The Queens College School of Arts and NYC Parks are partnering to bring the musical Russian folktale Peter and the Wolf to parks throughout the Borough of Queens in free performances from August 4 through 24. Composed in 1936 by Sergei Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf is about a young boy’s adventure in a meadow with animal companions; the music was designed to introduce children to the symphonic orchestra, with individual instruments or orchestral sections used to represent characters in the performance.
The Queens College production is a reimagined, in-the-round adaptation that brings fresh focus to relationships and character dynamics. Performing to a recording, the actors physically embody and explore the spirit of Prokofiev’s iconic score, translating musical motifs into movement, gesture, and storytelling. The immersive staging invites the audience to experience the familiar tale in a new way—through the expressive power of the ensemble and the emotional resonance between characters.
All performances are free and open to the public. Visit www.qc.cuny.edu/academics/soa/nycparks/ for more information and the schedule of performances.
Photo courtesy of the Queens College School of Arts
Peter and the Wolf Kickoff
Performing to a recording, the actors physically embody and explore the spirit of Prokofiev’s iconic score, translating musical motifs into movement, gesture, and storytelling