We consider ourselves a fairly cultured group here at Bostonist, but we still squirm at the word "opera". It envokes images of yawning, uncomfortable shoes, and not knowing when to clap. Until now. Our favorite children's book, "The Little Prince," has been transformed into an opera and opens tonight at the Shubert Theater.

"The Little Prince," in case you didn't have to read it for your high school French class, is the story of a pilot who crashes in the Sahara and meets a little boy who claims to be from another planet and tells the pilot about his adventures and his love, a rose.

Antoine De Saint Exupery published the children's story in 1943, a year before he died. Rachel Portman, who scored the movies Emma, Cider House Rules, and Chocolat, among others, teamed up with Nicholas Wright bring it back to the stage. "The Little Prince" has been done as a play many times; Bostonist saw a great Emerson production a few years ago.

Bostix, our favorite part of ArtsBoston, is selling half-price day-of-show tickets.