Staggerwing, a new chamber opera by Lisa DeSpain and Rachel J. Peters, dramatizes the historical flight of Louise Thaden and her co-pilot, Blanche Noyes, as they compete in the grueling transcontinental 1936 Bendix Trophy Race; the first year the prestigious aviation competition allowed all-female teams to compete. The Bendix was fraught with danger as competitors pushed the boundaries of aeronautics. Intercut between the intense intimacy and confinement of the plane and expansive episodes of the women’s pasts and crucial events leading up to the race, we witness Louise and Blanche navigating the physical risks of their flight, work, personal tragedies and the sexism of a male-dominated field, emerging victorious. Lisa DeSpain’s score is inspired by the territory jazz bands of the 1930s with their unique blend of the blues, syncopated jazz, and the great Tin Pan Alley composers of the era.
I will be singing multiple roles in the brand new work. All Performances will be at the Kansas Aviation Museum!