In an original opera written, designed, directed and acted out by fourth-grade students at the Baton Rouge Visual and Performing Arts Center (BRCVPA), characters on a local beach encounter the oil spill and begin to wonder what it would be like to be a pelican dealing with oil-related problems.  During the production, held in late October at the school, they soon become stranded pelicans who are treated by rehabilitation workers.  When they snap back into reality, they discuss the experience and how the oil is still lurking under the beautiful water.  Their solution:  collecting pennies for pelicans.

Fiction became reality, too, as proceeds from the student play went towards the clean-up efforts along the Louisiana coast.  Donations (in lieu of ticket purchases) were sent to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. 

Over 12 weeks, various students in the Fourth Grade Mind-Blowing Active Factory were broken up into crews:  performers, writers/ historians, composers, orchestra members, set designers, carpenters, costumers, make-up artists, publicity agents, electricians and stage managers.  Each crew was under the supervision of a fourth-grade teacher or an arts staff member.  Work began the first day of school for about an hour a day for 12 weeks on the project.  The company as a whole chose a company name, theme, thesis statement, colors, line, shape and texture.