Podcasts about artists repertory theatre

For many arts organizations in Portland and across the nation, recovery from the pandemic has been painfully slow or downright elusive. Lagging box office sales are forcing companies like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Artists Repertory Theatre to layoff staff and cancel or scale back entire seasons. So it’s all the more surprising to see an arts venue in the region that has drawn more than 70,000 people since it opened last year for musical performances, art exhibits, community events and classes. The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts opened in March 2022 in downtown Beaverton and features a 550-seat theater, art gallery, outdoor plaza, meeting and rehearsal spaces. Executive director Chris Ayzoukian joins us to talk about the new season which launched last month and his hopes for the future amid uncertainty around arts funding and audience demand. 

One of Portland’s most established and storied professional theatres, Artists Repertory Theatre, announced a series of financial setbacks this summer. First, ART suspended its 2023-2024 season as it was getting ready to start rehearsing its first show. That was followed by major staff layoffs: the already lean organization laid off four of its 10 administrative and support positions. Aiyana Cunningham began her position as managing director shortly before these announcements. The renovations continue on the organization's downtown building that will ultimately serve as a space for ART’s own productions and as a regional arts space for smaller organizations without their own venues. Cunningham joins us to talk about the economic challenges ART and other established arts organizations are facing and more about how it’s approaching its mission of creating a regional arts hub.

In this episode, Adam and Budi have a great conversation with director, public speaking coach, and podcaster Adriana BaerAdriana has directed for Alley Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland Playhouse, Profile Theatre (Artistic Director, 2012-2015), The Cutting Ball Theater (Associate Artistic Director, 2004-2007), and others. She has worked with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Opera Boston, The Public Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, San Francisco Circus Center/Pickle Circus, California Shakespeare Theater, and American Conservatory Theater. Among other institutions, she has taught for Portland State University, Columbia University School of the Arts, The Acting Company, and Berkeley Repertory Theatre. She has lectured as a guest speaker at dozens of colleges and universities nationwide. Adriana holds a Bachelor of Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and a Masters of Fine Arts in Directing from Columbia University. She is a member of SDC, the professional union of stage directors and choreographers.She is the cohost of The Wellbeing Workshop's podcast and offers online courses and coaching through Adriana Baer Creative.Adriana lives on a two-acre farm just outside Portland, Oregon with her husband and child, and spends most of her free time digging in the dirt, practicing yoga, and reading.Special offer for Theatre of Others listeners! When you purchase Audition Master Class, you'll get free access to Get In: How to Rock Your MFA & URTA Auditions.* https://www.adrianabaercreative.com/others Support the showIf you enjoyed this week´s podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. To submit a question: Voice- http://www.speakpipe.com/theatreofothers Email- podcast@theatreofothers.com Support the Theatre of Others - Check out our Merch!Show Credits Co-Hosts: Adam Marple & Budi MillerProducer: Jack BurmeisterMusic: https://www.purple-planet.comAdditional compositions by @jack_burmeister

In this episode, which is hopefully the first of many, we talk about how a strong  director's concept of a well-known play can breathe new life into it and reveal themes and aspects of the play that were previously unnoticed or unexplored. And how you can even do this without changing a single word of the script. We're calling this "When the Production is the Adaptation." We're beginning with Sam Hull's 2003 post-apocalyptic, punk goth production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Yes, you read that right. In this episode, Sam reveals:How he even came up with a post-apocalyptic, punk goth Crucible and why he thought a small, Catholic, liberal arts college in rural Minnesota was a great place to mount it. The pushback and ultimate success the production received When he thinks a play should be produced "as written" and when it's time to mix it up Why he founded a national non-profit for women artists and athletesAnd more!About Our GuestSam Hull is the Founder, Managing Artistic/Executive Director of ARTemis Arts a national non-profit that empowers female artists and athletes. Creatively Sam is a professional director, teacher, designer, creative consultant, acting coach and performer. He has directed award winning productions both on stage and in film, won numerous design awards and has appeared as a performer in over 60 productions including Opera, stage, film, and TV. His work in Las Vegas includes contracts as Assistant Show Director and as a Lead Director. He has also directed for Sabre Latin America both in Miami and Orlando, Florida. Sam has worked internationally in Canada and Russia. Nationally he has collaborated with Universal Studios, Disney World, and regionally with Artists Repertory Theatre, Van port Square Studios,  Staged!, Running Deer Films, Hot flash Films and the Portland Area Theatre Alliance (PATA) where he served on the Board of Directors as the Auditions Coordinator. He was a professor of Theatre for 18 years and has taught at the University of Florida, St. John's University, College of St. Benedict, Rollins College, the University of Central Florida, Pacific University, and The Art Institute of Portland in addition to others.  Sam has presented at the American Theatre of Higher Education conference in New York City and Vegas and serves as an international consultant to the Greater Vancouver ProConnect with host Melissa Schmitz***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter***101 Stage AdaptationsFollow the Podcast on Facebook & InstagramRead Melissa's plays on New Play ExchangeConnect with Melissa on LinkedInWays to support the show:- Buy Me a Coffee- Tell us your thoughts in our Listener Survey!- Give a 5-Star rating- Write a glowing review on Apple Podcasts - Send this episode to a friend- Share on social media (Tag us so we can thank you!)Creators: Host your podcast through Buzzsprout using my affiliate link & get a $20 credit on your paid account. Let your fans directly support you via Buy Me a Coffee (affiliate link).

Performance art is nothing without an audience. During the pandemic some concerts, theatre and other artistic expression pivoted to online performances, but there is no replacing an in-person audience. Luan Schooler, the interim artistic director for Artists Repertory Theatre, says before the curtain rises in a finished production, playwrights need an audience to develop their work. That's the idea behind the free public performances in the Mercury Festival, which runs through Sunday. Schooler says ART has been supported nearly 55 different projects and more than 240 artists in its Mercury program created in pandemic. She joins us to talk about this first in-person festival of new work, and why it's debuting in a public space free of charge.

Kisha in her own words:   “I grew up in Virginia, a gymnast and cheerleader, playing softball and soccer. I knew I was bound to do something special, but I didn't know what.   When it comes to my career, I'm often called a ‘bad-ass.' As the Managing Director of Portland's Artists Repertory Theatre, I feel at home on a stage in front of thousands of people. When it comes to spending time outside, however, I wasn't what you would call an “outdoors woman.”   I didn't camp. I didn't spend hours in the woods. Yet, when I moved to Portland, I found a love I didn't know existed: my love of hiking. Days spent exploring all of the swimming holes and waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest transitioned into my first solo trip to Reykjavнk, Iceland.    I scuba-dived, hiked through Gullfoss, Skуgafoss, Hengifoss, and fiingvellir, and I HIKED UP AND THROUGH A GLACIER! Me! All 240 pounds of me.    I became a superhuman on that trip. I'm a fat, Black woman with Lupus who hikes glaciers, mutherf*ckers! My outdoor exploration unlocked something in me. After that, I was unstoppable!   When I returned home, I wanted to hike all the time. I bought sturdy hiking shoes. I started reading outdoor magazines, watching Eco-Challenge and going into every outdoor store. I was inspired…but I never saw anyone that looked like me.   I didn't let that stop me. I've been moving since, continuing to have solo journeys and proving to myself time after time that just because I look the way I do, doesn't mean I'm not strong and powerful - nor does it mean that these adventures are not for me!”   “I'm undertaking my biggest challenge yet. I am hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail, from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean. I am hiking to change the narrative. It matters to me to share my journey because not only did I not think I couldn't do this as a child, but I never even knew stuff like this existed.   I know my story will have bigger resonance with others. I know I can be the representation I never saw. I want to offer an invitation to a journey of self-discovery and an introduction to a lifelong passion.  And I hope we can do this together. — Kisha Jarrett”   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Who is Kisha and what she does The traditional lands of Portland Moving to Portland 5 years ago Growing up in a small town in Virginia Not spending time in the outdoors Falling in love with hiking  Going on her first solo travel trip to Iceland Climbing a glacier and feeling empowered Being diagnosed with lupus  Wanting to do all the things Heading to Bali in Feb 2020 Why Iceland Being told that she couldn't do it.  Becoming more aware of her body  The pivotal moments Taking the first steps into living a life of adventure Google! Looking different and not seeing herself in the media Black Girl in the Woods The dream of thru-hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail  Looking for exploration and a different type of challenge Deciding not to do a solo thru hike How the documentary came about  Finding information about Native Land in USA Native Land App  Preparations for thru hiking Finding gear to fit her body Getting a pack fitted Learning over the past year by doing Thinking about impact planning Financials of a thru hike  Planning to hike in summer 2022 Needing to hike in an alternative manner  Dealing with the setbacks from the first thru-hike Processing and dealing with the experience Feeling disappointed and moving forward Recovering from surgery Top tips to encourage you to start   Social Media   Black Girl In The Woods - chronicles Kisha Jarrett's 1,200-mile journey as a Black, plus-sized woman with chronic pain thru-hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail.   Website: www.blackgirlinthewoods.org    Instagram:   @black.girl.in.the.woods    @kisha.j    Twitter: @BGITW_doc   

In our fifth episode Aaron James and Andrew Dickson welcome actor Ayanna Berkshire to to the Mt. Freelance podcast. Ayanna started acting as a teenager and has been a working actor for two decades, with a career that spans Hollywood blockbusters, Independent films, episodic television, award-winning theater productions and yes, even commercial work. Perhaps best known for playing Cora in Twilight she is a resident artist of Artists Repertory Theatre and a 2020 recipient of the Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship. What makes Ayanna's career particularly impressive is the breadth and quality of her work and the fact that she's been able to thrive as a working actor based in Portland, Oregon. In fact her IMDB page reads like a history of Portland film and televisions from the past two decades.   While we don't always immediately think of actors as freelancers, Ayanna assures they most certainly are. In our interview Ayanna drives into her craft, sharing insights like what filmmakers need to do in order to set actors up for success and touches some of the challenges actors and performers, and in particular female actors of color, face.  And she offers up a long list of insanely practical and inspiring advice for any and all creative people from the dangers to selling out when you're young to the importance of forming a connection with the people you are working with right now because they are the ones who will create opportunities for you down the road. This episode is a must listen for anyone looking for insights into the craft of acting or looking to get fired up about digging into your freelance career and investing in your future.  

A special collaboration episode looking back on a year of Portland-based Artists Repertory Theatre's innovative programming through the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Malavika Varadan Malavika Varadan first discovered her love for theatre when she was 13, with the Artists Repertory Theatre in Bangalore. She went on to act in several productions in the city with various theatre groups before she moved to Dubai to pursue her career in radio. She continued to act and be on stage both through her job and outside of it.She was featured as one of Masala's 100 most influential people in the UAE. Her TED talk on 7 ways to make conversation with anyone is one the most-watched TEDx talks in the world - with about 20 million views. She took The Hive over in January 2019.About this episodeWe talk to Malavika about her intriguing and long career as a radio host on City 1016 and her journey and transition from that familiar bubble into her new exciting venture, The Hive. We talk a little bit about some of Malavika's many accomplishments, some of which include her TEDx talk, her win of the Khaleej Times Woman of Substance award, her love for drama, her hike in the Himalayas and so much more.Tune in for a really great episode, filled with little nuggets for your daily inspiration!Quotes"With radio, you are free to be a lot more you and I think that can everyday speak that being able to echo the words on the street, I think that really helps build your personality and helps you discover a lot about yourself which is useful in so many ways".''As I spent more and more time in the industry, I think it was also about finding ways to be better and learn more, even if it wasn't being demanded of you upfront".'I never even in my wildest dreams thought that I could be an entrepreneur, that I could have the guts to buy a business especially because radio had been doing well, I mean I have a job where I was being paid decently, got me fame and recognition, there were other opportunities that would cropping on the side. Radio's a full-time job but I thought, took a trip to the mountain and trekked and decided you know what, I'm just gonna jump into this because if I don't do it now, when am I gonna do it, how long am I going to keep doing the same radio show, it's so comfortable, it would be easy to do this my whole life but I think, I have to choose the more difficult part".'I think this ability to establish human connections is really a defining quality, its skills, that transcends cultures and age groups and I feel like as we get more and more connected digitally, we're losing the ability to do that in person".'It's important for us to encourage people to make conversation and make human connections. That's gonna be the way the world changes". "I think of Instagram as a billboard, right? It is the billboard that I want, so I'm gonna put on it what defines me like I wanna create stuff I put on it to represent what I want my brand to be, A. B, you would, if you want the brand, you would not let somebody just like drive by and spray paint or something on your billboard. If you have a negative comment, put it in on your own billboard".“People will forget what you say and people will forget what you do but they will never forget how you made them feel”.Useful LinksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/malavikavaradan/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=508842597 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malavika-varadan-88773586/ Tedx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4Zu5ZZAG7I Website: https://www.liveathive.ae/index.php 

In this episode ART continues the conversation with Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education and dives a little deeper into family research as it relates to Holocaust survivor experiences. The full podcast is available with purchase of our PREMIUM access at our website.    https://artistsrep.org/performance/berlin-diaries-audio-drama/   © 2021 Artists Repertory Theatre

Let's call this Season 2! We're back with a great interview with award-winning playwright and educator Andrea Stolowitz. Andrea has written a number of plays including the Oregon Book Award for Drama-winning (and Pulitzer Prize-nominated) Ithaka. She is the Lacroute Playwright-in-Residence at Artists Repertory Theatre. In this episode, Andrea and Liz chat about her experience, her process, and the challenges of making a life in the theatre. Visit andreastolowitz.com for more information about her work!

The Performing Artists Repertory Theatre, also called PART, is located in the Crossroads Mall in Omaha. PART presents the musical Mamma Mia!, which opens January 31st.  We talk with Gordon Cantiello, the President and CEO, and also Director of the production.  Gordon, has a gentle demeanor, and remarkable experience in acting and teaching, and has an extensive education and acting career. Omaha has been fortunate to have Gordon's talent!  PART has recently produced The Last Five Years, Plaid Tidings, Ring of Fire, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Always Patsy Cline, Christmas My Way: A Sinatra Holiday Bash and many others.  The theatre is an intimate space where big things can happen.  You definitely will want to see a production at PART!Mamma Mia! opens January 31st and runs until February 16th.  Don't miss the show!The Performing Artists Repertory Theatre, 7400 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE  68114Website: www.performingartistsrepertorytheatre.orgFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/PARTheatre/ Mamma Mia! Dates Showtimes:Friday, Jan 31 @ 7PM Saturday Feb 1 @ 2PM and 7PMSunday, February 2 @ 2PM Thursday, February 6 @ 7PMFriday, February 7 @ 7PMSaturday, February 8 @ 2PM and 7PMSunday, February 9 @ 2PM Friday, February 14 @ 7PMSaturday, February 15 @ 2PMSunday, February 16 at 2PMTickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 402-706-0778 Mamma Mia! Cast:Directed by: Gordon CantielloMuscial Director: Jennifer Novak HaarChoreography:  Amber WilsonMackenzie Dehmer as DonnaCharlotte Hedican as TanyaEvelyn Hill as Sophie SheridanAnalisa Peyton as Rosie MulliganSophie Sheridan as Evelyn HillDanny Denenberg as SkyJohn Hickerson as Harry BrightChris Berger as SamMarcus Benzel as BillJames Mankle as PepperRaymond Butler as EddieBrittany Thompson as AliHannah Post as LisaGirls Ensamble:  Maureen Novak Kitchen, Brooke Fenci, Carol Cal, Jamie Tran, and Katie OttenGuys Ensamble:  Matthew Kischer and Marcus Benzel  *******************************The Platte River Bard info:Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theplatteriverbard Instagram: platteriverbard Twitter:  @platteriverbard Hashtags:  #theplatteriverbard  #platteriverbard #communitytheatre   #nebraskatheatre #livetheatre  #nebraska  #performingarts  #communityEmail:  platteriverbard@gmail.comMusic is used with permission by Screaming Skull Productions. www.jollyrogerskc.com© The Platte River Bard Podcast, 2019, Chris and Sheri Berger

Dmae presents a special one-hour membership edition of Stage & Studio on KBOO. We feature  Damaso Rodriquez, artistic director of Artists Repertory Theatre to talk about the adaptation of 1984 by George Orwell as well highlights of the whole 2019/20 season. And in the second part of the show we’ll be joined by director Jessica […]

George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel 1984 has been adapted for the stage. The play is being performed by Artists Repertory Theatre and opens this Friday Sept 13. We talk with ART artistic director Dámaso Rodríguez, who also directed this production, and actor Claire Rigsby about how the themes of “Newspeak,” “thought police” and “Big Brother” are resonating right now.

Dmae talks with two directors opening plays soon. We hear from Rebecca Martinez who’s directing Wolf at the Door at Milagro Theatre (May 2 – 25) and Lava Alapai director of The Revolutionists at Artists Repertory Theatre. While it’s more common for female directors of color, they’re still underrepresented in Portland theatre. Both give insight into the […]

The west coast premier of an original play loosely based on Shakespeare’s Richard III just opened at Portland’s Artists Repertory Theatre. “Teenage Dick” is set in high school, and Richard is a disabled junior with cerebral palsy who schemes nefariously to try to become student body president. We talk with the Josh Hecht, the director of the play, and with a high school English teacher from Forest Grove. Danielle Restuccia took her class to see “Teenage Dick” this week.

On this episode of XRAY In The Morning: (1 ) News With Friends, with Hannah Rosenau and TJ, (2) Talk Media News, with Mike O'Lesker, (3) A classic episode of Oh My Dollar, (4) Kickstand Comedy with Dylan Reiff, Kara Moore, and Chris Parsons (5) Minority Retort with Jason Lamb and guests Ayanna Berkshire and Alex Ramirez de Cruz from the Artists Repertory Theatre production of Teenage Dick, a modern retelling of Richard III.

Minority Retort with Jason Lamb and guests Ayanna Berkshire and Alex Ramirez de Cruz from the Artists Repertory Theatre production of Teenage Dick, a modern retelling of Richard III

Minority Retort with Jason Lamb and guests Ayanna Berkshire and Alex Ramirez de Cruz from the Artists Repertory Theatre production of Teenage Dick, a modern retelling of Richard III

Friday, December 7th, 2018 On this episode of Minority Retort, host Jason Lamb sits down with actors Barbie Wu and Andrea Vernae, discussing the Artists Repertory Theatre's rendition of "Everybody".

On this episode of Minority Retort, host Jason Lamb sits down with actors Barbie Wu and Andrea Vernae, discussing the Artists Repertory Theatre's rendition of "Everybody".

Dmae presents an in-depth talk with veteran director William Earl Ray about his work on the Obie Award-winning play Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau at Artists Repertory Theatre. Featuring music from the Tony Award-winning musical…The Color Purple, adapted from Alice Walker’s classic novel, at Portland Center Stage. We’ll also give away tickets to both shows.  (Aired 11am 8/18/18 on KBOO 90.7 FM or always […]

Meet award winning playwright Larissa Fasthorse; most recently of The Thanksgiving Play at Artists Repertory Theatre.

What are artists thinking about when they talk about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for 2018? Susannah asked Monica Fleetwood and Tyharra Cozier of Syde-Ide Collaborations, Ayanna Berkshire of Artists Repertory Theatre, and James Dixon of Theatre Vertigo.

Dámaso Rodriguez is a Cuban American director based in Portland, Oregon, where he serves as artistic director of Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland's longest-running professional theatre company, which became a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) under his leadership. Prior to joining Artists Rep, Dámaso served as the associate artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse and co-founder and co-artistic director of the Furious Theatre in Los Angeles. And upcoming projects include work for Artists Rep, Actors Theater of Louisville and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Dámaso talks with Marc about his decision to leave Los Angeles and take over the leadership of Artists Rep, how he chooses a season for his audiences, his commitment to diversity and an Equity Diversity Inclusion Statement, and lots of details about his directing process and working with actors!

This week on "State of Wonder," exclusive sessions with singer-songwriter Josh Ritter and the epic band Typhoon, new ideas to preserve Portland's arts spaces, musician Laura Veirs branches into podcasting and children's books, and more.City Council Seeks to Preserve Arts Spaces with New ProposalsSo many Oregon cities are going through catalytic change because of rising real estate costs, and the front-line casualties include galleries, stages, clubs and artist studios. Most recently, Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland proposed selling half its building. At a work session this week, Portland City Council showed signs it may be ready to take action with a list of about two dozen recommendations for preserving arts and creative space, ranging from creating a new zoning category for creative spaces to an arts concierge in City Hall and giving arts groups priority pick of surplus city real estate.Former RACC Director Eloise Damrosch on the Future of Portland Arts - 4:19In the seventeen years that Eloise Damrosch was at the helm of the Regional Arts and Culture Council, she had a 10,000-foot view of the seismic changes in the city’s arts scene. She retired in 2017, paving the way for an executive search, now in its eighth month. It’s clear that the task ahead for the next generation of arts leaders is a heavy lift. Damrosch joined us this week to talk about her time at RACC and about this list of ideas on preserving creative space from commissioners Nick Fish and Chloe Eudaly.Live opbmusic Session with Typhoon - 11:49The band Typhoon is back this week with "Offerings," another record of songs made with finesse and ferocity. But this new release finds frontman and songwriter Kyle Morton going to strange and dark places, as it imagines one man’s descent into memory loss and madness. With as many as eleven musicians, this band has never lacked for ambition, but the high-concept music in “Offerings” raises the bar. The Silent Film Classic "The Passion of Joan of Arc" Gets a Soaring Live Soundtrack - 25:10For years, one of the worlds greatest films was thought lost, only to be discovered in a custodial closet in Norway. Carl Dreyer’s 1928 silent film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” will be screened at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Jan. 26 in a most unique way: Portland Youth Philharmonic’s chamber orchestra will perform Richard Einhorn’s oratorio “Voices of Light” live to accompany the film, along with a slew of soloists and vocal ensembles including the female vocal ensemble In Mulieribus and three Portland State University choirs. We spoke with the composer Richard Einhorn and PYP's musical director David Hattner, who conducted a similar production in New York City in 2006 to glowing reviews. The "New York Times" asked whether it was Einhorn's "Voices of Light" that accompanied the film, or the film that accompanied the music?Musician Laura Veirs on Her Children's Book and New Podcast - 35:08In 2018, Portland singer-songwriter Laura Veirs puts down her guitar and picks up the interview mike for a new podcast, "Midnight Lightning," where she talks to musician moms, charting all the insane things they do to keep their careers and families on track. From rootsy pickers to funk rockers, there’s one thing they all have in common, she says: “Guilt. That was the main thing everyone said. They feel guilty. Especially the touring moms. And then gratitude. ‘I’m grateful I get to do this.’” Veirs also tells us about the children’s book she just published about an early folk singer, “Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten.”Josh Ritter Plays Sisters - 44:46Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter is coming to Central Oregon for a concert at the Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series on Jan. 23. The Idaho native’s a big get for them. In addition to his accomplishments as a musician, Ritter also wrote a "New York Times" best-selling novel in 2011, "Bright’s Passage," about a farm boy caught up in World War I. We listen back to a conversation and performance on OPB’s Think Out Loud the year the book came out.

This week on "State of Wonder," the comedian Maria Bamford on her hit Netflix series, author Daniel Handler on his best-selling "Series of Unfortunate Events" books, and the man who pretty much invented the photography book, Robert Frank.Hard Times For Artists Repertory TheatreThe year got off to a hard start for Portland’s oldest theater, Artists Repertory. Founded in 1982, the mid-sized company performs high-octane work by hot playwrights, tackling subjects like racism, the Great Recession, and climate change. As OPB’s April Baer reports, the company announced plans to sell half its building to retire its debt and set it on a sustainable path, as well as the departure of its managing director.Comedian Maria Bamford - 6:38Comedian Maria Bamford is cruising back through Oregon next week for shows at Eugene’s McDonald Hall Jan. 12 and at Portland's Revolution Hall Jan. 13. She’s been cranking out the work lately. Last year she released a Netflix special, "Old Baby," where she's performing in front of all different kinds of crowds: clubs, neighborhood streets, a bowling alley with a bunch of complete strangers. She also kicked out a new web series, "Ave Maria Bamford" — sort of a self-help for the holidays missal — and her series on Netflix, “Lady Dynamite,” has wrapped a second season. In it, she plays a fictionalized version of herself, and tells stories about rebooting her career after a serious mental health crises breakdown in 2010.Nick Delffs Live at opbmusic - 18:20Nick Delffs was a longtime part of the Portland music scene, fronting the shaggy indie rock band The Shaky Hands and collaborating with Luz Elena Mendoza and Ali Clarys in the group Tiburones, before moving to Boise, Idaho, several years ago. Delffs went back on the road to promote the release of his first solo album, “Redesign,” and, no surprise, it’s a collection of songs about reinventing yourself.A Conversation With Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket - 22:40Beginning in 1999, a writer under the pen name Lemony Snicket began “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” a thirteen volume collection of blockbuster children’s books that have been turned into a movie and a Netflix series. They told the story of the Baudelaire children, who lost their parents in a fire and became the wards of their evil Count Olaf. The books struck a chord with kids because they didn’t moralize or try to make the world seem better than it was; instead, they confronted the fact that bad things happen, often for no reason at all.Lemony Snicket was later revealed to be the author Daniel Handler. He has since written many works under his own name, ranging from poetry to plays. Last fall, he released both the novel “All the Dirty Parts” and the children’s book “The Bad Mood and the Stick.” He spoke at Wordstock in November with "New York Times" TV critic Gilbert Cruz.Remembering Violinist Robert Mann - 32:36This week, a giant in the classical world — with Portland roots — passed away. Robert Mann, a founding member of the Juilliard String Quartet, died Monday at age 97. We take a moment to remember Mann, and the contributions he made to classical music, including the symphony where he got his start: the Portland Youth Philharmonic.Art Publisher Gerhard Steidl on Photographer Robert Frank - 35:11Robert Frank has been called the father of street photography because he was the first person to shoot everyday life with a raw, shoot-from-the-hip aesthetic, but "street photography" is an understatement. His photos of people around the world are really documentary works that tell complex stories, and his book "The Americans" (with an introduction by Jack Kerouac) basically invented the photography book as we understand it.Now the world’s preeminent publisher of photography books, Gerhard Steidl, is in town for an exhibition of Frank's work at Portland’s Blue Sky Gallery, titled “Robert Frank: Books and Films: 1947 to 2017.” Frank’s films are shown on a wall at the same size as the photos, all the photos are printed on newsprint, and, as Steidl tells us, they'll all be destroyed at the end of the run.Pepe Moscoso Passes the Torch at Fusionarte Radio - 45:28If you listen to the KBOO arts radio show Fusionarte, part of the Spanish language block, you know it’s a free-rolling conversation about everything that’s current. Host Pepe Moscoso talks to guests about books, theater, film, and music - lots and lots of good music. Now Moscoso is ending his run — a working artist, he’s going to spend more time on his photography and mixed media projects — and handing the show off to Luna Flores, a poet who also works with KBOO radio’s Youth Collective. We invited them in to talk about the show.

A chunk of land near Union Gap is giving way, and could cause a major landslide. Residents are considering if they should stay or go. Anna King reports. Also, April Baer from OPB's State of Wonder looks into major changes at Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland's oldest theatre company. And our political guys Bill Lunch and Jeff Mapes talk cannabis, oil drilling and the new opportunity for Oregonians to pump their own gas.

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Isaac Lamb is a long time Company Member of Third Rail Repertory Theatre. He performed on stages from coast to coast in the national tour of Defending the Caveman, Broadway’s longest running one-person show. He’s also performed and directed in regional theaters throughout the United States. Locally, Isaac has been seen at Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre, Broadway Rose, Portland Playhouse, PETE, and many more. He has directed for Portland Playhouse, Broadway Rose, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Lakewood Theatre, and with CoHo Production. Isaac can often be seen behind a camera putting his film degree to good use, directing features, short films and music videos. His viral video proposal to his now-wife, Amy Beth Frankel, has been seen over 27 million times. Isaac and Amy make their home in Portland with their charmingly talkative cat, Frank.

Artists Repertory Theatre production of Jackie Sibblies Drury's "We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915" is a nervy farce-meets-race riot.The play follows a troupe of actors — half black, half white — as they struggle to prepare for a presentation about the first genocide of the 20th century, the extermination of the Herero people of Namibia by German soldiers. However, rehearsals devolve and the group is nudged over the edge by simmering questions about race, authenticity, and truth. As part of our “What Are You Looking At?” series, State of Wonder sent producer Aaron Scott to see and discuss the play with Kimberly Howard, program officer at the PGE Foundation and former head of the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center.Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/artists-rep-we-are-proud-to-present

Where the Wonderful talk about doing what they do! Where the Wonderful talk about doing what they do! 01:18-03:31Blitzen Trapper's about to drop a new record! Here's a preview, with Eric Earley telling us about remaining an old logging town for one of the songs, "Cadillac Road". 03:31-12:39Denny Swofford, the co-founder of Cavity Search Records, talks with Matt Drenik (Battleme, Lions) about the label's early days. Their conversation is being released as an opbmusic podcast this week. 12:40-21:00 Elizabeth Gilbert talks about coming back from a creative slump, and kicking her creativity in the gear. Her new book is called "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear". Check her out in Portland October 4th. 21:50-28:10Oregon Art Beat's Robe Imbriano gives us the lowdown on an ambitious new musical from Artists Repertory Theatre, "Cuba Libre" — a collaboration with playwright Carlos Lacamara, and Grammy--Nominated Afro-Carribean band Tiempo Libre. 28:10-36:40An opbmusic session with Wild Ones, who are showing some ferocious on "Heatwave"37:38-45:37What do buildings sound like? Third Angle New Music creates a new performance for the library at Mt. Angel Abbey. The building was designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and the work draws on both Finnish tradition and the ethos of the building. But Third Angle takes it one step further - they're actually using the building as an instrument. 45:38-52:30Just hanging out with a living legend. Soul jazz giant Les McCann, on his 80th birthday, stops in to talk to Derek Smith of KMHD's Morning Shift, to talk about his music and photography.

Where the Wonderful talk about doing what they do! 00:45-02:58Blitzen Trapper's about to drop a new record! Here's a preview, with Eric Earley telling us about remaining an old logging town for one of the songs, "Cadillac Road". 02:59-12:07Denny Swofford, the co-founder of Cavity Search Records, talks with Matt Drenik (Battleme, Lions) about the label's early days. Their conversation is being released as an opbmusic podcast this week. 12:08-20:20Elizabeth Gilbert talks about coming back from a creative slump, and kicking her creativity in the gear. Her new book is called "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear". Check her out in Portland October 4th. 21:25-27:44Oregon Art Beat's Robe Imbriano gives us the lowdown on an ambitious new musical from Artists Repertory Theatre, "Cuba Libre" — a collaboration with playwright Carlos Lacamara, and Grammy--Nominated Afro-Carribean band Tiempo Libre. 27:45-36:10An opbmusic session with Wild Ones, who are showing some ferocious on "Heatwave"37:13-45:11What do buildings sound like? Third Angle New Music creates a new performance for the library at Mt. Angel Abbey. The building was designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and the work draws on both Finnish tradition and the ethos of the building. But Third Angle takes it one step further - they're actually using the building as an instrument.

For over thirty years, PHAME has provided opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to pursue their passion in the arts, sharing the stage with acts such as Pink Martini and putting on plays like “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Grease.” But their new production, “Up The Fall,” is unlike anything they've done before: PHAME commissioned an original, full-length musical from local playwright Debbie Lamedman and singer-songwriter Laura Gibson. It runs Aug. 22–29 at Artists Repertory Theatre.Read the full article: http://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-inclusive-portland-performing-group-presents-1st-world-premiere/

Today on the show: lots of goodbyes. A writer says goodbye to the New Orleans she used to know. A musical phenom gives Portland a big farewell smooch, as he takes off for the continent. And a dancer bids farewell to a measure of safety, during a nearly disastrous public rehearsal.But there're also some hellos! A world premiere, a best new band. Plus, sandwiches. For over thirty years, PHAME has provided opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to pursue their passion in the arts, sharing the stage with acts such as Pink Martini and putting on plays like "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Grease." But their new production, “Up The Fall,” is unlike anything they’ve done before: PHAME commissioned an original, full-length musical from local playwright Debbie Lamedman and singer-songwriter Laura Gibson. It runs Aug. 22–29 at Artists Repertory Theatre. 9:10 - Portland author Ellen Urbani lived through the final years of Guatemala’s horrific civil war—an experience she wrote about in her first book, 'When I Was Elena.' She then spent 13 years as an art therapist working with oncology patients and disaster survivors. Both experiences primed her for dealing with trauma in her first novel, 'Landfall,' about the days after Hurricane Katrina. 19:12 - In a city where it seems like everyone plays in five bands, there are few as booked up as Papi Fimbres. He’s a lynchpin in a whopping 23 bands, including Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, Sun Angle, Minden, and Mascaras. And he’s putting them all on hold as he moves to Germany for a year. He told us about his decision to leave – and five things every prospective Portlander needs to know. 27:22 - Divers live shows are so electrically sweaty and infamous that they topped Willamette Week’s best new bands poll this year. They stopped by opbmusic to test the sound proofing capability of the opb studio. 32:31 - Uncage the Soul Productions has produced all kinds of gorgeous, viral time-lapse videos of Portland and Oregon. We talked with the filmmakers about how they do it. 36:43 - Something went up online this week that caught our eyes. It’s a video of Daniel Giron of 11: Dance Co. dancing on the Portland waterfront when he's threatened by a man with a sledge hammer. But instead of stopping, Giron rips his shirt off, ups his twirls, and prances right into the Salmon Street Springs Fountain, while his friends go crazy cheering. He and 11's artistic director, B.B. DeLano, told us about the experience. 41:43 - Frank McCourt honed his storytelling skills as a teacher in a vocational high school in New York. He found stories were one way to keep the kids engaged, particularly since he didn’t know how to teach. But it wasn’t until he retired to Ireland 30 years later that he started putting those stories down on paper in memoirs. His first, 'Angela’s Ashes,' won the Pulitzer Prize in 1997.

This week, we take you behind-the-scenes at one of the city's most dynamic theaters, Artists Repertory Theatre, with a show recorded in front of a live audience on the Alder Stage.The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under the artistic direction of Dámaso Rodriguez, the theater has both expanded its resident artist company from five people to more than 20 and opened its doors to eight other performing organizations, from Profile Theatre and Hand2Mouth to Portland Revels and the Risk/Reward Festival.And at the center of what everyone's now calling "The ArtsHub" is Rodriguez. He is on a mission, and he lays it out for us this hour as guest curator. 0:00 - Rodriguez moved to Portland two years ago from Los Angeles, where he co-founded Furious Theatre Company and worked as associate artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He tells us about his original plans to grow Artists Rep's resident artists company — and how it's going thus far. 9:17 - Musical interlude by the band Bourbon Jockey. 9:45 - So much is going on in the ArtsHub everyday that we wanted to dive in to see what a day-in-the-life of the building is like. So we sent three producers to travel from dress rehearsals to the buzzing scene shop. We descended into "The Dungeon" in search of a dragon costume, before joining a roomful of singing and dancing teenagers. The result is this behind-the-scenes radio documentary. Needless to say, there wasn't a quiet minute. Also, watch our slide show. 29:54 - We ask Rodriguez what he was thinking inviting so many organizations under one roof (because it seems just a little crazy) and whether it's a model for nonprofits moving forward. 33:48 - Musical interlude from Bourbon Jockey. 34:49 - Three working actors take us through what it takes to make a living, and Rodriguez tells us how he hopes the resident artists program might change things. 44:31 - Finally, we check in with award-winning playwright Andrea Stolowitz, who's currently in Berlin, and Rodriguez tells us about Artists Rep's ambitious program to commission eight new plays. Hear our full interview with Stolowitz here.If you want to learn more about Rodriguez, you can listen to our preview interview with him.Finally, here are just a few of the shows going on at the ArtsHub this summer:Hand2Mouth Theatre: "Time, A Fair Hustler" (July 28–Aug 16)Portland Shakespeare Project: "Twelfth Night" (July 8–Aug 2) and "Proscenium Live" staged readings (July 14, 19, 20)Profile Theatre's In Dialogue Stage Readings: "The Lady Onstage" (July 13, 14)Risk/Reward Festival of New Performance (July 10–19)

Shared workspace is all the rage with start-ups, artisans, and freelancers these days, but does it work for arts nonprofits? Artists Repertory Theatre is finding out. It has invited eight other theater-related organizations to cozy up in an experiment in cohabitation. They're calling it the Artshub, and they're hoping it might prove a model for future nonprofits.On any given day, there're plays opening, rehearsals rehearsing, scene shop saws buzzing, students singing, and pigeons making googly eyes.We sent three producers to spend an entire day at the building exploring everything that was happening, from the first person in to the last person to turn out the lights, and this behind-the-scenes documentary is the result. Host April Baer introduces the ArtsHub — along with our ArtsHub drinking game. 00:52 - Artists Rep artistic producer Shawn Lee is the first in most days. He circles the building looking for new graffiti and trash, and then heads in to deal with production notes from the previous evening's opening preview of "The Invisible Hand." 3:09 - Production director Brent Sullivan takes April down to the scene shop, where they're building the set for "The Price," and then into the Alder Stage, where they're hanging lights. (She also stopped in to learn about making breakable vases and blood splatters with prop master Natalie Heikkinen. Hear it here.) 6:22 - While machines fire in the belly of the building, producer Aaron Scott heads upstairs to the Artists Rep offices. Jerry Tischleder, the artistic director of the Risk/Reward Festival, plays air traffic control; pigeons soundtrack inner monologues; and managing director Sarah Horton squints and tries to figure out how to make it all work financially. 8:40 - In the lobby, curators of the Geezer Gallery are hanging artwork. Production assistant Phoebe Flanigan asks what exactly make a geezer, before heading down to "The Dungeon" with Portland Revels in search of a dragon. 11:20 - Host April Baer hangs out with Profile Theatre artistic director Adriana Baer (no relation). As the biggest tenant, Profile served as a lynchpin for the Artshub, putting on its shows between Artists Rep's shows, filling both theaters year round. And now Adriana is finding new ways to cross-pollinate: she's directing "The Price" for Artists Rep. 14:12 - On the other side of the building, a group of teenagers are singing fearlessly at the musical theater conservatory Staged. Being in the building means they're getting to see what it means to succeed in the theater. 16:02 - We head to one of the final rehearsals for "The Invisible Hand," which had its first preview the night before. The play is a tense economic thriller that has been four years in the making for director Allen Nause. Listen to his conversation on "Think Out Loud" with the Pulitzer-winning playwright, Ayad Akhtar, and lead actor Imran Sheikh. 17:55 - As "The Invisible Hand" actors warm up for the show (for resident artist John San Nicholas, that means rapping in a Pakistani dialect), the audience starts to crowd into the lobby and file into the theater. Then after the show, the production assistants reset the stage, and the janitor starts his circuit.

Touring around Artist Rep's ArtsHub, one of our favorite moments was hanging out with prop master Natalie Heikkinen

This week, we take you behind-the-scenes at one of the city's most dynamic theaters, Artists Repertory Theatre, with a show recorded in front of a live audience on the Alder Stage.The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under the artistic direction of Dámaso Rodriguez, the theater has both expanded its resident artist company from five people to more than 20 and opened its doors to eight other performing organizations, from Profile Theatre and Hand2Mouth to Portland Revels and the Risk/Reward Festival.And at the center of what everyone's now calling "The ArtsHub" is Rodriguez. He's on a mission, and he lays it out for us this hour as guest curator. 0:00 - Rodriguez moved to Portland two years ago from Los Angeles, where he co-founded Furious Theatre Company and worked as associate artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He tells us about his original plans to grow Artists Rep's resident artists company — and how it's going thus far. 8:39 - Musical interlude by the band Bourbon Jockey 10:00 - So much is going on in the ArtsHub everyday, that we wanted to dive in to see what a day-in-the-life of the building is like. So we sent three producers to travel from dress rehearsals to the buzzing scene shop. We descended into "The Dungeon" in search of a dragon costume, before joining a roomful of singing and dancing teenagers. The result is this behind-the-scenes radio documentary. Needless to say, there wasn't a quiet minute. 30:09 - We ask Rodriguez what he was thinking inviting so many organizations under one roof (because it seems just a little crazy) and whether it's a model for nonprofits moving forward. 33:22 - Musical interlude from Bourbon Jockey 35:04 - Three working actors take us through what it takes to make a living, and Rodriguez tells us how he hopes the resident artists program might change things. 44:54 - Finally, we check in with award-winning playwright Andrea Stolowitz, who's currently in Berlin, and Rodriguez tells us about Artists Rep's ambitious program to commission eight new plays.

The artistic director of Artists Repertory Theatre has big ideas about the role theater can play in the community. He's also developed vanguard new ways for creating community within his theater. Take a listen, get acquainted, then tune in Saturday as Damaso takes our show for a spin.

0:00: Intro1:00: Revolution Hall will open in February1:40: Portland Opera becomes a summer festival with smaller shows.6:30: Cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives brings Oregon Symphony pals Greg Ewer and Joe Berger along for a conversation about innovation and classicism in music. 18:45: Iranian comics author Marjane Satrapi remembers her path to her chosen medium.25:50: Portland musician Laura Gibson moves east to try her hand at short fiction.29:30: Native American design is featured by Native(X).33:30: The Confluence Project searches for sounds of Celilo Falls.36:55: Artists Repertory Theatre helps build a musical from scratch.42:30: Elizabeth Pitcairn walks us through adventures with The Red Violin.45:55: Lowriders in Space brings lowrider culture to young adult literature.