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MAY JUN 2019
Social Practices:
as
Activism
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A SECTION OF
MAY JUN
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ARTS GUIDE 5 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
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6 SOCIAL PRACTICES: ART AS ACTIVISM Ladies Leading
In our final pairing of exceptional female leaders in the arts, we bring you Portland Institute of Contemporary Art Executive Director Victoria Frey and Kerry Yamaucci, a transgender performer and activist.
CALENDAR 13 MAY Artslandia Portland Arts Guide Take time this month to stop and smell the flowers on your way to partake of arts and culture.
CALENDAR 22 JUNE Artslandia Portland Arts Guide Though the traditional season of performing arts winds to a close, there’s still time to catch some of the best productions of the year before heading out to summer festivals.
26 BAG&BAGGAGE NAMES
A NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR In the Spotlight
It’s not every day that a replacement is named for a founding Artistic Director and not every day (yet) that a woman is chosen for a top job. We present, with pleasure, Cassie Greer.
Photo by Gia Goodrich.
WITH THE FLOW 29 GOING Weekend Script
ON THE COVER: Performer and activist Kerry Yamaucci with PICA Executive Director Victoria Frey. All photos by Gia Goodrich. Floral design by Manu Torres. Find him on Instagram @uunnaamm. Special thanks to Photographer’s Assistant Christian Rudman. Victoria Frey’s wardrobe courtesy of Frances May, 1003 SW Washington St., Portland.
Artist and filmmaker Fuchsia Lin goes whichever way the wind blows, and we’re happy to follow to along.
ON THE SCENE 30 SEEN A glimpse of who’s who at fabulous arts events.
FIND YOUR ART: Artists Repertory Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Bag&Baggage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 BodyVox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Boom Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Broadway Rose Theatre. . . . . . . . 19, 22–23 Classical Ballet Academy. . . . . . . . . . 14–15 Lakewood Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 22
Metropolitan Youth Symphony. . . . . . . . . 13 Milagro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 NW Children’s Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 NW Film Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Oregon Ballet Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Oregon Bach Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 22 Oregon Children’s Theatre. . . . . . . . . 16, 22
Oregon Symphony. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 15, 17 Portland Art Museum. . . . . . . . . . 19, 21, 25 Portland Center Stage at The Armory. . . . . . . . . . . . 18–20, 22, 25 Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Portland Opera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 22, 24
Portland Story Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . Portland Symphonic Girlchoir. . . . . . . Profile Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shaking The Tree Theatre . . . . . . . . . Third Rail Repertory Theatre. . . . . . . Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. . . . .
16, 13, 18, 16, 19, 13,
25 22 22 22 22 22
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ANNOUNCING THE 2019-2020 SEASON! IN THE HEIGHTS Lin-Manuel Miranda’s (Hamilton) sizzling, awardwinning musical takes us to Washington Heights in NYC, where a community on the brink of change struggles to achieve their dreams.
MACBETH Three women tackle all the roles in this piercing, stripped-down adaptation of Shakespeare’s infamous tale of the notorious royal assassin.
REDWOOD Humorous and biting! After a (Black) family explores their ancestry online, they must learn how to live in a present that’s overpopulated with ghosts.
MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY This clever sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice puts Mary Bennet front and center as she endeavors to find independence and perhaps even love.
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH Part rock concert, part cabaret, part stand-up comedy routine, this one-of-a-kind musical proves time and again that an indomitable spirit can’t ever be tied down.
Portland Center Stage at
SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN ME AN GIRLS PL AY A beauty pageant at a Ghanian boarding school sets teenage girls against each other and cautions that while beauty may be only skin deep, its pursuit can cut much deeper.
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME This Broadway smash hit takes us inside the mind of an extraordinary boy trying to solve the murder of his neighbor’s dog.
9 PARTS OF DESIRE An intimate and complex portrait of nine Iraqi women, this remarkable solo work offers a meditation on what it means to be a woman in a country overshadowed by war.
HOWARDS END Four actors play 20 characters in E.M Forster’s tale of two sisters struggling to align their values with England’s early 20th century social strictures.
CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND Fierce and funny, a woman explores her roots 30 years after her father fled the Khmer Rouge’s brutal regime. Featuring a cast performing Dengue Fever hits and Cambodian oldies!
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
503.445.3700 • PCS.ORG All titles, artists and dates subject to change. Above: Felicia Boswell in The Color Purple. Photo by Patrick Weishampel/blankeye.tv.
M AY / / J U N 2 0 1 9
letter from
THE PUBLISHER
®
PUBLISHER + FOUNDER
In our concluding chapter of Artslandia’s yearlong Leading Ladies feature series, we acquaint our readers with Victoria Frey, Executive Director of Portland Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA), and Kerry Yamaucci, performer and LGBTQIA advocate. These “two queens of culture” advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts by furthering conversations within oft-constraining conventional institutions. We are grateful for their generous openness in discussing the challenges and barriers they have encountered along the way and the far-reaching successes and personal wins that serve as an inspiration to those around them.
Misty Tompoles ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER + MEMBERSHIP MANAGER
Katrina Ketchum MANAGING EDITOR
Kristen Seidman MEDIA DIRECTOR
Chris Porras As this performing arts season curtain closes, we reflect with gratitude to all of our Ladies Leading subjects. These strong and brilliant women are helping to lead the change for equality in Portland. Thank you to China and Storm, Cynthia and Marissa, Laura and Christine, Sarah and Andrea, and now Victoria and Kerry. Meeting these women and sharing their histories is a highlight on the Artslandia timeline. If you haven’t read the stories of these trailblazing women, please visit artslandia.com and select Portland Arts Guide.
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Social Practices:
art
as
VICTORIA FREY & KERRY YAMAUCCI
Activism By Ellena Basada Photos by Gia Goodrich Floral Design by Manu Torres
Art will always be transactional,� claims renowned art critic, writer, and editor Chris Kraus in the introduction of her most recent publication Social Practices (2019). Beneath the capitalist understanding of this statement lies the notion that Kraus evokes throughout her anthology, which is that art is a transference of ideas and values from creator to audience. Artists and activists are taking up this paradigm as a means to instill values of acceptance and liberation to create safe spaces, share transformative artwork, and uplift the historically marginalized. Portland is a specific site of art as a form of social practice, with a variety of creatives working at the institutional level to bring communal change from the top down, and many others who work within their own marginalized communities to incite such change from the bottom up. In order to understand and appreciate the nexus of this work around Portland, we have brought together two queens of culture fomenting significant cultural shifts around our city. Both Victoria Frey and Kerry Yamaucci
have found a balance in pushing the boundaries of cultural norms, while still working within institutional structures, to create meaningful and lasting work. Frey was on the founding board of directors for the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA) in 1995 and has served as the Executive Director since 2005. Before her time at PICA, she was entrenched in the queer community, working as an activist for queer rights and HIV/AIDS advocacy. Yamaucci is a trans woman and performer who moved to Portland after receiving her bachelor’s in business administration and marketing in Arizona. Originally from Hawaii, Yamaucci has fully committed to a life of LGBTQIA advocacy and activism here in Portland. For many people who identify as queer and POC, activism is not necessarily a hobby or side-project but rather an obligation and means of survival. More frequently than we would like to imagine, it is a matter of life and death. Yet, this site of conflict is also the site of revolutionary and lasting change. Put in conversation, Frey and Yamaucci shed light on the roots of their activism and illustrate the essential role of community in their work. >>>> Co n ti n u e d on page 8
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Victoria Frey.
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>>>> ARTSLANDIA: Can you describe what activism looks like to you? What do you do, and why do you do it? VICTORIA FREY: At PICA, we serve a broad community, but we have focused on the queer, trans, black, and brown communities. In Portland, and right now in the world, it is necessary to live our values. We think about how we want to represent ourselves as an institution. As an institution and as individuals, we talk about wanting to do everything that we’re doing with intention, living close to our core values and the things we care about while fulfilling our mission to support artists. I realized, at some point in my life, that I was better at nurturing artists and being part of a studio practice or whatever it was that helped people grow as artists. I founded Quartersaw Gallery in the Pearl back in 1985, which became a venue for both art and activism. Through this, I was actually defining my own art practice and growing as an artist. This was during the AIDS crisis and when Ballot Measure No.9 was under consideration. My community was dying and being invalidated, so it felt imperative that I got involved in AIDS and queer activism. KERRY YAMAUCCI: My work now is centered around people with identities that intersect, like mine, to give them more opportunities to live rich lives, which has been a privilege that we have not been able to have. I work on the admin team for Trans Lifeline and have been for over a year. I recently came back to the House of Flora as House Mother, which means I am in a position to help my kiki house family thrive in the scene, in the community, and as individuals. I still represent myself in the scene, but taking on a House Mother position, for me, means being a resource to my com-
munity. Most of the advocacy I partake in concerns my own intersectional identity and the people in my community. This includes advocating for sex workers’ rights, immigrants’ rights, racial equity, and access to healthcare. I’ve spoken on panels on the topic of feminism and center my ideas on how those with the least amount of access to conventional femininity can demand, and receive, in reimagined feminist spaces. I’m dedicated to and always learning about decolonizing the spheres I work inside of, whether it be with my body, with my voice, or with my peers.
When we founded PICA, we talked about not describing PICA just by disciplines or a mission statement but by a set of core values. We asked ourselves: Are we ethical? Are we responsive? Are we nimble? I feel great about where we are right now. We moved into a space in NE Portland in a traditionally black neighborhood that has been displaced and suffered institutional racism for decades and ask ourselves, “What is our civic responsibility as an institution living in this neighborhood, at this time?” We are
opening our space to partners who need safe space or a place to gather together. A few weekends ago, we hosted the Q Center for a town hall. We’re not just presenting and exhibiting global artists that are the critical voices of today and helping them to make whatever is next for them, but we’re also deeply rooted in activism in our community. It sounds like both of you really see some inherent power that performative art has in changing culture. You both also seem to have a personal sense of responsibility. What drives you to take this responsibility? I see myself as a performer. My history with art has always involved dancing. Growing up, I did taiko drumming, and going to college, I started doing drag. That’s when I figured out that I was trans—when gender got to be this playground. I think that my desire to do the things comes mostly from the desire to serve myself. In serving myself and surrounding myself with peers—whatever the magnitude of intersections we share, whether it’s identity or interests—we share and grow. I see how the same modes of oppression that have shaped me have shaped my peers as well. I think that to work for myself is also to set the infrastructure for how to provide for other people. You’re a positive model for others in your community. You lead by example. This work is definitely not just about the individual; you are stronger in community. Moving away from the individual into a collective is a strong advocacy model for one, having the voice heard as a unified voice is safer. It’s a stronger advocacy position all together. I am definitely not a performer. I’m not a painter. I’m not >>>> Co n ti n u e d o n page 10
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THE
Gioachino Rossini
BARBER OF SEVILLE JUNE 7–15 | KELLER AUDITORIUM
Up Next
JULY 2019
LA FINTA GIARDINIERA Mozart
JULY/AUG 2019
IN THE PENAL COLONY Philip Glass
Christopher Mattaliano General Director
TICKETS START AT $35 | PORTLANDOPERA.ORG | 503. 241.1802
c a t eg o r y t i t l e
In an ideal world, I think there would be far less anxiety about stepping out into the open and how the world perceives us. —kerry yamaucci
Kerry Yamaucci.
C o nti nu e d fro m p a g e 8 >>>> an artist. But I am an activist, and art is a passion. Getting involved with PICA was where I realized a broad platform that could accommodate both my passions—with a mission to support both artist and community. I’m working with some really amazing people who are very committed to place, community, and contemporary practice. There’s a humanism that’s very important, and it gives hope. We want to make art with purpose, and I love to see where these communities come together. One thing that I’ve been thinking about is Critical Mascara, and how it used to be a thing 10
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that happened all the time. Then, once Pepper Pepper stepped down from that, we and the ballroom community at large had to figure out how to replace it. Critical Mascara was a foundation that helped us to survive for five years. After it ended, Portland Ballroom (@pdxball) started becoming prominent, and there were balls happening monthly. Now, there’s much more of an infrastructure for queer nightlife than ever before. Both of you have this purpose that’s driving you, and you’re making work, creating opportunities. What does the world look like if purposes manifest?
l a d i es le ading
Keywords Ballot Measure No. 9: Defeated State of Oregon ballot measure that declared, “All governments in Oregon may not use their monies or properties to promote, encourage, or facilitate homosexuality, pedophilia, sadism, or masochism. All levels of government, including public education systems, must assist in setting a standard for Oregon’s youth which recognizes that these behaviors are abnormal, wrong, unnatural, and perverse, and they are to be discouraged and avoided.” Kiki House: Ballroom is a queer nightlife practice involving competitions in which members walk, dance, strut, vogue, and pose their way down a runway. A respected panel of judges award prizes for attire, attitude, and more. Kiki houses originated in this ballroom scene as a social gathering at health organizations, where friends could gather and practice for balls while also getting connected to HIV prevention, testing, and counseling services. Now, kiki houses provide young queer people with a social sphere of support, focusing on looks and moves for the next ballroom event. These communities are not only concerned with ballroom, however, as they also provide a close-knit platform to communicate openly about everything from safe sex to social activism. House of Flora: A Portland kiki house founded by Brandon Harrison and Leigh Nishi-Strattner in 2016. Critical Mascara: A ballroom-inspired event forged from the legacy of vogue balls, drag culture, and queer activism. Part of PICA’s TBA Festival lineup from 2012–2017, the endeavor hosted multiple reading groups, vogue class and history, drag workshops, and community events. The stage saw over 500 performers, thousands of audience members, and redefined queer competition in the Pacific Northwest. The event was hosted by Kaj-anne Pepper (aka Pepper Pepper), a multidisciplinary artist who works and walks between and through the worlds of performance, video, drag, theater, and dance.
pointing to see us progress so far in the last decade, only to have the proud boys come walking into our community now, beating queer and trans folks. Yet, I do feel like there’s a place on the other side of this. If we’re building strength in together and respect for each other from inside these communities, then the opposition becomes weaker.
If the changes that you want to make happen, then what are you working toward in terms of a cultural shift? I struggle with this. In some ways, its idealistic to say there’s a utopia we are working toward. There will always be a foe or struggle—something to push against or advocate for. But what we know now is that we want these different and diverse voices to be authentically, uniquely respected and revered, in whatever form they take. I grew up partaking in activism and was very active in the queer community and in advocating for AIDS in the ’80s and ’90s. It is disap-
In an ideal world, I think there would be far less anxiety about stepping out into the open and how the world perceives us. I wouldn’t have to concern myself with how neatly I fit into the confines of what society wants, just so I can be safe. Instead, I could be free to think about what I want to make for dinner, and if I want to go back to school for something. For so many, there would be way less psychic energy put toward survival and more put toward leading a fulfilled life. When do we finally get to the point when it is societally accepted to live outside what is right now considered “dominant culture”? I feel like we make
these incremental steps forward, and then if we make real, significant progress, we get pushed back. Someday, perhaps, there will be a point when we are going to be able to push forward, no matter what forces push back. When we establish that solid ground underneath us that protects the basic human rights of all people. How do we use our platform as activists to create social change or, at least, to inform? Portland can be a generous community, but PICA is really undercapitalized—as are most organizations here. In spite of this, we are doing pretty amazing things. We are addressing how we can come together as a community—across communities—to help each other and address the issues of safety and undercapitalization. We are working on how we can all come together as means to understand who has what, who can be an asset to whom, and respectfully, openly, and safely share resources and ideas. I feel lucky every day when I look around at the people I am working with and the people that come through the door. People that are doing incredible work, and I am grateful to be part of it. . ARTSLANDIA.COM
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JUNE 28–JULY 13 // VARIOUS EUGENE VENUES
OREGON BACH FESTIVAL
OREGON BACH FESTIVAL Presenting the masterworks of J.S. Bach and works of the Bach-inspired to audiences for nearly five decades, Oregon Bach Festival began at the invitation of Dr. Royce Saltzman, former Associate Dean of the University of Oregon School Of Music, as a collaboration with German conductor and organist Helmuth Rilling. In addition to traditional choral-orchestral works, the Festival also presents internationally renowned guest artists, family and community events, and offers educational opportunities.
oregonbachfestival.org
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Photo by Athena Delene.
FEATURED SHOW:
MU S I C
portland M US IC
MAY 2
THE MUSIC OF THE ROLLING STONES Oregon Symphony, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall It’s the ultimate Stones retrospective! Vegas veteran Brody Dolyniuk expertly delivers as Mick Jagger alongside the Oregon Symphony and a full rock band in an evening of legendary hits, including Satisfaction, Ruby Tuesday, Honky Tonk Women, and many more. orsymphony.org MAY 3–5
ORCHESTRAL SHOWPIECES Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, First United Methodist Church The PCSO closes the season with a program of Slavic symphonic showpieces! The entire orchestra is featured in some the most popular and exciting orchestral works ever written by Slavic composers, including the exotic suite from the opera Háry János of Zoltan Kodaly. You won’t want to miss the sonic splendor of this virtuoso orchestra! columbiasymphony.org MAY 4
AMADEUS IN CONCERT Oregon Symphony, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Winner of eight Academy Awards—including Best Picture, Actor, Director, and Adapted
DANCE
TH E ATE R
C U LT U R E
ARTS GUIDE
Screenplay—Amadeus is a riveting story celebrating the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the envious eyes of his frustrated rival, Antonio Salieri. Experience this epic motion picture classic like never before: projected on a giant HD screen while the Oregon Symphony performs its glorious soundtrack live, from the “Gran Partita” to the haunting Requiem. orsymphony.org MAY 5
ENCORE: A CELEBRATION OF CHAMBER MUSIC Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Royal Durst Theatre Following his captivating performances with the VSO Chamber Music Ensemble in 2016 and 2017, internationally renowned cellist Ko Iwasaki returns for the exciting Chamber Music Series season finale. Iwasaki will perform Haydn’s thrilling Cello Concerto in C and Tchaikovsky’s own arrangement of Andante Cantabile for cello and strings from the String Quartet No.1, arguably Tchaikovsky’s most popular Chamber works. This concert is the inaugural performance of the VSO Chamber Orchestra; a 24-piece orchestra presenting virtuosic masterpieces under the baton of Dr. Igor Shakhman. vancouversymphony.org
MAY 11
BIG NIGHT Portland Opera, Keller Auditorium Join the Portland Opera for a one-night-only celebration concert and enjoy some of the most beautiful music ever composed! The chorus and orchestra take center stage, joining soloists for a special program of operatic gems and beloved arias. Walk the red carpet and enjoy an unforgettable night out! Adding to the celebration is a special reveal of the upcoming 2019–20 season and, perhaps, even a surprise or two. portlandopera.org MAY 11–13
PEER GYNT
Deep Peace, A Gaelic Blessing, and I’m Goin’ Up a Yonder, which are guaranteed to lift your spirits. girlchoir.com MAY 18–20
MAHLER’S FIRST SYMPHONY Oregon Symphony, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland’s favorite songstress, Storm Large, stars in Kurt Weill’s bitingly humorous story of young Anna, caught between her family, her desires, and her own moral compass. Mahler’s groundbreaking first symphony, aptly nicknamed “Titan,” brings the Classical Season to a triumphant close. orsymphony.org
Oregon Symphony, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
MAY 21
The redemptive journey of Peer Gynt, from his humble farming village to the troll-infested mountains of Norway, is depicted through the eyes of Peer himself in bold, animated photos and art projected on screens above the orchestra. orsymphony.org
Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
MAY 18
SHOWCASE CONCERT
AMERICA’S FLORENCE Join the latest spectacular presentation of MYS, now in their 44th season. The lineup will include the 2019 MYS Concerto Competition winner, Price’s Dances in the Canebrakes, Palka’s Letter to Florence Price, and Price’s Symphony No. 1, with an opening performance by Sinfonietta Orchestra. playmys.org
Portland Symphonic Girlchoir, Zion Lutheran Church Favorites from 30 seasons will be highlighted, including past PSG commissions We Will Speak, Bengi Lele, and Music Is Indeed. PSG standards will also be highlighted, including Siyahamba,
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MAY 25 & 26 // LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL, PSU
CINDERELLA
Classical Ballet Academy
CINDERELLA Cinderella is a magical and beautiful story ballet your entire family will love. Your family will not want to miss this iconic ballet that is sure to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. Danced by pre-professional CBA students from throughout the greater Portland Metro area, this sure to sell-out production includes professional costumes, extravagant sets, original choreography, and a lot of surprises.
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Photo by Reijan Heringlake.
FEATURED SHOW:
m a y calendar
Gretchen Corbett and Sharonlee McLean star in The Breath of Life in the Ellyn Bye Studio at The Armory, May 4–June 16. Photo by Kate Szrom. Courtesy of Portland Center Stage at The Armory.
MAY 22
MAY 23 & 24
BOYZ II MEN
SPRING CONTEMPORARY SHOWCASE
THROUGH MAY 12
Classical Ballet Academy, Lincoln Performance Hall, PSU
TENALI: THE ROYAL TRICKSTER
This showcase highlights dancers from Classical Ballet Academy’s Pre-Professional, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, and Fusion programs. You will be blown away with the talent of both the dancers and choreographers. classicalballet.net
Northwest Children’s Theater
Oregon Symphony, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Boyz II Men returns to thrill a swooning Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with timeless love songs and R&B hits, including I’ll Make Love to You, One Sweet Day, End of the Road, and more. orsymphony.org D A NC E
MAY 9–11
CONTACT DANCE FILM FESTIVAL IV BodyVox, BodyVox Dance Center Oregon’s premiere festival of dance films returns! Presented by BodyVox and Northwest Film Center, the Contact Dance Film Festival features three different programs. These include both short and feature-length films from Portland and around the world. The festival will also feature the premiere of a new BodyVox film. bodyvox.com
MAY 25 & 26
CINDERELLA Classical Ballet Academy, Lincoln Performance Hall, PSU Cinderella is a magical and beautiful story ballet your entire family will love. Your family will not want to miss this iconic ballet that is sure to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. Danced by pre-professional CBA students from throughout the greater Portland Metro area, this sure to sell-out production includes professional costumes, extravagant sets, original choreography, and a lot of surprises.classicalballet.net
T H E AT E R
The creative team behind NWCT’s Chitra: The Girl Prince and The Jungle Book brings you the story of Tenali, royal minister and irrepressible trickster. When the King’s beloved peacock crown mysteriously disappears, it’s up to Tenali to uncover the culprit and restore order to the kingdom, all while staying one step ahead of his enemies in the king’s court. NWCT is proud to partner with director/choreographer Anita Menon on this hilarious whodunit filled with charm, wit, and breathtaking dance sequences. nwcts.org
THROUGH MAY 26
THE REVOLUTIONISTS Artists Repertory Theatre Who runs the world? Girls! In 1793, during France’s Reign of Terror, a playwright, an assassin, a former queen, and a Caribbean spy walk into a room and attempt to save the soul of France while avoiding the edge of the guillotine’s blade. Olympe De Gouges is desperate to pen the perfect piece of revolutionary art for her generation, while Charlotte Corday is determined to become an assassin. Prophetic Marie Antoinette is happy to reminisce about her time in the palace, while Marianne Angelle gathers intelligence to send home to the Caribbean. In a blisteringly funny portrayal, The Revolutionists depicts four badass women who fight for the equality of all women and for the love of their country. artistsrep.org
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THROUGH JUNE 9
MAY 3
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
URBAN TELLERS
Lakewood Theatre, Headlee Mainstage
Portland Story Theater, The Old Church
Silent film stars Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are forced to adapt to talking pictures. Unfortunately, Lina’s screechy voice threatens her career––until Don and friend Cosmo Brown convince aspiring actress Kathy Selden to dub Lina’s voice with her own. lakewood-center.org
The stories that people tell at Urban Tellers are shaped by the truth and perspective of the present moment. Portland Story Theater guarantees to deliver a heartwarming experience each and every time with highly personal and authentic stories, told eye-to-eye, face-to-face, and heart-to-heart. You can expect the stories to be authentic, funny, and honest. pdxstorytheater.org
MAY 2–19
PETER/WENDY Bag&Baggage, The Vault Theater We all think we know the classic children’s story of Peter Pan: the boy who never grows up, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, Lost Boys, and a hungry crocodile. Well, that is not this show! Jeremy Bloom’s adaptation of the classic J.M. Barrie tale digs deep into the darker side of Neverland, breaking the story down into its most essential and imaginative parts, and creating a much more adult exploration of the psychology and meaning underlying one of the most famous “children’s” stories ever told. Their final show of the 2018–19 season is decidedly not for children but instead is a uniquely B&B exploration of one of the great classics of western literature. bagnbaggage.org MAY 2–25
WOLF AT THE DOOR Milagro, Milagro Theatre Deep in the woods, a young wife finds the strength to stand up to her abusive husband when he forces a pregnant woman to stay in their home against her will. Meanwhile, a pack of wolves closes in on the hacienda. Now, trapped inside and out, the wife must decide what price she is willing pay for their freedom. milagro.org
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MAY 3–JUNE 1
ESCAPED ALONE Shaking the Tree Theatre Shaking the Tree is thrilled to present the West Coast premiere of Escaped Alone by Caryl Churchill that’s a fairy tale of sorts, as were Ms. Churchill’s earlier The Skriker and Far Away. This magnificent writer’s latest variation on that form reaffirms such tales’ power to warm us even as they warn of the unspeakable dangers in the wide, dark world beyond. Escaped Alone premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 2016, in a production directed by James Macdonald. shaking-the-tree.com MAY 4–JUNE 2
DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER, AND A FLY Oregon Children’s Theatre, Newmark Theatre Is Spider too big for his own skin? Will Fly find her superhero powers in time to save her Aunt Rita from peril? Will Worm learn to stand on his own two feet... even though he doesn’t have feet? Take a look at the world from a bug’s perspective, and you’ll see that their lives are a lot like ours. This musical production captures all of the humor and whimsy of the wildly popular books by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss. octc.org
MAY 18–20 // ARLENE SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL
MAHLER’S FIRST SYMPHONY Oregon Symphony
MAHLER’S FIRST SYMPHONY Portland’s favorite songstress, Storm Large, stars in Kurt Weill’s bitingly humorous story of young Anna, caught between her family, her desires, and her own moral compass. Mahler’s groundbreaking first symphony, aptly nicknamed “Titan,” brings the Classical Season to a triumphant close.
orsymphony.org
Storm Large. Photo courtesy of Oregon Symphony.
FEATURED SHOW:
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calendar may MAY 4–JUNE 16
THE BREATH OF LIFE Portland Center Stage at The Armory, Ellyn Bye Studio Frances was the dutiful wife of Martin. Madeleine was his not-sodutiful mistress of 25 years. When Martin moves to America with a younger woman, the two women he left behind meet face-to-face for the first time to discuss their relationships with the elusive man who profoundly impacted them but never defined them. Together, they explore the past and learn to feel the breath of life again. The Armory production will feature Portland favorites Sharonlee McLean (The Receptionist and 25 other productions at The Armory) as Frances and Gretchen Corbett (Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) as Madeleine. pcs.org MAY 9–JUNE 16
WELL Profile Theatre, Portland Playhouse In the opening moments of this Tony-nominated Best Play on Broadway, Lisa Kron assures us this story is not about her mother and her. But, of course, it is about her mother and her mother’s extraordinary ability to heal a changing neighborhood, despite her inability to heal herself. In this self-professed solo show with people in it, Kron asks the provocative question: Do we create our own illness? The answers she gets are much more complicated than she bargained for as the play spins dangerously out of control into riotously funny and unexpected territory. profiletheatre.org MAY 10 & 11
PRIMER FOR A FAILED SUPERPOWER Boom Arts, The Old Church In its long-awaited Portland début, rock star Brooklyn-based theater ensemble The TEAM finally lands in Portland with Primer for a Failed Superpower, 18
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its multigenerational community concert celebrating protest songs from the past and present. Directed by Tony Award-nominee Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812) with Music Director Nehemiah Luckett (Reverend Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir), Primer features passionate performances of newly commissioned choral arrangements of iconic songs, from Bread and Roses to Smells Like Teen Spirit, which have celebrated and questioned what it means to be an American over time, shape-shifting alongside our country’s roller coaster political
landscape. Join the choir itself or join the audience at the concert— you’ll never forget this theatrical declaration of creative resilience. boomarts.org MAY 16–JUNE 16
LET ME DOWN EASY Profile Theatre, Portland Playhouse In this theater piece constructed from verbatim interview transcripts, Anna Deavere Smith examines the miracle of human resilience through the lens of the national debate on health care. Drawn from in-person interviews, Smith creates an indelible gallery
of 20 individuals, known and unknown—from a rodeo bull rider and a World Heavyweight boxing champion to a New Orleans doctor during Hurricane Katrina, as well as former Texas Governor Ann Richards, cyclist Lance Armstrong, film critic Joel Siegel, and supermodel Lauren Hutton. A work of emotional brilliance and political substance from one of the treasures of the American theater. Originally created as a one-person show, the Profile Theatre production will feature the same six-person cast performing Lisa Kron’s Well. profiletheatre.org
m a y calendar MAY 31–JUNE 22
ARLINGTON [A LOVE STORY] Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Coho Theatre A young woman waits alone in a room for her number to be called, her destiny decided. On the other side of the wall, a young man watches her and weighs a choice that could change it all. The line between dreams and reality get blurry within this “riveting fever dream of a play” (The New York Times). In a dangerous dystopian world, what if love is the most powerful act of resistance? thirdrailrep.org C U LT U R E
THROUGH MAY 5
THE MAP IS NOT THE TERRITORY Portland Art Museum
Catch Oregon Ballet Theatre’s The Americans, June 7–15. Photo by Christopher Peddecord.
MAY 18–JUNE 16
NATIVE GARDENS Portland Center Stage at The Armory, U.S. Bank Main Stage You can’t choose your neighbors, but you can choose your side of the fence. In this brilliant new comedy, cultures and gardens clash, turning well-intentioned neighbors into feuding enemies. A rising attorney, Pablo, and doctoral candidate Tania, his very pregnant wife, have just purchased a home next to Frank and Virginia, a well-established D.C. couple with a prize-worthy English garden. But an impending barbecue for Pablo’s colleagues and a delicate disagreement over a longstanding
fence line soon spirals into an allout border dispute, exposing both couples’ notions of race, taste, class, and privilege. pcs.org MAY 30–JUNE 30
INTO THE WOODS Broadway Rose Theatre, Broadway Rose New Stage Take a journey into the enchanted world of magic beans and moonlit nights, towering giants and handsome princes, and fates sealed (and unsealed). Familiar storybook figures such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (with his beanstalk), and Rapunzel cross paths with the childless Baker and The
Baker’s Wife on their quest to reverse the Witch’s curse on their fruitless family tree. But as the characters descend deeper into the forest, they find that getting what you wish for doesn’t always end happily ever after. Stephen Sondheim’s witty, powerful score and James Lapine’s imaginative, darkly humorous book combine to make the Tony Award-winning Into The Woods a favorite among musical lovers and a timeless masterpiece. broadwayrose.org Download the Artslandia App to have all these listings in the palm of your hand.
The map is not the territory is part of a triennial series featuring regional artists exploring place and boundaries. This inaugural exhibition focuses along the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean stretching from Oregon, through Washington and Vancouver, B.C., up to Alaska. The artists in this exhibition seek to reconceive and reimagine the Northwest. portlandartmuseum.org THROUGH AUGUST 11
APEX: STEVEN YOUNG LEE Portland Art Museum Taking inspiration from two significant works from the Museum’s Korean collection of 19th-century Joseon dynasty art, Steven Young Lee reconsiders these objects with a contemporary twist. For the APEX exhibition series, Lee visited the Museum this past summer to research objects in the Korean collection and specifically to focus on Dragon Jar and Tiger and Magpie, a common theme in Korean folk painting. portlandartmuseum.org ARTSLANDIA.COM
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MAY 18–JUNE 16 // THE ARMORY, U.S. BANK MAIN STAGE
NATIVE GARDENS
Portland Center Stage at The Armory
NATIVE GARDENS You can’t choose your neighbors, but you can choose your side of the fence. In this brilliant new comedy, cultures and gardens clash, turning well-intentioned neighbors into feuding enemies. A rising attorney, Pablo, and doctoral candidate Tania, his very pregnant wife, have just purchased a home next to Frank and Virginia, a well-established D.C. couple with a prize-worthy English garden. But an impending barbecue for Pablo’s colleagues and a delicate disagreement over a longstanding fence line soon spirals into an all-out border dispute, exposing both couples’ notions of race, taste, class, and privilege.
pcs.org
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Photo by Michael Davis. Courtesy of Syracuse Stage.
FEATURED SHOW:
THROUGH AUGUST 4
SUN, SHADOWS, STONE Portland Art Museum Lifelong Oregonian Terry Toedtemeier (1947–2008) was a dedicated photographer, photography teacher, and the Portland Art Museum’s first curator of photography. His many notable professional activities—from cofounding Portland’s Blue Sky Gallery to rapidly growing the museum’s photography collection—never took away from his deep passion for making his own photographs. portlandartmuseum.org THROUGH AUGUST 18
ASSOCIATED AMERICAN ARTISTS: PRINTS FOR THE PEOPLE Portland Art Museum
Photo by Jeremy Dunham, Polara Studio.
THROUGH AUGUST 31
Photo by Tatiana Wills.
MICKALENE THOMAS: DO I LOOK LIKE A LADY? (COMEDIANS AND SINGERS) Portland Art Museum Thomas’s work addresses themes of beauty and identity expressed through the myriad subjectivities of African-American women. Her multidisciplinary practice includes painting, photography, installation, and film/video and reconsiders black womanhood and desire through a queer lens. portlandartmuseum.org
Cinderella
Oregon Ballet Theatre
Photo by Patrick Weishampel/blankeye.tv
The Associated American Artists (AAA) revolutionized modern print collecting in the period following the Great Depression. Founded by Reeves Lewenthal in 1934, the AAA aimed to provide affordable fine works of art to the middle and upper classes across the United States. The labor and leisure of farm life, industrial life pre- and postwar, and family dynamics of the time all permeated the works of AAA artists and are showcased in this exhibition. portlandartmuseum.org
Pearl Dive Project BodyVox
The Color Purple
Portland Center Stage at The Armory
VISIT ARTSLANDIA.COM/CONTESTS T O W I N T I C K E T S T O P E R F O R M A N C E S A L L O V E R T H E C I T Y.
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M U S IC
DANCE
THEATER
portland M US IC
JUNE 1 & 2
A GALLERY OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Skyview Concert Hall Experience the iconic Pictures at an Exhibition, Mussorgsky’s suite that takes viewers on a musical tour through an art gallery with each movement. Join the VSO in the premiere of Maestro Salvador Brotons’ work, Concerto for Violin and Cello, co-starring VSO Concertmaster Eva Richey and principal cello Dieter Ratzlaf. orsymphony.org JUNE 7–15
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Portland Opera, Keller Auditorium Count Almaviva has fallen for the charming Rosina and enlists the help of the town barber, Figaro, to assist in winning her affection. Together they try to outwit her guardian, Dr. Bartolo, who also vies for her hand (and inheritance). Classic shenanigans and twists promise to delight audiences both young and young at heart in one of the greatest bel canto comedic operas of all time. portlandopera.org JUNE 8
30 ANNIVERSARY GALA CONCERT: STARS THAT SING! TH
Portland Symphonic Girlchoir, Trinity Episcopal Church Alumnae join PSG’s four choirs to celebrate 30 years of
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CULTURE
ARTS GUIDE
outstanding artistry, excellence and community presenting many of PSG’s signature, commissioned, and standard works and the world premiere of Moon Dance, PSG 2019 commission, composed by New York composer and PSG alum Amy C. Burgess. girlchoir.com JUNE 28–JULY 13
OREGON BACH FESTIVAL Oregon Bach Festival, Various Eugene Venues Presenting the masterworks of J.S. Bach and works of the Bach-inspired to audiences for nearly five decades, Oregon Bach Festival began at the invitation of Dr. Royce Saltzman, former Associate Dean of the University of Oregon School Of Music, as a collaboration with German conductor and organist Helmuth Rilling. In addition to traditional choral-orchestral works, the Festival also presents internationally renowned guest artists, family and community events, and offers educational opportunities. oregonbachfestival.org D A NC E
JUNE 7–15
THE AMERICANS Oregon Ballet Theatre, Newmark Theatre Enjoy this launch of an annual repertory program highlighting the unique voices and rich history of American choreographers. See and feel for yourself the power and poignancy of American-made
ballet. For the first time, OBT adds a work by contemporary dance pioneer Alvin Ailey to its repertoire. obt.org JUNE 15 & 16
ANNUAL SCHOOL PERFORMANCE Oregon Ballet Theatre, Newmark Theatre OBT’s Annual School Performance showcases the energy, artistry, and technique of their students in a performance that Critical Dance calls a “home run.” OBT calls it an inspiring opportunity to connect with the next generation of OBT. Subscribers can purchase addon tickets for just $25! obt.org T H E AT E R
THROUGH JUNE 16
THE BREATH OF LIFE Portland Center Stage at The Armory, Ellyn Bye Studio SEE PAGE 18 for full description. pcs.org MAY 9–JUNE 16
WELL
Profile Theatre, Portland Playhouse SEE PAGE 18 for full description. profiletheatre.org THROUGH JUNE 16
LET ME DOWN EASY Profile Theatre, Portland Playhouse SEE PAGE 18 for full description. profiletheatre.org THROUGH JUNE 16
NATIVE GARDENS
THROUGH JUNE 1
Portland Center Stage at The Armory, U.S. Bank Main Stage
Shaking the Tree Theatre
SEE PAGE 19 for full description. pcs.org
ESCAPED ALONE SEE PAGE 16 for full description. shaking-the-tree.com
THROUGH JUNE 22 THROUGH JUNE 2
ARLINGTON [A LOVE STORY]
DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER, AND A FLY
Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Coho Theater
Oregon Children’s Theatre, Newmark Theatre
SEE PAGE 19 for full description. thirdrailrep.org
SEE PAGE 16 for full description. octc.org
THROUGH JUNE 30
INTO THE WOODS
THROUGH JUNE 9
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
Broadway Rose Theatre, Broadway Rose New Stage
Lakewood Theatre, Headlee Mainstage
SEE PAGE 19 for full description. broadwayrose.org
SEE PAGE 16 for full description. lakewood-center.org
t i t l e category
MAY 30–JUNE 30 // BROADWAY ROSE NEW STAGE
INTO THE WOODS
Broadway Rose Theatre Company
INTO THE WOODS Take a journey into the enchanted world of magic beans and moonlit nights, towering giants and handsome princes, and fates sealed (and unsealed). Familiar storybook figures such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (with his beanstalk), and Rapunzel cross paths with the childless Baker and The Baker’s Wife on their quest to reverse the Witch’s curse on their fruitless family tree. But as the characters descend deeper into the forest, they find that getting what you wish for doesn’t always end happily ever after. Stephen Sondheim’s witty, powerful score and James Lapine’s imaginative, darkly humorous book combine to make the Tony Award-winning Into The Woods a favorite among musical lovers and a timeless masterpiece.
broadwayrose.org
Photo courtesy of Broadway Rose Theatre Company.
FEATURED SHOW:
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JUNE 7–15 // KELLER AUDITORIUM
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Portland Opera
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Count Almaviva has fallen for the charming Rosina and enlists the help of the town barber, Figaro, to assist in winning her affection. Together they try to outwit her guardian, Dr. Bartolo, who also vies for her hand (and inheritance). Classic shenanigans and twists promise to delight audiences both young and young at heart in one of the greatest bel canto comedic operas of all time.
portlandopera.org 24
ARTSLANDIA.COM
Photo by Cory Weaver. Courtesy of Portland Opera.
FEATURED SHOW:
j u n e calendar JUNE 7
URBAN TELLERS
Center Stage at The Armory’s history—playing for a record soldout 21-week run in the Ellyn Bye Studio—and audiences have been clamoring for its return ever since. This 10 th anniversary special return engagement is playing for a limited eightperformance run. pcs.org
Portland Story Theater, The Old Church Urban Tellers is a unique form of devised theater with six tellers who have worked hard to approach their stories with courage, dignity, and humor—no scripts, no notes, no net. These Urban Tellers shows are making a positive impact on the lives of people in our community by giving ordinary people to practice a fundamental human right: to be heard. Be a part of this revolution of listening. Come and listen someone into being. pdxstorytheater.org
C U LT U R E
THROUGH AUGUST 4
SUN, SHADOWS, STONE Portland Art Museum SEE PAGE 21 for full description. portlandartmuseum.org
JUNE 25–JUNE 30
CRAZY ENOUGH
THROUGH AUGUST 11
Portland Center Stage at The Armory, U.S. Bank Main Stage
Portland Art Museum
APEX: STEVEN YOUNG LEE
Crazy Enough was developed at JAW: A Playwrights Festival in 2008 and had its world premiere at The Armory in 2009. It became one of the biggest hits in Portland
SEE PAGE 19 for full description. portlandartmuseum.org
THROUGH AUGUST 18
SEE PAGE 21 for full description. portlandartmuseum.org
re-creates the look and feel of the era through more than 250 paintings, decorative art objects, textiles, posters, photographs, jewelry, sculpture, and film, and will plunge visitors into the atmosphere of La Belle Époque. portlandartmuseum.org
THROUGH AUGUST 31
JUNE 9–16
ASSOCIATED AMERICAN ARTISTS: PRINTS FOR THE PEOPLE Portland Art Museum
MICKALENE THOMAS: DO I LOOK LIKE A LADY? (COMEDIANS AND SINGERS) Portland Art Museum SEE PAGE 21 for full description. portlandartmuseum.org JUNE 8–SEPTEMBER 8
PARIS 1900: CITY OF ENTERTAINMENT Portland Art Museum Travel back to Paris at the dawn of the 20 th century and experience the splendor of the sparkling French capital as it hosted the world for the International Exposition of 1900. Paris 1900
27TH PORTLAND JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL Northwest Film Center, Whitsell Auditorium While the Festival celebrates the diversity of Jewish history, culture, identity, and filmmaking, these films and the stories they tell resonate beyond their settings and speak to universal experiences and issues that confront our common humanity. nwfilm.org Download the Artslandia App to have all these listings in the palm of your hand.
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i n t h e s p o t l i g h t ca ssi e g reer
B&B Artistic Director Cassie Greer. Photo by Casey Campbell.
Bag&Baggage
ON APRIL 20, 2019, Bag&Baggage introduced Cassie Greer as their new Artistic Director. Greer has been with B&B since 2011, first as an actor and then in a variety of education, outreach, and artistic support roles, culminating in the Associate Artistic Director position she’s held since 2017. Artslandia is thrilled to bring you the inside scoop on this exciting appointment. Congratulations on your new position! What’s it like to be stepping into the shoes of Scott Palmer, the Founding Artistic Director who’s been with the company for nearly 15 years? Thank you so much! And oh man, are these some big shoes! Running this company is a daunting, thrilling, incredible opportunity, and I’m grateful to our Board of Directors for leading us through a thoughtful transition process and giv26
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ing me so much support. While there’s no way I will ever be Scott Palmer (or want to be!), I do have the advantage of having worked with him in a variety of capacities over the past eight years—experience that has, more or less, amounted to a personal masterclass in artistic leadership, Bag&Baggage style. Among Scott’s most exemplary qualities—and probably the thing that has drawn most people to B&B over the years—is his incredible vision and his ability to unite artists and audiences behind a central idea or mission. This is true whether we’re talking about a show concept or a fundraising campaign, and I have learned staying relevant, appealing directly to concepts that actually matter to people in our community, thinking outside the box about creative expression, and unapologetically, passionately pursuing our goals (be they artistic or financial) is the way this company has achieved success. I’m excited to
pick up this torch and run with it using everything I’ve learned from Scott, as well as bringing my own brand of leadership to Bag&Baggage. We have a fantastic team here in Hillsboro, and while our founder will definitely be missed, I’m eager to see where we can go as we continue to bring all of our voices and talents to build upon the foundation he has created. You and Managing Director Beth Lewis comprise one of the youngest all-female leadership teams of a midsized professional theater in the U.S. How did that come to be? What are your thoughts about that superlative? Yeah, that’s a pretty incredible statistic. And my feelings are mixed: on one hand, it’s amazing to be able to make this claim, and I feel extremely fortunate that my career path has taken me so quickly to a place where I’m able to step into a leadership position of this kind. On
the other hand, I think about the many young, fresh, creative, female voices that are never given the kind of platform that I am being given, and I wonder how we can do our work better as theater companies in America to flip the narrative that white, male leadership is somehow safer, more acceptable, or more trustworthy than female leadership, or leadership by people of color. We limit ourselves so much as artists if we’re unwilling to let underrepresented voices come to the forefront. If you think about it, so much of the work at the heart of acting training is about learning to take risks and adopt uncomfortable perspectives; yet when we look at those same concepts on the company level, the theater sometimes seems risk-averse. And I totally get it— this is an extremely complicated conversation, particularly when we’re living in a society that seems to be increasingly devaluing and underfunding the arts. But the reason that theater is such a powerful artistic medium is that it appeals to our human empathy in a present, visceral way, and if we as theater companies are unwilling to take some of the same risks and expand our worldview in the same way that we ask our artists to do, I think we’re only holding ourselves back. There was that great New York Times article a few weeks ago about doors opening for women and people of color in artistic leadership, and it’s great to know that Bag&Baggage is part of this current national wave; but as that article concluded, this is just the tip of the iceberg, and if we want our art form to survive, my appointment as Artistic Director of a midsized company as a 30-something woman needs to be the most unremarkable thing in the world. Scott was the playwright on many of the previous adaptions the company premiered. What is the plan for the future now that he’s moved on? True! One of the things Scott is internationally recognized for is his approach to adapting the classics—Shakespeare in particular. At B&B, we value text-based work, and almost all of our Shakespeare adaptations have looked at either the material that influenced Shakespeare or the material that was most immediately influenced by him (i.e., Restoration-era plays)—and sometimes both—mashing these up together in a new take on the story. This process of adaptation has become pretty familiar to our artists: I personally have acted in eight Scott Palmer Shakespeare mashups, for example, and had the opportunity to do my own adaptation in
this vein with As You Like It or, Love In A Forest that we produced last summer. So, one answer is that we’re well-equipped to continue to explore the work of the Bard, and other classics, in this fairly academic and text-based way.
all here to stay. We’ve been in The Vault Theater for barely two seasons, and we’re still getting to know how this space runs most efficiently, so much of the immediate future is going to be about growing our roots as an institution in our community. We also have some pretty ambitious goals surrounding equity, diversity, and inclusion that I’m excited to see us take on, being more intentional about the voices and faces who are given representation on our stage. Perhaps the only surprise coming this season is that some of our resident artists will be directing B&B shows for the first time—most of our audiences only know them as actors, so I’m excited for them to have the opportunity to see Kymberli and Andrew as the multifaceted theater artists that I know them as. As for other surprises, let’s talk about that after we get through 2022! Which of the shows in the upcoming season are you most excited to bring to the stage?
Another answer is that this is only one pretty specific approach to adaptation, and the fact that we won’t be producing at least one Scott Palmer show per season opens us up to feature other adapted work that includes the voices of more women and people of color. For example, we just wrapped up the first season of a multiyear initiative called the Problem Play Project, which commissions Oregon-based playwrights of color to take on Shakespeare’s so-called “problem plays” and adapt them through the lens of their own lived experience, cultural background, and social values. This is emblematic of the type of work we’d be interested in producing more of, and there are so many playwrights and storytellers out there—even right here in the Portland theater community—who are doing compelling and relevant adaptations of classical material. Scott’s absence gives us just a little more space to explore these. What do you have in mind for the future of the company? Any surprises planned? Ooh… no surprises right now, I don’t think. My interview process with our Board of Directors was geared pretty specifically around our current fiveyear strategic plan, which takes us into 2022, and most of which has to do with really solidifying our operations here in downtown Hillsboro and being more forward-thinking about diversifying our work. Bag&Baggage’s mission isn’t changing; we’ll still be exploring provocative reinterpretations of classic works of world literature, and our company members are
Oh, this question is like asking someone to pick their favorite child… can I cop out and tell you what excites me about each show? In brief: I can’t wait to take on conversations about gender and sexuality with Much Ado, especially with a text that so perfectly hones in on relationships and invites us to be inclusive and forgiving. A Clockwork Orange is going to be an incredible challenge and a really dynamic piece unlike anything our audiences have seen before. Kymberli’s concept for The Game’s Afoot includes little “Easter eggs” from as many previous B&B shows as possible, which is going to be incredibly fun. I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Anya Pearson, and I cannot wait for our audiences to experience her powerful work with The Measure of Innocence. And Fallen Angels gives us yet another opportunity to turn our assumptions about Noël Coward on their heads, leaving our audiences laughing but also questioning the status quo—a perfect way to wrap up our entire season, if you ask me! We’re also excited to bring back some of our favorite guests at The Vault, including Tony Starlight, Fake Radio, No Filter Improv, and Cabaret Varieté, along with our Films For Five series, Arts & Culture lectures, Downtown Hillsboro First Tuesday Art Walks, Silver Screen Saturdays during the run of each show, the return of our Cabaret Cupid Valentine’s Day Event, and a Rocky Horror Halloween weekend. And I’m sure I’m forgetting things… We’ll have all the details up on our website at bagnbaggage.org! . ARTSLANDIA.COM
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In 1793, during France’s Reign of Terror — a playwright, an assassin, a former queen, and a Caribbean spy walk into a room and attempt to save the soul of France while avoiding the edge of the guillotine’s blade.
w eekend s cript
going with
T H E F LOW
FUCHSIA LIN is an international artist and filmmaker currently based in Portland. Her work includes elaborate sculptural costumes that she features in her art and dance films. Future Cosmos Flow, her upcoming second film, premieres in the fall of 2020 and focuses on the power of water to transform, heal, and renew our lives. @fuchsia_lin
Photos courtesy of Fuchsia Lin.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BAMBOO SUSHI
NEW CASCADIA TRADITIONAL
My perfect weekend begins with riding my bike to happy hour at the NE Alberta location for some sustainable and delectable fish! The bike path on NE Going between NE Grand and NE 33rd is one of my favorites.
PRASAD
Breakfast at this lovely gluten-free bakery and cafĂŠ makes my day. Their bagels with vegan cream cheese and lox are delectable!
LAND GALLERY & GIFT SHOP
THE FOSSIL CARTEL
Back to my neighborhood in hopes of catching an opening night in the upstairs gallery space or browsing the ground-level shop for cool cards, prints, books, and gifts by over 100 Northwest artists.
I can spend hours here, mesmerized and inspired by the variety of crystals, minerals, fossils, and meteorites from all around the world.
The breakfast at this cafĂŠ inside Yoga Pearl is delightful. The owner is a gifted cuisine artist who has created a fresh and delicious menu of nourishing gluten-free and vegan foods.
Do your weekend plans make for the perfect arts and culture itinerary? Visit artslandia.com /weekend-script-itinerary-form to share your weekend script.
NATIONALE This art space supports emerging Portland artists and promotes culture through exhibitions and performances. The gallery boutique features a carefully curated selection of items, including specialty goods from France. ARTSLANDIA.COM
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SEEN on the scene
FEATURED EVENT
OREGON SYMPHONY GALA The Oregon Symphony broke another record at Gala 2019: Landmark with $1.2 million raised on Saturday, April 13, at the Portland Art Museum. More than 400 guests, with Honorary Chair Jordan Schnitzer, honored the legacy of Arlene Schnitzer and the late Harold Schnitzer, as they celebrated the Symphony’s standing as a landmark organization in Oregon and the nation. This is the fifth consecutive year the Symphony has broken its fundraising record at the signature event. Attendees cheered as the festivities culminated with music and dance by Native American group The Thunderbird Lodge Singers.
Oregon Symphony Gala 2019
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PHOTOS: 1) Oregon Symphony President Scott Showalter. 2) Symphony’s Principal Timpanist Jon Greeney leads student musicians with Assistant Principal Percussionist Michael Roberts. 3) The gorgeous place settings. 4) Lois Schnitzer & Gala Honorary Chair Jordan Schnitzer. 5) Gala attendees were dressed to the nines. Photo credits: Jason DeSomer, Rachel Hadiashar, John Valls.
Don’t forget to tag #Artslandia and #ArtslandiaWasHere for the chance to be featured!
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THE REVIEWS ARE IN. The Color Purple
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Portland Center Stage at The Armory
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
I’m lost for words. Simply breathtaking. —AlphaZet 9/26/2018
Everybody Artists Repertory Theatre
Go, find what the buzz is all about. Michael Mendelson was the man, today. Who will it be when you attend? We strongly recommend you see this more than once. —Leonard Magazine 12/5/2018
Lila Downs Oregon Symphony
Pure magic! It was an evening of nostalgia and hope for the future. —Chris 11/9/2018
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Love your jewelry Maloy’s Jewelry has been a downtown Portland tradition for over 30 years, with one of the finest selections of fully restored jewelry on the West Coast. A glittering jewel box full of treasures from all the most beautiful periods of jewelry design, you will find everything from Edwardian engagement rings to Art Nouveau pendants, Victorian lockets to Art Deco earrings. We also have a full staff of expert bench jewelers right on site, so we can work our restoration or redesign magic on your own family heirlooms. With vintage treasures in every price range, an exceptional
M-F 10am to 5:30pm Sat 11am to 5pm 717 SW 10th Ave Portland, OR 97205 503.223.4720 www.maloys.com
memento of your trip is always in reach. Come visit with our friendly staff and explore cases brimming with delights. Conveniently located on both the MAX and streetcar lines.