Mooch the Messy, a new children’s opera by Marcus DeLoach, based on the book by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, received its world premiere September 9-12, at the Arts Center at the Federal Building in Greenwood. The opera was presented by Greenwood Music Festival, Greenwood County Library, and the Friends of the Greenwood County Library, in honor of the grand opening of the new Greenwood County Library on South Main Street. The opera starred Keith Jameson as Mooch, Marcus DeLoach as Mooch’s Father, Annalee Lethco as the Mail Rat, with Lynn Baker as pianist and Music Director. Sets and costumes were based on the illustrations by Ben Shecter. Rat Heads/Masks were designed by David Zimmerman (Dallas Opera, The Santa Fe Opera)
Children and adults laughed, cheered, and thoroughly enjoyed the 30-minute opera. Congratulations to Marcus on the wonderfully successful premiere of his first children’s opera.
Production photos by Tita M. James (Thump, the Rhythm of Life in Greenwood and the Lakelands, Greenwood’s new weekly arts and entertainment newspaper)