Hercules vs. Vampires Trailer from Galen Huckins on Vimeo.

Our trailer! Created by Galen Huckins of Filmusik and featuring the marvelous voice-o'-god of Sam Mowry. All the music is from the opera.

PERFORMANCES
May 14, 20 and 21 at 7:30pm/May 16, 2:00pm (matinee) at the Hollywood Theater. The performance originally scheduled for May 18 has been CANCELED. ALL SHOWS ALL AGES.

Generously supported by funds from Regional Arts & Culture Council and WorkforArt.

TECHNICOLOR OPERA SLAYS BLOODSUCKERS WITH SONG!!!

Nine mighty operatic wailers and a 14-piece orchestra rattle Hollywood Theater, giving voice to a big, gaudy 1961 screen classic that pits mythology's greatest hero against legions of Hell fiends!

Opera Theater Oregon and Filmusik have hatched a two-headed mythological monster, soon to claw its way, amid a clamor of horns and operatic wailings, into the main auditorium at Hollywood Theater. "Hercules Vs. Vampires" syncs a Technicolor cult classic with live performance of a new opera by Patrick Morganelli. Picture 'Clash of the Titans' with a singing Kraken, and you've got the idea.

This gorgeously-produced Technicolor gem is action-packed and wildly operatic in scope. The film follows a quest through hell by Hercules (Mr. Universe 1958 Reg Park) and Theseus (George Ardisson) - the object to rescue the beautiful Dianara (Leonora Ruffo) from eternal enslavement by the vampire-master, Lyco (Christopher Lee).

The project, one of the most ambitious ever attempted by OTO or Filmusik, was made possible by a grant from REGIONAL ARTS AND CULTURE COUNCIL and WORK FOR ART. Composer Patrick Morganelli's work on 'Hercules vs. Vampires' is sponsored by PORTLAND OPERA GUILD. Additional significant support provided by PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY School of Fine and Performing Arts, Department of Music.

Directed by Katie Taylor. Music direction by Erica Melton. Technical direction by Galen Huckins.

STARRING...

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Five teams submitted proposals to compose the new opera that soundtracks 'Hercules.' The winner was LA's Patrick Morganelli, a seasoned film composer whose resume includes work with Oscar-nominated screenwriter, director and producer Randall Wallace (BRAVEHEART, PEARL HARBOR, WE WERE SOLDIERS) and producer Stephen Zapotoczny (WE WERE SOLDIERS, FIGHT OR DIE), and with composers Christopher Young (SPIDERMAN 3) and Michael Giacchino (LOST, STAR TREK).

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BEGGAR'S TUBE

FREE AUDIO

Song of Redemption
from OTO's "The Beggar's Opera"
Music by Michael Herrman
Lyrics by Stephen Marc Beaudoin

PERFORMANCES
October 22-25, 7:00 pm at Someday Lounge (21+) and October 30 + 31, 7:00 pm at The Woods (21+)

Generously supported by a grant from the Herbert A. Templeton Foundation.

In the midst of a 21st century Great Recession, Portland drowns in homelessness, joblessness, gang violence, sexcapading politicians and booming art, music and sex industries. Drop a genre-busting chamber-pop band into the mix, and you've got Opera Theater Oregon's world premiere production of "The Beggar's Opera."

Based on John Gay's landmark 18th century ballad opera of the same name, OTO's "Beggar's Opera" is written by Portland performer and writer Stephen Marc Beaudoin (script/lyrics) and Buoy LaRue's Michael Herrman (music).

"We want to celebrate and send up what a wonderful, screwed up city this place is," says Beaudoin. "Just as in Gay's original, we'll lampoon and give a middle finger to the peculiar culture of our time and place, but we also hope the themes of faith and redemption will be universal."

Directed by Stephen Marc Beaudoin. Music direction by Michael Herrman. Technical direction by Robin Greenwood. Starring Scot Crandal (Mack), Beth Madsen Bradford (Mrs. Peachum), Leah Yorkston (Polly), Bobby Jackson (Lockit) and Emily Zahniser (Lucy). Buoy LaRue as the "Beggar's" house band.

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Poster design by Jason Miranda, donated by big-giant.

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PERFORMANCES
February 17, 19, 20, 24, 26 and 28, 2010, 7:30 pm, Clinton Street Theater. Leitmotif Bingo every night at 7:00!

Generously supported by a grant from The Autzen Foundation.

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The first opera in Richard Wagner's 'Ring Cycle' rescripted as a 'Baywatch' episode and wailed out by 20 spray-tanned opera singers and a big, noisy, half-electric orchestra. All played out at the Portland home of Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clinton Street Theater, where the beer flows and the pizza is cheap and tasty. Don't know 'The Ring?' Picture 'Lord of the Rings' in Malibu, with David Hasselhoff as Frodo. The Perfect Tan corrupts...perfectly.

THE PLOT

Follow the mad career of deejay Larry Loomin' Large (Alberich), whose lifelong Napoleon complex has driven him to a dark obsession with obtaining the Perfect Tan (The Ring) and, with it, ultimate control over everyone and everything.

Can Mitch (Wotan) stop him in time, or will he too succumb to the unholy allure of the magical Tanhelm? CJ, Matt, Hobie, Stephanie and Caroline join in a race against time to stop the Perfect Tan, once enjoyed in innocence, from becoming the destroyer of all.

Maestro Erica Melton leads our big, half-electric orchestra (thanks to the generous folks at The Autzen Foundation): brass quartet, grand piano, clarinets, harp, percussion, electric guitars and bass.

COME AT 7:00 FOR LEITMOTIF BINGO!

Wagner's operas are known for their many leitmotifs (theme songs) for characters, feelings and ideas. The evening starts with a rousing round of Leitmotif Bingo, designed to give the audience a fighting chance at figuring out just what the hell Wagner is trying to say (visual aids provided - and teutonic prizes!).

STARRING...

With special guest stars Electric Opera Company and Festival Brass.

Written/directed by OTO Artistic Director Katie Taylor (loosely adapted from the "Baywatch" Season 5 ep "KGAS The Groove Yard of Solid Gold" by Gregory J. Bonnan and Deborah Bonnan).

Music directed by OTO Music Director Erica Melton and arranged by Erica Melton, Ben Landsverk, Bobby Ray and Brad Bleything.

Technical direction by Robin Greenwood.

Presented by kind permission of 'Baywatch' creator Gregory J. Bonnan.

Sponsored by Portland State University and Sherman Clay Pianos