Earth to Kenzie

Opera Colorado brings Earth to Kenzie to the Studio Loft of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Saturday, October 10, at 11 AM. It's a 45-minute opera in English, written for young audiences, and it's being performed by Opera Colorado's Resident Artists—four professional singers accompanied by piano. The whole thing runs less than an hour, so it's an easy one to bring kids to on a Saturday morning.

Earth to Kenzie follows Kenzie, a fifth-grader with a vivid imagination and a love of adventure whose family moves into a shelter after trouble at home. At school, she faces questions she'd rather not answer and wishes she could vanish into her favorite video game—all starships and space-kittens—but her asthma and the real world keep calling her back. As she faces her fears, she discovers that finding a home is about courage, friendship, and realizing she doesn't have to face things alone. The piece was originally co-commissioned by Lyric Opera of Chicago and Seattle Opera, and it's been praised for addressing housing insecurity and resilience without talking down to children.

Because it's staged in the Studio Loft rather than the main house, it's a close-up theatrical and vocal experience in a smaller studio setting. You'll be right there with the singers and the piano, which makes the whole thing feel more like a chamber piece than a grand opera production. The late-morning start fits the younger audience it's aimed at, and the short runtime means you're in and out before lunch.

Tickets are pay-what-you-wish, with a suggested price of $25. The performance is at 11 AM on Saturday, October 10, at the Studio Loft of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 908 14th St, Denver, CO 80202.