The Children’s Opera Festival

May 28, 29, 30, 31, 2026

The second festival from FBN Productions,

featuring the world premiere of Anna’s Mystery History Bus!

Join FBN Productions for four vibrant performances around the Midlands, arts & crafts, and interactive question & answer sessions with our singers.

Bring the family and a picnic to experience opera in a totally new way!

Festival & Venue Information

MEET THE CAST

All According to Taste:

The Three Bears Guide to Porridge Making

Composed by William Balfe | Libretto by Daniel A. Gainey

Run time: 30:00

Anna’s Mystery History Bus

Composed by: Joel Weiss | Libretto and story by Kelly Cae Hogan

Run time: 32:00

MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Heather Gonzalez

Costume Designer
Heather is delighted to work with FBN Productions! She is a freelance costume designer and draper. Her passion for storytelling and building community led her to working in costuming. Her design credits include: *Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night* (South Carolina Shakespeare Company), *She Loves Me, Le Nozze Di Figaro, La Belle Hélène, The Crucible,* (Opera at USC), *Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike* (NC Stage Company), *Native Gardens* (Warehouse Theatre) *Something Rotten, Sound of Music, Desperate Measures* (Post Playhouse), Native Gardens (Warehouse Theater), *Metamorphoses*, *She Kills Monsters*, *Season of Echoes* dance piece, (University of South Carolina) *Newsies*, *The Adventures of Tom Sawyer* (Utah Shakespeare Festival), *Julius Caesar* (Women of Will), *Laughter on the 23rd Floor*, *Greater Tuna* (Neil Simon Festival), and *Little Women* (Southern Utah University). She received her MFA in Costume Design and Technology from the University of South Carolina. For her work view www.heathergonzalez.wixsite.com/costumes

Danny Harrington, Set Design Realizer

Michael LaRoche

Technical Director

A Wilmington, Delaware native, baritone Michael LaRoche has sung in many locales along the east coast as well as internationally. He currently serves as the technical director for Opera at USC and FBN Productions. Dr. LaRoche is a graduate of the University of Delaware (BM voice performance, East Carolina University (MM in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy), and the University of South Carolina (DMA in Voice Performance). At home in both the front and back of the opera stage, Dr. LaRoche has sung in or helped produce operas for 25 years with many regional companies including Long Leaf Opera, Opera Company of North Carolina, OperaDelaware, Opera at USC, and ECU Opera Theatre. His recital and oratorio credits are numerous, with major performances in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Delaware, and Guadeloupe.