Pepito and Meow & Forever

WAGS & WHISKERS
A Double-Bill featuring PEPITO & MEOW AND FOREVER

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An event graphic that reads: New Wave Opera presents Wags & Whiskers, two o-paw-ras about family for all ages. Saturday, January 18 at 7:30pm and Sunday, January 19 at 2pm. University of Portland Mago Hunt Recital Hall. The image is dotted with blue paw prints and amorpheous blobs, as well as cartoon women interacting with a cat and a dog. The image also bears logos for University of Portland the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

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**Thanks to funding from RACC, Saturday's performance will include ASL interpretation.

Generously supported by the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) and the University of Portland, our winter double bill features two family-friendly operas that center on animals, found family, and love that lasts fur-ever!

Pepito (commissioned by the Washington National Opera) and Meow and Forever (from which Summer Splash and Music in the Manor audiences will remember "The Bored Cat Duet") are both short operas, making this a purr-fect introduction to opera for listeners of any age!

A man looks into the camera directly, sitting at a desk with his elbow propped up such that his hand rests on the top of his head. He is wearing a grey cardigan and is bald. He has a calm but attentive expression.

Jeffrey Puukka, Stage Director

Susan McDaniel, Pianist

PLUS: SUPPORT OREGON HUMANE SOCIETY!

OHS will receive a portion of ticket sales to fulfill urgent needs for the shelter, and will have volunteers at both performances to accept donated items and share how community members can get involved.

You can read more about this partnership here, or check out the information below on what items the shelters are currently seeking.

HOW TO DONATE ITEMS TO OREGON HUMANE SOCIETY
In general, OHS can accept most brand new or gently used pet items, such as new and open pet food (in original packaging only), leashes and collars, bowls, toys, clean litter boxes, and more. For a full list of needs, please visit their Amazon Wishlist. You can bring items with you to the opera, or purchase from the wishlist directly.

If you have questions about a potential donation, please reach out to [email protected].

ABOUT THE SHOWS

Pepito | Nicolás Lell Benavides & Marella Martin Koch

A photo of a man in a dog costume (complete with floppy ears and big fur coat) and a woman in a grey, textured jacket. The graphic also includes the title of the show: PEPITO, and the name of the composer and librettist: Nicolas Lell Benavides and Marella Martin Koch.

Pepito, a lonely shelter dog, misses his old family and his old life. Camila and David, young married professionals, are searching for the perfect dog. As Camila and Pepito form an unshakeable bond, the cracks in Camila and David's marriage deepen, and Angie, the manager of the shelter, asks them the hard question: are they sure they are ready for this?

(Runtime: ~25 minutes)

CAST
Pepito: Timothy Lafolette
Camila: Lindsey Rae Johnson
Angie: Lisa Neher
David: Brandon Michael

Timothy Lafolette, Pepito

Lindsey Rae Johnson, Camila

Brandon Michael, David

Lisa Neher, Angie

Meow and Forever | Jodi Goble & Basil Considine

An image from a stage production, two actors dressed as cats. One is dressed in an orange onsie and bowtie with matching cat ears, the other in a black-and-white botton-down shirt with furry cuffs, black ears, and a collar. The set includes a coffee table, couch, and rug.

Bailey is swept away in a whirlwind romance with Asha, neglecting her other obligations…and her best friend, Alex. This drama is looked upon with bemusement by Bailey’s cats - Chester and Nala - who have their own priorities, interjecting themselves into the scenes AND music! Events come to a head when Alex comes over to confront Bailey about her friend-abandonment, and the two affectionately make up just in time for Asha to misconstrue everything. And yes, yes, there is a trio with singing cats. Happy ending guaranteed!

(Runtime: ~40 minutes)

CAST
Bailey: Gina Adorno
Alex: Henriët Fourie
Asha: Lindsey Rae Johnson
Nala: Dru Rutledge
Chester: Lisa Neher

Gina Adorno, Bailey

Henriët Fourie, Alex

Lindsey Rae Johnson, Asha

Dru Rutledge, Nala

Lisa Neher, Chester

WAGS & WHISKERSA Double-Bill featuring PEPITO & MEOW AND FOREVER

ABOUT THE SHOWS

Pepito | Nicolás Lell Benavides & Marella Martin Koch

Meow and Forever | Jodi Goble & Basil Considine

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WAGS & WHISKERS
A Double-Bill featuring PEPITO & MEOW AND FOREVER