EVEREST
WORLD TRADE CENTER THEATRE
DECEMBER 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 2025
AN OPERA PARALLÈLE PRODUCTION
Composed by JOBY TALBOT
Libretto by GENE SCHEER
CREATIVE TEAM
Director & Concept Designer BRIAN STAUFENBIEL
Conductor (Recording) NICOLE PAIEMENT
Projections Designer & Director of Photography DAVID MURAKAMI
Illustrator MARK SIMMONS
Sound Designer MILES LASSI
Portland Sound Designer BRIAN MOHR
Original Scenic Designer JACQUELYN SCOTT
Portland Scenic Designer PETER KSANDER
Music G. SCHIRMER INC. (ASCAP) O/B/O CHESTER MUSIC LTD. (PRS)
THE CAST
(in order of vocal appearance)
Jan Arnold SASHA COOKE
Rob Hall NATHAN GRANNER
Beck Weathers KEVIN BURDETTE
Doug Hansen HADLEIGH ADAMS
Guy Cotter/Mike Groom/Vocal Quartet MATT BOEHLER
Meg Weathers CHARLOTTE FANVU
Vocal Quartet SHAWNETTE SULKER
Vocal Quartet WHITNEY STEELE
Vocal Quartet KEVIN GINO
Performed in English with English captions. Audio description available at matinées.
SYNOPSIS
By Alexis Hamilton
High on the snow-clad side of Mount Everest, Beck Weathers is unconscious.
At the summit, a triumphant Rob Hall awaits Doug Hansen. Everest’s ghosts remark that it’s half an hour past turnaround time.
Meanwhile, Beck is hallucinating as his daughter Meg calls to him.
Rob helps Doug to summit. Everest’s ghosts mark the relentless passage of time and Doug realizes that he is not coming back. The scene dissolves…
…to a memory of Jan Arnold, Rob’s wife. She is pregnant, and they discussing baby names.
On the mountain, Rob desperately urges Doug to his feet. Rob radios for help as a storm boils up from below.
Beck’s daughter and Everest’s ghosts appear. We learn that Beck was unable to finish the ascent and is waiting for Rob for the descent. Another climber, Mike, discovers Beck and attempts to help him down the mountain as the storm intensifies.
Jan is on the phone receiving news of the climbers. As she hangs up, Base Camp urges Rob to leave Doug and come down. Rob, seeing that Doug has overheard, again helps Doug to his feet.
Rob, Doug, and Beck muse that dying is as easy as falling asleep.
Doug dies. Base Camp patches Jan through to Rob’s radio. He dies suggesting “Sarah” for their baby’s name.
Beck doggedly makes his way to safety.
CAST & CREW BIOS
JOBY TALBOT
Role: Composer
jobytalbot.com
Born in Wimbledon, Talbot has composed numerous works for opera and orchestras including Everest (2015), Desolation Wilderness (2006), Path of Miracles (2005), The Wishing Tree (2002), Worlds, Stars, Systems, Infinity (2012). Talbot has also worked extensively in film and television, with major credits including The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Son of Rambow (2007), Franklyn (2008) and The League of Gentlemen (19992002). Other works include compositions for dance Fool’s Paradise (2007), McGregor’s Entity (2008) and Genus (2007) and Chamber Symphony for Medhi Walerski’s Chamber (Residentie Orkest/Nederlands Dans Theater and Norwegian Opera and Ballet, 2012).
GENE SCHEER
Role: Librettist
genescheer.com
Gene’s versatile work has earned several Grammy Award nominations. With the composer Jake Heggie, he wrote the libretti for Moby-Dick , Three Decembers , To Hell and Back , and Camille Claudel: Into the fire . He worked as librettist with Tobias Picker on An American Tragedy and on Therese Raquin . Other collaborations include Wynton Marsalis’s It Never Goes Away with composer Steven Stucky, Everest and an operatic adaptation of Cold Mountain in 2015, as well as It’s a Wonderful Life in 2016. A composer in his own right, Mr. Scheer has written songs for renowned opera performers as well as the Ken Burns documentary The War.
BRIAN STAUFENBIEL
Role: Director & Concept Designer operaparallele.org/brian-bio
Brian is the creative director for Opera Parallèle where he has directed and spearheaded the conceptual designs of the company’s productions since it was founded in 2010. Specializing in multimedia, immersive, and interdisciplinary productions, he actively works across a wide range of artistic disciplines collaborating in film and with media designers, choreographers and dancers, circus and fabric artists, and designer fabricators. His progressive approach to stagecraft has garnered critical acclaim for many of the company’s productions, including Wozzeck, Orphée, Champion and Dead Man Walking.
NICOLE PAIEMENT
Role: Conductor (Recording) nicolepaiement.org/about
Nicole is an internationally acclaimed conductor and the Founder and Artistic Director of Opera Parallèle in San Francisco. Some of her notable performances include Tod Machover’s Death and the Powers with The Dallas Opera, Jake Heggie’s It’s a Wonderful Life with English National Opera, Joby Talbot’s Everest with the BBC Symphony, John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary with Volksopera Wien, George Benjamin’s Written on Skin with L’Opéra de Montréal, and Stewart Wallace’s Harvey Milk: Reimagined with Opera Parallèle. Paiement’s work can be found on many recordings and spans a wide range of repertoire.
DAVID MURAKAMI
Role: Projections Designer & Director of Photography davidmurakami.com
Recent: The Shining and Falstaff with Portland Opera, Das Rheingold at Seattle Opera, American Idiot at the Mark Taper Forum, 5-SKIES aboard Princess Cruises and Harvey Milk with Opera Parallèle. Other companies include Arizona Opera, Berkshire Theatre, Calgary Opera, Celebration Theatre, Dallas Opera, Des Moines Opera, East West Players, LA Opera, LINES Ballet, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, McCoy Rigby, Minnesota Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, L’Opéra de Montréal, Pacific Symphony, Presidio Theatre, Riyadh Season, Seattle Opera, SFJazz, Skylight Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, and Virginia Opera. Proud member of USA829.
MARK SIMMONS
Role: Illustrator
ultimatemark.com
Mark is a San Francisco-based freelance artist. His cartooning and sequential art work includes comics for publishers such as Hachette Book Group, Capstone, Behrman House, Madefire, and Rebellion; animation and advertising storyboards; and graphic recording. He’s also taught classes in comic art, figure drawing, and wildlife illustration for the Academy of Art University, the Wild Wonder Foundation, and local zoos and museums.
MILES LASSI
Role: Sound Designer
mileslassi.com
Miles is an interdisciplinary artist based out of Oakland, CA. As a musician, has performed in over 150 cities throughout North America, Europe and Asia with many different ensembles ranging from the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall to the national tour of Dirty Dancing : The Classic Story on Stage.
BRIAN MOHR
Role: Portland Scenic Designer
JACQUELYN SCOTT
Role: Original Scenic Designer wrenarthouse.com/studio-info
PETER KSANDER
Role: Portland Scenic Designer
SASHA COOKE
Role: Jan Arnold sashacooke.com
NATHAN GRANNER
Role: Rob Hall ngranner.com
KEVIN BURDETTE
Role: Beck Weathers kevinburdette.com
HADLEIGH ADAMS
Role: Doug Hansen schwalbeandpartners.com/hadleighadams-baritone
MATT BOEHLER
Role: Guy Cotter/Mike Groom/Vocal Quartet mattboehler.com
CHARLOTTE FANVU
Role: Meg Weathers
SHAWNETTE SULKER
Role: Vocal Quartet shawnettesulker.com
WHITNEY STEELE
Role: Vocal Quartet
KEVIN GINO
Role: Vocal Quartet kevingino.com
STAFF
GENERAL DIRECTOR
Sue Dixon
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Damien Geter
ARTISTIC AMBASSADOR
Karen Slack
ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE
Alexander Chester, Director of Finance
Paul Lovincey, HR and Operations Manager
Michael Martinez, Senior Accountant
ARTISTIC & MUSIC
Alfrelynn Roberts, Artistic Director
Alexis Hamilton, Associate Director of Education Outreach
Nicholas Fox, Associate Music Director
Amrit-Sadhana Boyd, Artistic Administrator
Ethan Cope Richter, Music Administrator and Librarian
Quinn Kun Liu, Music Assistant
Jasmine Johnson, Civic Engagement & Partnerships Manager
Gyan Singh Maria, Conducting Fellow
Paul Floyd, Principal Coach, Chorus Rehearsal Pianist
Sherrie Van Hine, Shane Magargal, AGMA Delegates
Lisa Neher, Chorus Secretary
Michael Hettwer, Orchestra Manager
Jessica Crawford, Supertext Coordinator
DEVELOPMENT
Beth Lewis, Director of Development
Carleena Manzi, Development Manager
Alexis Walker, Donor Benefits Coordinator
MARKETING
Christina Post, Director of Marketing & Communications
Lizzie Adelsheim, Marketing Project Manager
Ervanny Astari , Social Media Manager
PATRON SERVICES
Magdalena Travis, Patron Services Manager
Chris Kim, Patron Services Supervisor
PRODUCTION
Anna B. Labykina, Director of Production
Kyle Spens, Technical and Production Director
Ivy Thompson, Costume Shop Manager and Design Assistant
Sara Beukers, Wig and Makeup Supervisor
Cindy Felice, Properties Director
Carl Faber, Assistant Lighting Designer and Lighting Supervisor
Pascaline LeFèbvre, Production Coordinator
Bill Burbach, Production Carpenter
Iain Chester, Warehouse Head
Sumi Wu, Scenic Artist
Beatrice Antonie Marino, Lillian Welsh, Assistant Stage Managers
Addison Nuttbrock, Production Assistant
Laura Christensen, Children’s Supervisor
Adam Arnold, Tailor
Lillian Hannahs, Tailor/Draper
Jane Beach, Ryo Endal, Kim Smith-Kupani, Stitchers
Morgan Reaves, Wardrobe Supervisor
Miranda Nolten, Foreman, WMU Principal Makeup Artist
Helen Hart, WMU Principal Makeup Artist
Leighann Barrie-Foreman, Lisa Jubera, Nadine Nakagawa, Terri Lodge, Cristina Villareal, Ruthann Lentz, Diane Trapp, WMU Artists
Claudie Fisher, Daniel Wilson, Audrey Goldfarb, Brian Keith Properties Assistants
Mark M. James, Production Electrician
Jenessa Raabe, Pre-Production Electrician
FOR BROADWAY IN PORTLAND
Tracy Wenckus, General Manager, Broadway
Kelsey Wenckus, Marketing Assistant
Rachel Allred, Customer Service Rep
Ella Black, Broadway Ticketing & Database Manager
Bradford Johnson, Technical Liaison
Sophie Stebbins, Broadway Group and Customer Service Supervisor
PORTLAND OPERA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Kregg Arntson, PRESIDENT ; Director, Community Impact | Executive Director, PGE Foundation
Carole Morse, PAST PRESIDENT ; Past President, PGE Foundation
Linda Brown, VICE PRESIDENT ; Owner, Brown’s Blueberries
Christine Lewis, VICE PRESIDENT ; Metro Councilor, District 2
Larry D. Roper, TREASURER ; Emeritus Professor of Language, Culture and Society, Oregon State University
Carol Turner, SECRETARY ; Civic Volunteer
MEMBERS
Nichole Anglin, Attorney, Innova Legal Advisors PC
Mayra Arreola, Chief Shared Prosperity Officer, Port of Portland
Vanessa Valencia, Vice President of Financial Planning, On Point Community Credit Union
Laura Howe, Accounting Manager, On Point Community Credit Union
Ayaka Jones, Senior Account Executive, Finn Partners
Regena Frieden, Chief Administrative Officer, Providence Health Plan
THANK YOU DONORS
Portland Opera would like to recognize the following donors of $100 or more for their generous contributions and support for the 2025/26 season. To learn more about giving to Portland Opera or for any corrections to your listing, please contact Giving@ PortlandOpera.org.
Contributions received between 12/1/2024 and 12/9/2025.
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Clayton
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Taylor
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In Memory of Karyn HalloranTim Halloran
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Roland
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In Memory of Marie Colasurdo - Marita Ingalsbe
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In Memory of Donald R. Ebert
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Anonymous
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The M. and L. Marks Family
Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation
Joe A. Marrone
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In Memory of Tami G. Martin - John Martin
Victoria Liana Martusheff
Katsiaryna Masalava
Julie Mathews
Jessica Maxwell-Andersen and Tom Andersen
William Mayclin & Murray Dunlap
Oscar and Mary Mayer
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Cleo A. McLeod*
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Steve and Anna Mench
Charles Meshul and Maureen Ober
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Douglas and Malinda Moore
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Mueller-Crispin Cultural and Environment Fund
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Anonymous
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Franco Nieto
Ms. Donna G Noonan
Norris Dermatology & Lasers
NW
Richard and Beverly North
Nancy H. Oberschmidt
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John Ogden
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
Anonymous
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James Parker
Jane S. Partridge
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Mrs. Charles Rhyne
Woody and Rae Richen
In Memory of Gerry AllenStephen and Leslie Robinson
Lynne Roe
Charlene Rogers
Terence Rokop
Larry D. Roper and Dina
Lindquist
Carol Rose
Richard and Mary Rosenberg
Anonymous
Sheila and Gerald Sadis
Steven Saftig
Adam Gregory Salazar
Steve and Chris Satterlee
In Honor of Larry Roper - Tom and Cesie Scheuermann
Susan Schubert*
Anonymous - (In memory of Mayer D. Schwartz)
Sarah Schwarz
Members of the Portland
Opera Chorus
Hal and Diana Scoggins
Kathleen Scott
Anonymous
Anonymous
Ruth A. Short
Robyn and Kemp Shuey
Darsein and Gary Shull
Caren Smeltzer and Herman Migliore
Pamela Brandon
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Neil Soiffer and Carolyn Smith
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William Space and Allen Brady
Bob Speltz and Dwight Adkins
Dr. Jessica Spies
Alice Spitzer
Robert and Melanie Spitzer
Charles and Karen Springer
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Beverly and Larry St. Clair
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Michelle Stark
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In Memory of Garry Stensland
Kristin Sterling and Lorin
Wilkerson
N. Robert and Barre Stoll
Petar Stoyanov
Eric and Cyndi Strid
Mrs. Rebecca Sudduth
L. Susan Sullivan
In Memory of Richard E Swart
Hank Swigert and Marlene Koch
Laszlo Szidonya
Charles Talbot
Krista Tappan
Claudia Taylor, M.D.
Anna Taylor-Richter
Rick and Carol Terrell Charitable Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
Kenneth Thrasher
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In Honor of Sue Dixon - Andrea Tichy
Stanley and Marie Townsend
Homero Trevino Lopez
Su Tunney and James DePew
Tara Turnbull
David and Carol Turner
Russell Turner and Urszula Iwaniec
Rose Etta Venetucci
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Dave and Christine Vernier
Julie Vigeland
Legend Lain Vineyard
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Anonymous Claire Westdahl
Anonymous
The Estate of Ben and Elaine Whiteley
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Julie Wilson
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Cp Wise
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Dr. Greg Zarelli and Mr. John Bush*
Katherine Zeller and David Hill
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John and Nancy Zernel
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