About this Piece

Distance Duet is a selection of Riggs’ work-in-process operatic epic. Non-human narrators - stones, a river, wind, desert grasses, fire - operate in vastly different timescales while acting out a rock-paper-scissors-inspired circle of longing. Their stories unfold over eons, simultaneously, in cycles that repeat, permutate and evolve over the course of the performance. Stones recall their shifts and splits, water floods and recedes, the desert grasses evolve, the wind wants to touch everything. 

Originally conceived at High Desert Test Sites in Joshua Tree, these “duets” are expansive interactions across space and time, not limited to a single moment, melody, nor confined to a single location. Every act is a duet, every action is interrelated, in spite of our perceived separation.

This showing of Distance Duet features both professional performers and lay performers from the High Desert and Los Angeles.
 
Featured performers include:
Arlene Deradoorian 
Ja’Nai Amey
Jess Basta
Lucia Joyce
Rachel Beetz
Sharon Chohi Kim
Taylor Plenn
Yiwen Tang
Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs
The voices of Kathryn Shuman and High Desert Choir
Community Chorus

Composed/directed by Carolyn Pennypacker
Adapted movement by Ryan Heffington and Caroline Partamian
Additional Sound Design by Michael Hilger
Costumes by 69 us, Meals, 323, Ryan Heffington, Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs