3 local school kids perform in Kennedy Center's 'Carmen'

How many kids can hum the music of the French comic opera "Carmen?" Not just "Toreador," but every solo, duet and crowd scene in the show's repertoire?

Three local children know nearly every word and can sing lengthy parts of the lyrics in flawless French.

Kyra Sigler, 9, Jack Logansmith, 11, and Jaira Byrams, 9, were selected, along with 17 other children from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., to perform the roles of singing urchins in the Washington National Opera's current staging of "Carmen" at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

The final show of the seven performances is tonight. It is sold out.

The opera is performed in French with English subtitles.

"Carmen," written by Georges Bizet and first performed in 1875, is one of the world's most popular operas.

The biggest thrill for the kids, however, is not the fact that all performances were sold out - at prices ranging from $58 for the nosebleed section to $250 for a box seat.

But they had encountered a real celebrity, a movie star and Hollywood top dog: the man who provides the voice of 'Monty,' the wise old dog in the movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

To many, he is also known as famed opera singer Placido Domingo, the Washington National Opera's general director.

"We met him in our dressing rooms during one of the rehearsals," said Kyra, a fourth-grader at Kenilworth Elementary School in Bowie.

"He's the maestro, but I don't know his name," said sixth-grader Jack, who attends the Montessori International Children's House in Arnold.

"He's pretty important in the movie, though," said Jaira, a fourth-grader at Nantucket Elementary School in Crofton.

The role of the gypsy, Carmen, in the production is performed by Denyce Graves. The opera is conducted by Julius Rudel and directed by David Gately.

The three youngsters are members of the All Children's Chorus of Annapolis, now in its eighth season.

Jack has been a member of the chorus for six years; Kyra for two; and this is Jaira's first year. Their director, chorus founder Liz Barrett of Annapolis, learned of the auditions for "Carmen" and urged them to try out.

The show's urchins appear for several minutes onstage during the first act of the 3-hour, 9-minute show

They return, nearly two and a half hours later, for the final act. When they're not onstage, the children rest in their backstage dressing rooms, watch DVDs, eat dinner, do homework - or listen to the music.

The children and their designated driver hit the road right after school to reach the Kennedy Center well before the 7 p.m. curtain. They have to rehearse, then put on their makeup and costumes. By 10:45 p.m., they're back in the car. Often, Jack doesn't get home until midnight.

"I hope Jack survives seven performances with his enthusiasm intact," sighed his mother, Christiana H. Logansmith.

Along with her husband, Steve, and the other parents, including Barbara Sigler and her husband, Richard; and William Byrams of Crofton, Mrs. Logansmith has set up a carpooling arrangement.

Only one parent has to drive the kids to and from the Kennedy Center during rehearsals and performances. The drop-off and pick-up spot is the Siglers' home near Benjamin Tasker Middle School on Route 197 in Bowie.

Cast members were selected in early September.

"At first, we only rehearsed on Thursdays. Near the end, it was every day," said Jack.

"'Carmen' is about a gypsy who travels about with friends," explained Jaira. "She's looking for food and bonds with men for a few days. She scams them for food, money or clothes and doesn't care if they love her.

"She falls in love with Don Jose and gets sent to jail. Don Jose lets her go and she forces him to go away with her. There's a bullfight and Carmen falls in love with Escamillo. Don Jose is heartbroken and he stabs Carmen."

"We're all boys in the play," giggled Kyra.

"We're street urchins! We run around all day and tease the soldiers," added Jaira.

For Kyra, "Carmen" might lead to other things. "I think it's been a really good experience. It's getting me interested in singing and acting. Plus, we've learned a lot of French."

"We've learned how to communicate by song in all sorts of different ways. We can be bratty, excited or happy," Jack said.

Jaira claims the show has inspired her to become an opera singer some day. In the meantime, she isn't concerned about stage fright in front of hundreds of people in the audience. "I ignore them," she said.

"It would be the same to me if they were a bunch of chickens," Kyra agreed.

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As members of ACCA, they also performed at City Dock Saturday for the christening of the new Chesapeake Bay research vessel the Rachel Carson.

At 8 p.m. this Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, the All Children's Chorus of Annapolils performs "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and "The Bishop of Brindisi," with the Anne Arundel Community Collge chorus and professional soloists.

Performances are at the college's Pascal Center.

For tickets, call the college's box office at 410-777-2457.

And, from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 29, the children's chorus is singing at the Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at Park Place.

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Wendi Winters is a freelance writer living on the Broadneck Peninsula.