It's opening night of The Nutcracker ballet, and the performers at the Royal Opera House in London are busy getting ready to step out onto the stage. Meanwhile, Figaro--the opera house's resident cat--is poised to take readers on a behind-the-scenes tour to meet the many people working to make tonight's performance a resounding success.

This backstage tour of the Royal Opera House takes readers from department to department--from the costume closet to the orchestra pit and the stage--to discover what's involved in putting on a performance such as The Nutcracker. Featuring examples from key works of opera and ballet, highlights of the tour include trying on the Mad Hatter's wig from Alice in Wonderland; practicing for a fighting scene from Romeo and Juliet; putting the finishing touches on the Sugar Plum Fairy's tutu; and creating explosions onstage.

Part backstage museum tour, part astonishing ballet performance, this book combines real-life details with the magical atmosphere of the theater. Including an introduction to a classical orchestra, key ballet terms, and basic stage directions, Curtain Up! encourages young readers to explore the many ways they can get involved.

O'Hara, Lauren