Introducing a New Family Tradition
When I was growing up, my best friend’s mother LOVED the opera.

She would listen to opera, sing in the car, and take her children and their friends (i.e., me!) to performances. I grew up loving The Magic Flute and Amahl and the Night Visitors. I only wish she were still here to experience Fort Worth Opera’s new Family Series and Family Package. I know she would be bringing her grandchildren to every performance.
What, I can hear you ask, are Fort Worth Opera’s new Family Series and Family Package? I’m so glad you asked!

The Family Series is built around the idea of “Opera for Everyone.” Whether your family has never experienced opera before or you’re introducing your children and their friends to something you’ve loved for a long time, these performances are the perfect way to get into opera. Each performance is under an hour long, and features bright, colorful sets and costumes and easy-to-follow storylines. There will also be interactive activities with each performance, so the whole family can get involved!
The first production in the Family Series is The Ugly Duckling. Based on the well-known and beloved fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, the opera is specifically aimed at children between pre-kindergarten and third grade. The first performance will take place at the Fort Worth Zoo (yes, the Zoo!) with an interactive animal experience in September, with another two performances in March at the Rose Marine Theater.

photo credit: Emmett Dear
The second production is a reimagining of Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World. Fort Worth Opera commissioned Frida in 2019, so it is a natural choice for their inaugural Family Series. Frida is appropriate for students in the fourth through eighth grades and will be performed at the Fort Worth Zoo in November and at the Rose Marine Theater in March.
Harmony for the Holidays, the third performance in the Family Series, is not strictly an opera, but it’s bound to become a Fort Worth holiday tradition. Harmony for the Holidays features the Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artists, a group of young opera singers who receive professional training, stage experience, and early mentorship while performing with Fort Worth Opera. Harmony for the Holidays will be performed at the Woman’s Club of Fort Worth in November.
And finally, what holiday season is complete without seeing a performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors? This modern classic tells the story of a young boy whose life is changed by a visit from three mysterious kings from the East. Amahl and the Night Visitors will be performed in December at Stage West.

photo credit: Emmett Dear
“The mind of a child is particularly attuned to magic and make believe,” Anthony Pound, the Fort Worth Opera’s Director of Education and Community Engagement said. “As a father of two elementary school kids, the value of intentionally curated work, dedicated to introducing beautiful art forms like opera and encouraging a sense of creativity, is immeasurable. There is no better time to open the gateways for the possibilities inherent in the arts. With this Family Series, we are looking to the future while nurturing the present joy families and friends can experience by discovering opera together.”
Tickets are available for single performances or as a Family Package. The Family Package is a great deal offering discounts on both the Family Series and mainstage productions. It’s a unique experience offered to us by Fort Worth Opera and a wonderful way to explore the world of opera with your family.
To find out more about Fort Worth Opera Family Series, Family Package, and the mainstage shows of the Fort Worth Opera’s 2026-2027 Season, visit www.fwopera.org.


