STAGGERWING

AUTHORS

Composer: Lisa DeSpain

Librettist: Rachel J. Peters

SYNOPSIS

1936 was the first year that all-female teams could compete in the grueling transcontinental Bendix Trophy Air Race. Aviation industry titans Olive Ann and Walter Beech tap crackerjack pilots Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes to win it in their revolutionary new plane. Staggerwing takes off in Brooklyn and follows Louise and Blanche as they navigate extreme physical risk, sabotage, personal tragedies, and a male-dominated field. The pilots persevere beyond the Los Angeles finish line to shape the future of women in aviation. Winner, 2020 Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Competition.

INSTRUMENTATION

Clarinet, Piano, Bass, Drum Set/Vibraphone

DURATION

1 hour 30 minutes

CAST

LOUISE THADEN, 31 and younger. Mezzo.

BLANCHE NOYES, 36 and younger. Soprano.

OLIVE ANN BEECH, 32 and younger. Soprano.

BILL ROYLE, 49. Tenor.

J.H. TURNER, 50. Tenor.

DEWEY NOYES, 35 and younger. Tenor.

WALTER BEECH, 45 and younger. Baritone.

ROY McPHETRIDGE, 49. Baritone

HERBERT VON THADEN, 38 and younger. Baritone.

CHORUS, SATB.

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

  • Opera Kansas, 2025

  • Southern Oregon University, 2025

  • Premiere of Expanded Version, Vanderbilt University, 2024

  • Scenes in concert, Brigham Young University, 2023

  • World Premiere, Opera Kansas, 2021

PUBLISHER

E.C. Schirmer

This work is available for performance worldwide.

MATERIALS/LICENSING

IMAGES

Revival Production by Opera Kansas | Directed by Jesse Koza | Photos by Weldon Schloneger

Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas revival of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters

Premiere of Expanded Version Produced by Vanderbilt University | Directed by Gayle Shay | Photos by John Amis

Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Vanderbilt University production of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters

World Premiere Production by Opera Kansas | Directed by Ashley Winters | Photos by Linda Gregory

Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
Scene from the Opera Kansas world premiere of Staggerwing, an opera by composer Lisa DeSpain and librettist Rachel J. Peters
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