Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, February 15, 2017, Page Page 17, Image 17

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    BLACK
HISTORY
February 15, 2017
MONTH
Arts &
Page 17
Happy birthday
Quayuana
Washington
ENTERTAINMENT
from your family we love you.
Congrats
Welcome Camryn
Brielle Washington
Born 2-10-2017
photo by p atricK W eiShampel / blanKeye . tv
Maiesha McQueen as Ethel Waters in “His Eye is on the Sparrow” a stirring one-woman musical that
celebrates the life of a groundbreaking Vaudeville performer who broke racial barriers to emerge as a
Broadway and Hollywood star. Now playing at The Armory, downtown.
Crossing Barriers to Emerge a Legend
“His Eye is on the Sparrow,” a
stirring one-woman musical that
celebrates the life of groundbreak-
ing black artist Ethel Waters, opened
this month at Portland Center Stage
at the Armory, and has been extend-
ed to play through March 26.
After a rough and spirit-break-
ing childhood, Ethel Waters be-
came a Vaudeville success, a
recording sensation and crossed
racial barriers to emerge as a
Broadway and Hollywood star.
But a reputation for being difficult
and her own distrust of those who
might employ her or love her —
partly a response to the horrors of
Jim Crow America — caused her
to lose everything and become
a recluse, until she found new
strength as a gospel performer.
Through it all, there were the
songs – the ones that gave her so-
lace and the ones that made her
a legend. This is her remarkable
story, filled with the greatest hits
of a lifetime, including “Stormy
Weather,” “This Joint is Jumpin’”
and “Am I Blue?”
Atlanta-based artist Maiesha
McQueen returns to The Armory
to perform as Waters after staring
in the 2015 production of “Ain’t
Misbehavin.’
Tickets start at $25 and may be
purchased at pcs.org.
c annon ’ S
r ib e xpreSS
5410 NE 33rd Ave,
Portland, Or
Call to Order:
503-288-3836
Open (hours)
Sun-Thurs: 11a-8p
Fri-Sat:
11a- 9p
Cannon’s, tasty food and
friendly neighborhood
atmosphere.