Four “billy goats’’ from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville went to Silver Creek Elementary School in Troy last week to show the negative effects of bullying.
“It was active and a lot of fun to watch,” said fifth grader Andrew Gula about the opera, The Billy Goat’s Gruff. “I have seen someone bullying another person. I asked him why was he doing it, and told him it was just not nice.”
This is the message that SIUE vocal students has been spreading through the Opera-tion Arts! The three-week production of The Billy Goat’s Gruff, which performs in cooperation with the SIUE Department of Music, will conclude Friday.
“Over the past several years, we have reached thousands of elementary students through our outreach program, Opera-tion Arts!” said Dr. Marc Schapman, associate professor of Music in Voice, who started Opera-tion Arts! “It is great to know the children are being exposed to great music, and learning valuable life lessons at the same time.
“Billy Goat’s Gruff boasts an anti-bullying message that is so important in today’s society. The cast and artistic staff have done a marvelous job of putting together a witty and beautifully sung opera!”
“I’m a bully. I’m as mean as can be. I am mean, and I don’t care,” sang Tyler Green, who plays Osmini the bully goat. Green is a sophomore majoring in vocal performance and music business.
The other “billy goats” in the opera are: Allison Wagner, a junior and vocal performance major; as the youngest goat, Lucy; Lindsey Davis, a senior and vocal performance major, as Ernesta the middle goat; and Ben Rardin, a senior and vocal performance major, who plays Dandini, the oldest goat.
The subject was a familiar one to everyone in the audience. “Who has known a bully?” asked Kate Slovinski, theater specialist for Opera-tion Art! Seemingly every hand was raised.
“It’s always a good idea to bring this message to school,” said Beth Luttrell, Silver Creek assistant principal, who responded to a flyer from the SIUE Music Department. “I wanted students to hear what to do if they are put in a situation of bullying.”
The opera story takes place after school. After the three billy goats play a game of hide and seek, they are prevented from crossing the bridge and going home by the bully goat. Lucy both stands up to Osmini and is nice to him. She then introduces him as a new friend to the other billy goats.
“Kindness is contagious,” Lucy sings in the end.
“How many think it is possible for a bully to change, if he is treated with kindness?” Slovinski asked the more than 500 students and staff at the beginning of the play. An overwhelming majority raised their hands.
The opera was adapted from The Billy Goat’s Gruff story by John Davies. The music, according to Slovinski, was rearranged from arias of such composers as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gioachino Antonio Rossini. The music director is Dr. Joe Welch, McKendree College faculty member and SIUE alum. The stage manager is Ryan Wiechmann, a SIUE senior and Theater and Mass Communications major.
For one “billy goat” in the play, the subject matter is a painful memory.
“I was bullied for two years, in the sixth and seventh grades,” said Davis, who said she would not cave into peer pressure. “I didn’t fight back, because I didn’t believe in fighting, and I was afraid of telling anyone.
“But I have taken my experiences to help youth who may be the victims of bullying. If you find yourself being the target of a bully, please tell someone.”
For more information about SIUE’s production of The Billy Goat’s Gruff, visit siue.edu/artsandsciences/music/.
College of Arts and Sciences: Central to SIUE’s exceptional and comprehensive education, the College of Arts and Sciences has 19 departments and 85 areas of study. More than 300 full-time faculty/instructors deliver classes to more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty help students explore diverse ideas and experiences, while learning to think and live as fulfilled, productive members of the global community. Study abroad, service-learning, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities better prepare SIUE students not only to succeed in our region’s workplaces, but also to become valuable leaders who make important contributions to our communities.
Photo Information:
SIUE students singing in the Opera-tion Art! performance of The Billy Goat’s Gruff are (from left to right) Ben Rardin, a senior and vocal performance major; Allison Wagner, a junior and vocal performance major; and Lindsey Davis, a senior and vocal performance major.
Tyler Green, who played the bully goat, Osmini, gives high-fives to students leaving the play.