How do you POGO?
Each year, the Portland Opera to Go company performs 50-minute versions of operas for students. These are sung in English, or English and Spanish as bilingual productions. Some favorite past productions have been The Magic Flute, Beatrice, Hansel and Gretel, The Elixir of Love, The Barber of Seville, and La Bohème. The company travels over 5,000 miles throughout Oregon and southern Washington to spark the imaginations of students, educators, and teachers. So far, more than 275,000+ people have engaged with Portland Opera to Go.
“The children loved it. It never ceases to amaze me how well the children engage... And it does my heart good to see [them] enjoy it so much. By allowing the children to interact, you give them a voice”
- An educator from Ontario, Oregon
Performances happen in school gyms, libraries, cafeterias, classrooms, and community centers—all with full costumes and portable scenery. Integrated in-class workshops are available as part of the POGO experience, as well as teacher guides highlighting curricular connections aligned with state standards.
We believe that the arts are an essential part of every student's development. Our program focuses on schools with economic and geographic barriers to accessing performing arts experiences. Over 50% of schools visited are Title I schools in rural communities. We've shared POGO performances in Oregon and Washington—as well as parts of California, and Idaho.
