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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2002)
. tebruary 1. 2002 PHOTO BY OWEN CAREY 28 Artists Rep stages the life o f a celebrated blues singer—and doesn’t leave out the lesbian bits castle’s rockin’ by Kronda Adair ou learn something new every meet someone on a plane who had seen her per form in her later years. By all accounts, she was day, or so my mother always told me. I like jazz as much an outstanding singer as the next person, so and quite risqué for I’m not sure why I’d never heard of her time— even Alherta Hunter. when performing for If you’ve never heard of her either, the president of the she was a jazz and blues diva of the United States. ’20s, ’30s and '40s with a long and Hunter, or the varied singing career that took her to Queen of Jazz as she New York and Chicago as well as was known, was mar throughout Europe. She was one of ried for a short time the first blues singers ever to record hut apparently never and was the first black singer to be consummated the backed by a white band. This month, union, reportedly Artists Repertory Theatre brings her telling her husband story vividly to life in its new produc she didn’t want to tion, My Castle's Rockin’: The Alberta have sex in her moth- Hunter Story. e , a * . . , , er’s house. The truth Director Stephen Alexander is glad . ... Director Stephen Alexander had r ^ was she was a lesbian. he got to know Alberta Hunter never heard of Hunter either, but he But you wouldn’t did plenty of research in the course of develop know it from her songs, which often co n ing the play. He even had the good fortune to tained blatant innuendo directed toward ■ men— com mon for female blues singers— such as “Som etim es h e’ll wake up just before dawn, to trim the edges off my front lawn.” Som e of her stuff was a little too risqué to have made it into this production, but plenty of the diva’s trade mark flirtation is there, and so are the facts of her long term lesbian relationship. My Castle's Rockin' is blessed with talent at every level. Alexander brings both theatrical and musical direct ing experience to the produc tion, while the exceptional Demene Hall brings Hunter to life. And no one could be more fitting to accompany her than Portland’s own piano master, Janice Scroggins. A ctress Demene Hall gets a kick out of playing the Queen of Jazz , • • • • • H a rd w a re P e t Food & S u p p lie s G a rd e n in g Tools & S u p p lie s Down-to-Earth P ro d u cts U -H a u l T railers & Trucks Mention this ad for 10% discount Mm Proud to be your Good Neighbor Agent for J years. Shawn Vorrath 6713 NE 63rd St Suite 102 Vancouver, WA 360-735-1452 STATI FARM I NSURANCI Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® State Farm Insurance Companies • Home Offices: Bloomington, Illinois statefarm.com™ 1 0 9 2 0 N W S t. Helens Road (5 0 3 ) 2 8 6 -1 2 9 1 /Fax: (5 0 3 ) 2 8 6 -9 5 9 2 “The best workout spares no effort... the same holds true for Christine!” Call today for a free qualification over the phone “/ wasn't sure I could buy a First Time Buyers ♦ FHA/VA Loons Self-Employed • Complicated Borrowers Bankruptcies & Foreclosures ♦ Credit Problems Investment Properties ♦ Pre-approvals 100% Financing Programs hom e but I saw Christine’s ad and called. We met and before / knew it I was pre qualified. Just as I found the Christine Hall perfect house I had to leai'e Mortgage Broker the country for three weeks. President's Club This could have meant disaster, but Christine went the 503 - 698-5429 distance and handled everything hassle-free! 8 0 0 -3 4 3 -9 9 4 3 W hen I returned, a ll I h ad to do was 5 03 - 301-1941 sign the papers an d m ove in. ” MT i - Richard, Manager, Jazzercise, Inc. hollc@eojlehomei^^
