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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 2016)
March 23, 2016 The Skanner Page 7 Arts & Entertainment ‘Smoldering Fires’ Looks at Civil Rights Past, Celebrates Present By T. Russell Special to The Skanner “ PHOTOS BY SHARON THOMAS A lmost 15 years ago, when she was just at teenager, Cecile Evans was teach- ing CaShawn Hopkins, who was in her 20s, how to be a theater stage man- ager for PassinArt, the longest running Black theater company in Ore- gon. Evans has been learn- ing theater management skills since she was 12 and got her first manage- ment job at 16 because of her PassinArt experi- ence. “PassinArt has been a constant in my life,” said Evans, now age 30. Her mother, Shelley Mat- thews, has been a Passi- nArt actress for over 20 years. “I know it kept me in a place where I’ve been able to grow.” The mission of Passi- nArt, which was founded in 1984, is to entertain, educate and inspire art- ists and audiences while Corey (Ajani Hopkins), left, talks with DeShawn (Eric (E.J.) Harris, Jr.) in a scene from “Smoldering Fires.” ing Fires,” the latest PassinArt play, which opened March 11. Evans is the top light technician and her moth- er, Matthews, has one of the few adult roles in the play. In addition, Hopkins’ son, Ajani, now age 11, has one of the two lead roles, along with so many of the children who are in the play are in their first theater roles. Nine-year-old Timaya Hepburn was cast in the play when she came to an auditions to support two of her friends. “I was the one who got one of the parts and nei- ther of them got a part,” Ronald Smith, Sami Yacob-Andrus, Kobi Flowers and Timaya Hepburn demonstrate for equity in “Smoldering Fires.” ing being on stage. She’s been rehearsing after school almost every day of the week, except for Mondays. “It’s been progressing pretty well,” Sami said. Charelle Twitty, age 39, was in her first PassinArt play when she was age 15. She recently ran into the costumer for “Smolder- Smoldering Fires’ honors the young civil rights advocates of yes- terday, while sending the message that no matter your age you can take a stand and make a difference in your community today addressing critical is- sues facing the Black community. The organization’s goal is to present quality yet affordable theatrical pro- ductions, staged read- ings, and educational workshops for African Americans and multi-ra- cial youth and communi- ty members in the Port- land Metropolitan area. “‘Smoldering Fires’ honors the young civil rights advocates of yes- terday, while sending the message that no matter your age you can take a stand and make a differ- ence in your community today,” said PassinArt’s Co-Founder Constance Carley. The currents of Passi- nArt’s training and influ- ence ripple through sev- eral generations of Black families in Portland. A few years after Hopkins’ first theater training, she brought her infant son, Ajani Hopkins, into the Interstate Firehouse Culture Center, where PassinArt has historical- ly staged many of its the- ater productions. She often strapped him into his infant seat, where he slept as she studied the light cues on the board at the back of the theater. “I love PassinArt,” Hop- kins said. “It’s always been family to me.” Now, she is the stage manager for “Smolder- Eric Harris Jr., who plays his best friend. It is the first time both boys have starred in a community theater production. “I didn’t know he had all that in him,” said Hop- kins, whose 7-year-old daughter, Amin’a, also has a small part in the play. “It’s awesome to watch.” Mary Yacob, whose 17-year-old daughter, Sami Yacob-Andrus, is also in “Smoldering Fires,” said this play is the first time her daugh- ter has participated in a production that in- cludes more than one or two Black actors, though Sami has acted in short films, commercials and other children’s theater productions. Yacob said she discovered the “Smol- dering Fires” call on the Facebook page of the Re- gional Arts & Cultural Center, which is one of the financial sponsors of the play, along with the MRG Foundation. “I had not up to this point really seen any castings for a black the- ater company,” Yacob noted. “I didn’t think there were any in the area.” “A lot of plays in Port- land don’t accept kids,” she added. They’re geared for 18 and older.” As “Smoldering Fires” addresses the role of children in the 1960s pro- tests for racial equality, said Timaya, who is usu- ally more interested in gymnastics and basket- ball. “I went to a couple plays before and I saw how you react to some stuff and speak up and project, but I’ve never done any theater before.” Sami says she is enjoy- ing Fires” at a communi- ty event and was invited to an audition. ‘I was scared,” Twitty said. “I haven’t been on stage in over 15 years. I’m excited and blessed.” Her 12-year-old daugh- ter, Destini, also received a role in the play. “My daughter said ‘I don’t know mom, I don’t want to steal the spot- light from you.’ “ Twitty said, laughing. “I said: ‘It’s OK, the spotlight is big enough for all of us.’” Destini, a 6th grader, said she was both excited and nervous about being on stage. “I’ve never been in a play before,” she says. “But it’s helping me get out of my shell a little more.” In an era where thou- sands of Black families have been pushed out of their traditional in- ner Northeast Portland neighborhood due to gentrification, Evans credits PassinArt as a stabilizing force that offers a strong cultural connection, while train- ing the next generation of stage actors, backstage technicians and theater lovers. “I think it’s really ex- citing that PassinArt has been able to develop a culture where both par- ents and children can be together and accomplish the same goal,” Evans said. “That’s rare these days to have something that you’ve known has been a fixture in your life for the past 20 years. That’s a powerhouse in the Black community.” View movie trailers at TheSkanner.com
