Once a Year on Christmas Eve (Sc. 2 – “Chloe found gifts”)

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 2, the villagers are unable to find any presents; they are surprised when Chloe tells them she sees gifts everywhere. (The villagers are looking for themselves, while Chloe is looking for her brother Joey).

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.