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Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Dallas Opera puts its show on the road with special tricked-out truck
CultureMap Dallas: The Dallas Opera is bringing productions of family fare to communities around Dallas with its new OperaTruck, an 18-wheel flatbed “big rig” that has been customized as an outdoor mobile stage, the organization announced on April 12.
The article photo for this is just so Texas I absolutely love it. That being said I do also love the actual idea that they are trying to pull of with this kind of performance. Creating outdoor and temporary stages is not an easy task and sometimes taking something else and making it your own is the best idea. With a trailer and a flat bed truck already set up in a lot of ways to be used as a stage it makes perfectly sense to use them as such. It also gives the performance the ability to change location and accommodate for weather conditions as needed. In fact in my first thought after seeing this was I wonder if you could do a show w/ 3 or 4 trailers and stack them together or perhaps sequence them as to do “scene” changes by simply shifting the flat beds out.
This seems like a really fun and exciting way to put on a very unique performance! It sounds so cool to get to watch an opera on a mobile stage that is part of a truck. I would love to know how this idea came about, and how they sorted out all the logistical elements of making the back of a truck possible for performance. I think this is an awesome activity for summer and a really great way to get back into seeing live performances. I think this is a great community building event also, as it can get people back together after a year of not being able to be in a group. I would definitely love to see how they end up putting musical performances together on the back of the truck, and I think this really is a great way to get live performances going again.
I will say that the pandemic did spur an increase in ideas like this. My boss in Baltimore purchased a UPS type truck with a flip down stage a couple of years ago for portable shows. He’s been able to use it during the pandemic for multiple purposes including mobile shows, but also as a personal graduation service that pulls up into your driveway. It’s lucky that this trained opera singer also just happens to own a trucking company, but it just goes to show how good it is to have your hand in a bunch of doors. Other portable stages exist for concerts that just pull in, but the idea of portable outdoor shows is one that is as old as the hills and it surprises me that the only contemporary version of this I can think of is circus which is just shipped around in trucks and self contained.
From this article’s headline, I thought that this might be a truck with some sweet logistics set up on the inside. However, this flatbed stage is also absolutely wonderful. I love arts organizations that do community accessible performances. This flatbed truck with space to have musicians spaced out appropriately plus being portable is pretty genius. I wonder if the bed of the truck is just a big flat surface, or if the flatbed has keyed spots for where the chairs are placed. I wonder if the chairs and music stands can be stored somewhere on the truck. It would be neat if the furniture is custom and clicks into a flatbed surface. OperaTruck looks like the flatbed surface might be able flip down or allow for a second level. I wonder how complicated it is to drive this vehicle? I would definitely be interested in seeing the technical drawings for the OperaTruck.
Ok, this is really cool. I love the idea of having performance on the back of a truck. I have to agree with Mattox here. This is so Texas, and it is amazing! I would love to see a performance done on the OperaTruck. This is an incredible example of taking a good look at the state of the world and adapting to keep part of the “old world” alive, even if only a small part of it. The title of the article made me think that it would be about some super special truck. I am interested in what the tricked-out-ness of the truck really is. At least for me, based on the photo as well as the description of the truck in the article, it seems like a normal flatbed truck. I suppose there is some “tricking out” to do in terms of suspension or weight rating, but I think it would be really cool to see exactly what went into making this “OperaTruck”.
It’s so interesting to me how much our community has become interested in “pop ups” whether it’s a pop up shop, pop up art exhibit, and now pop up show. I guess that it’s something new and exciting that can get people’s attention because of how temporary it is. You feel the pressure to go because you probably won’t get another opportunity to experience whatever it is. Anyways, this is a really cool and unique way to do it that is really great for COVID safety when starting to do shows again. Along with the show being outside, I love the emphasis on social distancing and masks for the performers. I’m sure this truck will bring the community together because like myself many people have been dying to see something in person again. I’m excited to look it up when the run is actually happening, so I can actually get a sense of what this special tricked out truck can do.
This is hilariously Texan. All the way down to having performances at Klyde Warren Park, which is nothing but a (not flat) piece of land where I had all of my soccer games and cross country meets growing up. There’s not a single spot at that park where the land is level, so I’m wondering where they’d even park the truck LOL. I’ve never seen anything put on by The Dallas Opera, but I know that it’s considered very highly and it’s always been on my bucket list to see a performance. I do agree with others that this is a really creative way to bring live performances to people in a safe way. I’d really love to learn more about what makes the truck so “tricked out” for all of its performances. When the pandemic is over, I can imagine piling hay bales onto the truck and using it for hay rides in the fall.
I really like the concept of this OperaTruck, although I really wish this article went more into depth about the truck itself, how it works, and more pictures. The only picture in the article shows a dump truck with a flatbed low boy trailer on it… that could be anything. Is that the finished OperaTruck? Is that simply the truck that will be converted into the OperaTruck? I have many questions that are yet unanswered about the truck itself an how it functions, but the concept nonetheless sounds really interesting. Mobile stages have been around for a long time, but most mobile stages are just that – the stage and nothing else. Lighting, sound, media equipment – you have to source that separately. I am curious if the OperaTruck travels with all of these things in tow – more of an all-in-one than your typical mobile stages. I would be very interested in learning more about the specifics of this truck, how it works, what exactly it come with, how fast the set up and break down time is – but I suppose I will have to seek that information from another source.
Surprisingly enough I've only been to one production at the Dallas Opera despite living there for...16 years? It was a beautiful piece but the tickets were expensive, the required dress stuffy, and the seating VERY cramped. This OperaTruck leaves me very curious and excited as I would now potentially get to forgo all those things I currently associate with the Opera. I hope their launch goes well and by the time I end up back in Dallas for summer they're still going strong and I can attend one of the performances. I'm curious to see how they set up their technical elements and how complex it is, or if they exist at all. The picture looks as if they may have an open bed truck in front of the flatbed stage portion. I would assume this area is for the tech? Given that I'm not sure how large the scale is for this mobile production I don't want to expect they have sophisticated lights, sound, etc. when they fully may not.
I thought this article was very interesting, I think outdoor performances are going to be the best plan of action this summer although the heat will definitely be a downside. But having this family friendly experience will be a great way to have entertainment in a covid safe environment. The moving truck I think is a good idea and also having it be transportable will have the Dallas Opera be able to reach all different sorts of audiences. I wonder how the productions will be stage whether it will be more like a concert or if they are actually going have sets and costumes on the truck stage. Either way i think its a great idea and maybe other theatre companies will do the same.
What an awesome idea! If I was living in a world where there were a bunch of theatre trucks driving around and doing impromptu theatre performances for me, I think that I would reach peak happiness. I would love to see what it looks like when it's all set up for a show, because from this photo I can't grasp the entire plan. I feel like outdoor performances are awesome, we just have so much less of a capability as a designer when things are outdoors which is a little bit upsetting. I think that it is what is safest for everyone, but how are people who study lighting or do lighting supposed to do their craft to their full ability outdoors? We need to figure that out for public safety for sure. I want to own my own personal opera truck and run shows and drive around, that sound like my ideal career path.
11 comments:
The article photo for this is just so Texas I absolutely love it. That being said I do also love the actual idea that they are trying to pull of with this kind of performance. Creating outdoor and temporary stages is not an easy task and sometimes taking something else and making it your own is the best idea. With a trailer and a flat bed truck already set up in a lot of ways to be used as a stage it makes perfectly sense to use them as such. It also gives the performance the ability to change location and accommodate for weather conditions as needed. In fact in my first thought after seeing this was I wonder if you could do a show w/ 3 or 4 trailers and stack them together or perhaps sequence them as to do “scene” changes by simply shifting the flat beds out.
This seems like a really fun and exciting way to put on a very unique performance! It sounds so cool to get to watch an opera on a mobile stage that is part of a truck. I would love to know how this idea came about, and how they sorted out all the logistical elements of making the back of a truck possible for performance. I think this is an awesome activity for summer and a really great way to get back into seeing live performances. I think this is a great community building event also, as it can get people back together after a year of not being able to be in a group. I would definitely love to see how they end up putting musical performances together on the back of the truck, and I think this really is a great way to get live performances going again.
I will say that the pandemic did spur an increase in ideas like this. My boss in Baltimore purchased a UPS type truck with a flip down stage a couple of years ago for portable shows. He’s been able to use it during the pandemic for multiple purposes including mobile shows, but also as a personal graduation service that pulls up into your driveway. It’s lucky that this trained opera singer also just happens to own a trucking company, but it just goes to show how good it is to have your hand in a bunch of doors. Other portable stages exist for concerts that just pull in, but the idea of portable outdoor shows is one that is as old as the hills and it surprises me that the only contemporary version of this I can think of is circus which is just shipped around in trucks and self contained.
From this article’s headline, I thought that this might be a truck with some sweet logistics set up on the inside. However, this flatbed stage is also absolutely wonderful. I love arts organizations that do community accessible performances. This flatbed truck with space to have musicians spaced out appropriately plus being portable is pretty genius. I wonder if the bed of the truck is just a big flat surface, or if the flatbed has keyed spots for where the chairs are placed. I wonder if the chairs and music stands can be stored somewhere on the truck. It would be neat if the furniture is custom and clicks into a flatbed surface. OperaTruck looks like the flatbed surface might be able flip down or allow for a second level. I wonder how complicated it is to drive this vehicle? I would definitely be interested in seeing the technical drawings for the OperaTruck.
Ok, this is really cool. I love the idea of having performance on the back of a truck. I have to agree with Mattox here. This is so Texas, and it is amazing! I would love to see a performance done on the OperaTruck. This is an incredible example of taking a good look at the state of the world and adapting to keep part of the “old world” alive, even if only a small part of it. The title of the article made me think that it would be about some super special truck. I am interested in what the tricked-out-ness of the truck really is. At least for me, based on the photo as well as the description of the truck in the article, it seems like a normal flatbed truck. I suppose there is some “tricking out” to do in terms of suspension or weight rating, but I think it would be really cool to see exactly what went into making this “OperaTruck”.
It’s so interesting to me how much our community has become interested in “pop ups” whether it’s a pop up shop, pop up art exhibit, and now pop up show. I guess that it’s something new and exciting that can get people’s attention because of how temporary it is. You feel the pressure to go because you probably won’t get another opportunity to experience whatever it is. Anyways, this is a really cool and unique way to do it that is really great for COVID safety when starting to do shows again. Along with the show being outside, I love the emphasis on social distancing and masks for the performers. I’m sure this truck will bring the community together because like myself many people have been dying to see something in person again. I’m excited to look it up when the run is actually happening, so I can actually get a sense of what this special tricked out truck can do.
This is hilariously Texan. All the way down to having performances at Klyde Warren Park, which is nothing but a (not flat) piece of land where I had all of my soccer games and cross country meets growing up. There’s not a single spot at that park where the land is level, so I’m wondering where they’d even park the truck LOL. I’ve never seen anything put on by The Dallas Opera, but I know that it’s considered very highly and it’s always been on my bucket list to see a performance. I do agree with others that this is a really creative way to bring live performances to people in a safe way. I’d really love to learn more about what makes the truck so “tricked out” for all of its performances. When the pandemic is over, I can imagine piling hay bales onto the truck and using it for hay rides in the fall.
I really like the concept of this OperaTruck, although I really wish this article went more into depth about the truck itself, how it works, and more pictures. The only picture in the article shows a dump truck with a flatbed low boy trailer on it… that could be anything. Is that the finished OperaTruck? Is that simply the truck that will be converted into the OperaTruck? I have many questions that are yet unanswered about the truck itself an how it functions, but the concept nonetheless sounds really interesting. Mobile stages have been around for a long time, but most mobile stages are just that – the stage and nothing else. Lighting, sound, media equipment – you have to source that separately. I am curious if the OperaTruck travels with all of these things in tow – more of an all-in-one than your typical mobile stages. I would be very interested in learning more about the specifics of this truck, how it works, what exactly it come with, how fast the set up and break down time is – but I suppose I will have to seek that information from another source.
Surprisingly enough I've only been to one production at the Dallas Opera despite living there for...16 years? It was a beautiful piece but the tickets were expensive, the required dress stuffy, and the seating VERY cramped. This OperaTruck leaves me very curious and excited as I would now potentially get to forgo all those things I currently associate with the Opera. I hope their launch goes well and by the time I end up back in Dallas for summer they're still going strong and I can attend one of the performances. I'm curious to see how they set up their technical elements and how complex it is, or if they exist at all. The picture looks as if they may have an open bed truck in front of the flatbed stage portion. I would assume this area is for the tech? Given that I'm not sure how large the scale is for this mobile production I don't want to expect they have sophisticated lights, sound, etc. when they fully may not.
I thought this article was very interesting, I think outdoor performances are going to be the best plan of action this summer although the heat will definitely be a downside. But having this family friendly experience will be a great way to have entertainment in a covid safe environment. The moving truck I think is a good idea and also having it be transportable will have the Dallas Opera be able to reach all different sorts of audiences. I wonder how the productions will be stage whether it will be more like a concert or if they are actually going have sets and costumes on the truck stage. Either way i think its a great idea and maybe other theatre companies will do the same.
What an awesome idea! If I was living in a world where there were a bunch of theatre trucks driving around and doing impromptu theatre performances for me, I think that I would reach peak happiness. I would love to see what it looks like when it's all set up for a show, because from this photo I can't grasp the entire plan. I feel like outdoor performances are awesome, we just have so much less of a capability as a designer when things are outdoors which is a little bit upsetting. I think that it is what is safest for everyone, but how are people who study lighting or do lighting supposed to do their craft to their full ability outdoors? We need to figure that out for public safety for sure. I want to own my own personal opera truck and run shows and drive around, that sound like my ideal career path.
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