Portland Center Stage Awarded $675,000 in Grant Support

Portland Center Stage, Portland's only LORT theater company, announced today that it has been awarded new grants totaling $675,000 by five foundations in support of its ongoing activities. The grants include:

$400,000 in operating support from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation.
$100,000 in operating support from the Meyer Memorial Trust of Portland.
$80,000 in operating support from The Collins Foundation in Oregon.
$50,000 to support from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation of San Francisco.
$45,000 in support from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation grant doubles their previous year's award and represents the largest operating support ever offered to Portland Center Stage by that institution. The Meyer Memorial Trust grant represents the first operating support grant for the company since its move to the Gerding Theater at the Armory.

"We're delighted and grateful for the vote of confidence in Portland Center Stage represented by these grant awards," explains Portland Center Stage Executive Director Greg Phillips, "The investments these foundations are making in PCS will enable us to continue serving our community with superlative Theater Productions and innovative community and education programs."

Portland Center Stage endeavors to "inspire our community by bringing stories to life in unexpected ways." Established in 1988 as an offshoot of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, PCS became an independent theater in 1994 and has been under the leadership of Artistic Director Chris Coleman since May 2000. The company presents a blend of classic, contemporary and original productions in a conscious effort to appeal to the eclectic palate of theatergoers in Portland. PCS also offers a variety of education and outreach programs for curious minds from six to 106, including discussions, classes, workshops and partnerships with organizations throughout the Portland metro area.

THE GERDING THEATER AT THE ARMORY houses a 599-seat Main Stage and the 200-seat black box Ellyn Bye Studio. It was the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, and the first performing arts venue, to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification. The Gerding Theater at the Armory opened to the public on Oct. 1, 2006. The capital campaign to fund the renovation of this hub for community artistic activity continues. Information about the campaign is available at http://www.pcs.org/armory_campaign/.

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