The daily Astorian., October 21, 2021, Page 15, Image 15

Astoria theater
River Life Interpretive
announces 2022 season Center hosts auction
by PaTrIcK Webb
Ten Fifteen Productions, a relaunched non-
profit theater in Astoria, has announced its
upcoming season.
The theater is staging the Irish play “The
Weir,” directed by Karen Bain through Oct. 30.
After that show, the action becomes sea-
sonal with a holiday event called “Baroque for
Christmas.”
Susi Brown of Astoria is directing the vari-
ety show, which will feature music, movement
and theatrical pieces. These will be performed
Dec. 15 to Dec. 18 at the theater at 1015 Com-
mercial St. in Astoria, which is the street level
of the Oddfellows Building.
Current pandemic health safety require-
ments for those attending shows include wear-
ing masks and showing proof of vaccination.
Seating is limited to allow for some social dis-
tancing. There are no concessions during the
current show.
Four shows
The 2022 lineup:
• In March, “Art,” a Tony-award winning
comedy by modern French writer Yasmina
Reza, will be directed by Bain. It calls for three
male actors aged 30 to 70. The 1994 play, per-
formed in Cannon Beach some 15 years ago,
is about how one character’s purchase of an
unusual painting challenges the nature of the
men’s friendship as well as the definition of art.
• In June, “Birds of a Feather” by Marc
Acito, will be directed by Ann Bronson. Cast-
ing originally called for three men and one
woman, but the director is flexible. It takes
themes highlighted in “And Tango Makes
Three,” a children’s picture book which high-
lights how two male penguins parent a chick.
The American Library Association, which
coordinates the annual Banned Books Week,
notes it was the most challenged title when
published in 2005. Actors portray a newscaster
and species of birds.
• In September, Ryan Hull, who has
directed at the Coaster Theater in Cannon
Beach and in New York, will direct two one-
act plays. “An Interview,” by David Mamet,
in which a sleazy lawyer faces some truths,
requires two male actors and “An Actor’s
Nightmare,” an absurdist backstage drama by
Christopher Durang, calls for two men and
three women of any age.
• In December, the troupe’s executive direc-
tor, Danyelle Tinker, will direct a one-woman
show, “The Twelve Dates of Christmas” by
Ginna Hoben. She describes it as “an alterna-
tive take on traditional holiday fare” in which a
SKAMOKAWA, Wash. — Friends of
Skamokawa River Life Interpretive Center is
hosting an online auction, “A Cornucopia of
Treasures.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used
to operate and maintain the historic River
Life Interpretive Center at Redmen Hall.
The hall was originally dedicated on July
4, 1894, as a school. In 1926, a larger school
was built and in 1933, the building was
moved to avoid demolition when State Route
4 was built. The building now operates as
an interpretive center with award-winning
exhibits, a gift shop with work by local arti-
sans and book store.
This is the second year the event has been
held virtually. Bidding ends Saturday at
5 p.m. Items up for auction include gifts for
the holidays and vacation getaways. Visit the
auction online at 32auctions.com/FOS2021.
Ten Fifteen Theater
1015 commercial st., astoria
(503) 298-5255
Instagram: @thetenfifteen
thetenfifteentheater.com
season tickets will be available
character returns to the dating scene after being
humiliated by her cheating partner.
In addition to the four main shows, there
will be staged readings. In February, the troupe
will revive “Simple Salmon,” a piece that was
staged at Astoria’s old River Theater. In April,
they will read Aaron Posner’s “Stupid (exple-
tive) Bird,” directed by Edward James. In
October, the troupe will read Tennessee Wil-
liams’ “Suddenly Last Summer,” directed by
Bennett Hunter, who is appearing in “The
Weir.”
How it began
The Ten Fifteen Theater is a performing arts
venue in downtown Astoria and launched a
few years ago.
It hosted four full shows and multiple
smaller-scale events before the pandemic shut-
down hit. “The Weir” was its fifth show — but
played just one night in March 2020 before
restrictions kicked in. Bain, the director, has
revived the production, with two new cast
members.
The storefront theater project has its artistic
roots in Pier Pressure Productions, which was
sparked by Brown and Daric Moore, harness-
ing the energy of actors and directors, many
of whom had been involved in Astoria’s now-
closed River Theater. The River Theater was
spearheaded by Nancy Montgomery, who is a
cast member in “The Weir.”
Jessamyn West, the driving force behind the
Astoria Arts and Movement Center, serves as
president and Brown, a retired educator, is sec-
retary of its board.
Tinker, the executive director, has a dance
and theater background. She moved from Port-
land to Astoria in 2018 and serves on the board
of the Coaster Theater in Cannon Beach and
is a member of the Arts Council of Clatsop
County.
She said the 2022 shows share a theme.
“This is a period of ‘new beginnings’ for
the world at large,” she said, noting that people
everywhere are reconsidering their priorities.
“The whole world has hit a reset button. It’s
messy and challenging and beautiful.”
The River Life Interpretive Center.
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Thursday, OcTOber 21, 2021 // 15