World Premiere

Composed by Kenji Oh

Libretto by Dmae Lo Roberts

This fall, Portland Opera is proud to present the next installment of the Our Oregon Project, Shizue: An American Story, which illuminates the remarkable life of Shizue Iwatsuki. From a wealthy family trained in the arts of poetry and ikebana, Shizue married Kamegoro and followed him to his orchard in Hood River, Oregon. Like thousands of other Japanese Americans, she experienced both hope and horror in America—from the luscious taste of fresh strawberries from their fields to the injustice in America’s incarceration camps. But through it all, Shizue rose above and reached beyond, embodying the concept of gaman, which means “enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity.”

Portland Opera’s Our Oregon project commissions youth operas that highlight the experiences of Oregonians through a variety of lenses. This unique multi-year project began in 2022 with Beatrice: a 50-minute youth opera inspired by the life and story of Beatrice, Morrow Cannady, and it will continue in future seasons with operas about Latinx and Native American Oregonian heroes. After the world premiere, this show embarks on a two-month, multi-city tour.

Shizue: An American Story is sung in English and will be presented in full costume, with a portable set designed to tour schools and community venues.

Tickets will be sold as pay what you wish, with a minimum price of $5.00 and a suggested price of $35.

For more than 20 years, Portland Opera has shared opera with audiences throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. In a typical year, POGO company members travel over 5,000 miles, to connect with approximately 13,000 K-12 students. To date, Portland Opera to Go has shared opera with more than 285,000 students and community audience members.

Accessibility

Captions: For patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing, each performance includes live English captions projected above the stage.

Audio Description: For patrons who are blind or have low-vision, the Saturday matinee performance will include a live audio description of the action and dialogue onstage.

American Sign Language: For patrons who are deaf of hard of hearing, both performances will include ASL interpretation.

For personal assistance selecting accessible seats or for more information about accessibility, please contact the Portland’5 Box Office at 503-248-4335 or email us.

Brunish Theatre Seating & Accessibility