Willamette Shakespeare Announces the 2011 Season

First let me say thank you to everyone who made the 2010 season possible. Attendance for our summer production of A Midsummer Night's Dream was more than double our 2009 production. We received glowing reviews and, due to generous donor contributions from supporters, we are starting the season with some money in the bank for the 2011 season.

A Midsummer Night's Dream at Stoller Vineyards.
Looking ahead to next season, I am pleased to announce that in August of 2011 we will be performing All's Well That Ends Well in three outdoor spaces in Portland and Willamette Valley wine country. With return engagements at Reed College's Cerf Amphitheatre and Stoller Vineyards, our final weekend of 2011 will take place at Montinore Estate, a stunning vineyard and winery in Forest Grove.

I am thrilled to be directing All's Well. It is a play of ideas, examining integrity, mortality and the nature of love; it is also extremely spirited and funny. As with most of Shakespeare's work, the seriousness of the message and the joy of entertainment coexist in wonderful balance.

Although we are nine months away, preparations for the show have already begun. The creative process begins, of course, with the text--in this case a facsimile of the First Folio. Until now, script editing has been done with a light touch, leaving the plays mostly unedited. This year, the editing will be done more aggressively, with an eye toward run-time and accessibility. Not that we plan to adapt the script--every word will be from the Folio, there just might be a few words left out.

Titania (Christry Drogosch) and her fairies, Cobweb (Anna Gettles) and Peaseblossom (Chet Wilson).
At the same time, we are starting to build the production calendar and begin finding designers, technical staff and organizing auditions. It is hard to believe that producing just nine performances requires thinking this far in advance, but even a short season like ours requires an immense amount of coordination and preparation.

I sincerely hope to see you at the show next summer so you can enjoy the result of this year-long process. Look to hear from us again as the season progresses and we have more details about the cast and creative team.

Thank you so much for continuing to support our efforts.

Daniel R Somerfield
Artistic Director

Willamette Shakespeare Performs Strindberg's The Stronger
Willamette Shakespeare's primary mission is to present free classical summer theatre, but the approach of winter has not put the company into hibernation. In addition to the ongoing work to plan the 2011 season, board members Kymberly Herbst and Donna Gentry staged a production of Strindberg's one-act play, The Stronger for the October First Friday ArtWalk in Newberg. The two-hander, directed by Donna and performed by Kymberly and Jennifer Dolphin, was presented at the Chehalem Cultutral Center. Due to the popularity of the event, a second show was added later in the evening for audience members who were unable to fit into the first performance. Look to our newsletter and website for more events outside of our regularly scheduled summer season.

Participating
If you want to participate in Willamette Shakespeare's season, there are a number of ways to do so. If you are an actor, we encourage you to attend our open auditions which will be held early in 2011. Exact location and times will be announced soon. If you are interested in participating in the design or technical aspects of the production, please send a resume to daniel@willametteshakespeare.org. If you are not experienced in theatre on or off-stage but still would like to participate, there are other ways you can help: we are always on the lookout for people to volunteer as ushers, house-managers, poster placement, etc.

And, of course, we welcome donations. We are committed to keeping the shows free and we can't do that without help from people who can afford to make a contribution. Willamette Shakespeare is a 501(c)(3) public charity and any contribution made to the organization is tax deductible and can be matched with the Oregon Cultural Trust for a tax credit. More information on contributing via check or online is available at our website.

2011 Performance Dates and Locations
Performances of All's Well That Ends Well will be Fridays and Saturdays at 7 PM and Sundays at 6 PM. Although food will be available for purchase you are welcome to bring your own picnic. Local wines will be available for sale at all locations. Oregon Liquor Control Commission regulations do not permit audience members to bring their own alcohol.

August 5th - 7th: Reed College Cerf Ampthitheatre, Portland, OR [map]
August 12th - 14th: Stoller Vineyards, Dayton, OR [map]
August 19th - 21st: Montinore Estates, Forest Grove, OR [map]
Shakespeare Around Town
A number of other companies have shows coming up. We encourage you to support Shakespeare in the Willamette Valley by attending as many of these shows as you can.

Northwest Classical - The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Northwest Classical presents The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by company member Butch Flowers. Always focusing on story and language, Northwest Classical's productions tend to be direct and intimate.
December 17th - January 9th. Thurs - Sat. 7 PM. Sunday 2 PM
Tickets are $18. $15 for students and seniors.
The Shoe Box Theatre
2110 SE 10th Ave in Portland
Bag and Baggage - Macbeth
In March, Jan Powell directs Artistic Director Scott Palmer's adaption of Macbeth for Hillsboro's Bag & Baggage. The company specializes in creative and original interpretations of classic works, so expect a new take on Shakespeare's dark vision of power and corruption.
March 11th - 27th. Eves 7:30. Sunday Matinee 2PM
Tickets are $16 - $23
Venetian Theatre
253 E Main St. in Downtown Hillsboro

 

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