Portland Center Stage at The Armory Will Present the VISIT ASTORIA Travel Itinerary

Portland Center Stage at The Armory is using a story produced for the stage as a lens for audiences to explore a key part of U.S. history, guided by a "Visit Astoria" travel itinerary. Consisting of three days of outlined destinations and attractions, the itinerary both educates travelers on the history surrounding Astoria, the first U.S. settlement on the West Coast, and aids in bolstering the tourism industry in Oregon. Inspired by the world premiere production of Astoria: Part One, playing at The Armory January 14 through February 12, 2017, the travel itinerary gives theater-goers and tourists alike the chance to explore the region featured in the production and gain a deeper connection with the story on stage. The "Visit Astoria" itinerary is one of two travel itineraries - made possible in part by a grant from Travel Oregon-that were released this season as part of Portland Center Stage at The Armory'sNorthwest Stories series.

THE DESTINATIONS

The "Visit Astoria" vacation itinerary includes destinations and attractions in Portland, Astoria and Hammond, providing a chance to experience the history behind the Astor Expedition. The three-day itinerary recommends the following stops and activities:

· Seeing Astoria: Part One at Portland Center Stage at The Armory

· Viewing the Oregon My Oregon exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society

· Staying a night at the Mark Spencer Hotel in Portland's West End

· Capturing a photo at the "Welcome to Astoria" sign

· Dining at Fort George Brewery located on the original site of Fort Astoria

· Learning about life in Astoria during the Lewis and Clark Expedition at Fort Clatsop

· Visiting the Columbia River Maritime Museum on Astoria's historic waterfront

· Climbing to the top of the staircase at The Astoria Column

· Exploring the Native American Longhouse and Peter Iredale Shipwreck at Fort Stevens Park

· Enjoying the views of the Columbia River and Cape Disappointment from a hotel room at Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa

The entire itinerary can be viewed at www.pcs.org/VisitAstoria.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

The "Visit Astoria" itinerary is available to view online at www.pcs.org/VisitAstoria, and as a printable PDF. Patrons of Portland Center Stage at The Armory will receive the itinerary directly. The itinerary will also be promoted throughout the West Coast, specifically in Northern California and Washington, to encourage travel to and around Oregon. Travelers will be encouraged to share their experiences on social media by using #visitastoria. Additionally, everyone who attendsAstoria: Part One will have a chance to enter a drawing for a grand prize "Visit Astoria" vacation package, including admission to the Columbia River Maritime Museum, dining at Fort George Brewery, a two-night stay at Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa, as well as various souvenirs from Astoria.

NORTHWEST STORIES SERIES

New for the 2016-2017 season, Portland Center Stage at The Armory's Northwest Stories series is a celebration of the essence of the region. From fresh looks at history to dynamic explorations of contemporary culture, Northwest Stories blends adventurous storytelling with local impact, all created with the immediacy and vibrancy that only live performance can bring. The "Explore the Great Northwest Stories" travel itineraries work in tandem with the series, providing vacation ideas to enhance the experience of seeing Bekah Brunstetter's The Oregon Trail and the world premiere of Astoria, Chris Coleman's adaptation of the book by Peter Stark.

Chris Coleman'S ASTORIA: PART ONE

Adapted from the best-selling book by Peter Stark, this harrowing dual journey - one over land, one by sea - will be told with an exceptional cast of sixteen actors. At a time when the edge of American settlement barely reached beyond the Appalachian Mountains, two visionaries - President Thomas Jefferson and millionaire John Jacob Astor - foresaw that one day the Pacific would dominate world trade as much as the Atlantic did in their day. Just two years after the Lewis and Clark Expedition concluded in 1806, Jefferson and Astor turned their sights westward once again. Thus began one of history's dramatic but largely forgotten turning points in the conquest of the North American continent. This monumental piece of American history will be told in two parts over the course of two seasons at Portland Center Stage at The Armory. Part One covers the journey to Astoria and Part Two is about the establishment of Astoria, the first permanent United States settlement on the West Coast. For more information visit www.pcs.org/astoria.

ABOUT TRAVEL OREGON

The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors' experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional quality of Oregon. The commission aims to improve Oregonians' quality of life by strengthening the economic impacts of the state's $10.8 billion tourism industry that employs more than 105,000 Oregonians. Visit www.traveloregon.con to learn more.

PORTLAND CENTER STAGE AT THE ARMORY

Portland Center Stage at The Armory is the largest theater company in Portland and among the top 20 regional theaters in the country. Established in 1988 as a branch of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the company became independent in 1994 and has been under the leadership of Artistic Director Chris Coleman since 2000. Around 160,000 visitors attend The Armory annually to enjoy a mix of classical, contemporary and world premiere productions, along with a variety of high quality education and community programs. Eleven productions are offered each season, in addition to roughly 400 community events - created in partnership with 170+ local organizations and individuals - to serve Portland's diverse populations. As part of its dedication to new play development, the company has produced 21 world premieres and presents an annual new works festival, JAW: A Playwrights Festival. The Northwest Stories series was launched to develop and produce works about, or by artists from, the Northwest region. Home to two theaters, The Armory was the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, and the first performing arts venue, to achieve a LEED Platinum rating.

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