The Old Man Who Loved Cheese is an opera musical by Edward Barnes based on a book by Garrison Keillor, for young and family audiences, young people, opera for youth, opera education, young and adult performers, about an old man who is addicted to stinky, smelly cheese.

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The Old Man Who Loved Cheese

SYNOPSIS: Wallace P. Flynn likes cheese-- slimy, sloppy, gunky, lumpy cheese, and the worse it smells, the better! But Wallace P.'s penchant for putrid cheese soon gets him in trouble. His family decides the stench is too much for them, so they pack up and leave to escape the odor. And his neighbors can't take it either-- they call in the Cheese Police to bring Wallace P. and his smelly cheese to justice. Scientist analyze him, friends and family testify against him. But will Wallace P. Flynn ever learn to change his wheys? Based on the popular children's book, "The Old Man Who Loved Cheese", by Garrison Keillor.

THEMES: Everyone has different tastes; Conformity vs. individuality; Importance of family

CAST: 6-8 adults, children

Wallace P. Flynn (tenor), Wallace's Wife (mezzo-soprano), Wallace's Daughter (soprano), Wallace's Son (tenor), Easy Ed (baritone), Judge Madeleine Kline (mezzo-soprano), Scientific Experts, Cheese Police, Neighbors, Restaurant Patrons, etc. (adults and children)

DURATION: 35 minutes

ACCOMPANIMENT: Piano; or with chamber orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, piano, percussion, string quartet, bass)

COMMISSIONED BY: The Children's Theater Company of Minneapolis

PRODUCTIONS: The Children's Theater Company of Minneapolis, Opera of the Ozarks, University of Oregon

see below video clips for excerpts from the opera

iPad & iPhone users click here

Old Man, Scene 1 from FAMILY AUDIENCE OPERA on Vimeo.

Old Man, Scene 2 from FAMILY AUDIENCE OPERA on Vimeo.

Old Man, Scene 3 from FAMILY AUDIENCE OPERA on Vimeo.

Read what the press is saying about THE OLD MAN WHO LOVED CHEESE:

The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, MN
"CHILDREN'S THEATER COMPANY PLAYS WITH ITS FOOD" Click here to read article.

St Paul Pioneer Press
"CTC ORDERS 'HAM' AND 'CHEESE' AND CUTS THE MUSTARD" Click here to read article.

Children's Theater Company of Minneapolis
CTC PRODUCTION PHOTOS Click here to see photos.

Family Audience Opera | Email Us
Feb 23, 2012