Once Upon a Winter
Once Upon a Winter
There’s no gift more precious than the time we spend with our loved ones. Embrace the true meaning of the holidays with Once Upon a Winter, an original holiday special co-produced by Opera Theatre and Nine PBS. This feel-good TV event will make your heart sing!
When adult siblings Hazel, Keith, and Mary-Ellen get snowed in during a family visit, they couldn’t be more annoyed. Determined to make the best of the situation, Mary-Ellen begins hanging Christmas decorations all over the house. The holiday spirit proves impossible to resist, as the Davis family all begin to sing their favorite festive tunes and reconnect over childhood memories. Featuring a cast of acclaimed singers from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, this touching holiday special is sure to become an instant classic!
Event information
Running Time
1 hour
Broadcast Channel
Nine PBS
Conceived and Written by Tara Branham
Cast & Creative Team
Tara Branham
Stage Director
Timothy Cheung
Music Director/Pianist
Angel Azzarra
Hazel
Meridian Prall
Mary-Ellen
Anthony León
Gabriel
Kyle Miller
Keith
Hans Tashjian
Paul
Musical Selections
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Hugh Martin, Composer
Ralph Blane, Lyricist
Walking in the Air
Howard Blake, Composer and Lyricist
Deck the Halls
Traditional
Thomas Oliphant, Lyricist
“Tutti i fior” from Madame Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini, Composer
Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa, Librettists
Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)
Irving Berlin, Composer and Lyricist
Here We Come A-Wassailing
English Traditional
You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Albert Hague, Composer
Theodor “Dr. Suess” Geisel, Lyricist
Sure On This Shining Night
Samuel Barber, Composer
James Agee, Lyricist
Noche de paz (Silent night)
Franz Xaver Gruber, Composer
Joseph Mohr, tr. Federico José Pagura, Lyricists
“Ebben?… Ne andrò lontana” from La Wally
Alfredo Catalani, Composer
Luigi Illica, Librettist
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Walter Kent, Composer
Kim Gannon, Lyricist
Ma’oz Tzur (Rock of Ages)
Jewish Traditional
Auld Lang Syne
Scottish Traditional
Robert Burns, Lyricist
In the Bleak Midwinter
Gustav Holst, Composer
Based on a poem by Christina Rossetti
“Evening Prayer” from Hansel and Gretel
Engelbert Humperdinck, Composer
Adelheid Wette, Librettist
Someday at Christmas
Ron Miller & Bryan Wells, Composers and Lyricists
“Que les songes heureux” from Philémon and Baucis
Jules Barbier & Michel Carré, Librettists
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Ralph Blane, Lyricist
Produced in partnership with
Once Upon a Winter is generously supported by the Berges Family Foundation and by donors to Opera Theatre’s Voices Fund.
