Cast members for the “The Little Prince” rehearse for their upcoming performance. In the top photo are Olivia Manning (sitting); second row, from left: Imogen Perry, Chloe Beal, Emily Wadley, Luke Poston and Seth Tanner; and back row, Sam Deiters. In the bottom photo are Emily Wadley, Israeli Jones and Imogen Perry. (Photo by Amihere Benson)
January 31, 2025
SIU’s Opera Theater follows ‘The Little Prince’ on his travels, Feb. 7-9
CARBONDALE, Ill. — A well-loved children’s story of a prince whose journeys take him to Earth and beyond comes to Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Shryock Auditorium next month when the SIU School of Music’s Opera Theater presents “The Little Prince.”
Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under and SIU students with ID. Tickets can be purchased at the door by cash, check or Venmo. The production includes flashing lights during the simulated plane crash in the performance prologue.
“The opera is a family-friendly event perfect for introducing young audiences to music storytelling,” said Carissa Scroggins, an assistant professor of practice and voice area coordinator in the School of Music.
The story is told from the perspective of the pilot who, after crashing in the desert, is startled by the appearance of a little boy, Scroggins said. The pilot, then in a narrative role, describes the prince’s journey from his asteroid home to Earth in search of meaning and friendship.
The opera by British composer Rachel Portman premiered in 2003 and is based on the 1943 book “Le Petit Prince” by French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Varied cast
Amelia Warner, a junior in musical theater from Indianapolis, who plays the role of the prince, likes the production “because it showcases every character with an aria that beautifully represents each unique personality Rachel Portman included in this opera.”
Harrison Gilberti, a master’s student from Trumbull, Connecticut, plays the role of the pilot in the Feb. 8 production; Luke Poston, a master’s student also in music from Jackson, Missouri, plays the role on Feb. 7 and Feb. 9.
“Something I love about the opera was getting the opportunity to see everyone build their characters,” Gilberti said. “It was extremely inspiring to see what people were coming up with, and how they may or may not change as the rehearsal process continued.”
Chloe Beal, a senior in languages, cultures and international studies, from Salem, Illinois, plays Rose. The opera brings back a sense of innocence, she said.
“What makes this opera special is the childlike wonder and whimsy to the story, and I think we need that,” Beal said. “Considering the current events of our world today, I think we need a reminder that despite the bad things that happen in the world, there is still hope to be had if you follow your imagination.”
Israeli Jones, a senior, musical theater from Cairo, Illinois, plays Water, and said the opera is meaningful to her.
“The story is something I shared with my siblings, and we all watched the movie when it was on Netflix,” she said. “It's a really beautiful story.”
Other students and their roles are:
- Fox: Olivia Manning, senior, musical theater, Louisville, Kentucky.
- King: Emily Wadley, master’s student, music, Paducah, Kentucky.
- Businessman: Seth Tanner, master’s student, music, Island Lake, Illinois.
- Vain Lass: Imogen Perry, senior, music, Zeigler, Illinois.
- Lamplight/Snake: Sam Deiters, senior, biological sciences, Marion, Illinois.
In addition, five children from local families will perform as stars and birds.
Collaborative effort
Scroggins emphasized the importance of collaboration in the production with the SIU School of Aviation’s aviation technologies program, noting that with the help from lecturer Harry Fanning, the department loaned airplane components including wings, propellers and fuselage “for the opera’s ambitious set design.” Other collaborations are with Jiyeon Lee, a collaborative pianist in the School of Music; Jane Pivovarnik, an assistant professor of practice in the School of Theater and Dance for costumes, and Grace Rueter, a master’s student in theater for sets and props.