A performance of Atlantis: A Puppet Opera

The VORTEX and Ethos in Austin, Texas presented Atlantis: A Puppet Opera—a new production of Chad Salvata’s epic story of the final days of Atlantis, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Friday 14 September at 9 p.m. EDT (New York) / 8 p.m. CDT(Chicago) / 6 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles).

Ethos teams up with The VORTEX to re-create its magnificent and inventive Puppet Opera, Atlantis, which made its world premiere at The VORTEX in 2016. Chad Salvata, Ethos Artistic Director, visions a mythic world of warring religious zealots who are obsessed with world domination and non-renewable energy. With a soaring original score, fantastic and expressive vocalist/puppeteers, this new production of Atlantis: A Puppet Opera is one of the most exceptional and anticipated theatrical works of the year.

In the fantastic world of Atlantis, Queen Solstra and Prince Helios utilize their mighty battleship Invinctus as they seek world domination. They harvest the Eye of the last Kracken to control its Red Energy, but their greed and thirst for revenge lead to the inevitable destruction of their civilization. This cautionary environmental tale with Chad Salvata’s dynamic score and magnificent production design offers a magical realm including seductive Mermaids, a monstrous Kracken, and the ever-present power of Ocean, Sun, and Moon.

Director Bonnie Cullum teams up with designers Ann Marie Gordon and Melissa Vogt who have created most of puppets and scenery of Atlantis: A Puppet Opera. Jason Amato, who won the Critics’ Table Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for the 2016 production of Atlantis, returns to Austin to re-create his stunning lighting design. Roy Taylor engineers the sound design for Salvata’s score with vocal arrangements by Anderson Dear. Tamara L. Farley stage manages the production. Photography by Errich Petersen.

The stellar ensemble features the powerhouse vocals and puppetry of Justin LaVergne, Michelle Haché, Jonathan Itchon, Anderson Dear, Melissa Vogt, Emerald Mystiek, Gabriel Maldonado, Eryn Gettys, Patricia Wappner, Jeremy Moran, Kristin DeGroot, Joseph Quintana, Laura Ray, Aisha Melham, Kera Blay, and Jelena Stojilkovic Rhynes.

The VORTEX conjures and navigates the storm of imagination with urgent, unashamed art that dares to dream the world in which we want to live. This magic emanates from our cultural harbor, embraces diverse communities, breaks down barriers, and opens channels for vital exchange.

About HowlRound TV
HowlRound TV is a global, commons-based peer produced, open access livestreaming and video archive project stewarded by the nonprofit HowlRound. HowlRound TV is a free and shared resource for live conversations and performances relevant to the world's performing arts and cultural fields. Its mission is to break geographic isolation, promote resource sharing, and to develop our knowledge commons collectively. Participate in a community of peer organizations revolutionizing the flow of information, knowledge, and access in our field by becoming a producer and co-producing with us. Learn more by going to our participate page. For any other queries, email [email protected], or call Vijay Mathew at +1 917.686.3185 Signal/WhatsApp. View the video archive of past events.