Staggerwing Lands Back Home in Wichita
After many rewrites and some test flights of our new, expanded version, Staggerwing returns to its natural habitat and place of origin: Wichita, Kansas, the national hub of aviation innovation. Without Opera Kansas and the Zepick Modern Opera Competition, we would have remained ignorant of this fascinating chapter of history in a field—and city—I knew virtually nothing about until Lisa insisted we follow through with the grueling process of researching and crafting yet another proposal to enter into a yet another commissioning contest with slim odds. But, just like Louise and Blanche, and all who were so deeply invested in that 1936 race, we somehow managed to pull it off, and we’re much better off for it. (After all, if those folks could risk their lives over and over again in pursuit of their dreams, I could probably muster an essay or two.) Four years after its mid-pandemic premiere, Opera Kansas brings the story back home for a larger audience to enjoy. It was wild to land in the airport in 2021 greeted by giant permanent displays about our real-life characters; their personalities and accomplishments, especially the Beech family, are still that central to the Wichita’s identity and evolution. You have three chances to see the Staggerwing Model C17 make its way across the country set to a jazz combo: May 29th at the McPherson Opera House, and May 31st and June 1st at the Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center. Below are a couple of promotional interviews about the upcoming production, and there’s a nice writeup in today’s Wichita Eagle. Toi toi toi to all, and safe travels!