ADAM’S RUN
A comedic contemporary opera on climate collapse
Site
Shaking the Tree Theatre (823 SE Grant St, Portland, OR)
The theater is ADA accessible. Please feel free to email us with questions or to alert us ahead of time if we can assist you with access needs.
Dates + Times
September 7, 8, 9, 7:30 pm | September 10, 3:00 pm
Run time: 60 minutes (grab a drink and stay for our post-show programming!)
About
Post-Show Programming
Adam’s Run is a comedic contemporary opera on climate collapse (socio-political and ecological) by composer Ruby Fulton and librettist Baynard Woods. Set in a near-future America, TV personalities Julie Shore (the Existentialist Weather Woman) and Reverend Billy Noble (the Environmentalist Evangelist) vie for America’s viewership. Despite ideological differences, Billy and Julie choose to work together, but not without retaliation from Billy's cousin and fervent follower, Rodney Richards. TV producer Dana Daring tells their story as a series of flashbacks.
Adam’s Run is not your typical opera. Traditional orchestra sounds (violin, viola, cello, and piano) are joined by electric guitar and bass, saxophone, drum kits, glockenspiel, distortion pedals, and original musique concrète sound collage. And yet, opera buffs will hear the cadential formulas of classical-style recitatives they know and love. Whether you come for director Melory Mirashrafi’s playful yet sensitive interpretation of the story, the performers’ skilled execution of Ruby Fulton’s roller coaster of a score, or Kelli McDonough’s fabulous costumes, there’s something for everyone in this show.
Adam’s Run was originally conceived as a film opera in 2014. Renegade Opera’s production in September 2023 will be the opera’s live premiere, adapted collaboratively between Renegade Opera and the composer and librettist. Adam’s Run will be performed at Shaking the Tree Theatre, an ADA-accessible immersive warehouse performance space in Southeast Portland. Adam’s Run contains adult themes and is recommended for mature audiences. Each performance is followed by post-show programming.
Thursday 9/7 — Composer Talkback: join us for a talkback with Ruby Fulton and Baynard Woods, the composer and librettist of Adam's Run. The talkback is followed by performances of new music by Ignacio Ojeda Romero (piano) and Philip Kettler (cello).
Friday 9/8 — Live-Band Karaoke: come sing with the Adam's Run orchestra!
Saturday 9/9 — EP Release Party: preview new music by cast member, Matthew Rowning.
Sunday 9/10 — The Renegades: hear the Renegades do what they do best.
We use a sliding scale ticket system that affords the ticket holder the same experience whichever ticket they choose. Feel free to support us with your ticket purchase at whatever level is appropriate for you. All donations to Renegade Opera are tax deductible. As part of our commitment to keeping opera accessible, your donation at the time of ticket purchase helps us cover fees (like payment processing fees). In 2023, donations made at the time of ticket purchase through the TicketTailor portal above will help support our new Land Use fee initiative (an actionable part of our Land Acknowledgement.) For this initiative, Renegade Opera will make a contribution to Native Arts And Cultures Foundation (501c3) of an amount that matches 50% of the gifts made at the time of a ticket purchase. In this way, your gift of any amount when you purchase tickets supports opera making alongside our commitment to ethical producing practices.
Creative Team
Stage Director / Melory Mirashrafi
Assistant Director / Tommy Soultanian
Music Director & Conductor / Danielle Jagelski
Stage Manager / Alea Tran
Costume Designer / Kelli McDonough
Lighting Designer / Mandana Khoshnevisan
Scenic Designers / Tyler Buswell + Bobbie Yeo
Sound Designer / Chris O’Toole
Cast
Dana Daring / Lisa Neher
Julie Shore / Madeleine Tran
Reverend Billy Noble / Quinton Gardner
Rodney Richards / Matthew Rowning
Ensemble (Dana Daring Understudy) / Elliot Menard
Ensemble (Julie Shore Understudy) / Maeve Stier
Ensemble (Billy Noble Understudy) / Nick Toto
Orchestra
Piano / Ignacio Ojeda Romero
Cello / Philip Kettler
Percussion + Glockenspiel / Colleen Bernstein
Percussion + Electric Bass / Derec Steinman
Electric Guitar / Matthew Rowning
Saxophone / Sean Fredenburg
Violin / Ryan Downs
Viola / Tyler Slaughter
Adam’s Run Supporters
