May 24, 2017
Page 9
Mississippi
Alberta
North Portland
Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
photo by a ntonio h arris
The cast of two plays about the housing, Hurricane Katrina and the American Dream take the stage this weekend for the Vanport Mosaic Festival honoring the struggle
and resilience of people displaced from their homes from the African-American perspective.
In the Eye of the Storm
Vanport Mosiac
plays take the stage
River levels soar to dangerous heights
and break through inadequate manmade
barriers, sweeping away a city, leaving a
community without shelter, safety and
a sense of belonging. The story could be
about the Big Easy succumbing to the forc-
es of Hurricane Katrina more than a decade
ago or the Vanport Flood in Portland a half
a century earlier.
The Vanport Mosaic Festival this week-
end presents two staged readings of one act
plays performed by a talented cast of ac-
tors about displacement from the African
American perspective.
“Hercules Didn’t Wade in the Water,” by
Portland-based actor, writer and director
Michael A. Jones and directed by Vanport
Mosaic Co-founder Damaris Webb takes a
look at the unfulfilled dreams of two men
struggling to survive on a rooftop in the
middle of Katrina.
“American Summer Squash” by Don W.
Glenn and directed by Jocelyn Seid tells
the story of a church leader sheltering his
congregation from a storm while reflecting
upon the loss of culture.
Six performances will run at The Inter-
state Firehouse Cultural Center in north
Portland from Friday, May 26 through
Monday, May 29. Admission is sliding
scale $5-$25. Visit vanportmosaic.org to
reserve tickets.