Dear 21ten Community, Happy October, and welcome to the first edition of our monthly newsletter! Once a month, starting now, we will be sending out a message to everyone in our community chock full of updates on what’s happening at 21ten and features of our artists and collaborators. To kick things off, let’s take a look at what we saw here during late summer and early fall, and preview the months ahead. But first, we wanted to remind you about the Pizza Party Fundraiser taking place October 28th. This is a fundraiser and community builder in support of our fall production Taking Care of Animals. The play's director Alex Hurt and Ted Rooney, the artistic director of 21ten, will be on hand to talk about this world premiere production and 21ten's season. The event will be graciously hosted at Sue Mach and Bruce Burkhartsmeier's residence. Reserve a spot with a $50 or more donation. Oct 28, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM 1653 SE Harney St, Portland, OR 97202, USA |
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Thanks for reading! On to the newsletter! |
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52 Pick-Up August 25 - September 17 We opened our latest BareBones production in August, a heartfelt comedy about the rise and fall of a relationship told in a completely randomized order. We were lucky enough to extend by another week to make sure everyone could see the show. From director Gavin Hoffman:
“The story of a romance, at least to me, is best revisited as a series of vignettes, rather than as a singular arc with an explicit meaning. The meaning of a romance is (or was) in the moment, and one moment does not necessarily lead in a straight line to the next moment, nor to a tidy conclusion of meaning. I think this play reflects some of that in a provocative and delightful way.” |
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52 Pick-Up is closed, but like all BareBones Productions, we will now bring the show out into the community for many future performances. |
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Here We Are Again Still September 23 - October 1 Fast on the heels of 52 Pick-Up, we brought an encore performance of our very first BareBones Production, Here We Are Again Still, back to 21ten for a limited two-week run. From actor (and 21ten’s artistic director) Ted Rooney:
“This story is so, so special to me as an artistic director and an actor. HWAAS perfectly illustrates the spirit of 21ten and what BareBones theatre is about. I am so glad to be able to bring the stories of Paddy, Imelda and Tony throughout the metro area and the greater state of Oregon… I am very proud of the work we the actors have done in following Gavin’s lead. Our hearts are so in it.”
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Taking Care of Animals November 16 - December 10 Coming next month, we have our inaugural mainstage production of the season: Jerrod Jordahl’s Taking Care of Animals. In this dark, left-of-center comedy, a farmer, his daughter, and his two employees vie for power in the midst of a relentless winter storm. We are incredibly excited to be mounting this world premiere production, and to be hosting director Alex Hurt. From Alex: “Reading this play made me laugh out loud, and brought me to tears. It's a story that has the power to transport the viewer into a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. A voice that achieves this needs to be heard. This story needs to be told. The lives need to be witnessed. I’m excited and honored to be a part of it.” |
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October Guest Performances 21ten rents out our space to local theatre groups for a variety of workshops and performances. This month, we were/are proud to host two different events: Stage Fright Festival II, and Piercing the Veil: A Samhain Celebration.
Piercing the Veil: A Samhain Celebration - which opens tonight - is a collaboration between Musica Universalis and Kettlehead Studios. It is a celebration of the Celtic stories of Samhain told through poetry, singing, dancing, and puppetry. Piercing the Veil opens October 20th and runs through the 29th. Get your tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/piercing-the-veil-a-samhain-celebration-tickets-686005299317
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21tenTedTalks A Note From Artistic Director Ted Rooney I think everyone knows how excited I am about 21ten’s BareBones Productions (Look for updates on performances around the city and state and expect our next BareBones show to be christened soon). But I am uncertain the word has yet spread of the remarkable season we have for our main stage. I feel so fortunate to have had a couple projects simply fall into our lap. Shows that normally might’ve been done on a much larger stage are included in 21ten’s 40 seat house season. Remarkable. Opening November 17th, we have our first world premiere of a new play, Taking Care Of Animals. It’s a unique, very funny and dark play - Think Coen Brothers. New York Playwright Jerrod Jordahl has taken a shining to us, choosing 21ten as the theater to first tell his story. Jerrod will be with us of the second week of rehearsal as well as flying in with his wife for opening. Such an honor to have him here with his good friend Alex Hurt directing. In January, we are giving Portland its first full production of Caryl Churchill's A Number. This with two of Portland‘s top actors (Bruce Burkhartsmeier and Alex Hurt) and with longtime Portland actor, teacher, and director Mike O’Connell at the helm. I just can’t get over those two things happening here in only our second season. It seems that my hope of using the space to build community, and my hope of mounting great stories portrayed in an intimate environment by great storytellers, may be happening. I am also very grateful to have Corrib Theatre again in our space in March. And The Actor's Conservatory (TAC) is bringing their production of Hamlet in April. And finally, I am hoping we haven’t bit off more than we can chew – and I am slightly terrified – but we are going to take a stab at Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya in May. Chris Connor, our director, thinks we are ready…. |
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That’s all for now! Check your inbox for more updates as they come, and we’ll see you in November for the next edition of the newsletter.
Sincerely, The 21ten Team |
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