# Upcoming gig - Gandalf/Smaug in the opera "The Hobbit" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** middle-earth\ **Created:** [January 26, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gig-gandalf-smaug-in-the-opera-the-hobbit/996692 "2024-01-26T17:27:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gig-gandalf-smaug-in-the-opera-the-hobbit/996692/21 "2024-01-29T19:19:33Z")
I saw the premier of Champion in St. Louis, and as I recall, the young Emile was miked. In my experience, that’s the norm for extended child solos in the modern opera house/concert hall. ---
**Author:** ![TheTolkienist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thetolkienist/32/16065_2.png) [@TheTolkienist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTolkienist)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2024, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gig-gandalf-smaug-in-the-opera-the-hobbit/996692/22 "2024-01-30T10:41:07Z")
Oh, absolutely - I have also been chatting with Dean Burr about other upcoming versions of this and how your - I am quite sure, fabulous! - rendition differs from the ‘original’ etc. Again, do let me know more about it, when you can. I had the pleasure of being a guest speaker with a LotR convention in Toronto many, many moons, watching the 1.1. musical version at the time. I would certainly love to listen to your “Hobbit.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gig-gandalf-smaug-in-the-opera-the-hobbit/996692/23 "2024-04-30T18:24:30Z")
I just had my first costume fitting yesterday. Our current thinking is that I will both sing and manipulate the Smaug puppet in the Bilbo/Smaug scene. I’m not sure if it will work to share the photos from my Instagram here, but let’s see - [Doug MacNaughton on Instagram: "Today was my first costume fitting for 'The Hobbit', including the puppet that I'll be manipulating as 'Smaug'! The Gandalf hat is up at rehearsals... Some days, I just love my job!! #SingersLife #MusiciansLife #TheHobbit #Gandalf #Smaug @canadianchildrensopera"](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6XWIFOgLNY/?img_index=1) Sadly, the Gandalf hat was up at rehearsal. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gig-gandalf-smaug-in-the-opera-the-hobbit/996692/24 "2024-04-30T20:58:59Z")
The only picture I’m seeing is the dragon’s head… but wow, that is one great head. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gig-gandalf-smaug-in-the-opera-the-hobbit/996692/25 "2024-04-30T22:29:25Z")
Hmph - let me try again. Maybe it needs two more links… Here’s me inside the puppet’s head - [Doug MacNaughton on Instagram: "Today was my first costume fitting for 'The Hobbit', including the puppet that I'll be manipulating as 'Smaug'! The Gandalf hat is up at rehearsals... Some days, I just love my job!! #SingersLife #MusiciansLife #TheHobbit #Gandalf #Smaug @canadianchildrensopera"](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6XWIFOgLNY/?img_index=2) And here’s me as Gandalf - [Doug MacNaughton on Instagram: "Today was my first costume fitting for 'The Hobbit', including the puppet that I'll be manipulating as 'Smaug'! The Gandalf hat is up at rehearsals... Some days, I just love my job!! #SingersLife #MusiciansLife #TheHobbit #Gandalf #Smaug @canadianchildrensopera"](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6XWIFOgLNY/?img_index=3) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gig-gandalf-smaug-in-the-opera-the-hobbit/996692/26 "2024-05-01T00:56:06Z")
Both look great! You’re really rocking the hair and beard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gig-gandalf-smaug-in-the-opera-the-hobbit/996692.md?page=1)