Bird Songs of Opera
Both a bird watcher and opera lover's delight, featuring birds of the Northwest and iconic opera arias.
Photos by Tom Lupton / Costumes by Kelli McDonough
Back by popular demand, the flock is flying again! Join a trio of birds for two pop-up performances at Spotlight: A Family Arts Festival with Northwest Children’s Theater. For one weekend only, catch Portland’s best theater, music, and dance geared toward children and families at The Judy, NWCT’s new home in downtown Portland. Festival attendees will have access to all three performance spaces at The Judy – The Schnitzer Stage, The Ball Black Box, and The Family Cinema – and experience a wide variety of art from clowning to comedy and drumming to dance! The incredible lineup of performers includes Alex Addy, Bodyvox’s Junior Artist Generator (JAG), Grupo Condor, Kickstand Comedy, Mo Phillips, PHAME, and Renegade Opera. **Please note Renegade will only be performing Saturday, September 30th.**
Trade your opera glasses for binoculars at Bird Songs of Opera, an outdoor recital that reimagines iconic opera arias as the songs of Oregon birds! Stroll the trails of the beautiful Leach Botanical Garden, keeping your ears open for strains of Puccini, Mozart and Bizet and your eyes peeled for flashes of glamorous plumage. This production is a delight for bird watchers and opera lovers of all ages. Afternoon garden performances are followed by indoor ADA accessible performances at Buckley Center Auditorium at University of Portland.
Watch Bird Songs of Opera premiere performance
Bird Songs of Opera performed May 13th and 14th Video by Jaren Kerr Photos by Tom Lupton
Creative Team
Director / Joellen Sweeney
Music Director / Madeline Ross
Costume Designer / Kelli McDonough
Graphic Design / Zak Eidsvoog
Cast
Birder and Accordionist / Maeve Stier
Chickadee / Erica Neufeld
Anna’s Hummingbird / Joannah Ball
Steller’s Jay / Mahsheed Massarat
Northern Flicker / Madeline Ross
Great Horned Owl / Nick Tibbs-Toto
Mourning Dove / Abigail Krawson