"Blood Knot" - interpreted performance

Profile Theatre presents an interpreted performance of

"Blood Knot"

written by Athol Fugard

Interpreted performance: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 7:30 pm

Location: Profile Theatre, 3430 SE Belmont, Portland, OR

Tickets: $30. You can order online or by calling the box office at 503-242-0080 (v).

Interpreters: Rich Hall and Dot Hearn

Join us for this powerful, socially resonant two-character story,
told with humor and humanity,
of blood ties, the experience of race, and the forces of apartheid.

"Brothers Zach and Morris live together in a one-room shack in Port Elizabeth’s black housing slum, unable to escape until enough money is saved from Zach’s job guarding the entrance of a Whites Only park from non-white children. As light-skinned Morris tries desperately to hold on to his only family, he inadvertently creates a chasm that might never close, forcing dark-skinned Zach to ask the most dangerous question: Is love only skin deep?"

PCS: "The Whipping Man" 3/14/13 (trailer w transcript)

The next interpreted performance at Portland Center Stage will be "The Whipping Man" at 7:30 pm on March 14th on the Main Stage. (Note: This play will have three interpreters: Rich Hall, Jayodin Mosher, Dot Hearn.)

More information to come. But, for now, here is the trailer for the play, with a transcription below.


The Whipping Man Trailer from Portland Center Stage on Vimeo.
TRANSCRIPTION

[Slow music, old negro spiritual] ...go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land, and tell old Pharaoh, let my people go... [singing fades when soldier appears; music continues in background]

"Badly wounded Jewish confederate soldier, Caleb Deleon, returns home full of secrets, to a tattered Richmond at war's end. He finds that his family has fled. And finding what's remaining in the Deleon mansion, are two former slaves, raised by his family as Jews. As they struggle to comprehend their new liberties, the three men unite to celebrate Passover and discover a tangle of secrets which tie them together.  Secrets which may ultimately cost each man his freedom."

[music, singing continues] ...when Israel was in Egypt land, let my people go. [End]

Oregon Shakespeare Festival: 2013 Interpreted Performances

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In case you don't know, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is in southern Oregon, in the beautiful town of Ashland. Go for the theater, the community, the scenery, the fresh outdoors. It's a great place to visit and OSF puts on excellent plays with very talented interpreters and skilled sign coaches.

Another great fact about interpreted performances at OSF is that they have three or four interpreted performances of different plays in one weekend. What a great opportunity to take a long weekend trip and soak in accessible theater.

In addition to interpreted performances, OSF also provides open captions of some plays as well; click on this accessibility link for more information.

You also may not know that Deaf actor, Howie Seago, works at OSF. This season he is performing in both Robin Hood and Cymbeline. And if you look at the interpreted performance list below, you will notice that the weekend of July 12 - 14, both of those plays are being interpreted. Make it a date to watch Howie perform and see all three plays interpreted. Fun!

Here are the interpreted dates for 2013:


SIGN INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES at OSF for 2013 

King Lear  April 25, 8:00 pm
Two Trains Running  April 26, 8:00 pm
The Taming of the Shrew  April 27, 8:00 pm

The Heart of Robin Hood  July 12, 8:00 pm
My Fair Lady  July 13, 8:00 pm
Cymbeline  July 14,  8:00 pm

My Fair Lady  Sept. 26, 1:30pm
A Streetcar Named Desire  Sept. 26, 8:00pm
A Midsummer Night’s Dream  Sept. 27, 8:00pm
The Unfortunates  Sept. 28, 8:00pm

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"Venus in Fur" 2/14/13 at PCS

Next interpreted performance at Portland Center Stage :

note: interpreted section tickets are only available via special link (see "tickets" section below; general seats are sold out but there are a few left in the interpreted section only)

          Venus in Fur

DATE: Thursday, February 14th, 2013
TIME:  Deaf Theatre Chat begins at 6:30 pm in the lower lobby; the play begins at 7:30 pm
INTERPRETERS: Rich Hall and Renee Rugh Jantz
SIGN COACH: James Rae
TICKETS:  $25
                    to purchase online use this special PCS link with promo code SIGN
                    or email the box office at  boxoffice@pcs.org
                    or call the box office (voice) at  503-445-3700

In the Ellyn Bye Studio

By David Ives
Directed by Nancy Keystone

“As funny as any play currently on Broadway, Venus in Fur is also something darker, stranger and altogether more delicious.” —The New York Times

When a young actress shows up hours late for her appointment, she knows she may have blown her chances at the role. But when her emotionally charged audition for the demanding playwright/director becomes an electrifying game of cat and mouse that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, seduction and power, love and sex—well, the rules may have all just changed.

Nominated this season for the Tony Award for Best Play.

Blog Post at PCS

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Last Friday my latest post for Portland Center Stage's blog went out. Click on the title to read the article.

The Language of Comedy

It talks about (duh, I know) interpreting comedy and there is some information about the play I'll be interpreting this Thursday, January 24th, at PCS, "I Love to Eat," which is 'a night with James Beard' who was the first television chef way back in 1946. It's full of laughter and storytelling and a look at life.

Hope to see you there! And if you look at the post right before this one, there is an overview of the play in ASL by Justin Coleman.
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ASL video for "I Love to Eat"

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Thank you, Justin Coleman, for making this ASL video!

"I Love to Eat"

written by James Still

presented by Portland Center Stage

DATE: Thursday, January 24, 2013
TIME: 7:30 pm join us beginning at 6:30 pm for Deaf Theatre Chat
LOCATION: on the Main Stage at The Armory, 128 NW 11th Ave, Portland, OR
TICKETS: purchase online with the promo code SIGN, or call the box office 503-445-3700
INTERPRETER: Dot Hearn
SIGN COACH: James Rae

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PCS: "I Love to Eat" interpreted performance next week

Portland Center Stage presents an interpreted performance of

"I Love to Eat"

written by James Still

DATE: Thursday, January 24, 2013
TIME:  7:30 pm join us beginning at 6:30 pm for Deaf Theater Chat
LOCATION: on the Main Stage at The Armory, 128 NW 11th Ave, Portland, OR
TICKETS: purchase online with the promo code SIGN to buy tickets at the right price in the right section
INTERPRETER: Dot Hearn
SIGN COACH: James Rae


SYNOPSIS:  

This new play celebrates the life and talent of a Portland, Oregon, original—James Beard.

Before Julia Child, before today’s proliferation of cooking shows and networks, there was James Beard, the first TV chef. He brought fine cooking to the small screen in 1946 and helped establish an American cuisine. But, as is often the case with pioneers, his early efforts on screen have been lost. He went on to become America’s first “foodie,” and the award bearing his name is still the prize most coveted by chefs. Playwright James Still invites you to meet the man described as “the face and belly of American gastronomy” in this play that recreates an evening at Beard’s New York home. .

I Love to Eat runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Please note: Herbal cigarettes are used onstage during this production.

TONIGHT: "The Road to Mecca" at Profile Theatre

It's not too late to see the interpreted performance

This play is receiving rave reviews from audience members, as it should.
"The Road to Mecca" 

by Athol Fugard

INTERPRETED DATE: *TONIGHT*  January 17, 2013

TIME: 7:30 pm

LOCATION:  3430 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214 

TICKETS: contact the box office 503.242.0080 (v) or purchase online 

                   Adults $30, Senior $25, Students (25 & under) $18

INTERPRETERS: Rich Hall and Dot Hearn

Here is what the audience is saying:

“One of the most devastating, beautiful, heartfelt evenings of theatre I've ever experienced. The women were incandescent and David Bodin broke my heart. It was incredible. Thank you, thank you.”

“It's AMAZING!!”

“I was mesmerized by it all. (The cast is) brilliant and spot on in every way possible. GO... Do not miss this one.”

“Brilliant. Great theatre.”

“I was captivated.”

“Do see the play because it is brilliant. Congratulations to Adriana Baer on her fabulously successful directorial debut in Portland!”

“Beautifully directed and acted with such power and tenderness by all three of the wonderful actors. Great set, sound and lights. Don't miss it. It's a gem...”

Synopsis: "Miss Helen, an eccentric widow and sculptor, lives alone in a small village in the Karoo desert. When Reverend Marius argues for moving her into an old age home for her own safety, Miss Helen questions whether to give up, give in, or go on. She summons the only person she trusts: Elsa, a young schoolteacher who loses her footing while taking aim at society’s treatment of the elderly and of those who do not conform. Birth, death, and what comes next are brought under examination as the artist courageously asks: What is true faith?"

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"Miss Helen": South African Outsider Artist

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This Thursday, January 17th, is the interpreted performance of "The Road to Mecca" at 7:30 p.m. at Profile Theatre. (See previous post for ticket and location information.)

In my preparation to interpret this play, one thing my team and I have done is to research the location in which the play takes place and the central character, Miss Helen. This is one of my favorite things about theatrical interpreting, the pieces of history I discover and the bits and pieces of information I get to add to my world knowledge base.

I have enjoyed the play each time I've seen it and the set and costumes really gave a strong sense of place and characters. And now that I have additional information about this amazing artist, I can say without a doubt that Profile Theatre has done a great job of representing the area, the woman, and her amazing "outsider art."

According to several online sources, "Miss Helen" was considered one of South Aftica's foremost Outsider Artists. Her former home is now a historic sight and is called The Owl House. On this linked About.com webpage, there is a great description of Miss Helen and the character in the play which comes through well in the tale and the acting:

..."In 1964 Helen Martins employed Koos Malgas, an itinerant sheepshearer, to help her make the cement-and -glass statues which fill the Camel Yard outside her house. Formally the garden, this sculpture yard had over 300 figures and animals. Malgas became her foremost friend and companion, and remained by her side for the last 12 years of her life. Helen's close relationship with her Coloured assistant was viewed with great suspicion by Nieu Bethesda's Apartheid era residents. ..."  

from "'Miss Helen', South Africa's Foremost Outsider Artist"
by Alistair Boddy-Evans, About.com Guide

I also wanted to share some photographs of "The Owl House" and her statues. They are amazing and to see the yard helps me visualize the play I'm interpreting - and I hope it helps you to envision what is implied and discussed throughout the play; is very key to the play and the woman.

       

   

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"The Road to Mecca" interpreted performance

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Profile Theatre presents an interpreted performance of

"The Road to Mecca" 

by Athol Fugard

INTERPRETED DATE: Thursday, January 17, 2013

TIME: 7:30 pm

LOCATION:  3430 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214 

TICKETS: contact the box office 503.242.0080 (v) or purchase online 

                   Adults $30, Senior $25, Students (25 & under) $18

INTERPRETERS: Rich Hall and Dot Hearn

Synopsis: "Miss Helen, an eccentric widow and sculptor, lives alone in a small village in the Karoo desert. When Reverend Marius argues for moving her into an old age home for her own safety, Miss Helen questions whether to give up, give in, or go on. She summons the only person she trusts: Elsa, a young schoolteacher who loses her footing while taking aim at society’s treatment of the elderly and of those who do not conform. Birth, death, and what comes next are brought under examination as the artist courageously asks: What is true faith?"

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