Opera in Focus Puppet Theater

Chicagoans of a certain age will remember the great Kungsholm Miniature Grand Opera that was situated in the old McCormick mansion on Rush/Ontario from the early 1940s until the 1970s. If you find yourself wondering whatever happened to the delightful puppets that once performed there, you’ll be glad to hear that they are alive and well and still performing weekly in their own miniature grand opera house.

Opera in Focus was created by former Kungsholm director and motion picture set designer William Fosser and has been in Rolling Meadows for almost 30 years now. If you like puppets, opera, musicals, masterful stagecraft, and totally unique experiences, the puppet opera will surely delight you. They perform scenes from operas and musicals appropriate for all ages, and occasionally perform full operas in their entirety.

The puppets they use are unlike any others in the world, with movements so lifelike you really forget they’re even puppets. And, especially for those who remember visiting the old Kungsholm Miniature, Opera in Focus is a blast from the past. The puppeteers offer a backstage tour following each performance, so folks can go back there and see how the puppets are controlled. Experiences this enchanting can be hard to come by!