Ashland, Ore.--The Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2009 Green Show offers an ambitious and diverse lineup of artists performing June 2 through October 4 on the OSF bricks. The free performances take place in the Festival courtyard before evening theatre performances, every night of the week but Monday. Start times are 7:15 p.m., June 2 - August 9, and 6:45 p.m., August 11 - October 4. The Green Show performances last approximately 35 minutes.
The Green Show is curated by OSF's associate producer for community Claudia Alick. Commenting on last season and this season, she said, "Last season we tried something new with our Green Show. We opened it up to performers from the many different communities we belong to. We invited back some of the original Renaissance dancers from the Green Show, as well as Dance Kaleidoscope and The Terra Nova Consort. We continue this tradition in 2009 with the Siskiyou Singers who have performed annually at the Feast of Will for many years.
"We've got some great youth groups like the Hobart Shakespeareans, Palo Alto Orchestra, Siskiyou Violins, and Rutendo! Marimba, and this year again we will encourage collaborations like last season's between Liquid Fire Mantra and Moment in Time Dance Company, which allowed a mother and son to work artistically together for the first time. This season we'll bring together the Portland Cello Project and Adam Matta, a world renowned beatboxer, who participated in our second Hip-hop Boot Camp. We also will do more ground-breaking work in exploring the hip-hop aesthetic with Abiodun Oyewole one of the Last Poets, Universes, and Global Heat, who perform with a live band and breakdancers.
"We also continue to honor our commitment to excellence and access by working with amazing artists such as Axis Dance, a revolutionary collaboration between dancers with and without disabilities, Hurricane Tumbao, an Oregon-based Salsa group, the Wild Zappers, an all-deaf male dance company, and Anai with African music and dance, just to name a few. This is the most ambitious Green Show in the country. We learned a great deal last year and have made an effort to keep what worked last year and improve on the rest. The comments and participation of audience members were integral in helping us do that. And in looking forward to the season it is the diversity and connection that excite me."
Assisting with the Green Show are Technical Manager Benajah B. Cobb, Production Coordinator Jess Carr and Assistant Cassondra Lindbloom. In addition, there is a supportive core of diverse volunteers, ranging from high school students to retirees. The volunteers help with all technical elements, learn about producing a show, and staff the Green Show information table.
More information, including the full Green Show schedule, is available online at www.osfashland.org/greenshow . Biographies of the performers will soon be posted on the web and accessible though the Green Show schedule.