‘Theater is exploding in Central Oregon’: Ovation Performing Arts in Bend is expanding

(Updated with comments from OPA; Jillian Fortner will be live on KTVZ News at Five)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Ovation Performing Arts in Bend is growing.

OPA Musical Director Jonathan Shepherd said, “This January, we opened our own studio. This school year, we're featuring a wider variety of directors and choreographers."

Shepherd says they are dependent on their audiences and the community to sustain OPA.

"Cinderella was a profitable show for us. That's been able to support, kind of these big, jump starts of growth and to the next stage," Shepherd added.

The theater company is also doubling the number of yearly productions, with a split into two age groups. The younger of the casts, OPA Debut, will present its first show, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" Friday through Sunday at Mountain View High School.

In its earlier years, OPA offered a more intimate experience, giving every child a speaking role and a personalized, theater-family touch, Shepherd said, something they don’t want to lose in the process of growing. The remedy is two divisions: OPA Debut, for 8–12-year-olds, and OPA Brava for those 13-18. 

“We have very strong younger actors more than ready for their own leads and their own show. Now we get to give that to them in ‘You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown,’" Shepherd said.

He added that a younger cast does not mean lower expectations.

Though the beloved Peanuts characters are elementary-school children, writers Clark Gesner and Andrew Lippa intended their stage adaptation for adult actors, with adult harmonies and choreography.

 "It's a lot to be responsible for. And we believe that our younger could do it. And we want to prove to them that we're trusting them with a full Broadway show," Shepherd said.

The theater company says there is no straight plot to the show.

Director Vreyah Palmantier said, "It's more like reading a bunch of comic strips. So it's a very different show, in the way that it's written."

The director says the cast comes from many parts of Central Oregon, including Prineville, Madras and La Pine.

"They've been here every single day for five hours a day and that's huge," Palmantier said. "And it goes 'til 9:00 at night, so then having to do that at home. But they're committed, they're dedicated - and it shows."

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown show dates: 

Friday, March 28th at 6:30pm

Saturday, March 29th 6:30pm

Sunday, March 30th 3:00pm

Location: Mountain View High School

Single ticket: $14.00

Four pack of tickets: $48.00