Busso buffo: Bus Stop Opera coming to a TriMet stop near you

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2010/05/busso_buffo_bus_stop_opera_com.html

By Joseph Rose, The Oregonian

May 14, 2010, 10:12AM

May 2009 New York City from Dawn Weleski on Vimeo.

This could be, like, the best day ever to wait for a bus in Portland.

First, the mercury is dancing with 80. And second -- this is pretty dang cool -- the Bus Stop Opera is on tour.

TriMet just sent out this notice: "Don't be surprised if you're sitting on a bench, waiting for your bus and the person next to you bursts into song. It's Bus Stop Opera."

In conjunction with the Open Engagement symposium at Portland State University, TriMet will host Bus Stop Opera performances. The opera troupe takes situations and conversations gathered during the everyday commute on public transportation and turns them into mini-operas (watch the above video from New York City for a taste).

The performers will also use TriMet to travel between their performance locations. The performances will break out through Monday evening's commute.

The following locations are firm, but the exact performance times are estimates and will be weather-dependent. Performances last for about 20 minutes. Normal transit schedules will not be affected, TriMet says.

Friday, May 14
6 p.m. Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center, 9900 NE Multnomah

7 p.m. Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave Transit Center, 1410 NE 42nd Ave
8 p.m. SW Jefferson Street and 10th Avenue, next to the Portland Art Museum

Saturday, May 15
10 a.m. Rose Quarter Transit Center, 47 NE Holladay
11 a.m. Skidmore Fountain MAX Station, SW 1st Avenue and W Burnside Street

12 p.m. Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave MAX Station, SW 6th Avenue between Yamhill and Morrison streets

Sunday, May 16
9:30 a.m. SW 6th & Pine St MAX Station, SW 6th Avenue and SW Pine Street

10:30 a.m. NE 13th Avenue and Holladay bus stop, Lloyd Center at Holladay Park

11:30 p.m. Clackamas Town Center Transit Center, bus platforms

Monday, May 17
4 p.m. Beaverton Transit Center, 4050 SW Lombard
5 p.m. Sunset Transit Center, SW Barnes Road at Highway 217

6 p.m. PSU Urban Center/SW 6th & Montgomery MAX Station, Portland State University.