Portland, OR. The Portland Opera is reaching out to patrons to explain precautions being made to prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Portland Opera also spearheads the Broadway Across America series which commences with Frozen the musical on March 5th. Administrators confirmed, “We intend to stay the course with our public programming schedule.” Administrators explain, “Your health and safety as an audience member is of paramount importance to us, and we want to let you know some of the ways that our team is working to ensure that Portland Opera is contributing to solutions and best practices during this time.”
Oregon Children’s Theater is another organization taking precautions which include the following:
For patrons attending main stage performances, Portland’5 (home of the Newmark and Winningstad Theatres) has taken additional precautions, including increasing the frequency of cleaning and sterilization procedures throughout the entire facility.
For families attending classes at any of our Acting Academy locations, we are working with our partners at Curious Comedy Theater and Multnomah Arts Center to increase cleaning and sterilizing practices. Oregon Children’s Theatre staff and teaching artists are also being trained and empowered to clean even more frequently and to follow the recommended guidelines.
Oregon Children’s Theatre staff and teaching artists are encouraged to remain home should they exhibit any symptoms.
Measures taken by Portland Opera include an extensive deep clean of working spaces and staff has been instructed to follow precautions as recommended by the World Health Organization, in order to mitigate the spread of the disease. Photo by Cory Weaver/Portland Opera.
Portland Opera has also been in communication with Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, who manage and operate its performance venues. The opera has asked for extra sanitation stations and more extensive cleaning and disinfecting between performances. Portland Opera writes it is also confident that the city of Portland will proceed with recommended standards for public health and safety.
Administrators write, “We understand that more cases in the US and our region should be expected, and we realize, as Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated this weekend that the “current risk to the American public is low.” As such, we intend to stay the course with our public programming schedule and offerings. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].”
Additional Information & Resources on the Coronavirus-19 can be found here:
Portland, OR. Oregon Children’s Theatre (OCT) announced the appointment of Marcella (Marci) Crowson as its Artistic Director. She has worked at Oregon Children’s Theatre for the last 14 years, most recently as the assistant artistic director. Her appointment follows a nationwide search by the Board of Directors.
Marcella Crowson
Crowson was first hired by OCT in 2006, when she was charged with shaping and growing a new partnership between OCT and Kaiser Permanente, The Educational Theatre Program (ETP). ETP continues to be a unique collaboration between the two non-profits, using theater as a tool to prompt thought and dialogue about the everyday decisions that shape the quality of our health and our lives.
In 2016, Crowson stepped into the newly created Associate Artistic Director role at OCT, where she guided the development of new plays for young audiences, assisted in season planning, directed productions, and supported the artistic and community work of the company. She has been instrumental in cultivating a values-driven company culture, and initiating the organization’s work to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion. For the past four years, Crowson has also served as a board member of Theatre for Young Audiences/USA, the national arts advocacy group for the field.
Recent OCT productions directed by Crowson include: Me…Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall; Jason and the Argonauts; Flora & Ulysses; and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Crowson had a direct hand in the commissioning and development of many of OCT’s most popular original scripts, including Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made; Zombie in Love; and Storm in the Barn.
“Making art with, by, and for children is the best, most meaningful job in the world,” says Crowson. “I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to step into the Artistic Director position at Oregon Children’s Theatre. OCT has been my creative home for the last 14 years. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside the brilliant staff, board, and multitude of artists, teachers, and technicians, immersing myself in an organization that is defined by a legacy of excellence, inspiration, and imagination. It’s an incredible privilege to play a part in forging the next vision for OCT, mindful of our responsibility to our community’s health and vitality, with a continuing investment in new work, while telling great stories onstage that invite us all to imagine and create a brighter future together.”
As Artistic Director, Crowson will work under OCT’s dual leadership model in partnership with Managing Director Ross McKeen, who states, “Marci brings not only a history of accomplishments at OCT, but a strong vision for moving the company forward. I’m excited to collaborate with her on building that future.”
According to OCT’s board president, Amanda Carter-Jura, “Hiring a new Artistic Director is arguably a board’s most important responsibility. From the start, we were committed to conducting a thorough and thoughtful national search. After interviewing a selection of very capable candidates from around the country, Marci emerged as our unanimous choice. We appreciate her artistic vision, her commitment to artistic and educational excellence, her understanding of the staff’s daily and long-term needs, and her deep respect and care for young people.”
About Oregon Children’s Theatre:
Founded in 1988, Oregon Children’s Theatre (OCT) has served well over two million children, teachers, and families. Its mission is to create exceptional theater experiences that transform lives. OCT is Oregon’s largest non-profit professional theater for young audiences and a resident company of Portland’5 Centers for the Arts. Performances are held weekdays for school audiences and on weekends for family audiences. OCT serves more than 120,000 children of all ages each year. OCT offers numerous school services including study guides, teacher professional development opportunities, in-school workshops, and an extensive outreach program. In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, the Educational Theatre Program provides free touring productions that promote healthy living. OCT’s year-round Acting Academy offers theater classes for children ages 3-18 and Young Professionals Company, a mentoring program for teens.
Funding for Oregon Children’s Theatre’s 2019-2020 season is provided in part by the Shubert Foundation, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, the Oregon Arts Commission, and TriMet.
Portland, OR. Over 3,500 people received the VIP treatment at the Auto Show Sneak Peek Charity Preview on February 19th at the Oregon Convention Center. One couple won a 2020 Audi Q3 45 TFSI quattro, which was provided by Audi Beaverton. Brian and Jennifer Cornilles had the winning ticket for the Audi; they’re pictured with Greg Remensperger who is the Executive Vice President of the Oregon Auto Dealers Association (Brian and Jennifer Cornilles, center) and Jeff Blackwood from Audi Beaverton.
Organizers say they’ve contributed over four million dollars to local charities with the proceeds from the Sneak Peek Charity Preview Party and the Portland International Auto Show. There were 600 vehicles from 35 manufacturers, plus exotics from around the world at the event.
Shannon Inukai-Cuffee, a second-generation dealer and President of Dick’s Auto Group, poses for a photo with Erinn Sowle who is the General Manager of Suburban Ford.
Supporters from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) pose for a photo at The VIP Sneak Peek.
The charities help some of the most vulnerable citizens in the Portland area and the auto show is proud to support their efforts, says Greg Remensperger, executive director, PIAS. “You can’t ask for a better neighbor in your community than an auto show or auto dealership,” says Remensperger. “The auto industry has always been generous, and we are honored to help support these important organizations in their mission to serve.”
Clint Hill and Thuy Lam came in support of Meals on Wheels People and Boys & Girls Clubs.
Portland, OR. More than 100 guests turned out to dance the Charleston, and toast twenty years of Cast Iron Studios at its roaring twenties gala. The February 8th anniversary gala at Classic Foods in Northeast Portland was also a benefit for Stone Soup, which is a non-profit foodservice training enterprise providing life skills and hands-on culinary expertise to people who are at risk of homelessness.
Cast Iron Studios has found actors for projects including Timmy Failure, Wild, and Twilight, and over 300 hours of episodic television, including Trinkets, American Vandal, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, and Grimm. At the event, Josh Fuhrer, Cast Iron Studios’ Founder Lana Veenker and Brian Van Flandern posed for a photo. (Photo Credit, Flo Barth)
Cholee Thompson, Taylor Harris and Jennifer Arndt. Photo credit: Deneb Catalan
Jordi Barnes and Ted Douglass. Photo credit: Deneb Catalan
Ronit and Craig Gerard of Stone Soup. Photo credit: Deneb Catalan
Katie O’Grady. Photo Credit: Flo Barth
“It was heartwarming to be surrounded by so many friends, family and longtime colleagues, many of whom flew in from distant locations to attend,” said Cast Iron Studios’ Founder Lana Veenker. “We have such a wonderful community, and we know we wouldn’t be where we are without them.”
Sammuel Murry-Hawkins and the Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra. Photo Credit: Flo Barth
Brian Van Flandern and Sean Dodder mix up “The Last Word”. Photo Credit: Flo Barth
Elegant hors d’oeuvres, cheese and charcuterie platters were prepared by the staff and students of Stone Soup, with the guidance of Chef Scott Dolich, multiple James Beard Award Nominee and former owner of Park Kitchen and The Bent Brick. A silent auction was held, with packages including everything from Blazers tickets, spa and restaurant gift cards, acting classes and hotel stays, to a private screening room at Living Room Theaters, a coffee date with Grimm star Sasha Roiz, and audition coaching with Grimm star Claire Coffee. In total, the event raised close to $10,000 for Stone Soup.
Staff and students of Stone Soup commandeered the kitchen at Classic Foods to dish out elegant hors d’oeuvres and platters. Photo credit: Lana Veenker
Dolich sourced the ingredients directly from Classic Foods, a locally-owned handmade pasta factory and purveyor of artisan specialty products located in Portland’s Dekum district.
Auction donors included the Ace Hotel, Acting for Kids & Teens, Artists Repertory Theatre, Aviation Gin, Broder Nord, Claire Coffee, Classic Foods, Gado Gado Restaurant, Hi-Lo Hotel, Hotel Eastlund, Hoxton Hotel, Kimpton Hotels, Kristen Arnett Celebrity Make-Up Artist, Levy Moroshan Photography, Living Room Theatres, My Path Wellness, Portland Center Stage at the Armory, Portland Film Festival, Portland Trail Blazers, Rejuvenation Day Spa, Sasha Roiz, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Stone Soup and The Studio NW.
Check out more photos below, and at the following link, courtesy of our generous photographers, Flo Barth of Flo Barth Photography and Deneb Catalan of NebCat Photography.
As the Northwest’s leading casting company, we’ve been forging relationships with actors, directors, and producers for two decades.
We’re proud that we’ve helped develop the impressive pool of talent in the Northwest, which now rivals those in much bigger markets. What can we say? We’ve got an eye for actors who can deliver, and more than 20 years of experience creatively casting every kind of role. Consider us the foundation for solid performances, every time.
We’re here because we love living and working in the Northwest, but that doesn’t mean we operate in a bubble. We’ve traveled the world and chose Portland as our home. Our relationships have allowed us to branch out locally, nationally and internationally. Need a casting director in Paris? A nationwide search for a specific role? A keen eye at the Berlin Film Festival? We’ve got you covered.
We set the bar high, and deliver bang for your buck. Let our expertise alleviate your worries, save you money, and get you the best cast for your project.
After finishing our 12-week program, all graduates enter the job placement network, an informal cooperative of Portland area caterers and restaurants. This network ensures our program participants will have ample opportunities for job interviews and job placements. Our staff continues to be in touch with all the graduates, bringing them back to speak with current classes. This alumni network then ensures participants all have active mentors to help them through any challenges.
We also network with local restaurant groups and catering operations to identify employment opportunities with the potential for more sustainable employment than corporate foodservice might initially offer.
Portland, OR. The nonprofit, Do Good Multnomah, which works with under-served and homeless veterans, teamed up with the Oregon Humane Society and other organizations on February 13th to provide free vaccinations and health exams for the pets of local veterans. Portland Animal Welfare Team (PAW Team) and the Oregon State Veterinary College at Sandy Studios were also part of the team. Here are some of the photos from the event:
Do Good Multnomah organizers say those companion animals are very important to the veterans and ensuring the pets are healthy and vaccinated is an incredible service.
The PAW Team saves lives, alleviates suffering, and keeps pets and people together by providing free veterinary care to the pets of people who are experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty.
Some of the services for the pets included vaccines, de-wormer, and flea treatments.
From Do Good Multnomah:
Do Good Multnomah is a non-profit organization that partners with the community to provide permanent supportive housing and low-barrier emergency shelter to houseless Veterans in Portland, Oregon. We emphasize relationship-building, one-on-one engagement, supportive services, and direct community participation, changing the way we serve houseless Veterans.
Our Mission: Do Good Multnomah supports Veteran-centered communities that inspire dignity, sustainability, and purpose. More information at https://dogoodmultnomah.org/who-we-are
Our Mission: Do Good Multnomah supports Veteran-centered communities that inspire dignity, sustainability, and purpose.
NONPROFIT BENEFIT TICKET GIVEAWAYS!
Sign up for our free weekly highlights for the chance to win two tickets terrific nonprofit events! If you "like" us on facebook, or sign up for our weekly news highlights, you'll be entered to win! Sign up today!
Look for another ticket giveaway soon! Are you a nonprofit looking to bolster your publicity with facebook and tweets? Email us and we'll run a contest with tickets to your event! [email protected]
