Prologue / Summer 2016
LoveFest
In this new occasional column, we share with you some of the praise we get from members, patrons, students and teachers about the plays, kudos about staff members’ good deeds and remarks about how people feel about working here. These are taken from internal sources, letters, emails and social media posts.

 

One of our donors shared this lovely e-mail she got from a friend: “Of the four plays we saw, The River Bride was my favorite. Some of the language was like a subtle perfume that I breathed in and lifted me out of my seat, of my mind, and directly into my heart . . .  It was also so beautifully done and all the actors just perfect in their roles. I could see it again.”

Associate Director of Communications Eddie Wallace reports that he received a message from a member that was for him “particularly satisfying.” She had been reluctant to see Roe because she felt sure that OSF would only present the pro-choice side. After seeing the show, she wrote: “It is one of my all-time favorites of OSF productions—really riveting. . . . I felt like I was going back in time and reliving the events that preceded Roe v. Wade. . . . The playwright really was able to present a balanced view and a piece of literature/theatre that can assist people in listening to each other and discussing rationally opposite points of view. [I]t will be hard to beat Roe for being such a thoughtful, balanced production that hopefully will help Americans listen to each other and help us bridge the cultural divide.”


From a patron after seeing Vietgone: “Superb! Life-changing! Magnificent storytelling! Stunning cast selection. As a life-long “geek” of speech inflection, I found the reversals and other word tricks mesmerizing. I wanted to stand up and shout ‘go back and do that one again’ over and over again… Thank you for bringing Vietgone to the Rogue Valley!”

From Stage Manager Jill Rendall: “Last week, about an hour after The Yeomen of the Guard had come down, I walked past the wardrobe room and saw Wardrobe Assistant Courtney Cunningham leaning closely into the flower appliqués on [actor] Joe Foronda’s pants. After watching her for a minute I asked what she was doing with them. She was meticulously removing each of the flowers and sewing a snap underneath so that they could be removed before each dry cleaning. After only 30 shows they were wearing down, and she wanted to ensure that they would last 143 performances. This theatre is filled with people who take that much care and pride in their work and the art we share with our audiences, but I know you know that.”
From students at Crater Renaissance Academy: 

 
“Twelfth Night was hands-down the best performance I’ve seen. In my opinion, it was 10 times better than any film I have seen.”

 

“Great Expectations may be my favorite play of all time. . . . It makes me consider the fact that while you may be rich, poor, black, beautiful or just plain rude, we don’t know what someone has been through.” 


“Great Expectations was absolutely incredible. All of the actors were so talented and so developed that I truly felt each character’s pains, sorrows, joys and confusion. (Except Compeyson. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive him.) I’ll probably see Great Expectations more than 10 times because I really love that one.” 


Crate Renaissance Post-Show Discussion

Students from Crater Renaissance Academy at a Twelfth Night post-show discussion, with actor Ted Deasy. Photo by Jenny Graham.

From an email from FAIR Assistant Director M. Graham Smith to Artistic Director Bill Rauch: “I already feel so welcomed into the community and so energized by the work, the people and the gorgeous Rogue Valley. Coming from the knockabout world of freelance directing, I am so lifted up by the community at OSF. The professionalism, love, generosity and respect that are part of the culture of the OSF company is a game-changer for me. As a freelancer, I often struggle to find my tribe, my artistic home, made up of artists and leaders who share my values and a vision for what our theatre community and culture ought to be. So much still needs to change in the larger American theatre community, but in 2016 I am keenly aware that OSF is making the change you desire. Slowly and surely, the model you and the OSF team practice on every level reveals that so much more is possible than business-as-usual in the American theatre, and I’m so glad to be here and be part of it.”

Dawn Elsbree from the Development department shared this report on a conversation she had with a patron in May at a Southampton Society (a group of donors who make planned gifts such as bequests to OSF) dinner: “She has been coming to OSF for 42 years. Recently, she was diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy. She knew that she wanted to be here this weekend so she worked with her medical team to delay treatment so that she could come. As she said, ‘I knew, that with everything crazy that is going on in this country and the world right now, OSF is the only place of reason and truth, and I needed to be here. Even though I am going through cancer treatment, I knew that I would be accepted and embraced here at the Festival and that it would be OK.’ "

 

Dawn concluded, “At least once a week I have a conversation with a patron or donor that makes me realize the deep and profound affect the OSF work is having on peoples’ lives, and I am honored to be a part of this company."

Prologue / Summer 2016 >>