BroadwayWorld.com Portland Stories

BWW Reviews: CROOKED - A Clear-Eyed Look at Adolescence

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:16:48 PST

When you're fourteen, you are a mass of contradictions, fueled by hormones, junk food, and confusion. You hate your parents, but you also need them, and you hate yourself for needing them. You're jealous of everyone around you. And you most likely have no idea what sex and dating are about, but you're starting to notice boys or girls and you're not sure what that means. All you know is that you're frustrated, and you're going to take that out on everyone around you.

Catherine Treischmann's play Crooked, now playing at CoHo Productions, is about a fourteen-year-old girl named Laney who is even more confused and angry than most kids her age. She and her mother, Elise, have just moved from Wisconsin to Elise's hometown in Mississippi. Dad is out of the picture for reasons that only gradually become clear. Laney reads prodigiously and writes short, violent stories that give Elise cause for concern. Stress has caused Laney to walk hunched over, one shoulder higher than the other. She's confused about sex and literature, and she's embarrassed by her mother.

Elise is a rational list-making person who finds Laney's constant drama exhausting. She's trying to pull her own life together but can't stop to catch her breath. Things get more complicated when Laney makes a friend, sixteen-year-old Maribel, who comes from a religious, home-schooled background. She's ripe for whatever wild stories Laney wants to tell, and she becomes fascinated with Elise's directness and honesty.

These three women are all complex and fascinating creatures, and Crooked gives us a rounded picture of each of them. Kayla Lian has the trickiest role as Laney, and she's endlessly inventive, embodying the passion of a teenager without becoming wearying, and showing the fear underneath the character's bravado. Maureen Porter's Elise starts out as a level-headed mom, but we see her exhaustion and loneliness as the play goes by. Meghan Chambers makes Maribel funny but never simple, and over the course of the play we come to admire her sweetness.

It's a short play, on one basic set with a couple of small inserts, and the writing is so strong and the cast so capable that director Phillip Cuomo could perhaps have taken a nap and let the actresses do all the work. But he's clearly given them a lot of inspiration. The cast remains in character even in the between-scene transitions when they're moving props and adding or removing costume pieces. The little details, like the characters removing their shoes when they come into Elise's house, add to the believability of the performance.

I loved this play, but I don't want to overpraise Crooked or make it sound dark and difficult. It's a wonderful slice of life and a reminder of the rough moments we all experience in our adolescence. After a while you feel like you're eavesdropping on the family next door, and that's a good thing; there are plenty of laughs, but this isn't a sitcom If you were ever fourteen, go see it.

Now Playing Onstage in Portland - Week of 5/19/2013

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

View All Show Listings for Portland
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Portland Calendar

PLAYLAND
Profile Theatre Project
5/20-5/20/2013
Profile Theatre: - Athol Fugard.
Click Here for More Information
LITTLE WOMEN
METROPOLITAN PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY
5/17-5/24/2013
Based on Louisa May Alcott's own family experiences (and novel), LITTLE WOMEN, follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Now, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. LITTLE WOMEN embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. This powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope -- the sounds of a young America finding its voice. In years to come, we are sure that hundreds of productions by schools and theatres throughout the world will make this stage adaptation of the American classic novel a classic musical theatre treasure in its own right.
Click Here for More Information
DANCE FOR A DOLLAR
Miracle Theatre Group
5/2-5/25/2013
Milagro Theatre: - Mariana Carre
Click Here for More Information
WORKING
OAK HILL SCHOOL
5/25-5/26/2013
Based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with American Workers, WORKING paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the phone operator, the waitress, the millworker, the mason, and the housewife, just to name a few.This new 2010 version of WORKING is a musical exploration of 26 people from all walks of life. While most of the professions have been updated, the strength of the show is in the core truths that transcend specific professions; the key is how people's relationships to their work ultimately reveal key aspects of their humanity, regardless of the trappings of the job itself. The show, still set in contemporary America, contains timeless truths. This new version of WORKING allows the audience to get a rare glimpse of the actors and technicians working to put on a show. This raw adaptation only enhances the realistic and relatable nature of the subject matter.With extremely modest set and orchestra requirements, universal subject matter, and featuring a multi-ethnic ensemble cast of variable size, WORKING is one of the most accessible, relevant and substantive musicals ever created. The new, revised 2010 version includes updated lyrics, a streamlined book and two new songs by IN THE HEIGHTS Tony Award-winning creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as favorite by Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, and James Taylor.
Click Here for More Information
TEN CHIMNEYS
Artists Repertory Theatre
4/23-5/26/2013
Alder Stage: - Jeffrey Hatcher; dir: Damaso Rodriguez.
Click Here for More Information
MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA!
Profile Theatre Project
5/8-5/26/2013
Profile Theatre: - Athol Fugard; dir: Adriana Baer.
Click Here for More Information
SEUSSICAL
ACTORS CABARET OF EUGENE
5/3-6/1/2013
Now one of the most performed shows in America, SEUSSICAL is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (LUCKY STIFF, MY FAVORITE YEAR, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, and RAGTIME) have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie, and a little boy with a big imagination--Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge--not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping, and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.SEUSSICAL is fun for the whole family! Performers of all ages will be excited to portray the characters from the familiar Dr. Seuss fables. This musical provides wonderful creative opportunities for set, lighting, and costume design.More Ahrens and FlahertyFor complet
Click Here for More Information
AVENUE Q
SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
5/16-6/2/2013
AVENUE Q is a gut-bustingly hilarious modern musical focusing on a group of unique 20-somethings making their way in the big city, seeking their purpose in life. Although the show addresses humorous adult issues, it is similar to a beloved children's show; a place where puppets are friends, Monsters are good and life lessons are learned.Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, AVENUE Q is part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart. AVENUE Q is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.Puppet RentalBe sure to visit MTI's Prop Shop to see our AVENUE Q puppets to rent!AVENUE Q NEW YORKVisit the official "Avenue Q New York" for NYC ticketing and more information.
Click Here for More Information
AVENUE Q
Center Stage Theatre
5/16-6/2/2013
The 2004 winner of Tony's triple crown of Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Avenue Q is a coming-of-age comedy where the real world defines the facts of life. Sesame Street and MR. Rogers move over as eleven wacky puppets and three humans enact this zany, all too real, insightful extravaganza. Intended for mature audiences.
Click Here for More Information
THE ILLUSION
Center Square Theatre
5/23-6/2/2013
Award winning playwright Tony Kushner creates lush layers of illusion in this tale of a father seeking the help of a magician in his search for his long-banished son. Based loosely on L'Illusion Comique written by Pierre Corneille in 1636, the play is filled with conjured visions, unlikely transformations and unexpected twists of time and fate.
Click Here for More Information
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BROOKINGS HARBOR CHILDRENS THEATER
5/17-6/2/2013
Step into the enchanted world of Broadway's modern classic, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST! Based on the Academy-Award winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. Your audiences will be transported to the heart of provincial life in a lovely French town. When Maurice becomes lost in the woods on the way to the fair, he seeks shelter in an old castle, but the master of the castle is a horrible beast that takes him captive. Maruice's daughter, Belle, must then give up her freedom to save his life. Belle's taming of the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation back into a handsome prince enthralled Broadway audiences for over 13 years. This "tale as old as time" is filled with spectacular costume and set opportunities, or even more simply staged, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST offers a great opportunity to bring your entire community together for family theatre at its best.
Click Here for More Information
A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
Oregon Children's Theatre
5/11-6/2/2013
Newmark Theatre: - adapt: Willie Reale; lyrics: Willie Reale; music: Robert Reale; dir: Dani Baldwin.
Click Here for More Information
THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS
Portland Playhouse
5/2-6/2/2013
- adapt: John Schmor; dir: Jonathan Walters.
Click Here for More Information
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF PORTLAND
Portland Center Stage
4/30-6/9/2013
Ellyn Bye Studio: - Lauren Weedman; dir: Rose Riordan.
Click Here for More Information
ELLA: THE MUSICAL
Portland Center Stage
5/28-6/23/2013
Main Stage: - Rob Ruggiero; book: Jeffery Hatcher; dir: Rob Ruggiero.
Click Here for More Information
ITHAKA
Artists Repertory Theatre
5/28-6/30/2013
Morrison Stage: - Andrea Stolowitz; dir: Gemma Whelan.
Click Here for More Information

View All Show Listings for Portland
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Portland Calendar

OSF Opens Outdoor Elizabethan Stage

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:47:24 PST

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival opens its flagship theatre the weekend of June 14-16 with two Shakespeare productions, Cymbeline and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a rollicking U.S. premiere of David Farr's The Heart of Robin Hood.

"I have a growing conviction that these three productions are perhaps the most delightful and entertaining trio we've offered outdoors in my tenure as artistic director," Bill Rauch said. "By sharing the same epic forest setting, the magical and swashbuckling adventures of all three stories reverberate with one another in ways that will really capture audiences' imaginations and hearts. I can't wait to share them!"

The opening performance of the weekend begins at 8:00 p.m. Friday, June 14, with William Shakespeare's Cymbeline, directed by Rauch. One of Shakespeare's late plays, this romance features banishment, revenge, kidnapping, love, disguises, a beheading, rescues, reunions, forgiveness and more love. In brief, the newly, secretly wed Posthumus (Daniel José Molina) and Imogen (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) are separated because of a father's fury and a stepmother's ambitions. Their wanderings and often dire experiences eventually lead them back together where confessions and revelations bring peace between lovers, family and nations.

Also in the cast are Howie Seago as Cymbeline, Robin Goodrin Nordli as the Queen, Al Espinosa as Cloten, Tony DeBruno as Pisanio, Kenajuan Bentley as Iachimo, and Jeffrey King as Belarius. For a complete listing of cast, visit the OSF website.

Designers are Michael Ganio (set), David Woolard (costumes), David Weiner (lights), Paul James Prendergast (music/sound), Alexander V. Nichols (video projections), Jessica Wallenfels (choreography), U. Jonathan Toppo (fight director). The dramaturg is Lydia G. Garcia, Ursula Meyer is voice and text director and Mandy Younger is stage manager.

Cymbeline runs June 4 through October 11. The Production Partners are Lynn and Gary Jacobs, Michael R. Jacobson and Trine J. Sorensen, Ann P. Wyckoff and Rogue Valley Manor.

On Saturday, June 15 at 8:00 p.m. the Elizabethan Stage will be filled with the denizens of Sherwood Forest in David Farr's The Heart of Robin Hood, a U.S. premiere directed by Joel Sass. In this fresh look at the Robin Hood tale, Marion (Kate Hurster) takes center stage. Daughter of the Duke of York, Marion decides to flee to the forest and join Robin Hood's band in order to elude the cruel Prince John (Michael Elich), who is scheming to usurp the throne from his brother King Richard and to marry Marion. When she first meets Robin (JOHN TUFTS), he is more hood than hero and far from the noble outlaw she thought he would be. She formulates a plan, and disguised as Martin of Sherwood, Marion beats Robin at his own game, robbing from the rich and providing for the poor. As Martin/Marion's fame spreads, Robin and his brutish men eventually learn that there can be honor among thieves and even love for Robin Hood.

Others in the cast are Erica Sullivan as Alice, Daniel T. Parker as Pierre, Michael J. Hume as Makepeace and K.T. Vogt as Marion's Chaperone. (complete cast list).

Designers are Michael Ganio (set), Paloma Young (costumes), Mary Louise Geiger (lighting), Paul James Prendergast (music/sound), Alexander V. Nichols (video projections), Jessica Wallenfels (choreography) and Christopher Duval (fight director). Philippa Kelly is dramaturg, David Carey is voice and text director, and Amy Miranda Warner is stage manager.

The Heart of Robin Hood runs June 5 through October 12. The Lead Sponsor is The Pigott Family; the Production Sponsors are Mort and Amy Friedkin; and Production Partners are Mrs. Donald Hare and Anonymous Ashland Donors.

On stage Sunday evening June 16 at 8:00 p.m. is Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Christopher Liam Moore directs this production-one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies with a cast of memorable characters: Titania, Oberon, Puck and her Fairies; the lovers Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius; and, of course, Nick Bottom and his rustic crew.

In this staging, a Catholic school set on the edge of a magical forest-a lush, fantastical Elizabethan fairy world-is the backdrop for youthful urges, parental commands, mechanical aspirations and unearthly interventions.

The cast includes Richard Howard as Theseus, Judith-Marie Bergan as Hippolyta, Ted Deasy as Oberon, Terri McMahon as Titania, Gina Daniels as Puck, Christiana Clark as Helena, Tanya Thai McBride as Hermia, Wayne T. Carr as Demetrius, Joe Wegner as Lysander, and Brent Hinkley as Nick Bottom (complete cast list).

Designers are Michael Ganio (set), Linda Cho (costumes), David Weiner (lighting), Alexander V. Nichols (video projections), Sarah Pickett (music/sound), Jessica Wallenfels (choreography), U. Jonathan Toppo (fight director). Philippa Kelly is dramaturg, Rebecca Clark Carey is voice and text director and Gwen Turos is stage manager.

A Midsummer Night's Dream runs June 6 through October 13. Production Partners are Robert Dohmen, Jim Collier, William F. Meehan III and Betsy Meehan, and Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon.

Tickets remain available for previews, openings and the run of the shows and may be purchased online at www.osfashland.org or by calling the Box Office at 541-482-4331. For better seating and savings buy earlier.

The outdoor productions join six productions already in repertory at OSF. Playing in the Angus Bowmer Theatre are Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady, August Wilson's Two Trains Running (closes July 7) and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. In the Thomas Theatre are Shakespeare's King Lear and The Unfortunates by Jon Beavers, Casey Hurt, Ian Merrigan and Ramiz Monsef, with additional material by Kristoffer Diaz.

The 2013 season is sponsored by U.S. Bank.

CoHo Productions' CROOKED Begins Performances Tonight

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:30:00 PST

CoHo Productions will present Crooked, tonight, May 15 - June 8, 2013. Opening night is May 17.

In Crooked, life sucks for fourteen year old Laney who, besides dealing with typical teenage angst is afflicted by a muscle disorder called dystonia, which causes her posture to angle to one side as her back muscles fight with themselves even while at rest. Her mother Elise is recently divorced, in crisis, and has moved herself and her daughter to Oxford, Mississippi where the question "Have you found a church?" is considered polite conversation. Laney has a burning desire to be a writer and she uses her active imagination to write vividly violent short stories. When she befriends Maribel, the open-hearted daughter of an evangelical preacher, Laney uses her penchant for fiction to reinvent herself with actions as rebellious as they are cries for acceptance. This sensitive story of sexual and spiritual awakening follows Laney as she battles her inner demons in her quest to be loved.

A distinctive new voice in American Theatre, Treischmann's work is quickly becoming known for its smart, humorous dialogue and intriguing female characters set against the backdrop of the Deep South. In Crooked, she creates three full and diverse roles for women exploring themes of spirituality, sexuality, alienation and identity.

"I think Portland needs to see more theatrical stories with a female perspective. Catherine's play is about the aspirations of women and I am ecstatic to spend several months living with it," said director Philip Cuomo, fresh off the critical and popular success of A Noble Failure by Susan Mach.

CoHo's offering features a well-crafted story centered on the multi-dimensional needs and desires of women of different ages. This female-driven story is presented in a time when cries for increased opportunities for female artists are growing louder. However, this play's characters, events and language succeed in providing insight into larger social and spiritual issues recognizable to all audiences regardless of gender: issues of family, friendship, grief, and finding a place to belong.

Recieving its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Crooked is the first professionally produced play by Trieschmann in Portland.

Crooked was selected for CoHo's 2012-2013 season during a rigorous submission and evaluation process. Director and co-producer Philip Cuomo is the Executive Director of Portland Actors Conservatory (PAC) overseeing a nationally accredited institution. He is an award winning director, theatre teacher and actor and was last month appointed the newest member of CoHo Productions' Board of Directors. Maureen Porter, co-producer and playing the role of Elise, is an award winning actor, gracing all of the major Portland stages and is one of our city's most decorated and respected performers. Kayla Lian won over ArtistsRep's audiences in And So it Goes... and she will melt your heart as Laney. Meghan Chambers plays Laney's love interest, Maribel, and has recently completed the Portland Playhouse Acting Apprenticeship program.

Production Team:

Stage Manager Sascha Blocker

Production Manager Jennifer Lin

Scenic Design/Tech Director Demetri Pavaltos

Light Design Daniel Meeker

Sound Design Cecil Averett

Costume Design Casey Ballard

Dramaturg Larkin Sackett

Show times are 7:30pm Thursday through Saturday, with 2pm matinees on Sundays. Talkbacks with the director and cast will follow the performances on May 19th and 26th and June 2nd. Tickets may be purchased online at www.cohoproductions.org or by phone at 503.220.2646. CoHo Theatre is located at 2257 NW Raleigh Street.

Now Playing Onstage in Portland - Week of 5/12/2013

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

View All Show Listings for Portland
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Portland Calendar

CINDERELLA
St. Anthony's School
5/16-5/16/2013
CinderellaThe timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997
Click Here for More Information
CINDERELLA
St. Anthony's School
5/16-5/16/2013
The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. As adapted for the stage, with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits.Music by Rodgers, Richard; Book by Oscar Hammerstein II; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Click Here for More Information
LITTLE WOMEN
CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL
5/9-5/18/2013
Based on Louisa May Alcott's own family experiences (and novel), LITTLE WOMEN, follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Now, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. LITTLE WOMEN embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. This powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope -- the sounds of a young America finding its voice. In years to come, we are sure that hundreds of productions by schools and theatres throughout the world will make this stage adaptation of the American classic novel a classic musical theatre treasure in its own right.
Click Here for More Information
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
MCCORNACK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
5/16-5/18/2013
Step into the enchanted world of Broadway's modern classic, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST! Based on the Academy-Award winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. Your audiences will be transported to the heart of provincial life in a lovely French town. When Maurice becomes lost in the woods on the way to the fair, he seeks shelter in an old castle, but the master of the castle is a horrible beast that takes him captive. Maruice's daughter, Belle, must then give up her freedom to save his life. Belle's taming of the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation back into a handsome prince enthralled Broadway audiences for over 13 years. This "tale as old as time" is filled with spectacular costume and set opportunities, or even more simply staged, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST offers a great opportunity to bring your entire community together for family theatre at its best.
Click Here for More Information
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
SHELDON HIGH SCHOOL
5/10-5/18/2013
Step into the enchanted world of Broadway's modern classic, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST! Based on the Academy-Award winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. Your audiences will be transported to the heart of provincial life in a lovely French town. When Maurice becomes lost in the woods on the way to the fair, he seeks shelter in an old castle, but the master of the castle is a horrible beast that takes him captive. Maruice's daughter, Belle, must then give up her freedom to save his life. Belle's taming of the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation back into a handsome prince enthralled Broadway audiences for over 13 years. This "tale as old as time" is filled with spectacular costume and set opportunities, or even more simply staged, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST offers a great opportunity to bring your entire community together for family theatre at its best.
Click Here for More Information
DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID JR
RALEIGH HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
5/17-5/18/2013
In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince Prince Eric that she's the girl with the enchanting voice. Adapted from Disney's 2008 Broadway production, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. features the hit songs "Part of Your World," "She's in Love," and the Oscar-winning "Under the Sea."
Click Here for More Information
ANNIE JR
BLANCHET CATHOLIC SCHOOL
5/17-5/18/2013
Leapin' Lizards! The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved musicals. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan ANNIE charms everyone's hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, ANNIE escapes to the wondrous and magical world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, ANNIE foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations and befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.ANNIE JR. is ideal for productions involving different grade levels, or for middle schools where students may be maturing at different rates. The cast size and age range of the parts are flexible and the bright, tuneful score is easy to sing and filled with familiar numbers.
Click Here for More Information
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
WESTERN MENNONITE SCHOOL
5/9-5/18/2013
Step into the enchanted world of Broadway's modern classic, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST! Based on the Academy-Award winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. Your audiences will be transported to the heart of provincial life in a lovely French town. When Maurice becomes lost in the woods on the way to the fair, he seeks shelter in an old castle, but the master of the castle is a horrible beast that takes him captive. Maruice's daughter, Belle, must then give up her freedom to save his life. Belle's taming of the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation back into a handsome prince enthralled Broadway audiences for over 13 years. This "tale as old as time" is filled with spectacular costume and set opportunities, or even more simply staged, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST offers a great opportunity to bring your entire community together for family theatre at its best.
Click Here for More Information
CINDERELLA (ENCHANTED EDITION)
Trinity Lutheran School
5/17-5/18/2013
Cinderella (Enchanted Edition)The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997
Click Here for More Information
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
Abiqua School
5/17-5/18/2013
G2K Once Upon a MattressThe 'G2K' Getting To Know Series: Uniquely adapted musicals specifically for youth performers. If you thought you knew the story of 'The Princess and The Pea,' you may be in for a walloping surprise! Did you know, for instance, that Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that it may not have been the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of beguiling songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic a
Click Here for More Information
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
REDMOND PROFICIENCY ACADEMY
5/16-5/18/2013
Six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a hilarious tale of overachievers' angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The show's Tony Award winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.
Click Here for More Information
DISNEY'S 101 DALMATIANS KIDS
RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL
5/17-5/18/2013
101 DALMATION KIDS is the familiar tale of kidnappers, puppies, and villains. In a loving home in the city of London, human owners Robert and Anita live happily with Dalmatian parents Pongo and Perdita as they raise their Dalmatian puppies. Everything is quiet until the monstrous Cruella De Vil, Anita's former classmate, plots to steal the puppies for her new fur coat! Join all the dogs of London as they daringly rescue the puppies from Cruella and her bumbling henchmen.With a delightfully fun score, lovable characters, and one of the most deliciously evil villains in the Disney canon, this stage adaptation is certain to charm and delight all audiences. The adorable spotted dogs and sinister main villain provide wonderful opportunities for creative costuming.
Click Here for More Information
CINDERELLA (ENCHANTED EDITION)
Trinity Lutheran School
5/17-5/18/2013
The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. As adapted for the stage, with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits. This Enchanted Edition is based on the 1997 teleplay.Music by Rodgers, Richard; Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Adapted for the Stage by Tom Briggs; From the Teleplay by Robert L. Freedman
Click Here for More Information
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
Abiqua School
5/17-5/18/2013
The 'G2K' Getting To Know Series: Uniquely adapted musicals specifically for youth performers. If you thought you knew the story of 'The Princess and The Pea,' you may be in for a walloping surprise! Did you know, for instance, that Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that it may not have been the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of beguiling songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are, you'll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again. In this adaptation for pre-high school students, the content has been edited to better suit younger actors and audiences, but all the magic, hilarity and fun of the original are still in place. G2K? ONCE UPON A MATTRESS is the perfect show to introduce young people to the magic of live theater. PLEASE NOTE: All schools wishing to peruse or perform a G2K musical should apply through theMusic by Mary Rodgers; Book by Jay Thompson & Dean Fuller & Marshall Barer; Lyrics by Marshall Barer; Adapted by Tom Briggs
Click Here for More Information
AVENUE Q
LORD LEEBRICK THEATRE COMPANY
5/2-5/18/2013
AVENUE Q is a gut-bustingly hilarious modern musical focusing on a group of unique 20-somethings making their way in the big city, seeking their purpose in life. Although the show addresses humorous adult issues, it is similar to a beloved children's show; a place where puppets are friends, Monsters are good and life lessons are learned.Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, AVENUE Q is part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart. AVENUE Q is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.Puppet RentalBe sure to visit MTI's Prop Shop to see our AVENUE Q puppets to rent!AVENUE Q NEW YORKVisit the official "Avenue Q New York" for NYC ticketing and more information.
Click Here for More Information
Roald Dahl'S WILLY WONKA in Broadway" border="0" height="100" width="100" align="right"> Roald Dahl'S WILLY WONKA
LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL
5/16-5/18/2013
Roald Dahl's timeless story of the world-famous candy man and his quest to find an heir comes to life in this stage adaptation ofCharlie and the Chocolate Factory, which features the songs from the classic family filmWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.Roald Dahl's WILLY WONKA, featuring a memorable score by Leslie Bricusse (JEKYLL & HYDE, DOCTOR DOLITTLE) and Anthony Newley, follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding five golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats: the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka's rules in the factory--or suffer the consequences.This scrumdidilyumptious musical is guaranteed to delight everyone's sweet tooth. With this show's flexible cast size, featuring roles for all ages, your production will take audiences on a fantasy ride into the land of pure imagination! Roald Dahl's WILLY WONKA has been created with educators and student performers in mind. This title is ONLY available for amateur groups to license.
Click Here for More Information
THE MUSIC MAN
LITTLE THEATRE ON THE BAY
4/26-5/19/2013
An affectionate paean to Smalltown, U.S.A. of a bygone era, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band he vows to organize - this despite the fact he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall. Perfect for professional theatres, community groups, summer stock and schools alike, this award-winning, critically acclaimed Broadway classic is an all-American institution, thanks to is quirky characters, charmingly predictable dramatic situations, and one-of-a-kind, nostalgic score of rousing marches, barbershop quartets and sentimental ballads which have become popular standards. The cast features a soaring soprano ingenue, parts for young performers and children, and one of the musical theatre's treasures, a tour de force leading role for a charismatic actor who doesn't need to be a trained singer. By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, THE MUSIC MAN is family entertainment at its best.
Click Here for More Information
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! JR
OPAL CENTER FOR ARTS AND EDUCATION
5/10-5/19/2013
The EmmyÂ® Award-winning Saturday morning educational cartoon series is now the basis for one of the most fun, energetic, and easily mounted musicals ever to hit the stage! A loose, revue-like structure allows for a great deal of flexibility in staging and cast size. Set and costume design can be as simple or complex as your budget or imagination allow. And because most of the songs are so familiar and easy to learn, rehearsals are bound to be a snap. Perfect for young performers of all ages and experience levels, SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! JR. will be a hit for actors and audiences alike!
Click Here for More Information
THE FANTASTICKS
BAKER HIGH SCHOOL
5/18-5/19/2013
Talk about a time-provenaudience-pleaser! "Try To Remember" a time when this romantic charmerwasn't enchanting audiences around the world. THE FANTASTICKS is thelongest-running production of any kind in the world, and with good reason: atthe heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is apurity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is atimeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the sametime.With its minimal costumes, small band and virtually non-existent set, THE FANTASTICKS is an intimate show which may be performed in virtually any space,engaging the audience's imagination and showcasing a strong ensemble cast. Itsmoving tale of young lovers who become disillusioned, only to discover a moremature, meaningful love is punctuated by a bountiful series of catchy,memorable songs, many of which have become standards.
Click Here for More Information
LITTLE WOMEN
JOURNEY THEATER ARTS GROUP
5/16-5/19/2013
Based on Louisa May Alcott's own family experiences (and novel), LITTLE WOMEN, follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Now, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. LITTLE WOMEN embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. This powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope -- the sounds of a young America finding its voice. In years to come, we are sure that hundreds of productions by schools and theatres throughout the world will make this stage adaptation of the American classic novel a classic musical theatre treasure in its own right.
Click Here for More Information
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
MYRTLE POINT JUNIOR/ SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
5/17-5/19/2013
Six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a hilarious tale of overachievers' angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The show's Tony Award winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.
Click Here for More Information
LITTLE WOMEN
COLTON HIGH SCHOOL
5/9-5/19/2013
Based on Louisa May Alcott's own family experiences (and novel), LITTLE WOMEN, follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Now, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. LITTLE WOMEN embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. This powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope -- the sounds of a young America finding its voice. In years to come, we are sure that hundreds of productions by schools and theatres throughout the world will make this stage adaptation of the American classic novel a classic musical theatre treasure in its own right.
Click Here for More Information
GATHERING BLUE
Oregon Children's Theatre
4/27-5/19/2013
Winningstad Theatre: - Eric Coble; dir: Stan Foote.
Click Here for More Information
PLAYLAND
Profile Theatre Project
5/20-5/20/2013
Profile Theatre: - Athol Fugard.
Click Here for More Information
LITTLE WOMEN
METROPOLITAN PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY
5/17-5/24/2013
Based on Louisa May Alcott's own family experiences (and novel), LITTLE WOMEN, follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Now, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. LITTLE WOMEN embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. This powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope -- the sounds of a young America finding its voice. In years to come, we are sure that hundreds of productions by schools and theatres throughout the world will make this stage adaptation of the American classic novel a classic musical theatre treasure in its own right.
Click Here for More Information
DANCE FOR A DOLLAR
Miracle Theatre Group
5/2-5/25/2013
Milagro Theatre: - Mariana Carre
Click Here for More Information
TEN CHIMNEYS
Artists Repertory Theatre
4/23-5/26/2013
Alder Stage: - Jeffrey Hatcher; dir: Damaso Rodriguez.
Click Here for More Information
MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA!
Profile Theatre Project
5/8-5/26/2013
Profile Theatre: - Athol Fugard; dir: Adriana Baer.
Click Here for More Information
SEUSSICAL
ACTORS CABARET OF EUGENE
5/3-6/1/2013
Now one of the most performed shows in America, SEUSSICAL is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (LUCKY STIFF, MY FAVORITE YEAR, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, and RAGTIME) have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie, and a little boy with a big imagination--Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge--not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping, and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.SEUSSICAL is fun for the whole family! Performers of all ages will be excited to portray the characters from the familiar Dr. Seuss fables. This musical provides wonderful creative opportunities for set, lighting, and costume design.More Ahrens and FlahertyFor complet
Click Here for More Information
AVENUE Q
SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
5/16-6/2/2013
AVENUE Q is a gut-bustingly hilarious modern musical focusing on a group of unique 20-somethings making their way in the big city, seeking their purpose in life. Although the show addresses humorous adult issues, it is similar to a beloved children's show; a place where puppets are friends, Monsters are good and life lessons are learned.Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, AVENUE Q is part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart. AVENUE Q is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.Puppet RentalBe sure to visit MTI's Prop Shop to see our AVENUE Q puppets to rent!AVENUE Q NEW YORKVisit the official "Avenue Q New York" for NYC ticketing and more information.
Click Here for More Information
AVENUE Q
Center Stage Theatre
5/16-6/2/2013
The 2004 winner of Tony's triple crown of Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Avenue Q is a coming-of-age comedy where the real world defines the facts of life. Sesame Street and MR. Rogers move over as eleven wacky puppets and three humans enact this zany, all too real, insightful extravaganza. Intended for mature audiences.
Click Here for More Information
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BROOKINGS HARBOR CHILDRENS THEATER
5/17-6/2/2013
Step into the enchanted world of Broadway's modern classic, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST! Based on the Academy-Award winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. Your audiences will be transported to the heart of provincial life in a lovely French town. When Maurice becomes lost in the woods on the way to the fair, he seeks shelter in an old castle, but the master of the castle is a horrible beast that takes him captive. Maruice's daughter, Belle, must then give up her freedom to save his life. Belle's taming of the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation back into a handsome prince enthralled Broadway audiences for over 13 years. This "tale as old as time" is filled with spectacular costume and set opportunities, or even more simply staged, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST offers a great opportunity to bring your entire community together for family theatre at its best.
Click Here for More Information
A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
Oregon Children's Theatre
5/11-6/2/2013
Newmark Theatre: - adapt: Willie Reale; lyrics: Willie Reale; music: Robert Reale; dir: Dani Baldwin.
Click Here for More Information
THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS
Portland Playhouse
5/2-6/2/2013
- adapt: John Schmor; dir: Jonathan Walters.
Click Here for More Information
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF PORTLAND
Portland Center Stage
4/30-6/9/2013
Ellyn Bye Studio: - Lauren Weedman; dir: Rose Riordan.
Click Here for More Information

View All Show Listings for Portland
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Portland Calendar

Artists Rep to Present ITHAKA, 5/28-6/30

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:59:47 PST

How long does the battle continue after a soldier returns home? Artists Repertory Theatre is honored to present Andrea Stolowitz's challenging new play, Ithaka, with extensive enrichment programming. Ithaka runs May 28 through June 30 on the Morrison Stage, 1515 SW Morrison, Portland, OR.

With this newly commissioned play, Oregon playwright Andrea Stolowitz examines the issues involved with coming home from war, for both soldiers and their families. Marine Captain Elaine Edwards has just returned from her latest tour in Afghanistan but this time things are different - home doesn't feel right and nothing makes sense. After a blow-up fight with her husband propels her to skip town, she undertakes an Odyssean journey through the American landscape battling her demons, trying to find her way home.

Ithaka is "about the intensity of human connections in a war zone and at home," says the playwright, Andrea Stolowitz. "[This is] a play for our times about war, friendships, guilt, being human and staying alive." Stolowitz's work draws from interviews with more than 20 veterans and their families.

"It took Homer's Odysseus 10 years of wandering to make it to his beloved home, Ithaka, after the Trojan War," says Director Gemma Whelan. "Lanie, a Marine Captain in Andrea Stolowitz's Ithaka has returned home from Afghanistan, but hasn't been able to leave the war behind; she still carries the conflict inside of her. This play is set on a large canvas against a backdrop of war, the desert, and even a hyper-coaster, but it is ultimately a very personal journey of how to begin to make peace with the past."

In early 2011, two longtime supporters of Artists Rep approached Artistic Director Allen Nause with a proposal to commission a new script to be produced and performed at the theatre. In January 2011, Artists Rep invited playwrights from across the county to submit their ideas for the now-named Fowler/Levin Prize. Of the 14 playwrights who submitted proposals, Stolowitz's play concept was the unanimous choice by the artistic leadership at the theatre.

Made possible thanks to the generosity and vision of commissioning donors Irving Levin and Stephanie Fowler, Stolowitz was awarded the phenomenal $25,000 Fowler/Levin Prize in the Fall of 2011. She has written and developed this timely piece as the final production of Artists Rep's 2012/13 season.

Message from Irving Levin and Stephanie Fowler: "Our hope for Ithaka is that it enlightens general audiences, provides deep meaning to returning veterans, and that it advances the aims of Artists Rep, Andrea, and the cast and production staff.....and maybe even inspires someone else to commission a new play!"

Ithaka, written by Andrea Stolowitz and directed by Gemma Whelan, features Dana Millican, Victor Mack, Paul Angelo, Danielle Purdy, Valerie Stevens, with scenic design by Tal Sanders.

Performance Dates: May 28-June 30, Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:00pm; Wednesday matinee at 11:00am on June 19. Opening Night is Friday, May 31. All shows run at Artists Repertory Theatre's Morrison Stage (15th & Morrison St.)

Tickets: $25-$50. Box Office: 503.241.1278 or www.artistsrep.org. On the web: Website, Facebook, Twitter.

ENRICHMENT & EDUCATION: In an effort to provide a supportive experience for our patrons and to engage with military personnel and veterans groups in our community, Artists Rep has extensive outreach and educational events surrounding this production that will include the following:

· May 28: FREE preview for members of the military and their families @ 7:30pm

· May 29-June 2: two-for-one tickets with military ID or veteran's card

· June 2: post-show discussion with members of Returning Veterans Project; after 2pm matinee

· June 8: "A Conversation Between the Lens and the Stage" Photographer Jim Lommasson and playwright Andrea Stolowitz discuss their processes for creating works based on veteran interviews; 5:30-7pm. This program was made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities, a statewide nonprofit organization and an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which funds OH's grant program.

· June 9: post-show discussion; after 2pm matinee

· June 15: Jim Lommasson gives a guided tour of his lobby exhibit; 6:30-7:15pm

· June 16: post-show discussion; after 2pm matinee

· June 19: post-show discussion; after 11am matinee

· June 23: Education Panel with members of Oregon Psychoanalytic Center; after 2pm matinee

· June 23: Read/Watch/Talk Book Club; after 2pm matinee; The Watch by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya

May 28-June 30: Morrison Lobby

§ Education and support materials available in the lobby, including a Study Guide, a resource list for members of the military and their families.

§ Card-writing station for our patrons to send notes to our military serving overseas, at home or are injured and in the hospital through www.amillionthanks.org.

ART INSTALLATION - JIM LOMMASSON: In conjunction with Ithaka, our lobby will feature a visceral photography and first-person writing installation by Jim Lommasson, which draws from his extensive interaction with veterans. Lommasson has created this site-specific installation specifically for Ithaka thanks to a grant from Oregon Humanities. Lommasson is a freelance photographer and writer living in Portland, Oregon. He received the Dorothea Lange-Paul Taylor Prize from The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University for his first book, Shadow Boxers: Sweat, Sacrifice & The Will To Survive In American Boxing Gyms. In 2009, Oregon State University Press published Lommasson's Oaks Park Pentimento: Portland's Lost and Found Carousel. He is currently working on a book and traveling exhibition about American Veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, and their lives after their return from war, called Exit Wounds: Soldiers' Stories - Life After Iraq and Afghanistan. The book will include Lommasson's photographs, and photographs and writing by the participants. Lommasson received a 2008 Couture stipend from the New American Art Union for the Exit Wounds exhibition. He was awarded a Regional Arts and Culture Council Project Grant for What We Carried, and is a 2012 Oregon Humanities Conversation Grant Recipient for his public discussion "Life after War: Photography and Oral Histories of Coming Home." Lommasson's lobby installation will invite theatre patrons and the general public to explore the experiences of hundreds of veterans through photography and written narrative.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT: Andrea Stolowitz is a playwright living in Portland, Oregon and a proud member of Playwrights West. Her plays have been produced nationally and internationally. The LA Times calls her work "heartbreaking" and the Orange County Register characterizes her approach as a "brave refusal to sugarcoat...issues and tough decisions."

A recipient of Artists Repertory Theatre's $25,000 Fowler/Levin Prize, Andrea will premiere her newest work, Ithaka, at the theatre May 28 to June 30, 2013.

Her previous play Antarktikos premiered at Pittsburgh Playhouse in March, 2013 and won the Oregon Book Awards' Angus L. Bowmer Award for Drama in April 2013. Andrea's screenwriting work includes Jonathan's War, a feature-length action film; the treatment for Code Name: Pelicano, which was sold to independent producers; and the upcoming web series Crackerjacks, which is currently in development.

A Walter E. Dakin Fellow at The Sewanee Writers' Conference, Andrea has also been awarded residencies at Ledig House, Soapstone and Hedgebrook; and arts grants from North Carolina, Oregon and private foundations. A MFA playwriting alumna of UC San Diego, Andrea teaches at Willamette University and the University of Portland and has served on the theatre studies faculty at Duke University and UC San Diego.www.andreastolowitz.com

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: Gemma Whelan is the founding Artistic Director of corrib theatre in Portland, and directed their inaugural production of Conor McPherson's St. Nicholas this spring. She was the founding Artistic Director of Wilde Irish Productions in the Bay Area, where she directed Michael Mac Liammoir's The Importance of Being Oscar (Dean Goodman Award for Direction); the U.S. Premiere of Ariel by Marina Carr, Frank McGuinness' Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Pa Tricia Burke Brogan's Eclipsed and Samuel Beckett's Endgame. Other favorites include Jane Chamber's Last Summer at Bluefish Cove (Cable Car Nomination for

Outstanding Achievement) and Eileen Atkin's Vita and Virginia (Curve Magazine, Best Theatre of the Year Award), both at Theatre Rhinoceros; Tom Kempinski's Duet for One (Zephyr Theatre) and Caryl Churchill's Top Girls(Phoenix Theatre). Gemma has taught at numerous colleges and conservatories in the Bay Area, including UC Berkeley, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, American Conservatory Theatre and Mills College (Chair 2001-2004). She has also taught theatre and film in Singapore, and led theatre tours to Ireland and England. Since her move to Portland in 2008, she has taught at Pacific University, Portland Actors Conservatory, Portland State University, and Literary Arts (Delve), and served on the Drammy Committee for three years. She is a founding board member of Cerimon House, a sanctuary for the humanities in the Alberta Arts District. Gemma is an award-winning screenwriter and film director and had her first novel, Fiona: Stolen Child, published in October 2010. She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society; earned a BA in English and French at Trinity College, Dublin and has graduate degrees in Theatre (University of California, Berkeley) and Film (San Francisco State University). www.gemmawhelan.com

Now celebrating its 30th season, Artists Repertory Theatre is the longest-running professional theatre company in Portland. Artists Rep strives to challenge artists and audiences with plays of depth and vibrancy in an intimate setting. Artists Rep explores the strengths, frailties and diversity of the human condition primarily through regional premieres, commissioned works and selected classics appropriate to contemporary issues.

Miracle Theatre Group's GALA MILAGRO: CELEBRANDO ARGENTINA Set for 5/31

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:07:11 PST

This first-ever Gala Milagro will feature the Emcee talents of Milagro actor Enrique Andrade, familiar to most Portland metro commuters as the Spanish voice on the Max, and auctioneer Brian Bice of Maximized Philanthropy Auctions. For further entertainment, there will be performances by Tango Sombra, a five piece Tango band, and dancers Adam Cornett and Remanda Shang will perform Tango and Chacarera pieces. While guests enjoy entertainment, they will enjoy an Eastside Distilling signature cocktail and dine on Argentine cuisine catered by Crave Catering. The evening's festivities, live auction, and raffle items, will celebrate Milagro's longevity and raise funds to further grow its art, culture, and community outreach programs in the Portland area and around the country.

Event sponsored by Willakenzie Estate, H.E.L.P. Group Inc., and CH2M HILL.

Tickets are on sale now at $100 a seat or $800 for a table of 8 and can be purchased online through the Gala website, milagro.org/3-Support-Apollo/GalaMilagro.html, or by calling the Miracle Theatre at 503.236.7253.

Come one, come all and celebrate Portland's premier Latino theatre! Viva Milagro

Third Rail to Screen National Theatre's THE AUDIENCE, Starring Helen Mirren, 6/15-30

Sun, 05 May 2013 19:02:52 PST

Third Rail Theatre will present HD screenings of The National Theatre's The Audience by Peter Morgan this June.

Helen Mirren reprises her Academy Award winning role as Queen Elizabeth II in the highly-anticipated West End production of The Audience, broadcast as part of National Theatre Live.

For sixty years Elizabeth II has met each of her twelve Prime Ministers in a weekly audience at Buckingham Palace--a meeting like no other in British public life--it is private. Both parties have an unspoken agreement never to repeat what is said. Not even to their spouses.The Audience breaks this contract of silence--and imagines a series of pivotal meetings between the Downing Street incumbents and their Queen. From Churchill to Cameron, each Prime Minister has used these private conversations as a sounding board and a confessional-- sometimes intimate, sometimes explosive. From young mother to grandmother, these private audiences chart the arc of the second Elizabethan Age. Politicians come and go through the revolving door of electoral politics, while she remains constant, waiting to welcome her next Prime Minister.

These HD screenings of the live performance are brought to Portland by Third Rail Theatre.

DATES:

Saturday June 15, 2pm and 7pm
Saturday June 22, 2pm and 7pm
Saturday June 29, 2pm and 7pm
Sunday June 30, 2pm and 7pm

Season Voucher Package $96 (6 screening for $96); Single tickets $20; Seniors 65 + $18; Students $15. All screenings are at the World Trade Center Theater, 121 SW Salmon Street, Portland, Oregon. For additional information, visit thirdrailrep.org or call 503-235-1011.

Promoting new plays. Exploring the edges of theatrical style. Sharing a range of experiences with the audience and the community. Third Rail is artist-driven theatre.

Pictured: Young Elizabeth (Bebe Cave) and Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren). Photo by Johann Persson.

Third Rail Theatre to Screen National Theatre's THIS HOUSE, 6/16 & 23

Sun, 05 May 2013 18:58:49 PST

Third Rail Theatre will present HD screenings of The National Theatre's This House by James Graham this June.

This House is set in the British Parliament during the turbulent years from 1974-1979, a shabby time of industrial unrest, spiraling inflation, and the feeling that Britain was a failing nation. In 1974 when Edward Heath called a general election, the winning Labour party under Harold Wilson lacked a majority. They had to struggle on in power just to keep the Conservatives out, let alone actually pass legislation.

Playwright James Graham finds the action not in the prime ministers themselves--Heath, Wilson, Callaghan, and finally Thatcher--but in the party whips who struggle, manipulate, and connive to control the outcome of each vote. Graham builds suspense from the compromised mixture of ambition and idealism that informs the politics of any era. One reviewer, praising the two lead actors, wrote "Charles Edwards and Reece Dinsdale are so nuanced and intelligent in the roles of the old adversaries, Walter Harrison and Jack Weatherill, as almost to persuade one that politics might be a noble business, after all."

The political events of This House are by and large true, including a few famous political incidents--among them Michael Heseltine swinging the mace around and John Stonehouse faking his own death.

The play received Olivier Award nominations for both Best New Play and Best Director. Third Rail Rep hosts these HD screenings of the live production.

The production will screen on Sunday June 16, 1pm and 5pm and Sunday June 23, 1pm and 5pm. Season Voucher Package $96 (6 screening for $96); Single tickets $20; Seniors 65 + $18; Students $15. All screenings are at the World Trade Center Theater, 121 SW Salmon Street, Portland, Oregon. For additional information, go to thirdrailrep.org or call 503-235-1011.

Promoting new plays. Exploring the edges of theatrical style. Sharing a range of experiences with the audience and the community. Third Rail is artist-driven theatre.

Pictured: Walter Harrison - Deputy Labour Whip (Reece Dinsdale) and Jack Weatherill - Deputy Tory Whip (Charles Edwards). Photo by Johann Persson.

BWW Reviews: ARI-MARIA, An Operatic Musical at Triangle Productions

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:52:42 PST

Tommy Tune said it (or sang it) best in Seesaw, to the music of Cy Coleman and the lyrics of Dorothy Fields: "It's not where you start, it's where you finish." When a show has a strong finale that sends you out into the night singing, you'll forgive it some bumps along the way.

Ari-Maria is an original musical about the affair between opera diva Maria Callas and shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, which ran on and off for eleven years. Both were fiery, tempestuous Greeks with a penchant for melodrama and a number of high-society friends, and neither was the type to sit at home and let the other have the spotlight. Great jumping off point for a musical, right? Donald Horn (book, lyrics, and direction) and Jonathan Quesenberry (music, additional lyrics, and musical direction) have chosen their subjects well.

The show begins a bit slowly. Maria (Amy Jo Halliday) sings an aria at a party, then is introduced to Ari (Bruce Blanchard) at a party. The two are instantly drawn to each other, but both are married to others. A nameless friend of Maria's (Michelle Maida) tells us the story, explaining who the characters are and giving us gossip about the times and the characters. We have expository scenes, telephone calls, more narration...and it takes about halfway through Act One before we get a good, solid scene between Maria and Ari, and from there the show takes off, and Act Two is a series of satisfying confrontations leading to a bittersweet ending.

Mr. Horn knows how to write an argument, and his lyrics (though slightly blurred by the sound system) are clear and often clever. I can't claim to be an expert on Maria or Ari or their society friends, but the scenes work as drama, and the narration is funny and interesting, filling in the background with panache. (One slight historical glitch: Ari is seen complaining about Maria to Prince Rainier, who is trying to decide between Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe...but didn't Rainier marry Grace in 1956, a year before Ari even met Maria?) Mr. Quesenberry's music is lovely and varied throughout the show, with just enough Greek flavor in the instrumentation to fit the characters. It doesn't fall into the usual "song" patterns heard in musical theatre, but it's melodic and easily singable. He also leads the six-piece orchestra and plays piano ably.

Ari-Maria is blessed with a terrific cast. Bruce Blanchard is a force of nature as Ari, passionate, funny, intense, and childish as only a rich man can be. He has a powerful singing voice and a vibrant stage presence. He never just walks out onto the stage: he strides on, his gestures and his mannerisms all Greek, his accent just right (and consistently so), his attitude all business. (He even dances off at the end of his curtain call with a Zorba-ish wiggle.)

Amy Jo Halliday has a tougher assignment as Maria. Diva-like behavior doesn't seem to come naturally to her, and she struggles to make the character as vibrant and demanding as she needs to be to hold her own with the other characters. She has a lovely voice, and handles the arias beautifully, but doesn't seem comfortable with the rest of the score until her final number, "But a Woman," where Maria finally declares her independence. In this song, Halliday seems at last to be singing in a style that suits her, and the song is easily the best in the score.

As the narrator, Michelle Maida is delightful, gleefully spreading gossip and making snotty remarks about new money. She enters a few of the scenes to counsel Maria, and she's wise and measured against Maria's romanticism.

The rest of the cast handle multiple roles, and juggle them well. Gary Wayne Cash plays Maria's husband, and his breakup scene with her is intense and dramatic (though the song that comes after is one of the weaker ballads, and doesn't seem to suit the character); he also plays a doctor, a judge, and a priest with skill. Chrissy Kelly-Petit makes the best of a brief cameo as Elsa Maxwell, then comes back to play Jacqueline Kennedy, and it would have been nice to get to know the character better. Erin Oleson gets one of the best cameos, playing Lee Radziwill (Jackie's sister) and getting to share a truly bitchy number with Maria. Gabriel Mikalson rounds out the ensemble in a series of wordless roles, moving props and helping with costume changes, but he gets a chance to shine with a traditional Greek wedding song at the end of the show.

The show moves swiftly, with many short scenes and songs interspersed with narration, and technically it flowed quite well. Mr. Horn's direction was smooth, though occasionally he had his actors turn their backs to the audience at inconvenient moments. There isn't a lot of dancing, but Cherie Price and Sarah Martins have devised movements that work for the characters, particularly in a first-act tango involving Maria and Ari and their spouses.

The set design is minimal, with the orchestra upstage behind a see-through curtain, and the costumes are perfect for the era and the characters-they're rich without being over-the-top. Some effort was put into making the actors feel like the people they're playing, without resorting to heavy makeup or prosthetics, though the actress playing Jackie Kennedy could have used a better wig or something to identify her; in the wedding sequence, I wasn't even sure who she was meant to be.

With some revisions (perhaps a new opening section?) and more performances to see how the show is developing, I can see Ari-Maria moving forward and becoming successful at other theaters. Certainly the audience at Triangle Productions enjoyed it thoroughly. And so did I.