Renegade Opera: Adam's Run
SOLD OUT
- Lisa Neher, soprano (Dana Daring)
- Madeleine Tran, soprano (Julie Shore)
- Quinton Gardner, voice (Reverend Billy Noble)
- Matthew Rowning, voice (Rodney Richards) & electric guitar
- Elliot Menard, mezzo-soprano (Commercial Trio 1 / Dana Cover)
- Maeve Stier, soprano (Commercial Trio 2 / Julie Cover)
- Nick Toto, voice (Commercial Trio 3 / Billy Cover)
- Ignacio Ojeda Romero, piano
- Philip Kettler, cello
- Colleen Bernstein, percussion & glockenspiel
- Deren Steinman, percussion & electric bass
- Sean Fredenburg, saxophone
- Ryan Downs, violin
- Tyler Slaughter, viola
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 Revered 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, September 7: a talkback with the composer and librettist with performances by Nacho Ojeda (piano) and Philip Kettler (cello).
- Friday, September 8: a night of live-karaoke.
- Saturday, September 9: a performance of Matthew Rowning's new EP.
- Sunday, September 10: a piano/voice concert by the Renegade
About Renegade Opera
Renegade Opera is committed to promoting institutional reform in the performing arts community through the creation of accessible and immersive opera. We strive to support local artists and center traditionally underrepresented voices through ethical producing practices. We curate a collective space for creation and discussion of opera's impact in Portland and beyond.
https://www.renegadeopera.org/About Lisa Neher, soprano (Dana Daring)
About Madeleine Tran, soprano (Julie Shore)
Madeleine Tran is a Portland, OR based soprano, actor, fight choreographer, and occasional street and festival performer. She was born in Tacoma, WA and studied classical voice at the University of Portland under Dr. Nicole Hanig. Madeleine studies and teaches stage combat under the mentorship of Kristen Mun. She has performed locally with many companies, including Artist's Repertory Theater, Third Rail Repertory, Portland Opera, Mock's Crest Productions, and Renegade Opera.
About Quinton Gardner, voice (Reverend Billy Noble)
About Matthew Rowning, voice (Rodney Richards) & electric guitar
About Elliot Menard, mezzo-soprano (Commercial Trio 1 / Dana Cover)
About Maeve Stier, soprano (Commercial Trio 2 / Julie Cover)
About Colleen Bernstein, percussion & glockenspiel
About Sean Fredenburg, saxophone
About Ryan Downs, violin
Ryan grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she first learned to play the violin through the Suzuki method. She went on to receive Suzuki teacher training in books 1-10. Since opening her first studio as a teen, Ryan has enjoyed sharing the joy of music through teaching in the private setting, group setting, and in school classrooms. She enjoys teaching children as young as 3 years old, and also teaching adult beginners. Having experience as an orchestral violinist who plays professionally in Oregon and beyond, Ryan also loves coaching young musicians for auditions of both intermediate and advanced levels. Ryan has a Bachelor's Degree in violin performance and Suzuki string pedagogy from the University of New Mexico (2018) and a Master's of Music in violin performance from the University of Oregon (2020). She firmly believes in Dr. Suzuki's thought that music can be learned as a language, and through his method children learn naturally from their environment by listening coupled with the repetition of practice and the loving encouragement from their parents.