Grade 5 students worked hard to produce and present their opera on April 30. Those in the Grade 5 Creating Original Opera program include public relations (PR) Team members Ben Matiash ’22 and Allison Labutin ’22. Here are notes from their interviews with fellow students in the “Crew of 52” Opera Company.
WRITERS
By Benjamin Matiash
Hi! My name is Benjamin Matiash, and I am a public relations officer in the 5th grade opera. Today I am going to tell you about how the writers, Joseph, Rohin, Sasha, Tristan, Nehir, Franki, and Jonathan are doing. I interviewed two of the writers, Jonathan and Sasha. They said that they love being writers. I asked Jonathan why he chose his job. He said that he chose his job because he likes to write and express his feelings. I also asked him how he likes his job so far. He said he enjoys collaborating with the other writers. Jonathan told me that so far they have written the lyrics for the opening aria and the solo. 
They have also written the script for Act I. Sasha said she chose her job because she has a big imagination. She is looking forward to watching the performers bring their words alive. Next Allison, our other public relation’s officer, will tell you about the composers.
COMPOSERS
By Allison Labutin
Hi. My name is Allison, and I am going to tell you about the composers. They are Anton, Eila, Ryan Ro, Malachi, and Andrew. First I interviewed Malachi. I’m going to tell you how much Malachi loves his job and is grateful that he has it. I asked him why he chose this job, and he answered that he chose this job because he loves to play and write music a lot. My next question was, “What have you been doing in the opera so far?” He said that so far they have been composing and arranging the opening aria. Another question was, “How do you like your job so far?” I was not surprised when he answered that he likes it very much. Finally my last question was, “How is your job different than you expected?” He said that it is not that different.
Next I interviewed Anton about his job. Some questions may be the 
same as before and some different. Let’s start with the first question. “Why did you choose this job?” Anton said that he chose this job because he has had a lot of experience with music. The next question was, “What do you like the most about your job?” He answered that he likes making the songs so far. I then asked, “What are you most looking forward to doing in your job?” Anton said that he his most looking forward to the day of the actual opera. Finally my last question was, “How do you like your job so far?” He said that he likes his job a lot. That’s all for today. Hope you enjoyed my opera update. Benjamin who is also a PR officer will discuss the set designers next. See you next time!
SET DESIGNERS
By Benjamin Matiash
Hi! I am here with some Opera Updates. Today I am going to be talking about the set designers. The set designers are Wilson and Isabel. They said that they chose their job because they love to draw, paint, and to design things. So far they have been designing the set for Act I and making tiny flats out of paper. They both said that they love their job, and it is a lot of fun. Seeing how the set turns out in the actual production is what they are looking forward to the most. Stay tuned for the next opera update when Allison will be writing about the carpenters.
CARPENTERS
By Allison Labutin
Hi. I’m here to tell you about the carpenters. The carpenters are Drew, Luc, Armaan, Remy and Brian. First I interviewed Remy. My first question was, “Why did you choose your job?” Remy answered that he chose his job because he loves to build things. My next question for Remy was, “What have you been doing in your job so far?” Remy’s answer was that they have been organizing the materials and whiting out the set. Then I asked, “What do you like most about your job?” His answer was that his favorite part is using the brushes to white out the set. Now for my last question.” How is your job different than you expected?” He answered that his job is not that different. Next I interviewed Luc. He also chose his job because he loves to build things. My next question for Luc was, “What are you most looking forward to in your job?” Luc answered that he is looking forward to building the set and especially moving the sets during the show. Next I asked him “How is your job different than you expected?” Luc answered that his job is different than he expected because he thought they would start building right away but then it took some time. Finally, my last question for Luc was, “How do you like your job so far?” He answered that he likes his job very much. That’s it for now. The next opera update will be Ben who will be talking about the electricians. See you next time when I will be discussing my job which is public relations.
ELECTRICIANS
By Benjamin Matiash
Hi! My name is Benjamin Matiash, and I am going to be talking about the electricians. They are Pranav, Yuan, Brandon, Nicholas and Ryan. So far they have been constructing the footlights. They actually make their own footlights using a can and their own wiring. I chose to interview Brandon and Yuan.
Brandon said that he chose his job because it had to do with constructing things, and he loves building with Legos. The thing that he likes most about his job is learning about electricity.
Yuan said that he chose his job because he also loves building things. The thing that he most looks forward to in his job is controlling the lights during the actual opera in the real lighting booth. Next, Allison will be giving you another opera update about us, the public relation’s team!
PUBLIC RELATIONS
By Allison Labutin
Hi. Today I’m going to tell you about the public relations officers, Ben and me. First I am going to talk to you about Ben. The first question for Ben was, “Why did you choose this job?” Ben answered that he chose his job because he loves to draw and wanted to create the logo. My next question was, “How do you like your job so far?” Ben answered that he likes his job because it is fun to interview people. Then I asked, “What are you most looking forward to in your job?” He answered that he is most looking forward to being on the news. Finally, my last question for Ben was, “How is your job different than you expected?” Ben answered that his job is different than he expected because it is taking longer than he expected to finish the interviews.
Now I am going to talk about my experience as a PR officer. I chose my job because it sounded really fun, and I wanted to try something new. This job is much different than I expected because the process of making the logo took longer than I thought it would, and the interviewing is much more complicated than it sounds. I am most looking forward to making the posters and press releases. My favorite part about this job so far was making the logo. I hope you like it as much as we do. Thanks for reading our opera updates. See you next time!
HISTORIANS
By Benjamin Matiash
Hi! My name is Benjamin Matiash, and I am going to be talking about the historians today. The historians are Hyeri, Rich and Krish. I interviewed Rich and Krish. Rich said that he chose his job because he loves to take photos and thought it would be fun to take pictures of the “Crew of 52.” So far the historian team has been taking head shots of everyone and has also been interviewing the entire cast. Rich says that he loves his job and is looking forward to taking photos at the actual production. The second person that I interviewed was Krish. He said that his job is better than he ever thought it would be! He loves taking photos and making slide shows of the different jobs. “The only thing that was different for me was that I didn’t think that we (historians) would have to take a picture of every single person in the whole opera,” said Krish. The historians have a lot of work in store for them when they set up their amazing exhibit outside the theatre the night before our opera. That’s all for today. I am going to be interviewing our performers for my next update.
PERFORMERS
By Benjamin Matiash
Hi! Today I will be speaking about the Performers: Leah, Emma, Daniel, Sunaya, George, Sedona, Sophia, Charlie,
Sam and Angie. I chose to interview Leah and Sam. Leah said that she chose her job because she loves music and has a connection with it. So far the performers are acting out two scenes and the blockings. She also said that she LOVES her job!
Sam said that he chose his job because he loves to sing and was jealous of his sister when she got the job of performer two years ago. He also said that his job is SUPER fun because he gets to use his imagination. The thing that he most enjoys about his job is the people that he works with. Sam most looks forward to acting out his part in the actual opera. “I thought that acting would be a lot easier than it actually is,” is what Sam thought was different than he expected. That’s all about the performers. Please stay tuned for my next and last interview with our assistant stage manager, Ben Tausner.
COSTUME AND MAKE-UP
By Allison Labutin
Today is the day for costume and make-up interviews! The costume and make-up team are: Ben, Diya, Ellen, Ariella, Anna, Naz, Mariana, Amy, Brianna, and Lana. I interviewed Marianna and Anna. The first question I asked Mariana was, “Why did you choose this job?” Her answer was that she chose this job because she loves designing fashion. The next question was, “How do you like your job so far?” Mariana’s answer was that so far she likes it very much. The following question was, “What are you looking forward to in your job?” She answered that she really is looking forward to applying the performers’ make-up. My last question for Mariana was, “How is your job different than you expected?” Her answer was that she thought they would do more designing than make-up, but it turns out that it is the other way around.
Next I interviewed Anna. My first question for Anna was, “Why did you choose your job?” Anna answered that she chose her job because she loves fashion. My next question for Anna was, “What have you been doing so far?” She answered that they finished designing and picking the colors for the costumes. Next I asked her, “How do you like your job so far?” Anna answered that she likes her job very much. Finally, I asked Anna, “What do you like most about your job?” Her answer was that she really likes choosing the costumes. That concludes the interviews for costume and make-up. Stay tuned for my next opera update about our stage manager, Macri. See you next time!
Assistant Stage Manager
By Allison Labutin
Hi! Today I will be talking about the assistant stage manager, Ben Tausner. One question I asked was, “What have you been doing in your job so far?” He answered that he is helping the performers and the stage manager. So far he loves his job and likes the people that he works with. He has been very busy gathering the props that the performers will need to use on the stage. Ben is doing a great job, and we cannot wait to see what he has in store for us during the show.
Production Manager
By Allison Labutin
Today I am writing my last update so please read this one. I am writing about the production manager. Our production manager, Lucy, has been working very hard to bring this opera together. My first question for Lucy was, “Why did you choose your job?” Lucy answered that she chose her job because she likes to be busy and organizing things. Next I asked Lucy, “What is your favorite part of your job?” Lucy answered that she really likes seeing all of the progress in everyone else’s jobs. Next I asked her, “How is your job different than you expected?” She said that she thought that Mary would be with her helping her to do everything, but she is totally on her own making some very big decisions. Finally my last question for Lucy was, “What are you most looking forward to in your job?” She answered that she is very excited to see how the whole production comes together on the day of the opera. That wraps up my last update. I hope you liked them! See you at the opera!!
Stage Manager
By Benjamin Matiash
Today I am going to tell you about the stage manager, Macri. My first question for Macri was “Why did you choose your job?” Macri answered that he chose his job because he likes being the boss and really wanted to work with the performers. My next question for Macri was, “What are you most looking forward to in your job?” He answered that he is most looking forward to giving the cues to the electricians during the opera. Next my question was, “How do you like your job so far?” Macri answered that he likes his job very much. Finally my last question for Macri was, “How is your job different than you expected?” He answered that his job is not that different than he expected. Thanks for reading. See you all soon!
Our opera public relation’s team, Ben Matiash and Allison Labutin, met with Elizabeth Tausner, DE’s Director of Publications and Communications, to learn more about their job and hers. Ms.Tausner reviewed with these opera students the press release that they wrote to send to the media. They also discussed other details pertaining to how to properly notify the media and follow up with phone calls, which will hopefully result with good coverage of this wonderful event. We wish to thank Ms. Tausner for her time and dedication.
Our PR opera team would like to extend a huge thanks to Mr. Thom Jackson, a fifth-grade parent, who generously provided our opera company with this year’s t-shirts. Ben Matiash, one of our public relations opera students had the opportunity to video conference with both Mr. Jackson and Mr. Ron Dishman, the person responsible for the manufacture of the shirts, to give his input on the scale of the design, font, and color choices. This was a very exciting and interesting experience for both our PR team members and Mrs. Milbauer, their opera advisor. (Allison and Ben designed this logo to go with the opera company’s name). Mr. Jackson gave generously of his time and expertise in a very meaningful way, and we are grateful to him for this.