Portland, August 14, 2012. – Artists Rep begins its 30th Anniversary season on September 4 with the World Premiere of Aaron Posner’s And So It Goes…, directed by Posner. This quirky love letter to the human race flows from Kurt Vonnegut’s first collection of short stories, Welcome to the Monkey House. The play runs through October 7 on the Alder Stage, 1516 SW Alder, Portland, OR 97205.
Can we ever protect ourselves from the idiocy of our hearts? Down a well-worn path, hand-in-hand, take a walk…through leaves and over bridges, breathe in the soul’s seductive moments through three love stories set in mythological small-town America. It’s 1962 New England when we join Tom, our tour guide, for a stroll with a host of hearts just like our own. Along the circuitous course of love we travel with our new friends hoping to catch a genuine glimpse of humankind’s most elusive sentiment in the wonderfully flawed characters muddling along before us.
Playwright and Director Aaron Posner wrote the first version of And So It Goes…, under the title Who Am I This Time?, in the 1980s while at Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre.He said back then adaptation was often done in a strictly narrative style, that it was just a matter of “taking short stories and doing them on stage.”
25 years later, after several more incarnations of that production and an even deeper understanding and appreciation of Kurt Vonnegut’s work, Posner wrote And So It Goes….
“My imagination weaved the stories together in a more fluid, connective way,” he said at the production’s first rehearsal.
Posner referenced what Critic Robert Scholes said about the author of 14 novels including Slaughterhouse-Five, Breakfast of Champions and Cat’s Cradle: “Kurt Vonnegut puts bitter coating on sweet pills.” Posner said it is Vonnegut’s ability to “portray the difficulties of being human beings with optimism, hopefulness, love and texture” that enables his stories to come to life on the stage.
And So It Goes…
Written by: Aaron Posner
Adapted from stories by: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Directed by: Aaron Posner
Featuring: Tim True, Valerie Stevens, Andy Lee-Hillstrom, Kayla Lian, Alex Hurt, Leif Norby, Sarah Lucht
Performance Dates: Sept. 4 – Oct. 7
Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2pm
Wednesday matinee – Sept. 26 at 11am
Opening Night – Friday, Sept. 7 at 7:30pm
Aaron is a freelance director and playwright, an Associate Artist at both the Folger Theatre in Washington DC and the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and is a founding Artistic Director of Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre Company. Aaron has directed at major regional theatres from coast to coast including Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, American Player’s Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Barrington Stage, Cal Shakes, Children’s Theatre Company, Cleveland Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, Seattle Rep, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Studio Theatre, Theatre J, Woolly Mammoth and many more. Aaron won Barrymore Awards for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Director), and The Chosen (Playwright), both at the Arden. He has won the Helen Hayes Awards for Best Director three of the last eight years, all for work at the Folger: Measure For Measure, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Cyrano. His many published and produced adaptations include The Chosen, My Name Is Asher Lev, Ellen Foster adapted from Kaye Gibbons, Third & Indiana adapted from Steve Lopez, Brief Interviews With Hideous Men adapted from David Foster Wallace, and Sometimes A Great Notion adapted from Ken Kesey. His musical adaptation of Mark Twain’s A Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage (with James Sugg) was nominated for 10 Barrymore Awards and the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play.
His new adaptation of Chekhov’s The Seagull, entitled Stupid Fu*king Bird will premiere at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in May of 2013. Aaron is an Eisenhower Fellow, holds a B.S. in Performance Studies from Northwestern University, is from Eugene, Oregon, and lives in Maryland with his wife, actress Erin Weaver, and his tiny daughter, Maisie.
Artists Repertory Theatre
The 2012/13 Artists Repertory Theatre season is presented by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and Ronni Lacroute/WillaKenzie Estate. The 2012/13 print media sponsor is The Oregonian and the radio sponsor is KINK.FM. Season hotel sponsor is Hotel deLuxe. Other support comes from Regional Arts Culture Council, Work for Art, Oregon Arts Commission, All Classical and Maletis Beverage.
Portland’s longest-running theatre company, Artists Repertory Theatre celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Over the past three decades Artists Rep has made a name for itself offering adventurous plays – comedies, dramas and musicals alike – that are supremely entertaining, thoughtful and provocative. Artists Rep feeds our community’s artistic soul with premieres, re-imagined classics, new play development and educational outreach.
Portland, August 8th. The Beach Boy grabbed Marilyn’s wig and ran! It was all part of Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) and Peacock Productions first ever Bat ‘n Rouge softball tournament featuring drag queens, music, and general hilarity at Lillis-Albina Park. The benefit raised $10,600 to send HIV infected and affected kids to Camp Starlight and build scholarships for the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund.
Portland’s legendary Entertainer, Darcelle threw out the first pitch.
The Queen of Drag, Darcelle XV, added, “How could the Queen of Portland not be at an event like this? It marries all the things I love: Camp Starlight, LGBT Youth and Higher Education, drag performance, and hot men. I’m delighted to attend the first Bat ‘n Rouge event.”
The Ambiguously Gay Super Heroes (with tights and capes) were the winners of the event!
The exhibition tournament featured a team of drag queens, each dressed as Marilyn Monroe, as well as a three other archetypal LGBT groups, including: Beach Boys (yes, men in speedos); Ambiguously Gay Super Heroes (with tights and capes); Construction Lesbians (with hard hats and caution vests). Photo credit, Roger.
2nd Place went to The Marilyn Monroes (Drag Queens) who took the field in heels! (Photo credit, Roger)
The benefit softball game attracted spectators of all ages. (Photo Credit, Garbero Photography)
There was a tie for third place between The Construction Lesbians and The Beach Boys!
Portland’s own local comedians, Whitney Streed and Xander Deveaux, offered color commentary while CC Slaughter’s resident DJ, DJ Slutsky spinned tunes.
The Cascade AIDS Project annual AIDS Walk Portland is coming up on Sunday, September 23rd.
About Cascade AIDS Project Incorporated in 1985, Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) is the oldest and largest AIDS Service Organization in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Our mission is to prevent HIV infections, support and empower people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, and eliminate HIV/AIDS-related stigma. With a staff of 50, and a volunteer corps that includes over 700 individuals providing more than 21,000 hours of service each year, CAP manages a diverse array of programs and an annual budget of $4.6 million. Fifteen percent of CAP’s staff are individuals living with HIV, 25% identify from communities of color, and 30% are bilingual. Our programs serve the broad and diverse set of communities impacted by HIV, from community-specific programs focused on teens, Latinos, the gay community, individuals and families living with HIV, to the thousands of individuals throughout the state who seek education though our AIDS/STD hotline each year. A committed 18-member volunteer Board of Directors provides strategic guidance and oversight to ensure CAP accomplishes its mission and continues to operate with integrity and transparency. www.cascadeaids.org. About Peacock Productions, Inc.
Established in 1999, Peacock Productions, Inc. (PPI) is a 501c3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to enhance the quality of life of members and allies of the LGBTQ community by offering entertainment, providing scholarships, and networking to celebrate diversity and build equality. PPI administers the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund which was founded by Lady Elaine Peacock and Misty Waters, in honor of their Mother in 1988. To date, the AME Fund has granted more than $182,000 to LGBT students and/or the students of LGBT parents throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. To find out more about Peacock Productions, Inc., visit www.peacockafterdark.com.
Portland, August 15th. Have a pint, change the world. That’s the slogan of the Oregon Public House at 700 NE Dekum. Slated to open this fall, the pub will use a unique business model by asking customers to select a charity to benefit from the profits of each visit. The goal is to generate $10,000 a month to funnel to local charities.
Oregon Public House on NE Dekum
Founders, who believe there should be synergy between Portland’s love of brews and nonprofits, say their vision is to create, “a family-friendly pub environment where our neighbors from the surrounding area can come to enjoy community around good food and craft beer while supporting great causes.”
Oregon Public House is located under the Village Ballroom in a 100 year old building. Ryan Saari, one of the people behind the idea, started the project a year and a half ago and has helped organize volunteer workers building with donated materials to keep the project debt-free.
Here’s a video where founder Ryan Saari explains the business model is explained in the video below: (it plays best in the internet explorer browser.)
When the pub is up and running, managers will hire a few full time employees to help operate the business, but sat they will not take a salary themselves.
Interested charities can request an application to be vetted. Charities will be featured on a rotation, which will change every six months, or so. There’s still room for volunteers to help with the build out and remodeling. Organizers are also still raising money. Construction on the Oregon Public House is about 90% complete and the doors could open this fall.
The founder’s next project, building an independent brewery so the pub can supply its own beer.
PORTLAND, Ore. – Charlie M. Clint, a 30+ year volunteer for the Portland Rose Festival, has been named Volunteer of the Year by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), the trade association for events worldwide. Clint will be honored during the IFEA Hall of Fame Luncheon on Friday, September 21, 2012 in Denver, Colorado.
Charlie M. Clint, a 30+ year volunteer for the Portland Rose Festival, has been named Volunteer of the Year by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), the trade association for events worldwide.
“The Rose Festival is always a big winner at the IFEA Conference, but this is the first time we’ve had a Volunteer of the Year,” said Jeff Curtis, Rose Festival CEO. “We’re thrilled to have Charlie recognized, because we honestly don’t know where Rose Festival would be right now without her enthusiasm and energy. She’s a key member of our team.”
In 2007, Clint agreed to become the Rose Festival’s unpaid Webmaster and IT Manager after a staff reduction, along with continuing to fulfill key roles for events like the Danner Memorial Day March and the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade. She is also the designer and editor of the festival’s eNewsletter, which has won three IFEA Pinnacle Awards since she assumed the project.
Below is a Rose Festival interview with Charlie about the honor.
To be eligible for consideration for the IFEA/Zambelli Fireworks Volunteer of the Year Award, a nominee must have provided significant enthusiasm and specific expertise to a member festival, be a volunteer of the nominating festival or event for at least three years, must have shown initiative and leadership in his or her efforts, have a positive attitude and have exemplified his or her dependability. Conservatively determined, Clint commits 30-50 hours a week to the Rose Festival, and is estimated to have saved the Rose Festival tens of thousands of dollars. In 2008, Rose Festival gave Clint a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for her unprecedented level of volunteerism.
“Volunteers are our most important resource,” said Sue Bunday, Rose Festival President. “Charlie Clint exemplifies the heart of this festival.”
Clint, a lifelong resident of north Portland, attended Roosevelt High School and Portland State University, focusing her education on English and Art. She is a self-taught website designer and maintainer, and hand-codes the Rose Festival’s extensive website. She is also the Webmaster for the Portland-Sapporo Sister City Association and the Roosevelt High School Alumni Association. She’s an avid reader and writer, enjoys singing, riding bicycle and both playing and watching tennis.
IFEA and Zambelli Fireworks are hosting Charlie’s trip to Denver, where she’ll speak in front of festival representatives from around the world.
The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) was founded in 1956 and today is The Premiere Association Supporting and Enabling Festival & Event Professionals Worldwide. In partnership with global affiliates under the umbrellas of IFEA Africa, IFEA Asia, IFEA Australia & New Zealand, IFEA Europe, IFEA Latin America, IFEA Middle East, and IFEA North America the organization’s common vision is for ‘A Globally United Industry that Touches Lives in a Positive Way through Celebration.'”
Portland, August 11th. The Bite of Oregon is a celebration of Oregon, its food, its people and quality of life. With hundreds of restaurant and dozens of breweries and wineries represented, the Special Olympics Oregon benefit attracts food fans by the thousands.
Sizzling seafood paella was a hit.
“The Usual Suspects” entertain the crowd. It’s the band of Police Chief, Mike Reed.
Viewed as a foodie’s dream come true, the Gerry Frank’s Oregon Chef’s table is an opportunity to experience small gourmet bites from some of the top chefs from around the state.
Eddy Gonzales, Chef Shyam Dausoa from Chez Dodo and Sala Kannan were serving Dholl Puri and Portobello Bury – a Mushroom Curry with Lentil Fritters served Chutney & Pickled Vegetables.
Chef Chris Carriker from the Gilt Club served up Grilled Pork Belly Skewer with Kohlrabi Slaw, Fried Peanuts and Cilantro and Lamb Meatballs with Fresh Chickpea Relish, Goat Cheese & Herbs.
Lilie Boni, Henry Car and Elizabeth Kennedy from Brix Tavern served Smoked Grilled Local Salmon Brochettes with Heirloom Tomatoes & Rocket Pesto.
B. O’Shea, Chef Aaron Gerra, Pamela McConnell, Chef Aaron Guerra CEC, DM – ACF Portland Culinary Team Member with the Oregon Blueberry Commission served Fresh Oregon Blueberries Foster w/ Hand Dipped Ice Cream, Balsamic Reduction.
At the popular Iron Chef Oregon competitions, presented by NW Natural, talented Oregon Chefs battled it out to see whose cuisine reigned supreme.
Lucy Willis from Lucy’s Tropical Juice sold fruit smoothies.
Volunteers Isabel Klein and PJ Hummelt were two of hundreds who pitched in at the benefit for Oregon Special Olympics.
Oregon Brewers were out in force.
Ice cream served up by volunteers, including members of the National Charity League Genevieve and Mariel Klein, was a hit with the kids.
Soul Vaccination, the popular fund and soul band, performed for music lovers.
About Special Olympics Oregon
Here in Oregon, while Special Olympics Oregon serves more than 10,000 participants throughout the state, nearly 70,000 people with intellectual disabilities could benefit from participating in Special Olympics. Still growing, Special Olympics Oregon is efficiently expanding programs to get closer and closer to serving every individual with intellectual disabilities that qualifies to participate in Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Oregon offers training and competition opportunities in 14 different Olympic-style sports. There are three sports seasons throughout the year, with statewide competitions and training in winter, summer and fall.
The nonprofit is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a bang!
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