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As I See It ... Dennis Sparks Once again, I have accumulated what I believe are unique, artistic achievements for the Season (the empty space represent the theatres that would have been there had it not been for the recent crisis) and awarded each of them a Sparkle Recognition mention. But, as you will note, unlike other award lists, I do not pick a “winner,” nor is my list confined to necessarily “5 nominees” in each category. My list contains as many, or as few, as I deem “special” or “unique” in some way(s).
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Granted, this is my take
alone on the shows this season and, I’m sure, you will note, doesn’t agree
with most award lists of “nominees/winners.”
Also, it doesn’t encompass all the fine theatres that exist in the
Northwest. All the theatres I do
include, have invited me to review their shows. And, being only one person, I can only
review so many at a time.
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I unashamedly admit that
I am a supporter of the Arts, having over 40 years myself in all aspects of
it. I attend a production expecting it
to be good and, if it falls short, in my opinion, I try to be constructive in
my criticism. Also, you will note in
my reviews, that I tend not to spend a lot of time describing the plot but,
instead, try to give a flavor of the piece.
I, also, try to make comparisons to similar venues or historical,
philosophical or personal histories of the times to, hopefully, enlighten the
audience, as to what they may be seeing/experiencing.
Some of the most unique
plays in the shortened 19/20 Season (Sept. 1st-Mar. 8th
(plus one) were Frozen Jr. & Willy Wonka… from the Eastside Theater Co.;
Blood Brothers from Triangle!; Jungle Book from NWCT; Hamlet from Speculative
Drama; DNA from OCT’s Young Professionals Co.; Darius Pierce as James X from Corrib;
Smell of the Kill from Twilight; Jekyll & Hyde from Experience Theatre;
Clockwork Orange from Bag & Baggage; Tenderly at Portland Musical Theater
Co., especially, Deanna Maio as Rosemary Clooney; and Maya Caulfield as The
Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus (a virtual performance in July) from OCT. |
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(Some personal observations regarding recognizing
the Arts: The Media gives a lot of
attention to current events, sports and weather, etc. but almost none that
focuses on the Arts. Likewise, many
land/building owners seem to be following that lead in downgrading the Arts and
raising prices that, I’m sure they realize, Art groups cannot afford with
their extremely limited budgets. Also, parking is a problem in many parts of town where
theatre spaces reside and it would behoove a business or religious
institution to reach out and offer their parking lots when they are not in
operation. So, please, if you are one
of these organizations or know one, go the extra mile and give this precious
commodity, the Arts, a chance to survive!) |
My blog now has over 450,000
views, which is not too shabby in the seven+ years and over 700 reviews. I have also been asked to join the American
Theatre Critics’ Organization. And other champions around the Arts are an unending
gratitude to my electronic muse, Jennifer, for creating my blog and Dave for
maintaining it. A special “shout-out,”
too, to Ronnie Lacroute and the WillaKenzie Estate, who may be the most
priceless supporter local theatre has!
And when theatres/artists put links to my reviews on their sites, it
only enhances the readership and, hopefully, your audiences. In case you’d rather scan the list to find
your own company, the theatres (right-hand column) are listed alphabetically (more
or less).
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So, without any further exposition, may we have the envelopes please . .
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Outstanding Productions -- Musical |
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|
Play |
Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frozen,
Jr. |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
Willy
Wonka |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
The Rocky Horror Show |
Lakewood
Theatre Company |
|
|
|
|
In
the Heights |
Portland Center Stage |
|
West
Side Story |
Stumptown Stages |
|
|
|
|
Blood
Brothers |
Triangle Productions! |
|
Me…Jane |
Young Professionals Company
(OCT) |
|
Outstanding Directors – Musical |
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|
|
Director |
Play |
Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Josh Johnson |
Frozen,
Jr. |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
Liz Bertsch |
Willy
Wonka |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
John
Oules |
The Rocky Horror Show |
Lakewood
Theatre Company |
|
|
|
|
|
May Adrelas |
In
the Heights |
Portland Center Stage |
|
Patrick Nims |
West
Side Story |
Stumptown Stages |
|
|
|
|
|
Don Horn |
Blood
Brothers |
Triangle Productions! |
|
|
|
|
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Outstanding Choreographers |
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|
|
Choreographer |
Play |
Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sarah
Rose |
Frozen, jr. |
Eastside
Theater Company |
|
Sarah
Rose |
Willy Wonka |
Eastside
Theater Company |
|
Kevin
Paul Clark |
The Rocky Horror Show |
Lakewood
Theatre Company |
|
Anita
Menon |
The Jungle Book |
NW
Children’s Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
William Carlos Angulo |
In
the Heights |
Portland Center Stage |
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher George Patterson |
West
Side Story |
Stumptown Stages |
|
That Was No Lady |
Sara
Mishler Martins |
Triangle Productions! |
|
Outstanding Musical Directors |
|
|
|
Musical Director |
Play |
Theatre |
|
|
|
|
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Kelsey Hoeffel |
Frozen,
Jr. |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
Josh Johnson |
Willy
Wonka |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
Darcy
White |
The Rocky Horror Show |
Lakewood
Theatre Company |
|
|
|
|
|
Eugenio A. Vargas |
In
the Heights |
Portland Center Stage |
|
|
|
|
|
Adam Joseph Young |
West
Side Story |
Stumptown Stages |
|
Scott Bradner |
That
Was No Lady |
Triangle Productions! |
|
Outstanding Ensembles – Musical |
|
|
Play |
Theatre |
|
|
|
|
Frozen, Jr. |
Eastside
theater Company |
|
Willy Wonka |
Eastside
Theater Company |
|
The Rocky Horror Show |
Lakewood
Theatre Company |
|
|
|
|
In
the Heights |
Portland Center Stage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Bell Ringer |
Symphont North |
|
|
|
|
West
Side Story |
Stumptown Stages |
|
That
Was No Lady |
Triangle Productions! |
|
Scrooge
In Rouge |
Triangle Productions! |
|
Me…Jane |
Young Professionals Company
(OCT) |
|
Outstanding Performances in a
Leading Role, Male – Musical |
|||
|
Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simeon
Johnson |
Willy
Wonka |
Willy Wonka |
Eastside
Theater Company |
|
Noah
Feldmann-Parks |
Charlie |
Willy Wonka |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
Sean
Ryan Lamb |
John
McClane |
Die Hard, the musical parody |
Funhouse
Lounge |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Delphon “DJ” Curtis, Jr. |
Hedwig |
Hedwig
and the Angry Inch |
Portland Center Stage |
|
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|
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Shawn Rogers |
Narrator |
Blood
Brothers |
Triangle Productions! |
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Tyler Hendrix |
Mickey |
Blood
Brothers |
Triangle Productions! |
|
Richard Stone |
Edward |
Blood
Brothers |
Triangle Productions! |
|
|
|
|
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|
Outstanding Performances in a
Leading Roll, Female – Musical |
|||
|
Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
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Ana
Grayce Krachinski |
Elsa |
Frozen, Jr. |
Eastside
Theater Company |
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Ava
Marie Horton |
Anna |
Frozen, Jr. |
Eastside
theater Company |
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Landy
Lamb |
Hans
Gruber |
Die Hard, the musical parody |
Funhouse
Lounge |
|
Kate
Faye Cummings |
Holly
Gennero |
Die Hard, the musical parody |
Funhouse
Lounge |
|
|
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|
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|
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|
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Gowri
Ganesh |
Mowgli |
The Jungle Book |
NW
Children’s Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
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Margie Boule’ |
Donna |
Mamma
Mia! |
Stumptown Stages |
|
|
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Caitlin Brooke |
Mrs. Johnstone |
Blood
Brothers |
Triangle Productions! |
|
Lisamarie Harrison |
Mrs. Lyons |
Blood
Brothers |
Triangle Productions |
|
Outstanding Performances in a
Supporting Role, Male – Musical |
|||
|
Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
|
Alex Hugo |
Weselton |
Frozen,
Jr. |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
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|
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|
Outstanding Performances in a
Supporting Role, Female – Musical |
|||
|
Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
|
Claire Horton |
Young Anna |
Frozen,
Jr. |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
Dancers |
Animals |
The
Jungle Book |
NW Children’s Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
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Allison Parker |
Anybodys |
West
Side Story |
Stumptown Stages |
|
Lisamarie Harrison |
Tanya |
Mamma
Mia! |
Stumptown Stages |
|
Elizabeth Hadley |
Rosie |
Mamma
Mia! |
Stumptown Stages |
|
Hannah Wilson |
Linda |
Blood
Brothers |
Triangle Productions! |
|
Outstanding Productions –
Non-Musical |
|
|
Play |
Theatre |
|
1984 |
Artists Rep |
|
Indecent |
Artistss Rep/Profile Theatre |
|
A
Clockwork Orange |
Bag & Baggage |
|
|
|
|
Dr.
Jekyll & Mr. Hyde |
Experience Theatre Project |
|
Special
K |
Imago Theatre |
|
|
|
|
The
Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559 |
Oregon Children’s Theatre |
|
The
Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus |
Oregon Children’s Theatre |
|
Peter
and the Starcatcher |
Oregon Shakespeare Festival |
|
Macbeth |
Portland Center Stage |
|
Sweat |
Profile Theatre |
|
Hamlet |
Speculative Drama |
|
The
Miracle Worker |
Twilight Theater Company |
|
|
|
|
DNA |
Young Professionals Co. (OCT) |
|
Outstanding Directors –
Non-Musical |
|
|
|
Director |
Play |
Theatre |
|
Damaso Rodriguez |
1984 |
Artists Rep |
|
Josh Hecht |
Indecent |
Artists Rep/Profile Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
Cassie Greer |
A
Clockwork Orange |
Bag & Baggage |
|
|
|
|
|
Alisa Stewart |
Dr.
Jekyll & Mr. hyde |
Experience Theatre Project |
|
Jerry Mouawad |
Special
K |
Imago Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
Dmae Roberts |
The
Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559 |
Oregon Children’s Theatre |
|
Lavina Jadhwani |
Peter
and the Starcatcher |
Oregon Shakespeare Festival |
|
Adriana Baer |
Macbeth |
Portland Center Stage |
|
Christopher Acebo |
Sweat |
Profile Theatre |
|
Myrrh Larsen |
Hamlet |
Speculative Drama |
|
Doreen Lundberg |
The
Miracle Worker |
Twilight Theater Company |
|
|
|
|
|
Zoe Rudman |
DNA |
Young Professionals Company |
|
Outstanding Ensembles
– Non-Musical |
|
|
Play |
Theatre |
|
1984 |
Artists Rep |
|
Indecent |
Artists Rep/Profile Theatre |
|
School
Girls… |
Artists Rep & Portland
Center Stage |
|
A
Clockwork Orange |
Bag & Baggage |
|
Eclipsed |
Corrib Theatre |
|
|
|
|
Smokefall |
Defunkt Theatre |
|
Bliss |
Defunkt Theatre |
|
Dr.
Jekyll & Mr. Hyde |
Experience Theatre Project |
|
A
View from the Bridge |
Fuse Theatre |
|
Special
K |
Imago Theatre |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amor
Anejo |
Milagro |
|
|
|
|
The
Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559 |
Oregon Children’s Theatre |
|
Peter
and the Starcatcher |
Oregon Shakespeare Festival |
|
The
Copper Children |
Oregon Shakespeare Festival |
|
A
Midsummer’s Night’s Dream |
Oregon Shakespeare Festival |
|
|
|
|
Pipeline |
Portland Playhouse |
|
Sweat |
Profile Theatre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Soul’d |
Vanport Mosaic |
|
DNA |
Young Professionals Company
(OCT) |
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Outstanding Performances in a
Leading Role, Male – Non-Musical |
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Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
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Heath Koerschgen |
Pale |
Burn
This |
Asylum Theatre |
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Michael J. Teufel |
Larry |
Burn
This |
Asylum Theatre |
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Tom Mounsey |
Norm |
Found
Dog Ribbon Dance |
CoHo Productions |
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Darius Pierce |
James |
James
X |
Corrib Theatre |
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Paul Angelo |
Roat |
Wait
Until Dark |
Lakewood Theatre Company |
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James Ryen |
Black Stache |
Peter
and the Starcatcher |
Oregon Shakespeare Festival |
|
Daniel T. Parker |
Bottom |
A
Midsummer Night’s Dream |
Oregon Shakespeare Festival |
|
Isabella Buckner |
Hamlet |
Hamlet |
Speculative Drama |
|
Michael Mendelson |
Scrooge |
A
Christmas Carol |
Portland Playhouse |
|
Joshua
J. Weinstein |
Third
Man, et. al. |
The Baltimore Waltz |
Profile
Theatre |
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Outstanding Performances in a
Leading Role, Female – Non-Musical |
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Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
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Briana
Ratterman |
Anna |
Burn This |
AsylumTheatre |
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Beth Thompson |
Norma |
Found
Dog Ribbon Dance |
CoHo Productions |
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Maya Caulfield |
Girl, et. al. |
The
Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus |
Oregon Children’s Theatre |
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Taylor Jean Grady |
Susan |
Wait
Until Dark |
Lakewood Theatre Company |
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Valerie Asbell |
Annie |
The
Miracle Worker |
Twilight Theater Company |
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Olivia Holmstedt |
Helen |
The
Miracle Worker |
Twilight Theater Company |
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Outstanding Performances in a
Supporting Role, Male – Non-Musical |
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Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
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Jason Manioccia |
Burton |
Burn
This |
Asylum Theatre |
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Chris Porter |
Colonel/Johnny |
Smokefall |
Defunkt Theatre |
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Mathew Kern |
Footnote, et. al. |
Smokefall |
Defunkt Theatre |
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Myia Johnson |
Laertes |
Hamlet |
Speculative Drama |
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Olivia Gray |
Horatio |
Hamlet |
Speculative Drama |
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Outstanding Performances in a
Supporting Role, Female – Non-Musical |
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Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
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Jessica Hillenbrand |
Beauty |
Smokefall |
Defunkt Theatre |
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Megan Skye Hale |
Ophelia |
Hamlet |
Speculative Drama |
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Outstanding Performance in a
Leading Role, Male – Small Cast (one to three people) |
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Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
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Mace Archer |
Doctor |
Tenderly |
Portland Musical Theater
Company |
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Jay Randall Horenstein |
Morty |
Life… |
Triang;e Productions! |
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Outstanding Performances in a
Leading Role, Female – Small Cast (one to two people) |
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Actor |
Role |
Play |
Theatre |
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Lauren Bloom Hanover |
Macbeth, et. al. |
Macbeth |
Portland Center Stage |
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Chantal DeGroat |
Lady Macbeth, et. al. |
Macbeth |
Portland Center Stage |
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Dana Green |
MacDuff, et. al. |
Macbeth |
Portland Center stage |
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Deanna Maio |
Rosemary Clooney |
Tenderly |
Portland Musical Theater
Company |
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Wendy Westerwelle |
Ruth |
Life… |
Triangle Productions! |
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Deone Jennings |
Nicky |
The
Smell of the Kill |
Twilight Theater |
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Myhraliza Aala |
Debra |
The
Smell of the Kill |
Twilight Theater |
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Sydney Winbush |
Molly |
The
Smell of the Kill |
Twilight Theater |
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Outstanding Technical Designers –
Scenic/Lighting/Sound/Music |
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Designer |
Play |
Theatre |
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|
SETS |
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Peter
Ksander |
Indecent |
Artists
Rep/Profile Theatre |
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Alex Meyer (set) |
Dr.
Jekyll & Mr. Hyde |
Experience Theatre Project |
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Kyra
Sanford (scenic design) |
Amor
Anejo |
Milagro |
|
|
Mariana Sanchez (scenic
design) |
The
Copper Children |
Oregon Shakespeare Festival |
|
|
Tim Mackabee (scenic) |
In
the Heights |
Portland Center Stage |
|
|
Robert J. Aguilar (lighting) |
In
the Heights |
Portland Center Stage |
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Daniel Meeker (Scenic &
Lighting Design) |
The
Baltimore Waltz |
Profile Theatre |
|
|
Peter Ksander |
Sweat |
Profile Theatre |
|
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Outstanding Designers –
Costumes/Props/Make-up/Combat, et. al. |
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Designer |
Play |
Theatre |
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|
|
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Liz Bertsch, Tracey Hugo
& Jeannette Van Orsow—costumes |
Frozen,
Jr. |
Eastside Theater Company |
|
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|
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Mary Eggers |
The
Jungle Book |
NW Children’s Theatre |
|
|
Maya Caulfield—props/set
design |
The
Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus |
Oregon Children’s Theatre |
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David
Israel Reynoso (costumes) |
In the Heights |
Portland
Center Stage |
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Costumes—Jeff
Hinshaw, Darcelle XV |
That Was No Lady |
Triangle
Productions! |
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Don
Horn—Costumes |
Scrooge In Rouge |
Triangle
Productions! |
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Special Recognition |
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|
Ronni
Lacroute |
For
her generous support of theatre in this area—you are special! |
Willakenzie
Estate! |
|
Jennifer
Larson-Cody |
For
having faith in me, thank you—you are my electronic muse! |
My
Blog Creator & Manager |
|
David
Hudkins |
Good
friend and current blog manager |
Blog
Manager |
