October 19, 2022
Page 7
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents Celebrating Our
Heroes: Opening Season Extravaganza & FUNdraiser
Fundraising event of
the year is open to the
public and in-person
for a day of family fun
Oregon Children’s Theatre (OCT) an-
nounces Celebrating Our Heroes: OCT’s
Season Opening Extravaganza & FUNd-
raiser on October 22 at 2:00pm at the
Newmark Theatre. The colorful event
will feature several family-friendly and
fun-filled events, including an exclusive
premiere of OCT and TheaterWorksU-
SA’s production of Dog Man: the Musi-
cal. The event is OCT’s biggest fundraiser
of the year, with goods and services val-
ued at over $125 per person. Tickets are
$50 for adults and $30 for children (under
18), and are on-sale now. All donations up
to $25,000 will be generously matched by
the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund.
In addition to performances and activ-
ities, attendees will have the opportunity
to learn more about Oregon Children’s
Theatre and its future. “It’s no secret that
OCT has been in a state of flux for the
last several years,” says Michael Ham-
merstrom, Director of Marketing & De-
Musical performers for
the production Dog Man
velopment. “The pandemic has been un-
relenting on the arts and there have been
some truly scary and dark moments for
OCT, but here we are opening our first full
season in three years, and I can truly say
we are full of excitement and empower-
ment about what lies ahead. OCT is spe-
cial because of the people, which is why
this event turns the table on the everyday
heroes who make up our community: our
students, families, artists, partners, sup-
porters and staff.”
Event attendees will be welcomed by
OCT’s staff and leadership, including
Hammerstrom and Board President, Dre
Slaman, and the Executive Director of the
New York City-based TheaterWorksUSA,
Michael Harrington. A special guest per-
formance by local artist Jillian Snow Har-
ris (half of Portland’s acclaimed ‘Liza &
Liberace: A Tribute’ act) will kick off the
festivities, followed by the regional pre-
miere of Dog Man: the Musical. After the
performance, families can gather for light-
fare food and beverages, theater games,
crafting activities, and a raffle featuring
over $3,000 in family-friendly outings and
gifts contributed by local small businesses.
OCT’s acclaimed Acting Academy
will engage children with lively theater
games and an opportunity to learn dance
choreography inspired by Dog Man: the
Musical, while Tyler Buswell as Donatel-
la Nobody will host a Drag Queen Sto-
ry Time. Kids can also spend their time
crafting their very own superhero persona
and pose in a superhero-themed photo op-
portunity, which includes a souvenir pho-
to to take home. For their participation,
kids will be entered to win a complete set
of the Dog Man book series, donated by
Green Bean Books. Meanwhile, parents
can enjoy music, food and wine provided
by local winery, Angela Vineyards.
Tickets can be purchased on OCT’s
website at http://www.octc.org/gala, or by
calling the box office at (503) 228-9571.