Tony Kushner (Angels in America) — who teamed with author-illustrator Maurice Sendak ("Where the Wild Things Are") on a children's book based on the opera — has adapted the Adolf Hoffmeister's libretto for the work created in 1938.
Brundibar would likely be accompanied with another short opera by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu titled Comedy on the Bridge, to be performed by adults.
The Krasa opera follows the tale of Aninku and Pepicek — two children who try their hands at singing in town in an attempt to purchase milk for their ailing mother. Despite their best efforts, they cannot overpower the bellowing Brundibar (an organ grinder) until they team up with three talking animals and 300 children who chase the bully away.
Brundibar (slang for bumblebee) was performed 55 times by children interred in the Nazi concentration camp at Terezin. The composer was himself imprisoned at Terezin and later died at Auschwitz.
For more information on The Long Wharf Theatre, located at 222 Sargent Drive in New Haven, CT, visit www.longwharf.org.