Portland Opera To Go Educational Outreach

With the New Year coming, that means we will have singers in the building shortly. The set has been assembled and is getting the final brush up for La Boheme before rehearsals start and the show goes on the road.

There is a great deal of energy that happens prior to the show even entering rehearsal. I thought this might be a good time for an educational moment!

For one of our Portland Opera To Go productions is ready for rehearsal, there is a great deal that happens. Sure, we have to cast the show, contract directors and a pianist and the things you would expect. However, our Director of Education spends literally months preparing the information we send to the schools. Each production comes with a teacher's guide that contains hand outs as well as information as to how a teacher can integrate the production into their daily lessons. For example, how music is divided into fractions of notes. So, math can be taught using music. 

Once have those materials created, and we have done the posters, programs, and all that, we have to prepare the show. Portland Opera To Go is actually 2 shows! We have the main production: La Boheme in this case, and our Opera Improv that creates a new show with the input from our audience. We have to prepare all the sets, costumes, props, etc. for both of those. They go out in the van together. 

The sets need to be touched up and repaired. For example, La Boheme has been in our warehouse for about 4 years since it last saw the light of day. It always surprises me how much can happen from "just sitting there". For those who don't know, I was formerly the Technical Director for Portland Opera. So, I have been there first hand to see how the resurrection happens. 

Once we pull out the show, it is pretty much down hill from there. The show's sets, props, costumes, and all are prepared for rehearsals and the tour. 

There is your educational moment for La Boheme. We look forward to seeing you at the show!