Family Day at the Opera by Bicycle

Today, Denver is blanketed in snow. Yesterday, it was a beautiful sunny day with highs in the 60's, perfect for a family bike ride to Opera Colorado's Hansel and Gretel!

We started with brunch at a friend's house, whom I talked into buying a Babboe City Cargo Bike a year or two ago. In fairness, she was already leaning toward the purchase and I probably just re-enforced the decision, but I was happy to hear her husband describe the purchase as, "The best money we've ever spent," as we set out on our ride.

We weaved through the neighborhood to the Cherry Creek Path, which took us to within a few short blocks of the spectacular Ellie Caulkins Opera House. As usual, the extra time we spent getting outdoor exercise on our bikes approximated the time we would've spent looking for parking. There were plenty of empty bike racks at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

We made our way into the lobby just as the doors to the house opened. I was pleased to see extremely courteous ushers decked out in their usual tuxedos, treating the children like royalty AND distributing tickets for free concessions! We were ushered onto the stage itself for a breathtaking view of the opera house from what Klaus Frahm calls The Fourth Wall.

Families had access to a backstage bathroom, which was more than simply practical and accommodating. It gave kids and their families access to another space that is typically reserved for performers, which complemented the "Fourth Wall" perspective to blur the line between audience and performer. Seemingly small choices such as these go a long way toward encouraging audience members of all ages to be more active participants than passive consumers, an outcome highly prized by artistic organizations everywhere that thrive not only from ticket sales, but primarily on charitable contributions from engaged and enthusiastic patrons.

The set was versatile and fun, the costumes were wonderful, the young artists extremely talented, and the pianist remarkably adept, sensitive, and focused as she did the work of an entire orchestra non-stop for an hour.

My two year old didn't make it through the hour, so we headed back out to the lobby to get some wiggles out after 40 minutes or so. There were still tables set up with activities that we missed beforehand: coloring, crafts, and a fun photo op:

The concession stand was open, so we traded our tickets for some chips, hot cocoa, granola bars and a banana, which gave us all energy for the ride home. What a day at the opera!

This isn't even all of us! Thanks to everyone who made it such a fun afternoon!