THE STORY

Hector Armienta has adapted one of the oldest Mexican folk tales  known, The
Coyote and the Rabbit, and turned into a lesson about the value of an education.  
It is told by two mischievous but well  intentioned rabbits known as Chiquita and
Banana.  The story begins when a young Coyote, named Scrawny, is visited by
his cousin, Loco. When Loco finds out that Scrawny is learning how to read,
something no decent Coyote would ever do, Loco has made it his mission
to set his cousin on the “right path”. What follows are a series of misadventures,
due to Loco’s inability to read and his ignorance.   In the end, Scrawny realizes
that an education is the key to long and fruitful life.
Los Coyotes y Las Conejas
(The Coyotes and the Rabbits)
Holding Up the Sky
We've got him now
Chiquita and Banana Sisters
  • Assembly Fee:                     $800.00 for two back to back performances.

  • Running Time:                     35 minutes

  • Number of Performers:      Four Adult Performers and an optional          
    student chorus.

  • Characters:                 
  • Scrawny - Hero: Tenor, a young naive, somewhat nerdy Coyote.
  • Loco – Villain :          Low Baritone,  A badly dressed Zoot Suiter &
  • Chiquita & Banana ( The Chiquita Banana Sisters): Sopranos:
    Picture the female version of Chip and Dale, with a mischiveous bent.
    Both are rabbits.

  • Student Interaction:            The work has an optional chorus part. The
    chorus part is  sung by students.  It can be taught a) by a docent, b) by a
    teacher volunteer, or c) as part of your artist in residency/outreach program.

  • Style of music:                      The music incorporates Mexican style songs
    (corridos), and traditional western harmonies and melodies.

  • Space Requirements:          A stage and a piano

  • Language:                             The libretto is in English with occasional words
    and     phrases in Spanish.  This allows English speakers to understands the
    work while providing Spanish speakers a unique connection to the art form
    and their culture.

  • Curriculum Integration:        The work is loosely based on an Mexican Folk
    tale, called the Coyote and the Rabbit or the Coyote and the Lamb. There
    are several children’s books ( both in English & Spanish) based on this story,
    which classroom teachers use as part of their curriculum ( Native American
    Folk stories, English Language Development).

  • Supplemental Material:         Classroom teachers are provided a synopsis
    of the story, which can be read to the students or given to the students as a
    reading assignment.

  • Assembly Fee:                          $800.00 for two back to back performances.

  • Arts Education Packet:          A  free teacher’s activity guide is also
    available. It contains pre – engagement and post engagement activities.
    These activities tie into the work of art and have curriculum connections as
    well.
Chiquita and Coyote Loco
SPECIFICS
How to book  the show
  • Assembly performances
    are available in March and
    April 2008.
  • Please call 408 - 246 -
    7441 to book an assembly.
  • Thank you
Opera Cultura