Theatre
& MusicSeptember
2010
|
Theatre
& Music |
|||||||||||||
|
September
2010
|
||||||||||||||
|
LINKS Performing
Arts Magic
Circle Performing
Arts Instruction |
Put Some Shimmy in your Shake with Tribal Fusion Belly Dance Fluid arms, shimmying hips and a slow, sensuous undulations are only a few of the captivating movements that make belly dance one of the most hypnotic and enduring art forms in the world. Would you like to learn to express yourself through movement and discover the ancient, yet modern art form of belly dance? Join Kamini, award-winning performer and co-director of the Bijou Project, for beginner Tribal Fusion Belly Dance classes this fall. Kamini offers belly dance classes for beginning and advanced students, as well as private and semi-private lessons. Join a class and discover why belly dance continues to grow in popularity! Class sessions will focus on improvisation, dance technique, group dynamics, and increasing and refining a vocabulary of belly dance movements. Each class will include stretching, drills, and conditioning exercises while providing plenty of opportunities to practice dancing in a fun and supportive group atmosphere. All body types and experience levels are encouraged. Kamini is a Tribal Fusion belly dance artist and teacher who has traveled the west coast performing and teaching workshops as part of the award winning duet, The Bijou Project. Performances include such venues as the Portland Rose Festival, as a featured instructor and performer for the Middle Eastern Dance Guild of Eugenes Alternative Show, at Imbibe Restaurant and The Fez Ballroom in Portland, World Beat Festival in Salem, and each first Friday from 2005-2006 at Taj Palace Indian Restaurant in Bend. You can see her perform on second, fourth and fifth Tuesdays at Joolz restaurant in downtown Bend. The best thing about belly dancing is that you don’t have to have special training, a specific body type or years of experience to do it. Belly dance originated as a folk dance and women of all ages participated. Although the dance has evolved, the inclusive nature of it has remained. You can start taking lessons at any point in your life and continue dancing as long as you have the desire to do so. Modern Dance Class for Teens & Adults Fish Hawk Wing | Modern Dance announce that its Director Bonnie Walker will be teaching a modern dance class for teens and adults at the Terpsichorean Dance Studio 1601 NW Newport Avenue this fall. Adults and teens ages 13 years and older, from beginners to advanced dancers, are welcome to join the class. Classes will be held on Tuesdays 7:05-8:05pm starting September 7. Course content will include warm up, modern dance technique, choreography, dance improvisation, and final stretch with meditation & relaxation. As student interest and time permit, the course can incorporate dance history, live music & poetry and the use of multi-media art forms into the Modern Dance repertoire. Walker has taught Modern Dance and dance improvisation for adults since 2008; she also has experience working with teens as a high school teacher and snowboard instructor. A Bend resident since 2005, Walker has performed in, choreographed for, and directed many local dance performances and fundraisers including the Central Oregon Dance Showcase, Bend Dance Project, Terpsichorean Dance Studio, Gotta Dance, White Elephant Dance Project, High Desert Journal/Nature of Words, COCC Word Café, various on-location dance video shoots, show-style weddings and First Friday Art Walk dance improvisation performances. Walker began her formal dance training at the age of six and minored in dance at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. “My daughter and I have been taking classes and participating in the recital at Terpsichorean since 2005 and it is an honor for me to help continue the Teen/Adult Modern Dance tradition at the studio,” says Walker. Fish Hawk Wing | Modern Dance was founded in 2008 by Walker in order to create, perform, and teach modern dance and dance improvisation in the Central Oregon community. Fish Hawk Wing seeks to advance the visibility and accessibility of modern dance in Central Oregon for the benefit of the local community and also to enhance Central Oregon’s reputation as an artistic destination resort area. Terpsichorean Dance Studio offers ballet, point, lyrical / contemporary, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern and creative movement classes for children and adults. Directed by Carolyn Brant, the studio aims to provide a safe, inspiring, fun, and motivating experience that will truly guide students on their path in dance and in life. The studio features a dancewear boutique, and two studio spaces totaling over 2000 sq. ft. with a resilient marley-type floor. 541-788-0725 (Fish Hawk Wing) or 541-389-5351 (Terpsichorean) or fish.hawk.wing@gmail.com. TerpsichoreanBendOregon.com or FishHawkWing.net. A Day Full of Quilts in the Park by TRINITY COMBS Cascade AE Feature Writer Join in on the quilting fun on August 21 from 10am-4pm in the intricate Pioneer Park where quilters galore will hold their annual Quilts in the Park. This will be the Mount Bachelor Quilters Guild’s 27th annual quilting celebration in Bend. Quilts in the Park is a one-day event where the community can explore the beauty of hand-made quilts provided by the Mount Bachelor Quilter’s Guild. There will be an assortment of 150 to 200 quilts hanging, displayed around the park for people to admire and buy. This event allows not just quilt enthusiasts but anyone to stroll around and enjoy the unique arrangement of all the quilts tenderly made by the members of MBQG. The show will consist of sale tables with quilting related items, such as quilting books notions and fabrics. A portion of the quilters will have their quilts for sale, but this event is mainly for the eye candy of the different colors, styles, and textures of the impressive quilts. The Mount Bachelor Quilter’s Guild has been selling raffle tickets for the past months for a drawing to win a special hand-made design on a black-on-black background quilt. The show’s featured quilter this year will be Bev Piper, who will have quilts to show off and tactics to share on quilting. Souvenirs of the MBQG’s retreat will be prominently displayed and there will be an area for quilts made by children. One special addition to the show is a local book club full of members that have each contributed a quilt based on a book they recently read. The Mount Bachelor Quilters Guild consists of 120 to 130 women who make quilts primarily for their families and each other. The Guild gathers together once a month to discuss quilting tips and techniques while having a show and tell for recently finished quilts. Each meeting’s main purpose is to educate each other on quilting business and promote more ways to contribute to the community through quilts. The Guild does one main community quilt project that entitles each member to finish at least one quilt to give back to organizations in need such as the Ronald McDonald House, Kids Center, Saving Grace, Bend High teen parents and Hospice. The MBQG has contributed over 300 quilts for these organizations in 18 months. While contributing locally through events and meetings, the MGQG members are also hard-working volunteers for the Sisters Quilt Show. 541-385-5505 Rock & Blues Legend Leon Russell Rocks the Tower Leon Russell, one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most accomplished and versatile musicians, celebrates his distinguished 50-year career at the Tower Theatre in Bend on Tuesday, July 27 at 8pm. Russell started as a session musician, and soon became part of Phil Spector’s studio group, featured on keyboards in many of the 1960’s most popular songs. In 1969, after writing Delta Lady, Russell organized and starred in Joe Cocker’s groundbreaking Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. His songs Superstar, This Masquerade and A Song for You become classics for artists as varied as Rita Coolidge, The Carpenters, George Benson, Christina Aguliera and Sonic Youth. Russell’s 1972 hit Tight Rope put him in the performing spotlight. His instantly-recognizable voice and piano playing continue to inspire today’s generation of musicians, as evidenced by Russell’s special performance with the Zac Brown Band on the 2010 Grammy Awards. This past winter, Leon went back into the studio to record several songs he wrote in collaboration with Elton John and Bernie Taupin for Elton’s upcoming album produced by T-Bone Burnett. Opening for Russell will be blues and rock guitarist Chris Simmons. Black Butte Ranch Summer Concert Series Black Butte Ranch’s lineup for the 2010 “Live at the Ranch” Summer Concert Series includes music from many different genres and spotlights Pacific Northwest talent. Friday, June 25, 6pm The first concert will feature the Northwest’s premier jazz guitarist Dan Balmer whose music is a unique blend of contemporary and traditional jazz styles, bringing together influences ranging from pops to Brazilian music. Balmer regularly plays at the well known Portland jazz club Jimmy Mak’s. Friday, July 23, 6pm The second concert features the signature piano sound of John Nilsen whose music includes elements of jazz, folk, classical and rock. Nilsen has played with such luminaries as Jose Feliciano and Kenny G. to name a few. Nilsen is one of the highest selling recording artists in the Northwest. Sunday, August 8 4pm The Ranch will host its third concert as a benefit for the Sisters Americana Project. The headliner Misty River is very familiar with the Sisters music scene and has appeared at the Sisters Folk Festival before. The all female acoustic quartet is best known for their lyrical harmonies and masterfully arrange their own material with an Americana feel. Opening the show is Sisters’ own Jena Rickards who is a graduate of Sisters High school and the Americana Project, and is currently attending Belmont University in Nashville. In 2007, while still in high school, Rickards captured the attention of country music superstar Vince Gill while he was performing at a Starry Nights concert. Gill recognized something special in her performance and said “there are a lot of great singers, however a voice like hers that is compelling and has character, is rare.” Sunday, September 5, 6pm, The final concert is the classic blues sound of Northwest legend Curtis Salgado. This itinerant bluesman is famous for his harmonica playing and was the inspiration for John Belushi and Dan Akroyd’s musical act The Blues Brothers. One night while Belushi was in Eugene filming Animal House he caught Salgado’s act and was so impressed he asked Salgado to “tutor” Akroyd and him in the blues. Tickets for this show are $18 advanced purchase, $20 day of show, kids 6-12 years $10, 5 and under are free. Tickets for the first three shows are $15 advanced purchase, $17 day of show, kids 6-12 years $8.50, 5 and under are free. The Ranch will be offering special lodging packages, which include tickets to the various concerts throughout the summer. 877-290-5296; www.BlackButteRanch.com/concerts. Maragas Winery Owner Cultivates Family Business Roots
Producing 3,000 cases annually, Maragas currently makes four wines, including a signature claret style zinfandel blended with merlot known as ‘Legal Zin’ – which recently won a Gold Medal at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition – together with a Bordeaux style merlot blend (‘M’), signature reserve blend, Pinot Gris (‘Pinot Riche’) and Muscat (‘Kool Kat Muscat’) adorned with beatnik artwork - some sketched by his mother in 1959 - which embodies the creator’s free-spirited style. A former trial attorney, Maragas came to Central Oregon to pursue his vintner venture after a protracted search for “the best place in the world.” He incorporated in 1999, and produced his first vintage in 2001 at the original location in a four-bay garage on the east side of Bend, also opening a tasting room on the Westside of town. Describing his wine-making roots, Maragas said: “My family has been in the wine business for multiple generations, and in the U.S. since 1941. “I grew up helping my grandparents, originally from Greece and Italy, and parents in the industry and the family still has a winery on the island of Crete. “Like many immigrants, my parents wanted me to be a professional and I entered the legal arena and practiced law for over 10 years. “When I started a family of my own I decided to go back to the tradition of winemaking and grape brokering which was both a passion and more conducive to family life.” Maragas said he had been looking for a suitable location for the winery and for growing grapes for a while when he came upon the property –in an area of Culver close to the Jefferson County line north of Terrebone, about a mile from the High Bridge over Crooked River Gorge – and discovered it had some key attributes for vineyard cultivation. He said: “We found there were gentle south facing slopes where the air keeps moving in a warmer micro climate, with some pockets ideal for growing grapes. “It is also a beautiful setting with a lot of passing traffic and easy access from the main thoroughfare to wine regions such as those in Washington. “The vineyard is in front and we are going to plant 15 acres so that a quarter mile of frontage will be vines. “At first, people thought this was a crazy idea, but it is now becoming apparent that other vineyards are coming on line in the area.” The Culver location is increasingly being promoted as a venue, with the first major act being acoustic guitar master Doug Smith, who has won a Grammy for his fingerstyle, on July 3. Maragas Winery, 15523 SW Hwy 97, Culver: tours, tasting and patio open Tuesday-Sunday 11am to 5pm. www.maragaswinery.com, or 541- 546-5464. Maragas Winery Concert
& Barbecue Cascade
Winds Symphonic Band
The program kicks off with David Holsinger’s American Faces, a tribute to the multi-faceted qualities of America. The Symphonic Gershwin includes some favorite tune of iconic composer George Gershwin. Percy Grainger’s Colonial Song shares a wistful mood similar to a Mark Twain book or a Stephen Foster tune. Alto saxophone soloist Jayne Morrison will perform Persuasion, a lovely Sammy Nestico piece for band and alto. Morrison has been a member of the Cascade Winds for many years, as well as a noted music educator in Central Oregon. American Salute by Morton Gould is a band classic based on When Johnny Comes Marching Home. And no program of American music would be complete without the music of Stephen Foster. A Tribute to Stephen Foster includes several of the over 125 songs he left us. I Want To Live is a great John Denver classic that singer Scott Carroll will perform with the Winds. Scott has appeared in numerous important musical and drama productions throughout Central Oregon, and is currently a freshman voice major at the University of Oregon. John Philip Sousa’s Semper Fidelis is named in honor of his beloved United States Marine Corps, and is the march that Sousa considered to be his best. From the compositions of prolific composer Frank Ticheli, Blue Shades alludes to the original American genre of the Blues. Featured in this major work is a particularly energetic clarinet solo by Cascade Winds member Ted Burton. Burton is band director at Mountain View High School, and a familiar performer/conductor on the Bend music scene. This is the second season the Cascade Winds have been conducted by Judd. After an extensive tenure as a music teacher in Washington State, including election into the Washington Music Educator’s Hall of Fame, Judd is currently director of bands at Summit High School in Bend. A co-founder of the Northwest Wind Symphony, an award-winning community band in Western Washington, Judd has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Northwest. The Cascade Winds will be a featured performance group in the Centennial Celebration of the City of Redmond on the Fourth of July. These concerts are free, open to the public and suitable for all ages. www.cascadewinds.org or 541-593-1635. Michael Franti & Spearhead Coming to Les Schwab Amphitheater In a return appearance, Michael Franti & Spearhead swing into Bend to play the Les Schwab Amphitheater on Thursday, August 5. They were last seen in Bend in 2008 playing with Built To Spill to a loyal and slightly rain drenched crowd over Memorial Day Weekend. With any luck this time around there won’t be any rain getting in the way of their amazing live show. Franti, who recently completed a tour with John Mayer, has long been known for his electrifying live show. His latest CD release All Rebel Rockers, was the highest debut album chart position of his career and his multi-format hit, Say Hey (I Love You), the most commercially success song of his career. It produced his first Top 20 Billboard Hot 100 single, was certified digital platinum and the song’s video garnered nearly five million YouTube views. Franti’s performances are marked by a genuine openheartedness, a commitment to communication and a greater sense of community. “The people who come to see us seem to love the experience of the party as well as the message and the music,” he says. Franti has re-entered the studio and is slated for a new release in 2010. Tickets via all Ticketmaster Outlets including the Ticket Mill at the Old Mill District (541-318-5457), charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or 866.866.4502 (Bend area), or online at Ticketmaster.com. Steve Miller Band at Les Schwab Amphitheatre Steve Miller and his band return to Oregon after last year’s fantastic sold out show at McMenamin’s Edgefield concerts on the Lawn. The Joker performer will play Edgefield on July 15 and Les Schwab on July 16. Thursday at the Edgefield stadium doors open at 5pm with the show starting at 6pm. Friday at Les Schwab Amphitheater doors open at 5pm as well; show starting at 6pm. The Steve Miller Band has unveiled a spring and summer itinerary that will take the classic rocker to venues throughout North America through July. Along with classics from the band’s impressive repertoire, shows will also include new material from an upcoming album that the group recorded in 2008 at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch. The still-untitled effort, for which no release date has been announced, will contain blues and R&B songs selected from the more than three dozen the band recorded in the studio. www.bendconcerts.com, www.biglavaconcerts.com, www.edgefieldconcerts.com Summer SoulSpeak Benefiting Kilns College What better way to kickoff this summer than with an evening of bluesy music and a delicious meal at sunset in the Old Mill Marketplace on June 13, 5pm benefiting Kilns College. This event features the smokey music of the PawnShop Kings. Hailing from southern California, the PawnShop Kings offer a unique style of dirty blues and rock that keep your foot tapping and shoulders swaying. As you enjoy the concert, you will be served a full spread from a local favorite, Baldy’s BBQ. Throughout the evening there will be a silent auction with over fifty items of all sizes ranging from family photo shoots to a weekend get-away. Ticket price is $20, which includes dinner. Tickets can be purchased online at www.kilnscollege.org or at the Kilns Bookstore located in the Old Mill Marketplace. 541-389-9166 or info@kilnscollege.org Musical Groups from Summit & University of Oregon to Perform on Mothers Day A Mother’s Day concert combining the talents of Summit High School music students and the University of Oregon vocal A Cappella group at the Tower Theatre May 9 at 3pm will help raise funds for Friends of Music, a non-profit organization which supports the musical endeavors of the Summit High School music department. “We are having this concert for the love of music, to keep music in the schools and to keep it fun,” Paulita Bridges, co-chair of FOM said. The Concert will have performances by the Summit High School jazz band, jazz singers and orchestra students. The headliners are University of Oregon’s Divisi, an A Cappella women’s group and On the Rocks, the male counterpart. FOM is establishing the first annual spring concert to help meet financial goals in assisting the music directors at Summit with scholarships, new equipment, and the promotion of future student concerts. In previous years, the FOM was able to give scholarships to students with financial needs to compete in the Heritage Festival, western international band conferences, and state competitions. “Kids involved in music get better grades, which follows the sports ideal,” Bridges said. Funds raised by the FOM helped buy 100 concert chairs and a trophy case which presently displays the Summit Winds’ second place state trophy. Bridges hopes to raise money for more scholarships and the purchase of more concert equipment for the school’s music department. The club would also like to bring community awareness and more support for their group. Goo Goo Dolls at Les Schwab Amphitheater Monqui Presents and the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend present the Goo Goo Dolls in concert with Vedera as special guests on Friday, May 28. Goo Goo Dolls are currently in the studio giving the final touches to their upcoming album, Something For The Rest of Us. The show also includes Band of Horses and She & Him on Sunday, May 30. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars on Stage Their can’t-help-but-dance live shows and inspirational musical messages testify to optimism in the face of struggle and the power of music to bring peace. It was in a refugee camp in Guinea that American documentarians Banker White and Zach Niles encountered the group. The first-time filmmakers followed the band for three years as they moved from camp to camp, and eventually back to war-ravaged Sierra Leone, where they realized the dream of recording their first studio album. The resulting movie won the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary at the 2005 AFI Film Festival, and the Audience Award of the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2006. The group’s first album, Living Like A Refugee, garnered fans from Keith Richards and Paul McCartney to Oprah and Aerosmith. The band’s newest work, Rise & Shine, was featured in April on NPR. BendPAC Launches Monthly Music Series Central Oregon’s brand new performing arts center will produce a monthly series spotlighting the musical talents of our region and beyond. NIGHTSOUNDS at the PAC series will feature a different vocal or songwriting performer across a wide range of styles on the fourth Monday of every month. The new BendPAC Theatre is ideally suited to provide an intimate, personal evening of music to the local community. With its flexible configuration, audiences are guaranteed a unique setting and experience with every new event. April NIGHTSOUNDS will be on Monday April 26, 7pm and the performer will be Reed Thomas Lawrence. Acoustic rock musician Lawrence offers that rare jewel to his fans. He writes and plays music that is original and artistic but doesn’t lose a drop of pop friendliness in the process of seeking to infuse thoughtfulness and intelligence into the world of music. His vision remains uncompromised while bringing music to the masses that the masses will embrace. Entrancing melodies and singular vocal stylings help elevate Lawrence above the crowd. His music ably references multiple genres, weaving his influences into a cohesive new flavor. Raised in Central Oregon, Lawrence grew up far from the city and close to the country where he found his home in music through his father’s record collection. After several years of playing drums, he discovered an old guitar in his grandfather’s attic and began teaching himself to strum. Lawrence found he could express his love for rhythm and melody through this comfortable new instrument. At 26, Lawrence has relentlessly found his own sound by fusing Reggae, soul, funk and blues into a singer/ songwriters own adventurous twist on pop music. Storytelling Open Mic Series Bend Performing Arts Center will produce a monthly series spotlighting the stories and storytellers of our region. The SpeakEasy is a storytelling Open Mic based on the long-running Washington, D.C. series of the same name. The SpeakEasy will feature a different theme each month and all are invited to join in with a story based on that month’s theme. Our first SpeakEasy takes place on Monday, April 5 and continues every first Monday of the month thereafter. As a way of introducing the SpeakEasy concept to our audiences, the first month’s them will be potluck. All are invited to bring a story, any story you like. The only rules are to please limit your story to 8 minutes (you WILL be cut off!) and to be respectful to the audience with regard to your choice of language.Host for this brand-new ongoing series is noted local storyteller Guy J. Jackson who has recently been seen performing his one-person storytelling shows at CTC’s “Night Visions” series and is making his mark as an internet filmmaker. He will lead off each evening with a story based on the evening’s theme and then give over the stage to the Open Mic and the wonderful stories we will share with our community. 541-977-5677, www.innovationtw.org Comedy & Song Highlight Tower Saturday, April 10 at 7pm the comedic act Doug Benson will be at the Tower Theatre. Tickets cost $20 in Advance and $25 the day of the show. Doug Benson started stand-up comedy at age 22 while living in San Fransisco. Benson has worked with plays and movies since he began his comedic career. Benson also has had many co-star experiences on television. Benson tested out his comedic abilities in 2007 when he took on the show Last Comic Standing. While not winning the entire show, he lasted until episode nine. On Saturday, April 24 the singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn will be performing at the Tower Theatre at 7pm. The Canadian born singer has been guided and inspired by music since before 1969. Cockburn sings his own original songs ranging from rock to blues to reggae. Cockburn continues to write and put out albums and he was inducted into the Canadian music hall of fame in 2001. Saturday, May 15 the Tower will host the ten, all male members of the a cappella group Straight No Chaser at 7pm. The group of men, having started back in college, restarted its singing career after a ten year hiatus and recorded a Christmas Album in 2008. The group appeared on many daytime and nighttime shows such as the Today show and ABC World News Tonight. The group covers different songs from ranges of genres and the men are known for their holiday albums. Straight No Chaser also has a new album coming out April 13. St. Patty's Ain't Over Til the Irish Rovers Sing
After singing all over Canada as teenagers, the original four Rovers landed in San Francisco at the famous folk club “The Purple Onion,” headlining for an unprecedented 22 sold-out weeks. Then came the million-selling single The Unicorn, still the band’s signature song. In 1980, the Rovers once again soared to the top of the pop and country charts with Wasn’t That A Party. This real-life celebration was written by their friend, folk singer Tom Paxton, after he witnessed one of the band’s famous post-show parties. The Rovers recorded Grandma Got Run-Over By A Reindeer in 1982, which remains a holiday classic. The Irish Rovers continue to perform in theatres around the world, with original members George Millar, Joe Millar and Wilcil McDowell. Like the Unicorn, the Irish Rovers are legendary and magical, and a good time is guaranteed for all. The Irish Rovers are the fourth presentation in the Tower Theatre’s 2009-2010 CenterStage Series, with a performance by Tony Award® winner Betty Buckley on April 18. Title sponsor for CenterStage is Francis, Hansen & Martin law firm. Presenting sponsor is Jones & Roth CPA. Supporting sponsors are Sterling Savings Bank and Central Oregon Audiology. On Guitarist Hunter Beck A interesting newcomer to the arts and entertainment scene in Central Oregon is classical guitarist Hunter Beck, who moved to Bend from Santa Fe, New Mexico in October. Beck, with bachelor’s and masters degrees in classical guitar, has performed across the U.S. as a soloist and with small combos, and has been teaching for thirty years in various formats. He has been a mainstay in the music scene and art galleries in Santa Fe since 1987. His Oregon debut performance was the November First Friday Gallery Walk at Douglas Fine Jewelry and Design. Beck will offer fingerstyle guitar classes at Cascade Community School of Music in January. Beck has an extensive background in integrative-centering systems including Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Yoga and Tai Chi, enabling a unique and effective, holistic approach to teaching. “I love showing folks how to get the most from their ‘chops,’ whichever style of guitar,” says Beck. Information: 541-318-3341. The Burma Deception by PETER WALL THOMAS
A & E Feature Writer Set in Thailand, the basic storyline is tried and true: well intended people being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In March of this year Cullis decided that he needed a fresh perspective to complete the story and traveled to Thailand where he lived on a Thai junk boat called the Siam Junk. This experience would prove crucial to the screenplay’s story line, and allow him to bring a realism to his story that otherwise would have been unattainable. The story largely takes place in and around Phuket, Thailand. Upon his return Cullis fashioned another revision of his story but realized he needed help if the story was ever going to reach its’ full potential. To that end, Cullis enlisted the help of local published author Suzanne Burns in July of this year. Barns and Cullis had met in 2006 while attending a writing class at Central Oregon Community College taught by co-author of the sci-fi classic Logan’s Run, William F. Nolan. “I thought Suzanne stood out (in class) with a bizarre sense of humor, and thought that she would be really good at helping me with character development and dialogue,” explains Cullis. The story, which revolves around murder, deceit, and the lucrative Thai sex trade, was not the type of project Burns would typically gravitate towards. “I said yes to the project, and once I read the script, I really liked it,” says Burns. “He really has the action part down, so I focused on aspects in the story women would appreciate, like relationships,” explains Burns. Their partnership seems to have paid off. In fact, both agree their collaboration “was almost effortless,” according to Cullis. As they went through the process there was a lot of bartering on what would ultimately stay and what would be cut, and they even added a completely new plot point towards the end of the story. Cullis, a stickler of structure, and Burns, found that utilizing each others strong points would result in the strongest possible end product. Now, after months of working together, both are satisfied their best effort has been put forth. By having a finished screenplay completed in time for BendFilm, Cullis is hoping to have the opportunity to make the right contacts to facilitate his efforts to shop the screenplay. His goal is to sell the product while maintaining some creative control if and when it actually gets produced. To that end his strategy is to cultivate Northwest contacts first and see if he can get some bites. There are no guarantees in the film industry, but one thing is certain, Cullis and Burns have created a story they believe in, and would be more then willing to collaborate again in the future. |
EVENTS CALENDAR Tower
Theatre 317-0700 2nd
Street Theater in Bend 312-9626 Cascade
Theatrical Company 2nd Street Theater October 1 – 31 Evil Dead the Musical, Featuring most of the original cast from 2009. November 1 & 2, 7:00pm Auditions for Love Laughter & Lucci, written and produced by Cricket Daniel Roles: 1 male, 3 female November 11-28, BEAT presents Rent December 6 & 7, 7pm Auditions for The Rainmaker, by N. Richard Nash, 6 males, 1 female January 7 –22, Cricket Daniels presents Love, Laughter & Lucci, written by Cricket Daniel. February 17-March 6, The Rainmaker, directed by Susan Benson and Tim Plfum, 541-312-9626, 2ndsttheater@bendcable.com Bend Experimental Art Theatre The Homecoming – The pilot for The Waltons and A Broadway Play at Summit High School, November. 2 - 7 RENT at 2nd Street Theater, 220 NE Lafayette Ave. November 11–27 A Christmas Carol 4 Performances Friday, Dec. 17-Monday, Dec. 20 at The Tower Theatre The Orphan Train at Cascade Middle School, 3 School Performance week of February 21, 2011 1 Public Performance week of February 21, 2011 Guys & Dolls at Summit High School March 29- April 2, 2011 Stephanie Hero at 2nd Street Theatre July 13-17 2011 www.beatonline.org or email classes@beatonline.org or 541-419-5558 Bend Performing Arts Center 1155 SW Division Street 541-504-6721 • www.innovationtw.org Buckboard Mysteries / The Summit Saloon, September 14 6pm Murder on the Menu = interactive murder mystery shows for the whole family at The Summit Saloon, 125 NW Oregon Ave. Bend. Participants will vie for spot as Celebrity Chef Chef Geoff, Katie Katie the Cupcake Lady and other glamorous characters and work to solve “who dunnit?” $20 541-350-0018 www.buckboardproductions.com Cascades Theatrical Company October 15-31 Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde 541-389-0803 541-389-0803 or www.cascadestheatrical.org Cat Call Productions September 17 Little Shop of Horrors by at the Tower Theatre with six additional performances. $25 www.towertheatre.org, 541-317-0700. |
 |
||
Close
to the Jefferson County line, a pioneering vision for homegrown wine has
been coming to fruition for Maragas Winery. The pastoral-looking winery,
vineyard and farm house which has fast become a landmark off Highway 97
in the Culver area is the base for proprietor Doug Maragas following a
family legacy in carrying on the centuries old tradition of artisan wines.
The
Cascade Winds Symphonic Band will present the final concert of their 2009-2010
season under the baton of music director Dan Judd, June 6, 2pm at Summit
High School auditorium. This concert is free of charge, although donations
are gratefully accepted. This final concert of the Winds season is entitled
Back Home in the U.S.A., and will feature important literature from American
composers. 
The
electrifying and uplifting music of the Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
will permeate the Tower Theatre in May – from the big screen to the main
stage. On Tuesday, May 4 at 7:30pm, the Tower Theatre Foundation presents
the award-winning documentary Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars. Then,
two weeks later on Tuesday, May 18 at 7:30pm, the group will perform its
infectious blend of reggae, calypso and African dance pop live in concert
at the Tower. The All Stars are musicians who escaped the horrific violence
of Sierra Leone's civil war, landed in a West African refugee camp, and
formed a band to keep their spirits up and their hopes alive. 
For
45 years the Irish Rovers have been international ambassadors of Irish
music, charming and entertaining audiences with rollicking, cheerful stage
shows and timeless hit songs. On Saturday, March 20, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.
they perform at the Tower Theatre for the Francis, Hansen and Martin CenterStage
Series, presented by the Tower Theatre Foundation.