'Mars on Life-LIVE!' Performs at Artists Rep., 11/16-12/19
By: Erica Anker Nov. 04, 2010
Susannah Mars returns with the warmth, charm and authentic humor that audiences know to expect. This year she explores the expectations of what the holiday home is "supposed to be" - the havoc, the harmony, and the universal challenges the season can mean for each of us. The show is conceived by and features Susannah Mars and special guests, and is directed by Grant Byington. Runs November 16-December 19 at Artists Repertory Theatre, Alder Stage, 1515 SW Morrison. See below for NO SHOW dates when Ms. Mars will be performing with Oregon Ballet Theatre. Tickets are $20-$47 at 503.241.1278; www.artistsrep.org.
Mars on Life - LIVE!
Conceived by: Susannah Mars
Featuring: Susannah Mars and special guests
Live Band: Bill Wells, Ross Selligman, Bob Shotola and Will Amend
Directed by: Grant Byington
Performance Dates: November 16 through December 19
Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:00pm;
Wednesday matinee at 11:00am on December 8.
Opening Night is Friday, November 19.
NO SHOWS ON: Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7:30pm
Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2pm
Friday, Dec. 17 at 7:30pm
Saturday, Dec. 18 at 7:30pm
Location: Artists Repertory Theatre's Alder Stage (15th and Alder St.)
Tickets: Advance tickets $25-$47; Students $20.
503.241.1278 or www.artistsrep.org
On the web: Website, Facebook, Twitter
"Mars on Life- LIVE! is not an alternative to typical holiday fare but an addition," said Susannah Mars. "We will run the gamut of the human experience at the holidays - the stress, the wonder, the celebration, and the laughter needed to cope with it all..."
Amid a revolving door of special guests, Susannah will sing 26 songs, give gifts galore, dance and even bake. Not really, she will fake-bake with the help of physical theater choreographer Jerry Mouawad of Imago Theatre.
Just a few of Susannah's special guests will include Rebecca Kilgore, Portland Gay Men Chorus, Body Vox's Jamey Hampton and Holcombe Waller. As always, audience participation will be a big part of the evening's experience, with the audience receiving gifts and being photographed. This is a chance for audiences to banish their holiday baggage, and embrace Susannah's, in an unpredictable show that will be different every night!
While the charm and talent of Susannah is as enjoyable as ever, this version will be "more homey and less nightclub," than the Mars on Life that have graced Artists Rep's stage years prior, said Director and Co-Creator Grant Byington.
"We always thought it would be cool if it the show was like sitting in someone's living room sharing holiday moments," said Byington. "This version is the closest to that idea as we've got."
Much of that homey feel is due in part to the warm and welcoming set, designed by Jeff Seats. With a ski lodge feel and a window overlooking a winter scene, Seats said he was inspired by old movies such as "Christmas in Connecticut" and "White Christmas" and wanted a design that wasn't overpowering the onstage band.
The band will include local stalwarts of the music scene Bill Wells, Ross Selligman, Bob Shotola and Will Amend performing holiday songs old and new from a variety of composers such as Irving Berlin and Jason Robert Brown.
This is a partial list. The guests for shows will be released as part of the surprise. Guests will include Lisa Mooyiman, Portland Gay Men's Chorus, Amy Beth Frankel, Norman Leyden, Doug Webster
Stephanie Schneiderman, Rebecca Kilgore, Marilyn Keller, Ida Rae Cahana, Andrew Erlich and guests, Dave Frishberg, Obo Addy, Richard Gray, Neil DePonte, Jamey Hampton, Holcombe Waller.
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Susannah is thrilled to come home to Artists Rep for her fifth holiday season! Most recently she appeared at Portland Center Stage in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Other treasured roles there have included Mother in Ragtime, Rose in Gypsy. and Meredith in Bat Boy. Recently you may have seen her as Eva in Broadway Rose's Evita, for which she won a Portland Area Theatre Award. Ms. Mars also appeared at Seattle's The 5th Avenue Theatre in Sunday in The Park With George, as Frieda and Betty, and as Susan in Company. At Artists Rep, her roles have run the gamut, from dear Julia in the world premiere of Holidazed, to the amazing Becca in Rabbit Hole. Ms. Mars is the recipient of five Portland Drama Critics awards. Her most recent recording "Susannah Mars, Call It Home; The Music of Richard Gray," is available, along with her first, the MAC nominated "Take Me To The World," on LML Music. Find them, and more at www.susannahmars.com
Grant Byington, Director
Grant Byington has specialized in cabaret and small events productions for more than 20 years. He has worked with musicians, singers, actors and children in conjunction with the University of Montana Opera Workshop, Missoula Children's Theatre, MCT Community Theatre, Montana Players, Garden City Ballet Company and Portland's own Young People's Theatre Project among many others. He is most familiar to Artists Rep audiences as an actor, having performed in over a dozen productions, including Chaps! and Dinner With Friends (both with Susannah Mars). This year marks the 15th anniversary of Grant's collaboration with Susannah and Bill. After directing and choreographing Closer Than Ever for the Oregon Stage Company, (Drammy Award nomination for Best Musical and Best Director of a Musical) he worked with the duo to create the original Mars on Life, which was performed at Danny's Skylight Room and Don't Tell Mama in New York City. He has since directed, coached, watched, listened to and commented on countless incarnations, including 2006 and 2007 versions of Mars on Life: The Holiday Edition and Mars on Life: There's More!, an evening of cabaret Susannah performed at Artists Rep while 8 months into her second pregnancy.
The 2010/11 Artists Repertory Theatre season is presented by U.S. Bank. The 2010 print media sponsor is The Oregonian, the season radio sponsors are KINK.FM and All Classical 89.9. Season Hotel Sponsors are Hotel deLuxe and Mark Spencer Hotel. Mars on Life - LIVE! is supported by City Center Parking.
Founded in 1982, Artists Repertory Theatre is the longest running professional theater company in Portland. Artists Rep strives to challenge artists and audiences with plays of depth and vibrancy in an intimate setting. Artists Rep explores the strengths, frailties, and diversity of the human condition primarily through regional premieres, commissioned works and selected classics appropriate to contemporary issues.
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