Where the Wild Things Are Opera, 2005

Fast-paced, modern, and experimental, the opera Where the Wild Things Are, produced jointly by the SU Florence and the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in January 2005 was a refreshing twist on traditional opera. The music was dramatic, sometimes dark and strident, and never boring, even during lighter moments. The set and costumes were a veritable feast for the eyes, doing honor to Sendak’s original vision with images that stayed with the viewer long after the curtain closed.

This multi-faceted project involved the students in the production from the outset of the collaboration: in fall 2004 two new courses were offered at SUF—Set Design and Costume Design. Six internships were offered through the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Meyer Children’s Hospital of Florence, the SUF Photography department, and the SUF Storytelling Program.

The SUF production of Where the Wild Things Are was directed by master puppeteer Amy Luckenbach, who also created the puppet Max. A student intern followed Luckenbach in her work.

The story’s focuses on a single child’s imagination and curiosity, characteristics we all share as human beings regardless of the country we live in or the language we speak. Soon after I started to read, I had all the children in a trance. Seeing their faces was touching because they were reacting the exact same way I did when I first heard the story fifteen years ago.

- SUF Storytelling Intern