Four Lost Santas / Amahl and the Night Visitors

Opera Orlando’s Christmas present to Orlando in its 2024-25 Destiny + Desire season is the world premiere of Four Lost Santas paired with Menotti's classic Amahl and the Night Visitors. With music by Spicer Carr and a libretto by both Spicer Carr and Rose Freeman, based on a original concept by Gabriel Preisser, join a barbershop quartet of Santas who find themselves lost on their way to what should be their big break: SantaCon! They are thankfully rescued by Judy and Rudy, a mother and son who are running late to their community theater production of Amahl. When they can’t fix the Santas’ car, they all pile into the Mom’s car to get into town. They arrive to utter chaos at the theater as the three Kings and Page have quit the production. The Santas save the day as they volunteer to sing the roles in Amahl, and as the cast breathes a sigh of relief, the stage manager yells, “Places!” and then begins Amahl and the Night Visitors, a poignant story of a beautiful Christmas miracle.

This pairing is a perfect balance between the commercial and sacred side of the holidays, told by a fantastic cast in the intimate setting of the Alexis and Jim Pugh Theater. Sing along to some of your favorite Christmas carols, and let this new Christmas tradition tug at your heartstrings as it reminds us that the greatest gifts during the holiday season are love and family.