five magic beans in exchange. Jack accepts his offer and takes the beans home.
Jack’s mother cannot believe that Jack has been tricked. Now they will surely starve to death because of his stupidity! She throws the beans out of the window, and they both go to bed hungry.
During the early morning hours, Jack and his mother wake to a thundering sound and a shaking of the cottage. A huge beanstalk has grown up past the roof of the cottage and into the sky. Jack, being an adventurous boy, climbs the beanstalk.
At the top, he finds a large house where there lives a dishonest Giant and his kindly Wife. The Giant isn’t totally happy with being mean and dishonest. He wonders why he is so dishonest and likes the taste of blood. His Wife is not sure how to respond to his wonderings.
While the Giant’s Wife is alone, Jack enters and asks her for some food. She gives him something to eat. Hearing her husband returning, she has Jack hide so that the Giant will not be tempted to eat him. The Giant smells Jack, however, and begins searching for him. The Giant’s wife tells him he is mistaken and helps keep him from finding Jack.
The Giant is determined to find whoever is hiding in his house. Jack decides to disguise himself as a spirit and confronts the Giant. The Giant is shaken and turns to his golden hen that lays the golden eggs to calm him. He talks of how he stole the hen from Jack’s father years ago.
Jack decides to steal the hen back from the Giant. The Giant’s Wife helps him. As he is running away with the hen, the Giant chases after him. Jack makes it to the beanstalk and climbs down. Seeing that the Giant is still after him, Jack chops the beanstalk with an axe. The beanstalk falls, the Giant with it. The Giant lands on his head and loses his memory. He forgets his name, and that he is supposed to be bad. He realizes the trouble he has caused by stealing and being so mean. The Giant decides to be good and to treat others as he would like to be treated.