Bearnardo the Spanish brown bear is feeling lonely and lost when he meets Polly the panda bear and Marla the koala bear. Although Bearnardo doesn’t speak the same language, he and Polly and Marla are able to turn Griff the mean grizzly bear from bully to friend by discovering that even though we are each different on the outside, our hearts are all the same!

The production is designed for grades K-5 and has a run time of 35 minutes. Before the show, teachers will be provided with Opera Carolina’s Learning Guide focusing on curriculum priorities + SEL. Opera Carolina provides 4 actors and 1 pianist/accompanist for each production. A Q&A with the cast follows each performance and a curriculum-linked learning guide is available to further enhance the experience.

Artist Background

The educational touring company of Opera Carolina, Opera Xpress has been sharing the wonder of opera with students, teachers, and families for more than 40 years! Our group of traveling troubadours brings the experience of opera right into schools all across the Carolinas and Northern Georgia, sharing opera with more than 30,000 students and teachers each year. These 35-minute productions are designed expressly for today’s learners, helping bring the world of opera alive as an all-inclusive vehicle for learning. Performances bring to life creative sets, costumes, and stories, and are accompanied by curriculum-linked educational materials that help teachers integrate the performance into the classroom for a lasting experience.

Search Criteria

• Program Type: Performance
• Discipline: Literary, Music, STEAM, Storytelling, Theatre, Visual Arts
• Grade Level: Elementary
• Accepts bookings in Johnston County