On Sunday, November 9, 2025, Toledo Opera will present a free community performance of The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish. The event will take place at Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 W. Central Avenue in Toledo. It will begin at 4:00 p.m. A cookies-and-punch reception and a meet-and-greet with the artists will follow the performance. The event is open to the public and is intended for families.
The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish is an original children’s opera. The music is by Matthew Fossa, and the libretto is by Joshua Borths. James M. Norman, Toledo Opera’s General Director, directs the production. This opera is part of the 2025 Opera On Wheels program. Opera On Wheels is an educational outreach initiative that has brought live opera to schools and community venues in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan for 40 years.
Opera On Wheels reaches over 18,000 students each year. The program introduces young audiences to opera through performances designed for children. This year’s story follows Mato, a young bear who cannot remember how to fish. Mato receives help from animal friends who teach lessons about perseverance, curiosity, and respect for nature. The story is set in the Great Lakes ecosystem…