Adults and children alike are enchanted by the whimsical humor and breathtaking puppetry of Julie Taymor’s hit production (she also did The Lion King!), presented in a shortened English-language version as a perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Set in a mythical land between the sun and the moon, three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night save Prince Tamino from a serpent. When they leave to tell the queen, the bird catcher Papageno appears. He boasts to Tamino that it was he who killed the creature. The ladies return to give Tamino a portrait of the queen’s daughter, Pamina, who they say has been enslaved by the evil Sarastro. Tamino immediately falls in love with the girl’s picture. The queen, appearing in a burst of thunder, tells Tamino about the loss of her daughter and commands him to rescue her. The ladies give a magic flute to Tamino, silver bells to Papageno, and appoint three spirits to guide them safely on their journey of courage, virtue, and wisdom.

Under the baton of Maestro James Levine, this holiday tradition and beloved production returns for families everywhere. A winning ensemble cast – including Nathan Gunn, Ying Huang, Matthew Polenzani, Erika Miklosa, and René Pape – brings fresh life to Mozart's timeless fairy tale.

Tickets, $20 Adults, $18/theater members, $5/youth 18 and under, are available through the theater box office, 2 Theater St., at 563-3424 or at the door starting at noon. Come experience Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Curtain  going up!