July 28, 2025 A Day at the Festival for Students: *The House on Mango Street*

A program for middle and high school students

Public and homeschool students who participated in the March 13 online author’s visit with Sandra Cisneros may reserve seats for the Guild’s educational program at the July 28 performance of The House on Mango Street. The cost of balcony seats will be $10. Seats should be reserved by April 15. After that date, the remaining available discounted tickets will be offered to other students (until May 15). Classroom teachers may attend as guests of the Guild.

The day’s events will begin at 10am in The Pavilion. The pre-performance program will include activities to prepare students to understand and enjoy the opera, a campus tour, and a simple lunch.

Contact information asked for in the payment section will allow us to communicate with you before the opera and will permit the box office to generate tickets for the performance.

Purchase tickets

Resources to use in preparation for attending the World Premiere Opera The House on Mango Street

performed in the Alice Busch Opera Theater, Cooperstown

Welcome—classroom teacher, music teacher, home school teacher, librarian, parent and lifelong learners, I have gathered materials for you to use to prepare for a visit to the Glimmerglass Festival to see The House on Mango Street.

The House on Mango Street, a beloved coming-of-age novel by Sandra Cisneros, has been widely praised, taught in schools, and translated globally. Cisneros has collaborated with Derek Bermel on an opera adaption of the book. The opera follows a young girl’s experiences as she navigates life through a series of episodes—some humorous, some frightening—ultimately discovering the power of storytelling as a healing force for herself and her community.

Rhonda King, Retired Library Media Specialist

Click to view the recording of Sandra Cisneros’s Author Visit with Cherry Valley-Springfield, Richfield Springs, and Cooperstown Central Schools and Watch Parties at Cooperstown, Worcester & Oneonta Public Libraries on March 13, 2025.

Learning Objectives

1) Learn about the Novelist Sandra Cisneros

a) Read for background information

i) Chicago Public Library: Sandra Cisneros Biography

ii) National Women’s History Museum: Sandra Cisneros

iii) The House on Mango Street Author Biography: Sandra Cisneros (pdf)

iv) Sandra Cisneros Biography

v) Sandra Cisneros’ Website

b) Watch for background information

i) Sandra Cisneros Documentary-Chicago Literary Hall of Fame 2021 Fuller Award

ii) President Barack Obama awards National Medal of Arts.

(1) President Obama awards Sandra the medal, 13:10 minutes into the video.

c) Reflect

i) Introducing Sandra Cisneros

ii) Examine the Portrait of Cisneros at the National Portrait Gallery

2) Learn about the book, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

a) Read/listen to the book, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

i) Check the book out of your library

(1) Literature Study Guide: The House on Mango Street

ii) Listen to The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros read by Jordan Barclay. Check the Table of Contents (pdf) page for times when each chapter starts.

b) Talk about the Book

i) House on Mango Street Celebrates 25 Years. Listen or click on “Transcript” to hear/read Renee Montagne’s interview with Cisneros

ii) Sandra Cisneros: 40 Years of “The House on Mango Street”

iii) The House on Mango Street-the Story

iv) The House on Mango Street-Inspiration

c) Elements of the Story

i) Watch House on Mango Street—Characters

(1) Read about the Characters in The House on Mango Street (pdf)

(2) Character Matching Quiz (pdf) Answer Key Character Matching Quiz (pdf)

ii) Watch House on Mango Street—Symbolism

(1) Symbolism Quiz (pdf) Answer Key Symbolism Quiz (pdf)

iii) Watch House on Mango Street—Themes

iv) Watch House on Mango Street—Motifs

v) Review Vocabulary from House on Mango Street (pdf)

(1) House on Mango Street Crossword Puzzle (pdf)

vi) Elements of Writing (pdf)

3) Learn about Opera

a) Read about Opera

i) San Antonia Opera 101

b) Listen/Watch about Opera

i) A Quick History of Opera

ii) A Very Brief history of Opera

4) Resources Cited (pdf)

Resources to use in preparation for attending Odyssey,

performed on the main stage in the Alice Busch Opera Theater, Cooperstown

Welcome—classroom teacher, music teacher, home school teacher, librarian, parent and lifelong learners, I have gathered materials for you to use to prepare for a visit to the Glimmerglass Festival to see Odyssey. - Rhonda King, Retired Library Media Specialist

The ten-year journey of Odysseus from Troy to Ithaca was one of the greatest journeys in history. In fact, the word we use for journey filled with adventure and hardship—odyssey—comes from the name Odysseus. When he began his journey home, he expected the trip to last a few weeks, or a couple of months at most—he had good boats and a top-notch crew, and he was one of the smartest captains around. He was also very handsome, and a good storyteller, so people were eager to offer him hospitality along the way. Odysseus was almost perfect, except for one thing: he was full of himself, and that kept getting him into trouble. - Kelley Rourke, Libretto