Operas are often classified as long, boring and hard to follow. However, the Hodgson School of Music is putting on a miniature version of an opera that is accessible to new and old opera viewers alike and features five University music majors. Each opera is beginner-friendly, running about 40 minutes.

The first opera, “Face on the Barroom Floor,” is a story within a story. It tells the supposedly true tale of the Teller House Bar and how the painted face of a woman appeared on its floor.

“It is a love triangle where my character’s ex-girlfriend comes into the bar with her new boyfriend,” University senior Ryan Tucker said. “He asks about the face, and then there is a flashback and the story is told through opera.”

The same three actors who play the characters in the first scene transfer over to play three different characters in the story portion of the opera.

“This opera is the more dramatic one,” junior Meg Taylor said. “Through the plot, both my characters get killed. I get to ‘die’ twice! How many people can say that?”

The second opera, “Susanna’s Secret,” tells the story of a woman who has just gotten married and is smoking, which she has to keep secret from her husband.

“We set it in the 1920s,” said senior Megan Brunning, who plays Susanna. “It’s a story of miscommunication. The husband smells the smoke and thinks that I am cheating on him.”

“Susanna’s Secret” is more comedic than “Face,” so viewers will be able to experience a wide range of opera.

“It’s going to be interesting because I am really smoking,” said Brunning. “And I have never smoked before in my life. So I will be smoking and singing opera? I’m going to try not to inhale.”

The performers describe this event as a suitable introduction to opera.

“Anyone who wants a hint of opera without having to sit through the a whole one should come see this,” Brunning said. “We sing in English and the music is really interesting.”

Tucker also describes the show as an atypical opera. “It’s a good crossover into the art,” he said.

Brunning, who jokingly referred to the opera as being a “short attention span opera,” holds true to her comment.

“But we are all talented,” she said, “and it’s going to be a lot of fun, so people should come support UGA’s music department.”