PHAME Celebrates 30 Years of Inspiring Artists

Portland, July 12th, 2014. It’s a big year for PHAME. Since its founding in 1984, PHAME has provided 30 years of lifelong arts education to hundreds of young and older adults with developmental disabilities and performed to tens of thousands of audience members across the Portland metro community. (photo credit, Intisar Abioto)

In addition to the nonprofit’s big Birthday Bash on June 26th at Castaway, PHAME has received several community recognitions in honor of their 30th Anniversary. PHAME was the first recipient of the “Spirit of L’Arche Award” from L’Arche Portland, and also received special Proclamation from Portland Mayor Charlie Hales, and the Portland City Council.

“These recognitions are wonderful honors for PHAME, and show again the power of the arts to inspire us to reach our fullest possibilities as people,” says PHAME Executive Director, Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “As we celebrate an incredible 30 years of lifelong learning in the arts for persons with developmental disabilities, we are very touched to be chosen as the first ever ‘Spirit of L’Arche Award’ winner from our friends at L’Arche Portland, and look forward to celebrating the spirit of inclusion and the power of possibility with them when we receive this recognition.

From PHAME:

In 2014, PHAME celebrates 30 years as a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring individuals with developmental disabilities to lead full, creative lives through arts education and performance.

Since our founding in 1984, PHAME has provided lifelong arts education to hundreds of young and older adults with developmental disabilities; performed to tens of thousands of audience members across the Portland metro community, the state and the world; picked up a number of community recognitions and awards; produced and collaborated on hundreds of performances and shows; and helped to move the needle on the creativity, value and worth of all artists, regardless of ability or disability.

PHAME History Timeline:

1984: PHAME’s first production, an adaptation of “The Nativity Story,” launches PHAME – or Portland Handicapped Artists and Musical Entertainers, the organization’s original acronym – in Portland, OR, in December 1984. The production is directed by Carol Stady, a volunteer and founder of PHAME alongside a group of dedicated families, care providers and young and older adults with developmental disabilities.

1987: PHAME produces its first fully staged traditional Broadway-style musical: “My Fair Lady.”

1993: PHAME formally incorporates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

1994: A group of PHAME artists travels to Brussels, Belgium, and offers a command performance as part of the VSA Very Special Arts International Festival.

1998: The first annual PHAME gala fundraising event is held, at the World Trade Center, Portland.

1999: PHAME tackles the thorny forests of Stephen Sondheim, producing “Into The Woods.”

2007: Long before Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, PHAME braves 19th century France by producing a fully staged production of the pop-opera “Les Miserables” in two performances.

2008: PHAME tours across the Pacific Northwest, with stops in Portland and Boise, Idaho.

2010: PHAME takes up new residence for rapidly expanding offices and programs at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Northeast Portland.

2011: PHAME is recognized with the City of Portland “Making A Difference Award,” and breaks attendance records with its summer production of “Grease,” making it the best-attended PHAME production in the organization’s history

2012: PHAME embarks on its most ambitious touring project to date, with “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour,” in which over 50 PHAME artists tour across the four-county region, performing to over 3,000 community members in schools, community centers and concert halls, culminating in a blowout show at the Aladdin Theater; later that year, the organization partners with Runaway Mustache Productions to produce the feature-length documentary, “In This Together,” premiering August 1, 2012 at The Hollywood Theatre. And then, PHAME opens for and collaborates with Oregon’s own globe-trotting world pop mini orchestra, Pink Martini, at the Oregon Zoo.

2013: PHAME continues to expand program offerings for an expanding student body, and announces the organization’s most artistically ambitious project yet: a newly commissioned music-theatre work, written by Laura Gibson and Debbie Lamedman, to premiere in an integrated production with three performances in August 2015, at Gerding Theater at the Armory/Portland Center Stage.

2014: PHAME celebrates 30 years with a six-show series across Portland called “PHAME @ 30,” and introduces an exciting new brand identity and website.