Students at Brookwood Elementary in Sandy wrote their own opera and will perform it free at 2:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9.

The 20- to 25-minute production adapts the children's book "Jumanji" into a fully staged show with original lyrics, melodies and characters, all created by the students. The performance is open to the public, according to Canyons School District.

Ann Odom, a parent volunteer who studied operatic performance in college and works as a contractor with Utah Opera and choral director at Albion Middle School in Sandy, has guided Brookwood students through original opera projects for years. She writes the musical accompaniments. Every melody is student-composed.

"They really do write all the melodies. I don't do it," Odom said. "I write down what they tell me."

The process started during the first week of school. Students read "Jumanji" together, broke the story into scenes and learned how lyrics and melodies work together to tell a story. They then auditioned for roles, helped stage scenes and designed the program cover. Rehearsals run from 8 to 8:50 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Odom said the project pushes students who have never written a song before to think creatively and realize they can do it on their own. She said students also surprise her with staging ideas she would not have considered.

Fifth-grader Chloe Nicholas said the cast feels a stronger sense of pride because they built the show themselves. Fifth-grader Wendy Odom said writing lyrics and melodies is hard but fun when the group collaborates. Third-grader Dax Olson kept his pitch simple: come see it, because you might like it.

What's coming up

• Friday, Oct. 9, 2:15 p.m. — Brookwood Elementary "Jumanji" opera, free and open to the public.