OTO to present 'The Beggar's Opera' in October

Following is from a press release by Opera Theater Oregon:

PORTLAND – 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,” running October 22-31 in Portland.

Based on John Gay's landmark 18th century ballad opera of the same name, OTO's world premiere work – written by Portland performer and writer Stephen Marc Beaudoin (script/lyrics) and Buoy LaRue's Michael Herrman (music) – yokes the dog-eat-dog, dangerous and irreverent characters of Gay's original work right into the Portland of 2009. Major characters are inspired by Portland celebrities and politicians including Commissioner Randy Leonard and singer Storm Large, among others.

“The Beggar's Opera” plays six performances only, October 22-25 (7 pm - Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) at the Someday Lounge, and October 30-31 (7 pm – Fri, Sat) at Sellwood's newest music venue, The Woods, a renovated funeral parlor. Tickets, $15-$17, are available by calling 503-205-0715, or online at www.operatheateroregon.com. “The Beggar's Opera” is generously supported by a grant from the Herbert A. Templeton Foundation and the support of individual donors.

For more information, visit the OTO's website.