Recent Events
The Wisdom of WIT
Upcoming (May 12 & 13):
Death with empathy, and some WIT with Megan.
A dramatized lecture of Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Wit. Megan Cole, who originated the role of Dr. Vivian Bearing, shares portions of the play. A symposium of great thinkers on the matters of death & dying follows. [May, 2012] (More)
The Bridge
And the bridge is love…
When literature meets the cause at hand. A truly special afternoon for Cerimon House, featuring a portion of the Thornton Wilder classic novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey given voice by 7 extraordinary actors: Villazan, Lisell, Hunter, Rotter, Rumbaugh, Mowry & Martin del Campo. [April, 2012] (More)
Ainsworth & Austen
The palpable power of paper and Persuasion.
The buoyant new stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion by Jennifer Le Blanc and directed by Randall Stuart, featured a ensemble of 13 play-readers in a benefit on the grounds of Ainsworth House. The remarkable costumes were rendered of paper by designer Sarah Gahagan. (More)
Salon: Lifelines
A poetic heart, and languages most glorious.
The poetry anthology Lifelines began when Irish school children yearning to help famine victims in developing countries, wrote to famous people asking them to name their favorite poem and tell the reader why – then published the responses with the proceeds going to aid the needy and hungry. Our sharing of the material featured a grand cast of local artists, performing in English, Spanish, French, Gaelic and in song. [June, 2011] (More)
The Spring Concert
An artful plea to fix gun checks.
A concert to promote sanity in the streets and safety in the schools. This large-scale 2011 event S.O.S. – Songs of Sondheim reunited the award-winning cast of the highly-praised local production of Sondheim’s Assassins, as well as other beloved vocalists and musicians. The concert honored victims of gun violence everywhere, and Cerimon House partnered with Stumptown Stages and Ceasefire Oregon Education Foundation to raise funds and consciousness. Performed at the historic Alberta Rose Theatre. [May, 2011] (More)
The Portrait Project
The story within the historic image.
A commission of local Portland painter and graphic artist Jeremy Boldt. His 18 portraits graced the stage for our Spring benefit concert: S.O.S. – Songs of Sondheim. These provocative images captured the essence of the related personalities who are featured in the songs from the Tony-Award winning Sondheim musical Assassins. In the wake of the Tucson tragedy in 2011, the concert brought focus to Gun Safety issues. These portraits can be obtained in a popular printed Collectors Set. Read more at The Portrait Project. [May, 2011]
Shaw – Don Juan
Playing with a literary fire…which can “smart”.
In George Bernard Shaw’s theatrical allegory Don Juan In Hell, Senor Don Juan Tenorio finds his way to Heaven with a little help from an old and artful friend named Lucifer. This Cerimon House Salon featured Gilberto Martin del Campo as Don Juan, Jennifer Le Blanc as Dona Ana, Joel Morello as Don Gonzalo and Megan Cole as The Devil. Directed by Randall Stuart, adapted by Ms. LeBlanc & Mr. Stuart, performed at Stonehenge Studios. Don Juan stands as one of the 20th Century masterpieces of literature. [April 2011]
Shaw – Heartbreak
Bohemia reawakened on a boat called England.
G. Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House is a witty prayer for peace, ranking among the finest of 20th century masterpieces. This presentation featured a reunion of the cast from the beloved Porchlight Theatre Company’s 2005 production (directed by Ms. E. Craven) which included Ms. M. Noble, Ms. J. Gelb, Ms. J. LeBlanc, Ms. P. Silver, Mr. R. Parnell, Mr. C. Neibaur, Mr. N. Sholley, Mr. J. Craven, Mr. T. Tressler and Mr. R. Stuart – and joined in this salon by Mr. P. Jones. Performed at Thorne Manor in Oakland, California. [January, 2011]
Salon: James Agee
Discovering the author’s American voice.
An evening about the life & times of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and film critic, James Agee. James Agee: An American Son featured excerpts from many of his most beloved writings and reviews, and including portions of his classic A Death in the Family. Created by Randall Stuart & Gemma Whelan, and performed by members of the Cerimon House Board of Directors as well as special guest Megan Cole. Performed at Stonehenge Studios. [January, 2011]
Salon: Wilde Irish
A green carnation in your lapel is jaunty.
Our very own Gemma Whelan hosted a marvelous Irish night at the historic Ainsworth House, to celebrate the birthday of Oscar Wilde. The audience was treated to high spirits, lovely harp music, and pithy readings of Wildean note from the theatrical collection The Importance of Being Oscar. Gemma read an excerpt from her newly-published novel about being born in Ireland: Fiona, Stolen Child. [October, 2010]
A Lovely Day
All in a day’s work: a revolutionary tale.
The whimsical new play A Lovely Day…in collaboration with the faculty and students of Pacific University’s Theatre Department. Inspired by the commedia dell ‘arte, this is a musical adaptation of the 1929 surreal comedy Pantagleize by Michel de Ghelderode. Book & Lyrics by Randall Stuart, Music by Rodolfo Ortega. Production Design by Tal Sanders and Caitlin Quinn. [October, 2009]
Beatles Songspiel
Speaking words of wisdom: Let It Be.
This vision-raising event was special in many ways. On International Peace Day, vocalist Gretchen Rumbaugh presented We Can Work It Out – A Beatles Songspiel in collaboration with musician Mark Anderson. The concert was presented in the parlors of two gorgeous historic homes in Portland. The evening featured 70 minutes of beloved tunes, truly reinvented from the musical canon of the Fab Four. [September, 2009]
