Festival Passes Reduced for Portland's Citywide New Works Festival

"Truth and Beauty," a world premiere adaptation of Ann Patchett's 2004 memoir, distills the 272-page novel into a visceral multimedia performance for the Fertile Ground Festival featuring Betsy Cross and Jessica Wallenfels. Running Jan. 22-30 at Shaking the Tree Studio 1407 SE Stark St. "Truth and Beauty" tickets are available for $13 and can be purchased online at http://www.pdxtix.net/manyhats.

Passes for the Fertile Ground Festival are $50 and can be obtained through Many Hats Collaboration to receive either a 20% discount on a piece of Betsy and Iya Jewelry (http://www.betsyandiya.com - yes, made by the Betsy Cross in the show) through Jan 30, or $100 off a headshot session with Lava Alapai of venusrising photography (http://www.venusrisingphoto.com), good through June 1. Passes can be purchased through Many Hats Collaboration by clicking here.

"We're telling the story contained in the novel, but we've rendered it in a stylistically heightened, physical language," said Elizabeth Klinger, who adapted the script and directs the show. "You're hearing the novel's original words while watching our physical translation, which is sometimes very different. It's almost like experiencing a work on simultaneous tracks - the virtuosity comes in the audience investing in both."

"Truth and Beauty" depicts a visitation, portraying two unforgettable characters on a search for personal and professional greatness. When hardworking Ann Patchett (Betsy Cross) befriends the outrageous Lucy Grealy (Jessica Wallenfels, "Mutt," "Rest Room," choreographer of "Dead Man's Cell Phone" at OSF and "Sometimes a Great Notion" at PCS) in graduate school at the Iowa Writers Workshop, the two form a bond of friendship only death can break. Lucy comes to fame for Autobiography of a Face, a book exposing her recovery from cancer of the jaw at the age of nine and its devastating effects on the rest of her life. Ann finds critical and popular success in novel after novel with literary sensations The Magician's Assistant, The Patron Saint of Liars, and Bel Canto.

While Lucy parades herself before the media as a cognoscente of female self-acceptance, her obsession with beauty drives her to suffer through over 30 facial and jaw surgeries, each more extreme than the last. Despite seeking a quietly productive life in Tennessee, Ann's capacity to support Lucy under a crushing burden of self destruction is astonishing. Over 15 years, Ann and Lucy are not only tested by boyfriends, jealousy, depression and addiction, they share a friendship that defies definition and makes the observer wonder if they've ever had as good a friend.

Dialogue, movement, mask and projected imagery work together as in past Many Hats productions "Mutt," "Rest Room," "Stages" and "Break, Then Open." Actor/dancers Cross and Wallenfels are joined by Joe Spencer, who plays over 20 characters. Lava Alapai adds projection design; Tony Fuemmeler and Jen LaMastra lend mask supervision and Keight Gleason production manages.

"Truth and Beauty" showtimes are Jan. 22-23 and Jan. 28-30 at 8:30pm, following Shaking the Tree's "Memory Water: A Story of Love, Loss and Liquid" at 7pm. Tickets are available online, by phone at 503-205-0715, or at the Hollywood Theatre, open daily between 1pm to 9pm. For more information, go to http://www.manyhats-collaboration.com.

ABOUT MANY HATS COLLABORATION
Many Hats Collaboration is a theatrical production company founded in 2004 by core members Lava Alapai, Annalise Albright and Jessica Wallenfels in Portland, Oregon. Company works include "Mutt" by Lava Alapai at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center with support from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, as well as "365 Days/365 Plays," "Rest Room" and "Stages" for the JAW Festival at Portland Center Stage. Another world premiere, "Break, Then Open," debuted at Tribe Theatre in 2005. Many Hats Collaboration creates visually stunning performances, attracts an adventurous audience, and invites ongoing participation between its core members and an open circle of artists. The Many Hats Collaborators often design and perform in their theatre pieces, allowing them to wear ‘many hats' when creating their work.

ABOUT THE FERTILE GROUND FESTIVAL
Fertile Ground 2010 is a 10-day arts festival that will be held January 22 through February 2 in Portland, Oregon. This city-wide festival is focused on new work in the Arts. It will feature up to 30 world premiere projects, staged readings and a myriad of other arts events from the Portland creative community. From fully staged world premieres in theatre, to ensemble and collaborative driven work, dance, comedy, visual art and film...this festival spans the spectrum of creative endeavor and seeds the next generation of creation through artist conversations, workshops, lunchtime readings and more. For more information, go to http://www.fertilegroundpdx.org

 

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