Opera Troupe Will Perform at Libraries

The Southland Opera will perform selections from “Cinderella” and other operas at several West Valley libraries this week.

Funded by a grant from American Pacific State Bank, the show is tailored to children. The performance, featuring full costumes, includes snippets from “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story,” as well as narration on the history of operas.

“I think there is a great need for children to understand opera and other art forms,” said Elizabeth Nelson, lead children’s librarian for the West Valley branches of the Los Angeles Public Library.

The library shows are free. Performances begin Saturday at the following libraries: Platt Branch, 23600 Victory Blvd., at 11 a.m.; West Valley Regional, 19036 Vanowen St., at 1:30 p.m.; and the Northridge Branch, 9051 Darby Ave., at 3:30 p.m. On Aug. 24, the opera will be at the Granada Hills Branch, 10640 Petit Ave., at 11:30 a.m., and the Mid-Valley Regional Library, 16244 Nordhoff St., at 1:30 p.m. The same program will be hosted by the Porter Ranch Branch, 11371 Tampa Ave., at 2 p.m. Aug. 25.