For many children and caregivers, the most exciting musical moments on Mister Rogers Neighborhood are the operas. They are original Make-Believe musical stories about common themes of childhood. Over the years, eighteen were produced; six remain in the schedule.

The idea for making an "opera" on his program came from Fred Rogers' own background in Music Composition from Rollins College. There he struck up a lifetime friendship with fellow-student John Reardon, who went on to become a well-known baritone with the Metropolitan Opera Company, and who delighted in visiting the Neighborhood as its resident opera singer. All of the Neighborhood operas have been written and composed by Fred Rogers and orchestrated by the Neighborhood musical director, John Costa. Reardon starred in every one, until his death in 1988.

Music as Self-Expression

When Fred Rogers combined his musical interest with his graduate studies in child development, he found a new appreciation of using music to express feelings. "It helps children to see people dressed up in costumes, pretending, and singing their thoughts instead of saying them, knowing it's all right to sing sad and angry songs, as well as happy, carefree ones. I hope these operas can encourage children to express who they really are, and in doing so, help them to feel better about themselves."

In a typical opera week, Reardon arrives on a Monday for a visit in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, and he would be commanded by King Friday to make an opera by Friday. As the opera develops through the week, children can learn much about "process": seeing how something starts with an idea, develops, and grows into a final product. That can help children (now and later on in life) with their own ability to stick with something and develop it.

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