I took some of the foster kids I work with to go see this tonight. I have to say it was excellent. If there are pictures on line tomorrow I'll post links. Very unique and original production. We all enjoyed is very much... especially since the majority of us who went are hard core rockers.
What… what the hell is a “Hipopera?”
It’s exactly like it sounds, silly.
Unbeknown to me, Reno has a spoken word and a hip hop scene. I know next to nothing about it, but I haven’t seen anything around about spoken word since the days of yore (circa 2002) of the “Inversely Poetic,” that haunted the downtown area. Evidently, the new generation of spoken word and hip hoppers, and help from Rainshadow, Spoken Views, Holland Project, and Sierra Arts, is going to be putting on “6:01 AM: A Working Class Opera.”
Since I’m not going to even begin to know what I’m talking about in this realm (but am damn curious…) I’ll let them be quoted directly from the website:
“6:01 AM is a Hipopera which takes place in the Brownsville Apartments, during a twenty-four hour time span. The Brownsville Apartments are fictitious low-income housing units located in Reno, Nevada. Throughout the performance the audience will view various scenes from typical American lives and observe characters who struggle financially and emotionally.
The performance will be guided by a maintenance man who will address the past, present, and future of the tenants. The performance will lead the audience from room to room throughout the Brownsville Apartments.
The cast is comprised of over 20 young performers, students, and spoken word artists, and is based on the work and words of local artist, Apprentice (Richie Panielli). Performance includes song, dance, music, film, poetry, and art and will take place at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts on May 30, 2009.”
From what I understand, more specifically, it is composed and performed by the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and the Reno Opera in collaboration with Rainshadow Community Charter High School drama students and hip hop artists from the Reno community. It is written by a local playwright, Nevada Art Council Artist-in-Residence, and drama instructor of at-risk and incarcerated youth, Pan Pantoja.
So there you have it. In addition, it should be known that proceeds from the production will be donated to RainShadow Charter High School and the Holland Project, who will use the funding to provide art and music access for youths.
