Once a Year on Christmas Eve (Sc. 1 – “The presents shine”)

Commissioned and produced by TADA! Youth Theater in New York City, Once a Year on Christmas Eve is a musical fable. Presents appear in a magical forest only on Christmas Eve and the villagers learn a valuable lesson about the importance of giving to others. In this further excerpt from Scene 1, a traveling stranger enters the Town and the villagers share their celebration with him.

A type of hybrid opera/musical that is entirely sung, Once a Year on Christmas Eve may be performed by any combination of adults and/or children. At its premiere, it was performed entirely by young people ages 5-18, with a conductor and chamber accompaniment of flute, violin, cello and percussion.