A Plainsboro Couple Creates a New Children’s Opera
Anita Joseph, 15, of West Windsor is the assistant director for the world premiere of “”The Emperor’s New Clothes,”” a new comic opera for youth based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale featuring the music of Mozart. It was written and directed by Plainsboro residents and Westminster Conservatory faculty members Michael Jacobsen and Danielle Sinclair. Performances are Friday, July 30, at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 31 at 3 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, August 1, at 3 p.m., at the Yvonne Theater, Rider University, in Lawrence. Call 609-921-7104 for tickets, which are $8 general admission.
Jacobsen took familiar arias and duets from the Mozart’s operas and revised the lyrics to fit with the classic Hans Christian Andersen story. The company features students ranging in age from 6 to 16, who are involved with all aspects of the production – on stage plus technical work.
Joseph is a sophomore at Lawrenceville Preparatory School. She was born in East Brunswick, and her family moved to West Windsor when she was two years old. She attended Hawk, Upper Elementary, and Community Middle School before transferring out of the school district. She has been involved in the Conservatory Youth Opera Workshop for five years but this is her first year directing. “”It is totally different,”” she says of the experience. “”One has to be much more organized when directing. Acting is more spontaneous and involves improvisation.””
She has studied piano for eight years with Jacobson at Westminster and studies viola with Joan Cordas in Lawrenceville. She is a member of the orchestra at Lawrenceville. She recently won $500 in the public speaking contest at the school with her argument against the death penalty.
A basketball player since her days at Community Middle School, she is also a member of the cross country team. A coxswain for the crew team, she says she is proud that her team came in third place in the junior category at the Stotesbury Cup, held in Schuylkill, Pennsylvania.
Her sisters, Jamie, 13, and Tresa, 7, are also involved in the opera. Jamie, an eighth grade student at Community Middle School, is playing Johann Muller, one of the lead roles. She is a piano student with Jacobson and studies viola with Emily Laycock. Tresa, a third grade student at Hawk School, also studies piano with Jacobson. A chorister in the opera, this is her second year with the youth program.
Their mother, Sunu, was a public speaker earlier in her career and now works at Merrill Lynch in Hopewell. Their father, Jose, is an independent business consultant.
Other West Windsor students involved in the production include Caroline Hui as a tailor and Christopher Hui and Aana Bansal as choristers. Emily Rodofsky from Plainsboro plays a tailor.
“”The program is all about giving kids the opportunity to be on stage while working with great music,”” says Jacobson. “”It is a great experience for youngsters.””
-Lynn Miller
The Emperor’s New Clothes, Friday, July 30, 7 p.m.; Saturday, July 31, at 3 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, August 1, at 3 p.m., at the Yvonne Theater, Rider University, Lawrence. $8 general admission. 609-921-7104.
