Once again, the performing arts department brings numerous premieres and exceptional talent to Portland State University. Here’s an overview of the highlights to this year’s season.
The theater arts department begins the 2001-02 season in classic, French farcical style with George Feydeau’s “A Flea in Her Ear.” Glenn Gaur will direct the antics of what some have called the funniest play ever. Dates for “A Flea in Her Ear” are Nov. 8-11 and 14- 17.
Following Feydeau’s farce, winter term showcase the Portland premiere of the highly touted “Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)” by Canadian playwright Ann-Marie MacDonald. “Goodnight Desdemona” plays Feb. 21-24 and Feb. 27-March 2.
Spring term finds Shakespeare’s classic “The Tragedy of Othello” gracing the Lincoln Hall Auditorium stage. Christine Menzies will direct the Moor and company. Othello, Iago, Desdemona and the rest of their cohorts take the stage May 8-June 2 and June 5-8.
In regards to the music department, besides numerous recitals and offerings throughout the year, there are two musical series of note. The Friends of Chamber Music Series and the PSU Piano Recital Series both bring world-class performers to Portland State’s doorstep.
Friends Of Chamber Music Series features the St. Lawrence String Quartet Oct. 8 and 9, Windscape Nov. 19 and 20, Tokyo String Quartet Jan. 14 and 15,
Philharmonia Quartett Berlin March 4 and 5 and the Eroica Trio April 15 and 16. Series concerts are Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. Subscription prices for the series are $125 and $62 for students. For more information call 503-224-9842 or go to www.focm.org.
The Piano Recital Series gets underway with an opening night gala featuring Angela Hewitt Sunday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. at the Newmark Theatre. The series itself, in the Lincoln Auditorium, begins spectacularly with two Van Cliburn Competition Gold Medallists. Stanislav Ioudenitch plays Oct. 5, while Olga Kern plays Oct. 6. They’ll both perform Sunday, Oct. 7. Following the gold medallists is Ilya Itin Dec. 8 and 9, Frederick Chin Jan. 5 and 6, Naida Cole Jan. 26 and 27, Richard Goode March 15 and 17 and Michael Roll April 6 and 7. A full-season subscription is $120, $108 for PSU faculty and staff and $65 for students. A half-season subscription is also available at $68, $61 and $36. For more information, call 503-725-5400 or go to www.fpa.pdx.edu/prs.
White Bird, a nonprofit dance organization established in 1997, will again present a series of performances in Lincoln Auditorium. The first is Ronald K. Brown and his high energy company EVIDENCE fusing modern, ballet and African dance motifs. They’ll be cascading across the stage Sept. 20-22 at 8 p.m.
Urban Bush Women will be presenting “Hair Stories” Dec. 13-15. “Hair Stories” explores the historical relationship between African-American women and their hair, and how it reflects political, cultural and personal identity.
Next in the series is Susan Marshall and company performing their newest work “One and Only You” Jan. 10-12. “One and Only You” is a collaborative piece with writer/ playwright Christipher Renino and presents, through the use of certain film noir themes, a writer caught in a crossroads between everyday reality and the reality of his writing.
The dance series wraps up with Sean Curran and Company April 11-13.
Subscription price for the White Bird’s PSU dance series is $88, while single tickets are $24 and $12 for students and seniors. For more information, call 503-245-1600 or visit www.whitebird.org.For tickets to any or all the events, call the PSU box office at 503-725-3307.