A Production of Des Moines Metro Opera

Cunning Little Vixen

Project Overview

Industry

Theatre & Performing Arts

A clever fox escapes captivity to embrace the wild in The Cunning Little Vixen—a joyful, witty, and poignant journey through nature’s eternal cycle of life, love, and renewal. Janáček’s lush score lets singers and orchestra embody the sounds and sensations of the forest itself.

Director Kristine McIntyre, maestro David Neely, and visual composer Oyoram reunite after Bluebeard’s Castle to bring this vibrant world to life, joined by Vita Tzykun (costumes), Luke Cantarella (designer), and Kate Ashton (lighting). Soprano Hera Hyesang Park makes her festival debut as the Vixen, with Sun-Ly Pierce returning as the Fox.

For The Cunning Little Vixen, our team designed and fabricated a circular modular stage deck featuring a mirrored riser and “mirrored pond” made from reflective plexiglass, contrasted by aged wood planking. We built a lush landscape of moss, grasses, and sculpted mounds for natural depth, along with an upstage ramp with a grass façade. Surrounding the set were thirteen 20-foot trees crafted from sono tubes, spray foam, resin, and chrome paint, interwoven with fourteen 21-foot aluminum video panels displaying dynamic artwork. Additional elements included CNC-sculpted chrome-painted rocks, a 14-foot-long hollow log for performer interaction, and a hand-painted 52-by-24-foot backdrop evoking grass and moss textures to complete the immersive forest environment.