FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  January 4, 2012

CONTACT: Julia Sheridan, 503-295-3508

PORTLAND OPERA TO GO presents

A family-friendly, 50-minute, English language production of
 

Portland, Ore. – Portland Opera To Go, Portland Opera’s state-wide educational tour, hits the road soon with an enchanting, family-friendly production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel.  The 50-minute, English language revival will be directed by Portland Opera General Director Christopher Mattaliano with sets by Polly Robbins and costumes by Portland Opera’s Rae Minten. 
 

The travelling troupe in the big white van will visit more than 50 schools around the region.  From the Oregon coast on the west to Ontario on the east, it is one of the largest arts education and outreach tours on the West Coast.  Beginning in January 2012 in Portland, it will include 70 in-school and public performances throughout the state—more than half of which will be heavily subsidized or presented free of charge for families and disadvantaged schools and students. 

“The Portland Opera To Go tour is one of the Company’s most important endeavors,” says Portland Opera General Director Christopher Mattaliano.  “This tour allows us to bring the power and beauty of opera to thousands of children throughout the region,” he continues.  “Some of these students have never been exposed to a live theatrical performance.  Thanks to our tour sponsors, this is our gift to those children and their future.”

This classic fairytale about the greatest adventure in two children’s lives is designed especially to introduce new audiences to opera. Each school performance is accompanied by extensive lesson plans for teachers that meet the Common Core State Standards, and at many tour stops, the professional performers will spend time in classrooms working directly with students. 
 

In addition to more than 50 in-school performances, audiences of all ages will be able to enjoy Hansel and Gretel, as well as a special concert of opera’s greatest hits at community venues all over the state, including: McMenamins Grand Lodge (Forest Grove), the Sand Trap (Gearhart), Edgefield (Troutdale), the Crystal Ballroom (Portland), Hotel Oregon (McMinnville), the Kennedy School (Portland), Old St. Francis School (Bend), the Olympic Club (Centralia), and the Portland Center for Performing Arts. The Portland Opera to Go performers will also present a benefit concert of opera’s greatest hits for the Elgin Opera House in Elgin, OR and will give presentations of the 50-minute opera only at The Hampton Opera center in Portland.

 

CAST
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
 

Locally, three public performances of Hansel and Gretel are scheduled at The Hampton Opera Center, Portland Opera Studio (211 SE Caruthers, just south of OMSI) on February 10 (7pm) and February 11 (1pm and 4pm). 
 

Tickets for the Hampton Opera Center performances are $5 under 12 yrs, $10 for adults, $20 for a family of four, and may be purchased as follows:
 

COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE TOUR SCHEDULE

*FREE performance open to the public

(Calendar Editors Kindly Note)

Hansel and Gretel will be followed bya concert of opera’s greatest hits.

SCHOOL TOUR SCHEDULE

 (Calendar Editors Kindly Note)

Education Program SPONSORS

The C.A.R.E. Foundation  |  The William Randolf Hearst Foundation