This interactive and engaging opera for young audiences is a fantasy based on some true events of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806. The story follows a magpie and a prairie dog that are discovered in the Great Plaines by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Captain Lewis decides to send a magpie and prairie dog to President Jefferson in Washington DC while he and Lieutenant Clark continue west with Sacagawea and other members of the Expedition. The trip to Washington DC takes them down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, around the Florida Keys, and up the Carolina Coast to the Potomac River. Along the way, both learn to appreciate the diversity of life they encounter and the value of friendship. They meet other critters along the way including a pelican in the Bayou, flamingos in the Florida Keys and an oriole in Baltimore and become familiar with the diversity of life and the value of friendship and family. The prairie dog finds his voice and ends up teaching the President a valuable lesson when he finally arrives at the end of his journey.
This film is a great introduction to opera and has a historical basis. It is very entertaining and has a great message. It tells the seldom-taught story of the gifts sent by Captain Lewis to President Jefferson from the point of view of the prairie dog and the magpie. It masterfully unfolds and it is not at all predictable. The quality of the camera work is outstanding; the camera effectively captures not only the various birds and animals, it also captures the personalities of the characters. The actors are transformed into the various birds and animals with very imaginative costumes which include face masks and wigs. The use of pink tutus and pink boas for the flamingos is brilliant. The film uses a combination of nature scenes and virtual backgrounds to tell the story. The brilliant green grass of the prairie and the plants in the bayou stand out. The film serves as an introduction to opera for young audiences with easy-to-understand lyrics and voices portraying the personalities of the various creatures. The actors that play the prairie dog and the magpie are especially suited both in voice and mannerisms to the characters they play. The film is a creation of the Music, Film, And Theatre faculty and their students at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia. Director Shandra McDonald is an award winning screen writer and director whose magic clearly comes through in this production. My favorite part is the scene where the prairie dog and the magpie meet the three flamingos in the Florida Keys. They are dressed in pink tutus with pink boas and strut around just like real flamingos.
The film's message is to value diversity, family and friends. I give The Prairie Dog That Met the President 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. By Pamela L., KIDS FIRST!
This interactive and engaging opera for young audiences is a fantasy based on some true events of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806. The story follows a magpie and a prairie dog that are discovered in the Great Plaines by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Captain Lewis decides to send a magpie and prairie dog to President Jefferson in Washington DC while he and Lieutenant Clark continue west with Sacagawea and other members of the Expedition. The trip to Washington DC takes them down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, around the Florida Keys, and up the Carolina Coast to the Potomac River. Along the way, both learn to appreciate the diversity of life they encounter and the value of friendship. They meet other critters along the way including a pelican in the Bayou, flamingos in the Florida Keys and an oriole in Baltimore and become familiar with the diversity of life and the value of friendship and family. The prairie dog finds his voice and ends up teaching the President a valuable lesson when he finally arrives at the end of his journey.
This film is a great introduction to opera and has a historical basis. It is very entertaining and has a great message. It tells the seldom-taught story of the gifts sent by Captain Lewis to President Jefferson from the point of view of the prairie dog and the magpie. It masterfully unfolds and it is not at all predictable. The quality of the camera work is outstanding; the camera effectively captures not only the various birds and animals, it also captures the personalities of the characters. The actors are transformed into the various birds and animals with very imaginative costumes which include face masks and wigs. The use of pink tutus and pink boas for the flamingos is brilliant. The film uses a combination of nature scenes and virtual backgrounds to tell the story. The brilliant green grass of the prairie and the plants in the bayou stand out. The film serves as an introduction to opera for young audiences with easy-to-understand lyrics and voices portraying the personalities of the various creatures. The actors that play the prairie dog and the magpie are especially suited both in voice and mannerisms to the characters they play. The film is a creation of the Music, Film, And Theatre faculty and their students at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia. Director Shandra McDonald is an award winning screen writer and director whose magic clearly comes through in this production. My favorite part is the scene where the prairie dog and the magpie meet the three flamingos in the Florida Keys. They are dressed in pink tutus with pink boas and strut around just like real flamingos.
The film's message is to value diversity, family and friends. I give The Prairie Dog That Met the President 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. By Pamela L., KIDS FIRST!
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