The word “opera” may evoke images of extravagant sets, black-tie apparel and strict etiquette. Typically, to see children laughing and playing directly in front of the stage would come as a shock. However, this is exactly what visitors experienced at the Mural Amphitheater in Seattle Center May 17. Though the sky may have been gloomy, the energy was anything but as families waited in anticipation to view a free performance of “Earth to Kenzie,” a Seattle Opera production for audiences of all ages.
“Earth to Kenzie” is a short, one-act opera centering a fifth-grade girl (the titular Kenzie) and her mother as they navigate housing insecurity and life in a shelter. The show is part of a larger partnership between the Seattle Opera and Mary’s Place, an organization dedicated to helping families experiencing homelessness find emergency and long-term shelter. At all performances, the opera staff provides a location for donations to be collected on behalf of Mary’s Place.
“We’ve been doing supply drives and other kinds of need-dependent things for [Mary’s Place] for about five years now,” Julia Curns-Welch, associate director of development for institutional giving at the Seattle Opera, said. “The theme of the opera, exploring housing insecurity, really drove our want to partner with something where people can put what they’re feeling directly into action. A lot of our partnerships stem from that. You’ve reacted to something, now here’s something you can do about it.”
While the subject matter may seem heavy for young audiences, “Earth to Kenzie” tackles the topic in a way that children can understand and relate to. Kenzie is a lot like many of the kids in the audience: she likes playing video games, writing stories and using her imagination. Her anxieties surrounding moving to a family shelter relate to situations kids encounter every day: What if a classmate asks to play at her house? How will she finish her homework if the shelter lights turn off at eight?
“It’s so many different perspectives on how somebody might process something and all of the different emotions and ways that they work through it. I think it’s super relatable for this age group,” Curns-Welch said. “I think the way Kenzie immediately doesn’t want to tell a teacher is really relatable. I like how approachable it is and how bite-sized it makes really hard-lived experiences relatable.”
The music is easy to follow, with repetitive lyrics that still manage to showcase the performer’s impressive vocal abilities. The backing music, provided entirely by pianist Li-Cheng Hung, is clear in its emotional intent and serves to elevate the tension of many scenes.
The show is small and adaptable, featuring only four performers and minimal set dressing. This allows “Earth to Kenzie” to be performed practically anywhere with ease. The show has traveled to numerous local elementary schools, where students have the opportunity to ask performers questions after the show and learn more about what their classmates may be going through.
“We wanted to create an opera that centered a story about a mother and daughter who are experiencing homelessness because this is such a relevant issue in our communities right now,” Sarah Litchfield, associate director of youth programs for the Seattle Opera, said. “We wanted to make a hopeful and exciting story, but we also wanted to make sure that youth knew they weren’t alone because this is such a common situation in school districts.”
“Earth to Kenzie” has been in the works for a number of years, originally being co-commissioned with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2020. Just before the show was set to open, the Seattle Opera was forced to pause performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the show underwent a number of changes, some cast members stayed consistently involved with the project. This includes performer Lucy Weber, who plays a student in Kenzie’s class, also experiencing homelessness.
“I’ve been a member of the Seattle Opera Chorus since 2015,” Weber said in a Q&A session after the show. “When I heard about ‘Earth to Kenzie,’ I was really interested in getting involved with the project. It’s been a lot of fun to create and perform.”
“Earth to Kenzie” will return with multiple performances at the Seattle Opera Center June 7. Tickets can be purchased on the Seattle Opera website.
