Roaming costumed creatures: Butteyes at World Trade Center

The Butteyes emerged at an Echo Theater Company rehearsal in 2013. Students were spinning on trapeze wearing flowing skirts when a 10-year old girl got into a downward dog shape with the skirt over her body and just her rear end poking through the top. As she scuttled around the theater, we realized how funny this costume could be with googly eyes affixed to the buns of the operator. In this moment of playful, silly exploration, Echo’s mascot the Butteye was born.

In 2022, teens from Echo’s Zig Zag ensemble added LEDs and introduced glowing Butteyes to PDXWLF. The Butteyes represent how innovation, looking at things differently, and providing space for silliness and exploration can all come together to make the world more magical and quirky.