Arts
f a l l
2 0 1 2
9/6
AVENUE Q
TRIANGLE PRODUCTIONS
SEPTEMBER 6TH -30TH
THIS BROADWAy HIT GETS ITS FIRST LOCAL PRO-
DUCTION. THE SHOW CASTS SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR
LOOKING PUPPETS AS DECIDEDLy MORE MATURE
CHARACTERS. THESE DENIZENS OF AvENUE Q (IN-
CLUDING A CLOSETED REPUBLICAN) ARE DEALING
WITH LIFE AFTER COLLEGE. FUZZy FRIENDLy FACES
ASIDE THIS SHOW HAS ADULT THEMES (AND LAN-
GUAGE), INCLUDING PUPPET NUDITy AND SExUAL
SITUATIONS. PHoTo ToP: James Sharinghousen as Nicky, Norman wilson as Rod
10/11
9/18
Photo by Paul Fardig
Grab your calendar and chart your entertainment future.
Herewith, we list some standout events. — Ken Hoyt, A&e editor
photo by david Kinder
Calendar
DRACULA, A MUSICAL NIGHTMARE
Stumptown Stages
October 11th – 28th
The classic Bram Stoker fable has had many incarnations.
Currently the trend seems to favor casting actors who
are more comfortable with six pack abs than Stanislavski.
Stumptown’s version offers an extra helping of camp, with
a side of gender confusion and sexual tension. Set as a play
within a play in a decrepit music hall. Well timed for some
seasonal ghoulish fun.
PHoTo ABove: Kirk mouser as Chauncey deville in dracula,
Sweeney Todd, The demon BarBer of fleeT STreeT
A musical Nightmare.
Portland Center Stage
September 18 - october 21
Sweeney Todd may be the darkest of the works written by Stephen Sondheim, the 82-year-old living treasure of American musicals. It’s a
show with requirements, not the least of which is two sopranos who can hit an e above high C. It’s also a show that debuted on Broad-
way 30 years ago. why remount it now? “I chose it because,” responds Chris Coleman, Artistic director at Portland Center Stage “I’ve al-
ways been in love with it, but the lyric, ‘There’s a hole in the world like a great black
pit…on the top of the hole sit the privileged few, making mock of the vermin in the
lower zoo,' reminded me of the 1%-99% argument that we are having right now."
do you think Sondheim’s sexuality informs his work? “He was gay,” says Coleman,
“before it was cool to be gay. It seems like in his work there’s often someone whose
real self is hidden, and who lives in terror of coming out into the light. It’s rare that
he has a gay character but that tension is always integral to what’s going on.”
you’ve done musicals that are true to the book, and other’s like last year’s okla-
homa where you’ve changed it up. what should we expect with Sweeney Todd?
“The show has many challenges to be addressed," notes Coleman, "but the bigger
question is how it relates to our lives today and how we can reveal that in the story."
PhoTo lefT: william Bloodgood’s set design rendering.