//  Feature

Playbill: Opera Stars Introduce Their Canine Companions

Playbill

Little Boo
Long-Haired Chihuahua, Age 3

HUMAN: Elza van den Heever, soprano, starring in La Clemenza di Tito

“Little Boo (Loo, for short) is named after Lea DeLaria’s wonderful character in Orange Is the New Black. She brings color, joy, and nothing but warmth and love into my existence. Loo came with me to Santa Fe in 2017 for a run of Alcina. I would place her on a seat during rehearsal and instruct her to stay while I did my job. She never made a peep. But one day, I was singing the last notes of my aria in which Alcina’s magic is failing her, which I punctuated with cackling laughter of despair. There I was flailing about the stage, eyes closed. I was aware that people were laughing—I thought at my stellar madness, but all of a sudden I felt Loo’s tongue in my face! Apparently, as soon as I started flopping about and making these obscene noises, she came running to my ‘defense’ before anyone could stop her!”