J» 1 3 0
WWW JU STOUT COM
AUGUST 7 2005
IRJS PRIDE
THEATER ||||
F65TIVXL
i( P T ( M B i R I8TH-20TH, 200 9
LINCOLN CITY, 0 R É C 0 N
JU N ÇU
Love X-FXlfc.
HISTORIC T A F T DISTAI CT S W 5UT
S i P T i M B i R I9TH - 2 TILL 9 P M
ÉMC66D BY LIL y A R JM A N I
F f A T U R lN C 1.1V f fXOTIC A N I M A L PF R F O R M A N C € i,
D R A C SHOWS, "C R O W IIN C " C0NT6ST,
VtN D O RS, FLIP-FLOP STATION, W IN f BA R. R M O W !
FX L L HXPsVtST COOKING D6MO
C U L IN A R Y C fN TCR IN LINCOLN CITY
Sf P T iM B i R I8TH • 6 TILL 9 PM
$50 M f X L X N D W IN f IN C LU D iD
FOB. M O W IN FO R M A TIO N 541.557.1125
CLXM 8XKÉ
iW R F T ID fi RtSORT • OUTDOOR. FIRC PIT
if PTf MBf R I8TH • 6 P M • $T5 X L L YOU CX N fX T
DRINK SFRVICf A V X lL X B L f
FOB. MOR£ IN FORM A TIO N 800.452.2159
C O X iT X L X I D i N fTW O RK Bf Nf FIT
THf FILTHY • if PTf MBf B. I8TH &. I9TH
S fATIN C iTARTi AT 8 P M S5 COVf R • 21 X N D OVf R
F O R M O R f IN FORM A TIO N 541.996.2390
FLXMINÇO BINGO
f DfN H A I L • if PTf MBf R 20TH
AIOON • 18 AND O V f R
DRINK if R V I C f A ND M f N U A V X lL X B L f
FO R M ORf INFORM ATION 8 0 0 452.2151
W W W . 0 R e C 0 X J C 0 A5T.0RC
th
5 0 %
O F F A L L
G A Y
‘>M V: RENTAL PURCHASES!
’
PARADISE
14712 SE Stark St.
Portland, OR 97233
ADULT
VIDEO
ope “
Now Sellini* Glass
COME IN & CHECK OUT
OUR
ip'
• -
..
HUGE SELECTION OF:
Revival of the Fittest
Legendary Portland
Production
The C ircuit Returns
By RYAN J. PRADO
"FXMILY" F€UD
™
T h irty /e a rs a fte r its d e b u t. Tom Enyart s co m e d y The Circuit is in p ro d u ctio n
a g a in a t the new 100-seat Embers B a ckro om Lounge Theatre
The antics in question revolve around the
relationships of six characters who tour in a
professional lip-sync drag show. The piece is
set backstage during opening night in a new
city, with a local brought into the makeup
and dressing area by one of the entertain
ers. The play has an automatic draw for the
gay community because of its subject matter,
says Enyart, and when word spread through
Portland’s avid theater-going audiences, the
play became a cult hit.
Enyart asserts that it’s the human
qualities of the narrative, that continue to
translate so well with both gay and straight
audiences.
“The human stories of the characters, as
well as the hilarious banter among them,
have a universal appeal,” he says. “All good
comedies have their poignant moments,
and whether gay, straight, bi or otherwise,
people relate to those human frailties that
are revealed in this play and embrace these
endearing characters.”
The Circuit is now being staged as a pre-
AIDS period piece. Enyart explains that the
evolution of gay and drag culture prevented
any newer themes from being added to the
story.
“I believe that it is more effective in its
appeal to today’s audiences as a piece of his
tory,” he adds.
Enyart recently returned to Pordand
from Los Angeles, as his career opportuni
ties in acting, directing and theater produc
tion are greater here.
“Now that I am back and among so
many wonderful friends, I have a burning
desire to do what I did before,” he says.
“I want to, once again, be an entrepre
neur of sorts, as a producer of projects and
plays that are gay-themed, but with univer
sal appeal that will inspire other creative
individuals to participate in our community
activities, to express their own unique voices,
as well as to promote the concept that—gay,
straight, bi, or otherwise—we’re all human,
loving creatures with an appreciation for
diversity in others.”
It was 30 years ago that the showplace of
Dahl and Penne, a now-defunct gay hot spot
saloon and former soft drink parlor during
Prohibition, premiered the original two-act
comedy, The Circuit. Tom Enyart’s creation
transcended boundaries and became an in
stant local hit.
Three years after its 1979 debut, in 1982,
The Circuit was staged in its second produc
tion, again at Dahl and Penne, and sold out
every performance before a third production
at Sumus Theater (at the time located at The
Pub Theatre) secured a nomination from the
Willamette Week for a Willie Award for “Best
New Play.”
And early this month, a sold-out audi
ence at the new 100-seat Embers Backroom
Lounge Theatre witnessed a revival produc
tion of The Circuit. Among the audience
members were many who had been in atten
dance for the first production decades ago.
Enyart—a successful playwright, director,
choreographer and member of the Screen
Actors Guild—felt that both the location
and the timing were right to revive his Port
land theater gem.
“I wanted to do this revival production,
frankly, because I wanted to revisit the ex
perience while I and Nolan Mack, the other
original cast member of 30 years ago, still
can,” explains Enyart. “When I saw the
setup for two draw curtains at The Embers,
I knew this was the place to begin. I’m very
excited that live theater will be happening
[here] on an ongoing basis.”
Enyart’s desire also has a lot to do with
Portland’s thriving drag community, and a
notion that the newer diva scene might view
a little more of itself in the production.
“There is much more drag being done
these days,” offers Enyart. “Performers are in
drag several days a week. Back then, getting
into drag was more of an occasional thing,
Tickets for The Circuit are $10, The Em
and those who were entertainers only did it bers, 110 N W Broadway, 503-222-3082. The
on weekends. There are many more drags, production runs Sundays at 7 p.m. Aug. 9, 16,
now, than before, who relate to the back- 23 and 30, and Sept. 6, 13 and 20. For more
stage antics depicted in The Circuit.”
information, visit www.emberspdx.net.