She asked Sally Opel, director of Opera Southwest, if children could be included in productions, which usually consisted only of adults. The idea was well-received. Kyle Doering from the East Mountains was Amahl. He went on to sing nationally in the American Boy Choir. It's a good song because of its range, Thomas-Green explained.
Theater is tyrannical.
Thomas-Green works with the youngsters in a production for about two months to prepare them musically. They also work on their parts at home. Almost all of the youngsters in the current group are home-schooled and are using the production as their music project. Most of them also play a musical instrument. The show requires a week off so everybody involved has to study and get schoolwork caught up.