OPUS Opens 4/15 at Portland Center Stage
What happens when some of the world's most highly-strung artists become...unstrung? Opening night is just around the corner for Opus, by Michael Hollinger, the tart, witty play about the politics and passions that threaten a classical string quartet. Opus previews on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, with opening night set for April 15, and performances through May 8. Performance times are Tuesday through Sunday, 7:30 pm, with matinees at 2:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday, and some Thursday matinees at noon. Tickets start at $33 for full adult prices, with student and under age 30 discounts available. Rush tickets may be available for some performances at $20 each. For a full calendar of performances and ticket availability, visit the show page at www.pcs.org/opus.
Opus tells the story of the world's foremost string quartet, on the verge of meltdown right before the most important performance of their careers--a live concert at the White House. In a unique collaboration, PCS invited artists from Chamber Music Northwest, Oregon Symphony, Portland Baroque Orchestra and Portland Youth Philharmonic to teach the company about chamber music and performance and to train the actors how to convincingly "play" their instruments. "Though we don't have to actually play them, we do have to credibly mime the bow strokes along to recorded music. It is farrrrrrrr more challenging than one might think," noted Artistic Director Chris Coleman.
Actor Chris Coleman (Elliot) and Violin coach Kevin LefohnColeman makes his Portland acting debut in the role of Elliot, the quartet's volatile first violinist, . "Having been performing since I was five, it's a little hard to believe that I took [this] long of a hiatus, but I've had plenty to keep me busy," said Coleman about taking on the role. Matthew Boston is cast as Dorian, viola player in the quartet; Boston was last seen at PCS as Adult Reuven in The Chosen. Also returning to the Gerding Theater stage is Sarah Stevens, who played Betty Schafer in Sunset Boulevard; in Opus, Stevens plays Grace, a young violist whose appearance on the scene shifts the well-established balance of the group. Finishing out the original quartet are Greg Jackson as Alan, on second violin, and Chris Hietikko as Carl, the cellist; both are making their Portland Center Stage debuts.
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