Whitney-Leigh Sloan as Hanna and Christopher Mayell as Jessie in the world premiere of Hannaraptor. Photo by Trudie Lee.

Hannaraptor world premiere

by Allan Gilliland and Val Brandt

A New Opera for Young Audiences
Recommened for pre-teen and teenage audiences

Calgary Opera's fourth opera commission, Hannaraptor, by Allan Gilliland and Val Brandt, makes its world premiere on Saturday, April 5 at Bert Church High School in Airdrie. Performed by Calgary Opera's Emerging Artists, Hannaraptor is set against the backdrop of the Alberta Badlands and tells the story of a girl, Hanna, whose determination to protect a beloved dinosaur skelaton propels her into a life-and-death struggle against rapacious greed.

Together Gilliland and Brandt have created a timely story, which weaves together compelling issues of social responsibility and a family’s personal triumph, to an accessible and melodic musical score designed to capture the imagination of an audience raised on TV, video games and action movies. Joining the impressive cast is Vertigo Theatre’s Mark Bellamy as Stage Director, emerging designer Christopher Rouleau as Set and Costume Designer, and pianist Mel Kirby, Emerging Artist Development Program Coordinator.

Hannaraptor will be toured around Alberta throughout the month of April, hitting various venues in Calgary, Airdrie, Medicine Hat, Sundre, and Drumheller.

Hannaraptor will be publicly presented in Calgary as part of the Y Stage Series at Vertigo Theatre on the following dates: May 2 at 7pm; May 3 at 2pm and 7pm; and May 4 at 12:30pm and 3:30pm. Tickets to the Y Stage presentation are $10 for youth/seniors, and $15 for adults. For information, or to purchase tickets, phone 221-3708 or visit www.vertigotheatre.com.