NEXT ON ENSO'S MAIN STAGE:
THE ROMEO & JULIET PROJECT:
The play. Free workshops. An art installation.
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Is love a choice?
Is sympathy? We are the makers of division in our world. The cracks between us become wider and out of them issue fear, anxiety and hate...and also, sometimes, love. Prompted by a backdrop of divisive current events, a group of storytellers, divided by age, connected by purpose, dives into the story of Romeo & Juliet to explore the possibilities of sympathy in a world riddled with division. Our whirlwind adaptation interlocks our world with Shakespeare's text. Immersed at once into a world of imagination, play, and supportive storytelling, Shakespeare's classic tremors with a new kind of relevance in the midst of an intruding media presence. |
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SUPPORT THIS PROJECT!
We have reached NOT ONLY the minimum amount needed to make this show a "GO," we have also reached our second fundraising goal!! THANK YOU!! to all of our incredible donors who helped us get there! Thanks to you, we've increased artist and designer stipends, rented a storage facility and increased designer budgets. |
THE PLAY:
We are adapting Shakespeare's text into a fast-and-furious 105-minute ride. While we are using most of the original text, we will be playing with sharing and swapping lines, and roles will be cast gender-blind. Interspersed throughout the text will be "NOTIFICATIONS", cacophonous soundscapes of modified news headlines weaved together to reflect the latest events as portrayed by the media. The ensemble will consist of seven actors, representing three generations.
We are adapting Shakespeare's text into a fast-and-furious 105-minute ride. While we are using most of the original text, we will be playing with sharing and swapping lines, and roles will be cast gender-blind. Interspersed throughout the text will be "NOTIFICATIONS", cacophonous soundscapes of modified news headlines weaved together to reflect the latest events as portrayed by the media. The ensemble will consist of seven actors, representing three generations.
THE WORKSHOPS:
We are offering free Shakespeare workshops to high school students. These workshops will explore the ways that our world intersects with the world of Romeo & Juliet and ask the question: how can Shakespeare's text and characters help us understand and empathize with our own world?
We are offering free Shakespeare workshops to high school students. These workshops will explore the ways that our world intersects with the world of Romeo & Juliet and ask the question: how can Shakespeare's text and characters help us understand and empathize with our own world?
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THE ART INSTALLATION:
As you enter our space, you will be invited to participate in a collaborative art installation on our Wall of Love. Purchase a Love Lock (a small padlock), and decorate it with the initials of loved one, to be placed somewhere on the wall. Grab a piece of chalk and add a message, a quote, a drawing, a story of hope. You'll enter our space with love, you'll leave our space with love.
As you enter our space, you will be invited to participate in a collaborative art installation on our Wall of Love. Purchase a Love Lock (a small padlock), and decorate it with the initials of loved one, to be placed somewhere on the wall. Grab a piece of chalk and add a message, a quote, a drawing, a story of hope. You'll enter our space with love, you'll leave our space with love.
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PERFORMANCES:
(at Shaking the Tree Theatre) Arrive early for our pre-show entertainment! Facilitated talk-backs following every performance* Industry Night/Preview: Thursday June 22 @ 7:30p Opening Night: Friday June 23 @ 7:30p Saturday June 24 @ 7:30p Sunday June 25 @ 5:30p Thursday June 29 @ 7:30p Friday June 30 @ 7:30p Saturday July 1 @ 7:30p Sunday July 2 @ 5:30p Thursday July 6 @ 7:30p Friday July 7 @ 7:30p Saturday July 8 @ 7:30p Closing Night: Sunday July 9* @ 5:30p *no talk-back after the performance on 7/9 |
Pre-Show Performance Schedule:
Thursday June 22 - Yonder Window Friday June 23 - Steph Landtiser Saturday June 24 - Samie Pfeiffer Sunday June 25 - Steph Landtiser Thursday June 29 - The Soul Singers Friday June 30 - Samie Pfeiffer Saturday July 1 - Yonder Window Sunday July 2 - Bruce McCollum Thursday July 6 - Steph Landtiser Friday July 7 - Samie Pfeffer Saturday July 8 - Samie Pfeiffer Sunday July 9 - Yonder Window |
Many thanks to our Supporters and Sponsors!
Multnomah Country Cultural Coalition
Our GoFundMe Supporters
Teascape Massage & Teahouse
Enso Winery
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The Oregon Cultural Trust
Our Patreon Supporters
The Jasmine Pearl Tea Company
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MEET THE ENSEMBLE
The cast and crew of The Romeo and Juliet Project
The Creative Team
Alana WightCostume Designer
Alana Wight is an eclectic designer and artist who considers herself fortunate to live in the PacNW. She attacks many disciplines with excitement, a pair of shears and a proverbial bag of glitter - ready to find new ways to fix the same old problem. She has designed for companies such as Defunkt Theatre, Post5 Theatre, Montana Rep Missoula and Enlightened Theatrics. Check out her work at www.facebook.com/awcostumes. 
Kelly TerryLighting Designer
Kelly Terry is a freelance lighting designer and master electrician newly based in Portland, Oregon. She began her career in lighting 8 years ago, starting purely in theatre and subsequently broadening her experience to include ballet, musical theatre, modern dance, concert lighting, and most recently corporate and event lighting. Notable design credits include Next to Normal for Theatre a la Carte, Snow White, Cinderella, and A Midsummer Night's Dream for the Ballet Arts Conservatory of Tallahassee, Pas de Vie's The Nutcracker, and the Martin Theatre's Pericles and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She has also had the great honor to work with amazing designers as their master electrician, on such shows as Bus Stop, Rent, and Noises Off. She has recently expanded into the corporate and event world, and has since worked with touring acts including Justin Bieber'sPurpose Tour; with companies including Keen, Adidas, and Daimler; and she spent a season working with the park lighting and tech department for Busch Gardens Williamsburg. She lives with her long-suffering husband Scott, and their furry family members, Hildegarde Pearcat and Nicodemus (a wise old rabbit). 
March BrookerAssistant Stage Manager
March is excited as heck to be working as an Assistant State Manager for The Romeo and Juliet Project. March earned her B.A. and M.A. in English from Portland State University and her J.D. from The University of Utah. In her "spare" time, March is also a playwright, a civil rights attorney-activist, and is studying Spanish and Portuguese. Tudo Bem. 
Alwynn AccuardiViolence Director & Dance Choreographer
Alwynn Accuardi is a proud graduate of Portland Actors Conservatory and is so jazzed to be working on her favorite Shakespeare play. Her fight credits include Double Feature at Action/Adventure Theater, She Kills Monsters at Catlin Gable High School, and Nesting at the Shoebox theater. When she is not creating violence, she is an actor. She and her work can be seen next in Mofsec's the Alien Chicken Remembers Galatea. 
Caitlin Lushington
Director Caitlin Lushington received her B.A. in Drama from the University of California, Irvine, where she was the first student to achieve honors in both acting and directing. She has been a teaching artist with the Oregon Conservatory of Performing Arts, Northwest Children's Theatre, the Castro Valley Dramatic Arts Academy, and launched Enso's theatre education program in Fall 2016. As an actress she was most recently seen with the Ashland New Plays Festival, the Third Rail Mentorship Company, and as Rosalind in Speculative Drama’s production of “As You Like It”. Caitlin's recent directorial projects include assisting the regional premiere of Peter and the Starcatcher and King John at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Enso's production of Pride and Prejudice: An Adaptation. She has studied and practiced meditation for the last seven years and passionately injects mindfulness and wellness into all of her work. |
Jordan Mackey
Kristen MunFight/Dance Choreography Consultant
Kristen Mun has been training in Theatrical Combat for over 10 years and has worked at over a dozen theaters in Portland including Profile Theatre, Teatro Milagro, 3rd Rail Repertory and CoHo Theatre. Outside of Portland she has worked at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Idaho Repertory Theater. This is her first Enso Theatre project. 
Isabele McTighe
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The Cast
Petyon McCandless
Benvolio/NursePeyton McCandless is a performer, teaching artist and Global Somatics(TM) Practitioner who, until recently, hailed from the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Recent appearances in Portland include the Princess in The Skin Coat (Speculative Drama) and Jane Bennet in Enso's Pride and Prejudice. When she's not onstage, you can find her teaching children at Northwest Children's Theater and School, offering embodiment classes and workshops for adults, and writing so much she is running out of storage space for all her journals.
Rhansen Mars
Tybalt/Paris Rhansen first performed a Shakespearean play as King Alonso in a Commedia Dell'Arte production of Twelfth Night and has since acted as a Prince from Edward III, a Basket Weaver from A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a Fool from King Lear. He is currently working his way back up the social ladder with his portrayal of a Noble Kinsman from Romeo and Juliet.
Ross Laguzza
Montague/Friar/Servant
Ross Laguzza is a veteran character actor, improviser and comedian who arrived in Portland from the east coast. He most recently appeared as Mr. Collins in Enso’s production of Pride and Prejudice and Gremio in Taming of the Shrew with the Portland Actors Ensemble. Favorite roles include: Ben in Ben and Rita; Peter in At Home At The Zoo; Chicory in The Emancipation of Alabaster McGuill; Rufus Reed in These Shining Lives; Jeep in Action; Tommy in Donnie and the Monsters and myriad roles ranging from the conventional (Atticus Finch) to the absurd (Bloodthirsty sock puppet). Ross regularly appears at Curious Comedy Theatre, is one half of the comedy duo HeyDad! and also is a member of the Playback Theatre company. He enjoys playing drum solos for his black lab, “Mr. Chowder”.
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Claire Aldridge
Romeo/SampsonClaire is a native Portlander who grew up in the theater through internships with Oregon Children’s Theater and Northwest Children’s Theater and School. After graduating from the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy she decided to take time of traditional schooling and spent a summer studying theater arts with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Recently Claire has appeared in Head. Hands. Feet. (Shaking The Tree), Pilot Season: Hallway to Hell (Action Adventure), and Charlotte’s Web (Oregon Children’s Theater). She would like to thank Enso and the Ensemble as well as her family for all the support.
Cyndi Rhoads
Capulet/Gregory Cyndi cannot believe her good luck that she is back working with the phenomenal Caitlin Mae and Enso Theater having performed in last summer’s profound and glorious production of Pride and Prejudice the warm and somewhat boisterous Mrs. Bennett. Cyndi’s favorite past productions include the devilish role of Carolyn Bryant in “The State of Mississippi” co-written by civil rights legend, Mamie Till Mobley and David Barr, at Pegasus Players in Chicago; the union busting role of Mother Jones in the Joseph Jefferson Award winning production of “The Kentucky Cycle” at Infamous Commonwealth; the magical role of Lady M in Chase Park’s Macbeth; and the robust and vibrant role of Julius Caesar in Julius Caesar at Bag ‘N Baggage in Hillsboro. Cyndi enjoys her work at nonprofit and spends her spare time enjoying the company of family and friends.
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Sky Nelson
Mercutio/Prince/BalthasarSky Nelson is a somewhat recent addition to the Portland theater scene. He graduated from the University of Portland in 2016 where he first started acting. Some of his most recent work includes Three Sisters and Stop Kiss. He enjoys and appreciates all forms of theater and the messages that it is able to send. Most of all, he is excited to join Enso Theatre Ensemble for their production of Romeo & Juliet!
Amelia Hillery
Juliet
Amelia has been dreaming of playing Juliet since she first saw Claire Danes meet Leonardo DiCaprio's eyes through the fish tank, and is over the moon that her dream is becoming reality. She is a junior at Cleveland High School, and is deeply involved with the theatre department there. Amelia has acted in, stage managed for and designed anything she can get her hands on at Cleveland. Some of her favorite jobs include playing Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Production Managing Under Milkwood, being the dramaturg for Les Miserables, and most recently playing Antoinette in Musketeers. This past December, Amelia appeared as Kate in Enso's I'm Alright, and is so excited to be working with them again.
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Pre-Show Entertainment and Featured Artists
SAMIE PFEIFER
A transplant from the heartland of Kansas, Pfeifer was brought up in a family of musicians, with a diverse history in Polka, Celtic, and Classical music. Samie tackles songwriting, composing and covering music across the genres, striving to fill your musical craving with her honest, raw, and soothing sound. Her official facebook page can be found here.
STEPH LANDTISER
Steph Landtiser is a musician born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She spends her time teaching music, conducting ensembles, performing, and writing musicals.
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THE SOUL SINGERS
Soul Singing is a supportive group singing community that explores diverse musical styles rich in harmony, rhythm, and inspirational lyrics. We strive to be holistic, mindful singing artists who express ourselves authentically through our voices. In our performances, we encourage the audience to join us in experiencing the power and joy of singing together. Pictured (Left to Right): Shirley Lincicum, Cathy Bledsoe, Annie Soisson, Jessica Chang |
RESE DUGAN
Rese Dugan is an abstract, artist based in the beautiful pacific northwest. She has been in the performing arts since childhood, and picked up painting as a hobby in her mid-20's, which has turned into her opening up her own line of art called Pieces of Rese. Her goal is to use expressionism in her pieces, and she considers herself a "self-taught" painter. Her preferred mediums are acrylic and watercolor painting, typically only using one brush per-painting. She uses her art to reach out to people she knows facing difficult times, in hopes that her own life experience can be relateable through her art work. To see more of her art, visit her facebook market place "Pieces of Rese" as well as on Instagram, "pieces_of_rese"
Rese Dugan is an abstract, artist based in the beautiful pacific northwest. She has been in the performing arts since childhood, and picked up painting as a hobby in her mid-20's, which has turned into her opening up her own line of art called Pieces of Rese. Her goal is to use expressionism in her pieces, and she considers herself a "self-taught" painter. Her preferred mediums are acrylic and watercolor painting, typically only using one brush per-painting. She uses her art to reach out to people she knows facing difficult times, in hopes that her own life experience can be relateable through her art work. To see more of her art, visit her facebook market place "Pieces of Rese" as well as on Instagram, "pieces_of_rese"
STEVE PERKINS
Steve Perkins is a creative chameleon, who makes art a playful discovery of the beauty in every day. Dynamic and imaginative collaboration is the focus of his interdisciplinary work. A multimedia artist based primarily in the San Francisco and New York City areas, Steve’s commissions, performances, and presentations have taken him to India, China, Istanbul, and Thailand, where he had his first international exhibition in Bangkok during 2007. In 2008, he traveled to Taiwan where he was the only non-Asian selected to participate in the first Fusing International Biennale: Asia, Post-Colonial, and Contemporary Arts (www.lifestyleartproject.com).
Steve has taught all ages and was a graduate advisor in video design and technology at The New School, and an adjunct professor of communications at Bronx Community College. He was the Film/Music/Performance Program Director at the San José Museum Art School. For the teen summer program Genesis @ Brandeis University, he taught a film history course with a production component, as well as courses in web design, and mixed media collage. Steve earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting/ Directing (Honors) from the Film Division at Columbia University. His undergraduate studies include an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Arts (Honors) from San José State University, and an Associate of Arts degree in Film (Honors) from DeAnza College. Steve’s wry look at men and masculinity titled a man ought to know that . . . is in the permanent collection of artists’ books at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Steve Perkins is a creative chameleon, who makes art a playful discovery of the beauty in every day. Dynamic and imaginative collaboration is the focus of his interdisciplinary work. A multimedia artist based primarily in the San Francisco and New York City areas, Steve’s commissions, performances, and presentations have taken him to India, China, Istanbul, and Thailand, where he had his first international exhibition in Bangkok during 2007. In 2008, he traveled to Taiwan where he was the only non-Asian selected to participate in the first Fusing International Biennale: Asia, Post-Colonial, and Contemporary Arts (www.lifestyleartproject.com).
Steve has taught all ages and was a graduate advisor in video design and technology at The New School, and an adjunct professor of communications at Bronx Community College. He was the Film/Music/Performance Program Director at the San José Museum Art School. For the teen summer program Genesis @ Brandeis University, he taught a film history course with a production component, as well as courses in web design, and mixed media collage. Steve earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting/ Directing (Honors) from the Film Division at Columbia University. His undergraduate studies include an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Arts (Honors) from San José State University, and an Associate of Arts degree in Film (Honors) from DeAnza College. Steve’s wry look at men and masculinity titled a man ought to know that . . . is in the permanent collection of artists’ books at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
SARAH ANDREWS
Sarah Andrews, a Portland-based theatre artist, has produced and directed a number of pieces locally over the years, including Heart Play and Thom Pain (based on nothing), but few Portlanders are familiar with her work as a painter. From a young age, Sarah was drawn to paint as an artistic medium through which to explore her deep fascination with the imagery of death and destruction. Now, as an adult, Sarah continues to explore the topic, but in a different light; she is now more interested in what brings people together and how to communicate the emotions she has been feeling about war, politics and heart break through her paintings.
Sarah has not had a gallery show since she was 18 and hopes you enjoy her work.
Sarah Andrews, a Portland-based theatre artist, has produced and directed a number of pieces locally over the years, including Heart Play and Thom Pain (based on nothing), but few Portlanders are familiar with her work as a painter. From a young age, Sarah was drawn to paint as an artistic medium through which to explore her deep fascination with the imagery of death and destruction. Now, as an adult, Sarah continues to explore the topic, but in a different light; she is now more interested in what brings people together and how to communicate the emotions she has been feeling about war, politics and heart break through her paintings.
Sarah has not had a gallery show since she was 18 and hopes you enjoy her work.
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THE BRUCE MCCOLLUM TRIO
The Bruce McCollum Trio includes drummer Larry Bicknese, guitarist Tom Baisden, and Bruce McCollum. Guitarist Tom Baisden is a graduate of GIT and has been active in the Portland area for many years. He enjoys playing many different styles from jazz to country. Tom currently performs regularly at Hillsboro's finest restaurant, Primrose & Tumbleweeds. Drummer Larry Bicknese is a graduate of the University of Oregon and has performed with many of the top names in jazz. Larry also plays regularly with several Portland big bands and musical theater ensembles in the Portland area. Bruce McCollum is a long-time Portland piano player and performs regularly in Portland and Vancouver. He is glad to bring the Trio to perform for you today. Hope you enjoy the show." |
Yonder Window
Jesse, Ashley, Andrew, & Owen have performed together in a variety of musical and theatrical settings, but Yonder Window marks the first time they’ve all shared a stage. Inspired by Enso’s casting-call for a pre-show warm-up act, they decided to create perhaps the world’s first Romeo & Juliet cover band. They’ve had a blast putting together this half-hour of music about star-crossed lovers, and they hope that fun is palpable.
Yonder Window has no plans to continue the Shakespeare tribute once the R&J Project wraps, but hit them up if you’ve got a weird, cool, interesting idea in need of a band, as all four are experienced actors and musicians, always open to performance opportunity…band moniker negotiable.
Because, after all…what’s in a name?
Jesse, Ashley, Andrew, & Owen have performed together in a variety of musical and theatrical settings, but Yonder Window marks the first time they’ve all shared a stage. Inspired by Enso’s casting-call for a pre-show warm-up act, they decided to create perhaps the world’s first Romeo & Juliet cover band. They’ve had a blast putting together this half-hour of music about star-crossed lovers, and they hope that fun is palpable.
Yonder Window has no plans to continue the Shakespeare tribute once the R&J Project wraps, but hit them up if you’ve got a weird, cool, interesting idea in need of a band, as all four are experienced actors and musicians, always open to performance opportunity…band moniker negotiable.
Because, after all…what’s in a name?