Portland Opera Raises $1M at Baroque Ball Gala Featuring Kristin Chenoweth

Portland Opera Raises $1M at Baroque Ball Gala Featuring Kristin Chenoweth

by | Oct 1, 2017 | Events, Features, News

Portland,OR. Over 350 community leaders came together to support the Portland Opera on September 16th. The Baroque Ball at the Portland Art Museum raised $1 million dollars. Tony and Emmy Award winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth made her Portland concert debut as part of the event. Chenoweth performed musical theatre numbers, jazz tunes and concluded the concert by singing with members of the Tualatin High School choir.

Members of the Baroque Ball Gala Committee: Celeste Rose, Vice President, Community Engagement, Harsch Investment Properties;  Gwyneth Gamble Booth, Baroque Ball Co-Chair;  Carole E. Morse, Baroque Ball Co-Chair; Sue Dixon, Director of External Affairs for Portland Opera; Kregg Arntson, Member, Portland Opera Board & Executive Director, PGE Foundation   Portrait by Gia Goodrich | giagoodrich.com

Portland Opera’s Clare Burovac (Director, Artistic Operations) and Christopher Mattaliano (General Director) Portrait by Gia Goodrich | giagoodrich.com

Curtis T. Thompson, M.D. and Joe Mitchoff; (seated) Alex Chu, Governor Kate Brown, and First Gentleman Dan Little Portrait by Gia Goodrich | giagoodrich.com

Guests enjoyed a lounge curated and furnished by Anthropologie & Co.

BodyVox performs Madonna’s “Vogue”

The Mistress of Ceremonies for the Baroque Ball gala, Poison Waters

General Director Christopher Mattaliano sharing $1M announcement

Governor Kate Brown high-fives an opera supporter

“This was really a celebration of the community, and bringing the art of opera to the city and region that we love,” says Christopher Mattaliano, general director. “We are so inspired by the individuals, businesses, and organizations who elevate Portland Opera by sharing their support and advocacy—and this event set a new standard for our organization.”

Governor Kate Brown and First Gentlemen Dan Little were among the honored guests. Platinum entertainment sponsors included: Joanne M. Lilley; Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan Schnitzer, Directors of The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation; Ellyn Bye and Dream Envision Foundation; and Dorothy Piacentini. Gwyneth Gamble Booth and Carole E. Morse served as co- chairs for the event, joined by committee members Celeste Rose, Kregg Arntson, and Charles Stanton. Gold Level Premiere Corporate Partners included: Artslandia, Broadway Across America, The Standard, and Bill Sweat and Donna Morris, Winderlea Vineyard & Winery.

Mistress of Ceremonies Poison Waters and Auctioneer Ian Lindsay enlivened the festivities throughout the evening and live auction. BodyVox performed a surprise dance piece, in period costume, of Madonna’s “Vogue.” The evening also featured a performance of “Torna a Surriento” by international tenor Ryan MacPherson, accompanied by pianist David Saffert.

Anthropologie & Co. designed an immersive lounge and portrait studio in the Marion L. Miller Gallery, featuring a hand-painted opulent backdrop and furnishings curated by the Portland design team. Award- winning photographer Gia Goodrich of VEV Studios directed and photographed the portrait sittings, creating portraits for each guest.

Due to the smoky conditions from area wildfires, the cocktail reception (originally intended to be held in the Sculpture Garden) was moved indoors to the Fred & Suzanne Field Ballroom. Nonetheless, guests enjoyed performances from the artists of Portland Opera a la Cart, the opera’s mobile music venue, to begin the evening. After the performances, guests moved upstairs to the Kridel Ballroom, for a three- course meal by Artemis Foods, inspired by historical records from the court of King Louis XIV of France. Dinner programming consisted of a golden ticket drawing, live auction, and paddle raise. Wines provided by Winderlea Vineyard and Winery were featured throughout the evening. Chenoweth performed from 9 – 10 PM; followed by the Rococo After Party, hosted by Portland Opera’s Ambassador Board.

A particularly poignant moment of the evening occurred when the announcement was made that, together, the event attendees and supporters had achieved the $1M fundraising mark. “A full standing ovation erupted,” says Kay Abramowitz, board president. “That moment was a testament to our Board of Directors, our amazing supporters, and the great work that this organization produces. We are so proud to be Portland’s Opera – and that moment made it so clear that Portland is also so proud of us.”

From Portland Opera:

Proceeds from the Baroque Ball gala support core Portland Opera programming including arts education, free public performances, main stage opera, and more. Portland Opera exists to inspire, challenge and uplift our audiences by creating productions of high artistic quality that celebrate the beauty and breadth of opera. To learn more about our mission and our work, please visit portlandopera.org.

 
Milagro Theatre’s RAÍZ Offers Celebration of the Day of the Dead

Milagro Theatre’s RAÍZ Offers Celebration of the Day of the Dead

by | Oct 23, 2012 | Events, Features, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

For more than 28 years, the Miracle Theatre Group has been dedicated to bringing  Latino theatre to the Northwest. Now the group’s world premiere of Raíz, a bilingual celebration of Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead), is onstage through November 11th. The production is directed by Arturo Martinini.(Photo Credit, Russell J. Young)

Miracle Theatre Group’s world premiere of Raíz, a bilingual celebration of Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead), onstage Oct. 19-Nov. 11, 2012 at Milagro Theatre (525 SE Stark St., Portland); for information/tickets: 503-236-7253 or www.milagro.org. Photo by Russell J. Young

Miracle Theatre Group’s world premiere of Raíz, a bilingual celebration of Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead), at Milagro Theatre (525 SE Stark St., Portland); Photo by Russell J. Young

• An exhibit of Day of the Dead altars created by local Latino artists will be on display one hour prior to each performance in El Zócalo, a community space adjacent to the theatre lobby. Free.

In addition to the production, an exhibit of Day of the Dead altars created by local Latino artists will be on display one hour prior to each performance in El Zócalo, a community space adjacent to the theatre lobby.

Here’s more information about the play: Every year, the dead are commemorated in Portland’s longest-running Día de los muertos celebration. This season, a cabal of Aztec gods, having fallen out of favor in the modern world, seek to revive their relevance by reuniting a young clown with his departed partner, Augustina. Time turns backward as we unearth the interwoven roots of pre-Hispanic customs and traditions found at the juncture of life and death. Are we but dreaming and awake only when we die? Through music, dance and legend, we explore that thin veil that separates our world from the realm of our indigenous ancestors.

SPECIAL EVENTS: • Los Porteños writers group will present original stories and poetry written for the Day of the Dead prior to the matinee on Sunday, Nov. 4, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Free.

ENSEMBLE (in alphabetical order)

Enrique E. Andrade

Sara Fay Goldman

Nurys Herrera

Ed Lyons

Juan Antonio Martinez

Alberto Romero

Zoe Rudman

Maria Sanchez

 

PRODUCTION TEAM

Arturo Martinini … Director

Mark Haack … Scenic Designer

Katelan Braymer … Lighting Designer

Carolyn Baker … Costume Designer

Gerardo Calderón … Composer

Kelly Carlos … Choreographer

Nicki D’Amico … Prop Master

Adrienne Shelnutt … Assistant Director/Stage Manager

Collin Lawson … Master Carpenter

Julie Rosequist … Sound Board Operator

Estela Robinson … Production Manager

Jesus Kobe … Artcard Artist

Russell J. Young … Photographer

Olga Sanchez … Artistic Director, Miracle MainStage

José E. González … Executive Director

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Arturo Martinini began his career at a very young age as actor, director and filmmaker. He has directed and toured with several theatre companies (performing works from Lorca, Pasolini, Shakespeare and Barry), and has worked as an independent filmmaker for notable organizations in Europe. Most recently he acted in Romeo Castellucci’s latest work, Attore, il tuo nome non è esatto. The writings of Antonin Artaud are lately his strongest influence regarding the relationship between the public and the reality of the play. This is Arturo’s first production with Miracle Theatre Group, and his U.S. debut.

ABOUT THE SPONSORS

This production is sponsored by The Oregonian.

Miracle Theatre Group’s 2012-2013 season is supported in part by Regional Arts & Culture Council and Work for Art, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Oregon Arts Commission, Collins Foundation, Ronni Lacroute, Oregon Community Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Kinsman Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Juan Young Trust, PGE Foundation, US Bancorp Foundation, KeyBank Foundation, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, Rose Tucker Charitable Trust, Carpenter Foundation, Jackson Foundation, Hoover Family Foundation, Templeton Foundation, Portland Timbers, El Centinela, and El Hispanic News/PQ Monthly.

ABOUT MIRACLE THEATRE GROUP

In addition to its national tours, Miracle provides a home for Spanish and Latin American arts and culture at El Centro Milagro, where it enriches the local community with a variety of community outreach projects and educational programs designed to share the diversity of Latino culture. For more information about the Miracle Theatre Group, visit www.milagro.org or call 503-236-7253.