Continuing our long-term commitment to educating and inspiring younger generations, HEC-TV and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis are partnering for a special presentation of Opera Theatre’s commissioned children’s opera, The Very Last Green Thing.

The event, part of HEC-TV’s Inside the Artist Studio series, will broadcast and webcast live from the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater in the Touhill Performing Arts Center on October 22 at 11 a.m. In the course of the one hour program, elementary students – both in audience and those tuned in via video conference – will view the live performance and, in the final 20 minutes, have the opportunity to ask questions of the director, set designer and cast members about the nature of producing opera.

Originally commissioned by Opera Theatre in 1992, the opera journeys to a classroom in the year 2413, where a group of students is raised and taught by an android. On a rare field trip “outside,” the students discover something completely foreign to them – the very last green thing on Earth, uncovering secrets from our planet’s past.

HEC-TV and Opera Theatre are partnering for this special event so participants will experience opera as an art form; interact with the professionals involved in the production; and evaluate the use of an artistic medium such as opera to explore important social topics such as environmental stewardship.

“Studies show that exposure to the arts has positive impacts across all disciplines, so we’re very excited to be joining with Opera Theatre for this special program” said HEC-TV Educational Opportunities Coordinator Helen Headrick.

Following the event, the program will be available for on-demand viewing at hectv.org.