Art Song Colorado, in collaboration with the Sohap Ensemble, Boulder Opera, and the Broomfield Council on the Arts and Humanities (BCAH), will present the first-ever Puppet
Opera Festival on June 3-4, 2023 .

Headlining the festival will be the world premiere of “Colorado Sky,” a puppet opera for families, by composer Ben Morris and librettist Laura Fuentes. The work is inspired by Colorado Proposition 114, which tells the story of Sky, a wolf cub who is learning to make friends in his new home.

“Colorado Sky” will star mezzo-soprano Claire McCahan, baritone Brandon Tyler Padgett, and soprano Sabina Bálsamo. It will also feature the Lírios String Quartet.

Katy Williams directs a production designed by Melanie Bindon; they will also be puppeteers in the production. Nichols Carthy conducts.

“ The cool thing about Colorado Sky is that you have the visual art combined with the music and it’s a really fun way for the kids to connect with the music, especially since the puppets are so cinematic,” said soprano Sabina Balsamo in an official press statement.

Performances are slated for Broomfield Auditorium and at The Dairy Arts Center in Boulder. The duration of the show is 35 minutes with a 30-minute puppet making workshop to follow.