Chicken Little isn't just for your younger brother anymore.

The Penn State Opera Theatre will perform the world premiere of this opera at its annual event, Opera Intermezzo, tonight and tomorrow in the Recital Hall in Music Building I.

Scenes from Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff, Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte, Gaetano Donizetti's Elixir of Love and Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring will also be performed.

Group members said Chicken Little is the main focus for this year's event.

"The centerpiece is the new children's opera. It's pretty cool and very fun," said publicity chairwoman and performer Meredith Mecum (senior-vocal performance and art history).

The opera was written by retired Penn State professor of composition Bruce Trinkley, with lyrics by Penn State faculty member Jason Charnesky. The cast is led by director Susan Boardman and music director Beverly Patton.

Lindsay Isaac (graduate-voice performance and pedagogy), who plays the wren in Chicken Little, serves as the voice of reason in the opera. Her character is responsible for telling the moral of the story.

"It's definitely not just a children's tale. It's almost a political tale about our world today. Use your own mind and make your own decisions. Follow your own voice," she said.

Isaac said the purpose of Opera Intermezzo is to expose students to a variety of operas.

"It's such a good introduction if you've never been to an opera," she said.

The show is more accessible to Penn State students because it will be performed in English, said performer Brian Henry (sophomore-vocal performance).

There is also something for everyone, he said. The scenes from the different operas take place during a variety of time periods and locations.

Albert Herring is a comedic opera that tells the tale of a young man who struggles with how he is viewed by other people.

The scene from Falstaff includes a romance story in which two women are sent identical love letters from Sir John Falstaff.

The final two scenes consist of romantic duets from Cosi Fan Tutte and Elixir of Love.

The performers are all members of an opera class that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They have practiced for seven hours every week since the beginning of the semester to prepare for Opera Intermezzo, Mecum said.

"That number of hours has certainly gotten more intense," she said.

Henry offered some words of advice to students who might be afraid to come to the show.

"Don't be turned off by the word opera: The show is filled with beautiful music. it's funny and it's sad," he said. "Everyone should check it out."