ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND

Cowtown Opera’s production is one heck of a tea party and a company milestone.

1 Twist and Sing

Now in its seventh season, Cowtown Opera is officially an established entity on Calgary’s arts scene. “We’ve been all throughout Calgary,” founder and artistic director Michelle Minke says. “We’ve done a lot of singalongs. We’ve done a lot of twists on fun classics. And we’ve also created new works that tell Calgary stories.”

2 Alice and Arias

The company’s production of an operatic rendition of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland marks the first time it has presented a Canadian premiere. The show is a hit across the pond in London, where it’s regularly performed outdoors.

3 A Study in Style

Cowtown’s Alice is entirely sung in an operatic style, but it has a broad appeal even to those unfamiliar with the works of Puccini or Verdi. “It’s just so fun,” Minke says. “The caterpillar has this bluesy New Orleans music. Alice has beautiful, high sweeping lines that really showcase her dreaming spirit. And the jazzy tunes of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are a lot of fun.”

4 For the Purists

The performance doesn’t abandon tradition completely, however. Minke promises plenty of “amazing operatic highlights” throughout the show, particularly from soprano Lauren Woods, whom Minke describes as “stunning and awesome.” Woods is not alone in her talents; Minke says that every member of Cowtown Opera has at least 12 years of professional training.

5 High Notes and the Common Touch

Cowtown Opera’s unorthodox approach has ruffled feathers among its peers. “We’ve definitely taken some flack,” Minke says. “We’re hoping to push the envelope a little bit and see what our boundaries are. We really want to break stereotypes of opera, that it is highbrow and Champagne—wear your jeans, get ready to laugh a whole bunch, and get ready for a fun experience with this show.” —Josiah Hughes