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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon
ACE Writing Project EOU theater department saves rock ’n’ roll
features Joan Burbick
& Alex Kuo
By Sabrina Thompson
LA GRANDE — The ACE Writ-
ing Project is a monthly author
reading series hosted by Art Center
East. The Nov. 20 Writing Project
will feature two writers with recent
publications from La Grande-based
publishers, Redbat Books: Joan
Burbick and Alex Kuo.
The authors will read selections
of their work followed by time for
discussion.
A community open mic will
conclude the eve-
ning. Open mic
sign-up is at 6:45
p.m., and the
readings begin at
7 p.m.
Born in
Alex Kuo
Boston, Alex Kuo
lived his early
childhood in the French Concession
of occupied Shanghai for most of
World War II. As a bridge gen-
eration writer and teacher, he has
lived and held academic appoint-
ments on both sides of the Pacifi c.
Kuo taught American literature
in Beijing in its political spring of
1989 and has returned to it every
other year since to lecture at vari-
ous universities. He was a professor
of English at Washington State
University until his retirement in
2012.
The author of several books of
poetry, fi ction and nonfi ction, Kuo
won an American Book Award for
his short fi ction collection “Lipstick
and Other Stories.” His most recent
novel, “Mao’s Kisses,” explores
Beijing’s 1989
Tiananmen
Square incident.
For more
than 30 years,
Joan Burbick
lived in the
Palouse region of Joan Burbick
Northern Idaho
and Eastern Washington writing
and teaching at Washington State
University with periodic stints as
a visiting professor at universities
in Beijing, Hong Kong and Warsaw.
She now lives on an island off the
coast of Washington.
Her two nonfi ction books, “Rodeo
Queens and Gun Show Nation:
Gun Culture” and “American
Democracy,” were based on years of
interviewing people about how the
myths of the West shape everyday
life. These interviews led her to
many people whose lives were
dramatically altered by violence.
Their stories led her to “Stripland,”
her fi rst novel.
The ACE Writing Project meets
every third Wednesday at Art
Center East, 1006 Penn Ave., La
Grande. The sessions are always
free to the public and are supported
in part by the Oregon Cultural
Trust.
LA GRANDE — Queen is com-
ing to La Grande in the form of a
rock musical. “We Will Rock You”
marks the return of EOU’s theater
department after summer break.
Directed by theater professor Mike
Heather, the show takes on the
musical stylings and performance
energy of the late Freddie Mercury.
“It’s like a concert with a story,”
Heather said.
In this story, live music and
instruments have been long forgot-
ten in the wake of digitally created
music and virtual reality. Only a
few long to return to what they
can’t quite remember: the bohemi-
ans in search of the rhapsody. The
hero, Galileo Figaro, portrayed by
senior music and theater student
Jeremiah Dockweiler, has dreams
of forgotten music and lyrics and
artists. He is the only hope for
the bohemians. While navigating
his relationship with fellow rebel
Scaramouche, portrayed by junior
music student Destiny Abeyla, he
must fi nd the last musical instru-
ment on the planet.
Dockweiler said one it was a
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challenge bringing his performance
to the level of Freddie Mercury
without damaging his voice in the
rehearsal process. Dockweiler’s
tenor vocals, matched often with
Abeyla’s harmonic tone, bring clas-
sic Queen songs to life.
Abeyla’s character is a confi dent,
independent and strong-willed
woman. Although sometimes
Scaramouche can come across as
abrasive and stubborn, Abeyla’s
portrayal brings a softness through
(continues on page 7)
Subscriber ONLY Presale
Only $10.00 Each (reg. price $12.00 ea.)
If you are a subscriber to The Observer you can purchase
your tickets at
The Observer office
Monday 11/11/19 - Friday 11/15/19
Offer good thru 11/15/19. Advance ticket purchase
is highly recommended.
In it’s 72nd season
as the oldest, continuously running
Orchestra in Oregon, the
Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra
presents
Unfinished Business
Featured Artist: Viet Block, violinist
Violin Concerto in G Minor by Max Bruch
Emperor Waltz by Johann Strauss
Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished) by Franz Schubert
Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 7:00pm
McKenzie Theater
Eastern Oregon University
Saturday, November 23, 2019, 1:00pm
Saint Francis de Sales Cathedral
Baker City
Adults: $12
Seniors: $8
EOU Students: $2
Highschool Students: $1
Tickets available on
nline:
www.granderondesy
ymphony.org
Direct Music Source e (La Grande)
& Betty’s Books (Ba aker City)
