A Lively Take On Opera, For All Ages

FAIRFIELD — Cartoon gems, historic films, sparkling live performance and audience participation will bring the world of opera to life in “What’s Opera, Doc?’ on Sunday, April 3, at 1 and 3 pm, at Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Suitable for all grade levels, the program is part of Lincoln Center’s Reel-to-Real Series.

The spirited show weaves lives performance with clips from an eclectic set of vintage films, including footage of Dame Joan Sutherland singing and discussing her rise to fame to Bugs Bunny spoofing the masters in the classic “Rabbit of Seville.” Pianist/composer Jed Distler plays conductor Leopold Stokowski of Fantasia fame and Elmer Fudd, while serving as a kind of tourguide-in-tails for the afternoon.

Metropolitan Opera soprano Emily Pulley and tenor Scott Ailing will join the fun, singing soaring arias and humorous songs while telling children about their roads to the stage.

Now in its ninth season, the Reel-to-Real Series brings the worlds of jazz, tap dancing, ballet and opera to young audiences. Alina Bloomgarden, the program’s founder, said accessibility is key to helping kids enjoy the classic arts.

“Reel-to-Real gives kids a sense of history,” she said, “a sense of these singular, heroic artists who rose above obstacles in delightful ways.”

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for children. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at 203-254-4010.