Miracle Insider
Volume 9 Issue 15: June 23, 2010

Singing the praises of Songs for a New World
Last weekend, Miracle Theatre Group and Staged! Portland’s Musical Theatre Series opened our collaborative production of Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World. If you’ve ever been to a concert at Milagro, you can appreciate the immense power and presence that four actors and a baby grand have in our intimate theatre. Audiences agree; here’s what they’re saying …

“Such a wonderful show — the music, actors/singers, piano, writing, staging — everything!” –Libby

“Absolutely amazing! ... I think that it is officially one of my favorite musicals and I liked it so much that I am going to take my parents to see it next weekend.” –Annie

“The play was wonderful; we really enjoyed it. It was my mother's birthday and she said it was so worth it.” –Lydia

“It’s a very enjoyable show with some terrific music and performances. I enjoyed it very much.” –Josef

And the critics have enjoyed our Songs… too! Here’s what’s been in the news …

The Oregonian’s theatre reviewer Marty Hughley remarks how cast members David Cole, Elizabeth Klinger, Vin Shambry and Rebecca Teran throw themselves into the songs with an emphasis on passion and palpable emotion. “Among the show's highlights are Shambry and Cole dueting on The River Won't Flow, a sort of soulful anthem for the down-and-out, and Teran's reading of Stars and the Moon, a song that's become a cabaret staple recorded by the likes of Audra McDonald. Klinger gives an hilariously bawdy touch to Surabya-Santa [pictured here], Brown's comedic take on the romantic life of Mrs. Claus … All in all, though, the spare, crisply effective staging from director Jamie M. Rea brings out the humor as well as the pathos in Brown's songs, helping us discover a new world of musical theater.”

Read the full review.

“These are men and women standing at the precipice (literally, in one case), staring down the cold reality they’ve spent years avoiding, and all they can do is sing,” writes Willamette Week theatre critic Ben Waterhouse. “And they sing really, really well. This production, a joint effort by Miracle Theatre Group and Staged! (an education-focused company that occasionally mounts minimalist musicals), features one of the best vocal ensembles I’ve ever seen on a Portland stage … David Cole, Elizabeth Klinger, Vin Shambry and Rebecca Teran make the meandering melodies’ sudden leaps of tempo and volume sound as natural and straightforward as any Rodgers and Hammerstein standard ... This is the musical stripped bare: Just one piano and four voices, sans plot, sans synthesized band and especially sans head mics … bless Staged! for giving us natural voices.”

Read the full review.

In the Portland Mercury, Noah Dunham says that Songs for a New World is “moving” and that the four actors “are clearly full of love for this show. There is a very evident passion in each of their performances, and its’ hard not to be swept away by their earnestness and charm. … Jamie M. Rea’s thoughtful and precise direction keeps the show at an even pace, and musical director/pianst Eric Nordin is a force all on his own when put behind the piano. The production rings out as a successful and heartfelt endeavor, a musical without any of the kitsch, corniness, or spectacle of a 42nd Street-style show.”

Read the full review.

Only five performances remain! See sidebar for a special offer on tickets to Songs for a New World, a rare opportunity to hear the Tony award-winning composer in concert at Milagro, as well as a late-night sing-through of another work by Jason Robert Brown as a benefit for Staged!

Next up: Summer at Milagro camp and classes
Instructors Olga Sanchez, Gabriela Portuguez and Omar Vargas are gearing up for what promises to be another exciting summer at Milagro. In addition to our Spanish-immersion theatre camp for 8-12 year olds and the Spanish-language acting workshop for adults, we are pleased to offer a bilingual hop-hop dance class for teenagers. Marketing Assistant Angela Bolaños-Osorio spoke with instructor Gabriela Portuguez and here is an excerpt of their conversation.

Can you give us an insight on your experience in dance/choreography?
As a dancer/ performer/ choreographer, I have lead a physically active dance life that includes auditioning in the Hollywood entertainment industry, teaching hip-hop classes in Switzerland, being mentored by highly talented artists in videos, live TV performances, and touring.

What can the students expect from your class?
Urban street dancing with Latin footwork styles and techniques and hybrids of hip-hop sounds and lyrics influenced by East and West Coast culture. I am bilingual in Spanish and English and I have been influenced by many mentors using both languages. Music will be appropriately chosen to the age group of the class, and individual instruction will also be available.

Who should attend this class?
Individuals who are curious about dancing they see on TV, individuals willing to be challenged by diversifying their dance techniques and those who wish to gain a perspective of what a professional performer experience onstage with a live audience.

For more information about any of our summer activities, contact Gabriela Portuguez at 503-236-7253 ext. 115 or Gabriela@milagro.org. Or, download our flier and registration form.

Milagro receives awards, fellowships at the Drammys!
Miracle was honored several times at last week’s Drammys, regional drama awards celebrating outstanding achievement in Portland theatre. Miracle’s production of El Quijote received two nods: outstanding costume design by Sarah Gahagan and outstanding scene design by Mark Haack. In addition, the theatre received a $1500 Portland Civic Theatre Award to upgrade communications equipment and Miracle’s Marketing Director Tim Krause received a 2010 Leslie O. Fulton Fellowship in the amount of $5,000 to attend an international theater festival in Santiago, Chile in January. (And for our followers on Facebook … yes, Olga did indeed wear the sparkly pink dress — and she looked fabulous!) ¡Felicitaciones a todos!

We love our volunteers!
Earlier this month, Miracle celebrated the ending of another great season with a wonderful cocktail party to thank our volunteers for the phenomenal work they have done. We are grateful for the generosity of Carlo Vicenttin from La Bamba restaurant, which provided the food, as well as Widmer Brothers Brewing, which provided beer. Amid the laughter, anecdotes and jovial activities, we were also pleased to recognize star volunteers Bill Fritz and Nita Brueggeman (pictured here with Marketing Assistant and party organizer Angela Bolaños-Osorio), Carolina Selva and actor and restaurateur Joaquín López, who each received special recognitions for the above and beyond efforts they have made to support Miracle Theatre. ¡Gracias a todos!

AAA Heating & Cooling supports the Miracle
Last Saturday, up against a huge chance of rain, AAA Heating & Cooling hosted a fundraising event for Miracle in their Alberta Street warehouse space. Present were John Rodarte, Miracle Board President, Dañel Malán, Teatro Milagro Artistic Director and company founder, Gabriela Portuguez, Miracle Outreach Coordinator, and Alejandra Gonzales, Executive Assistant. Each company member shared a little about the Miracle with friends and employees of AAA Heating and Cooling. The sun broke out just in time for the guests to enjoy burgers grilled by Northwest Natural, and Mexican regional folkloric dancing from Jalisco, Veracruz and Oaxaca. While guests learned about Miracle’s outreach programs, they were given an opportunity to make a donation to support the theatre and also purchase Safeway Pumpkin Ridge Golf tournament tickets. The Safeway Classic is an annual golf tournament for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. Founded in 1972, it takes place every year in Portland. It is the oldest continuous event on the LPGA Tour. The total value of the $25 golf tournament tickets goes to the Miracle if you indicate it as your favorite charity of choice when purchasing your tickets at https://tgfigolf.com/tickets.php. So join AAA Heating and Cooling in supporting the Miracle and take in a little golf this summer, too.

Memoirs of a Mentee
by Antonio Sonera

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. -John F. Kennedy

Two years ago, Theatre Communications Group honored me with the opportunity to become a part of the New Generations: Future Leaders in American Theatre fellowship. The last two years I have been mentored by José González at the Miracle. What have I learned? I have learned that running an organization is about being thoughtful in your decision-making, and finding value in the opinions of others, and that change is just another word for opportunity. Organizational success is not only about financial success, but artistic quality, and social responsibility or how we serve our community. To be a servant leader in the community, to provoke civic pride around theatre and the arts, to be relevant within your community is true leadership.

There have been many successes and fond memories in my two years here at the Miracle. Here are some highlights. The exterior of the building was re-painted and the lobby and café remodeled. José and I travel to New York for our orientation, and I meet my TCG family. Dos Pueblos opened at Milagro with Hand to Mouth Theatre and some extraordinary artists from Mexico City. The new Miracle/Milagro marquee is hung from the building and is adored as “a gift to the neighborhood.” I directed the play El Grito del Bronx and playwright Migdalia Cruz flew out from New York to see it. José and I remodeled the rehearsal studio which is now a much more welcoming place for our artists. José and I went to Baltimore for my very first TCG National Theatre Conference, where I verbally sparred with Olympia Dukakis and met colleagues from around the country many, of which have become lifelong friends… ¡Viva la 6th Floor Lounge! In September of last year, I created La Luna Nueva, Miracle’s new festival honoring Latino arts and culture from around the world. Through La Luna Nueva I made friends with Melinda Hedgcourth from Seville and the talented Jessie Marquez. We made a new friend at Portland Development Commission, Becki Marsh, who helped us with a grant for $30,000 for roof repairs. Olga asked me to direct How the García Girls Lost their Accents, which was one of the great directing experiences of my life and an artistic and financial success for the theatre. I went to Spain and spent time with José and Dañel in Barcelona and Zaragoza. I was able to see and experience the world through a very different lens. José and I did a light remodel on our mezzanine corner offices that we rent. I have started to book the artists for this season’s La Luna Nueva. I just returned from the TCG National Theatre Conference in Chicago, which is an amazing city but not nearly as amazing as the people I met and my friends from around the country who attended. I feel blessed to be a part of a nation of theatre artists that are so passionate, talented and committed.

I have so many people to thank who have helped me along the way through this journey. First my TCG family: Teresa Eyering who is my new BFF, the always wise Emilya Cachapero, Michael Francis, David Nugent, Sarah McClellan, Jenni Warner and Aya Ogawa. Thanks to my friends and national colleagues: Raelle  Myrick-Hodges, Simone Martin-Newberry, Mica Cole, Adam Thurman, Chi-wang Yang, Anthem Manifest, Daniel Banks, Deja Joelle Stowers, Tami Dixon, Khanisha Foster, Aaron Posner, Alida Gunn, Claudia Alick, Amit Lahav, Meyin Wang, Katie Christie, Goli Rahimi, Jade King Carroll, Hannah Rose Goalstone, Karen Zacarías and many others. My thanks and love to my New Gen 8 fellows: James Williams or “JDubb”, May Adrales, Rodrigo Garcia, Alison La Rosa Montez, Vijay Mathew, Rehana Mirza, Julieanne Ehre and Linda Bartholomai. To my Portland friends and colleagues I thank you … you know who you all are. To my Miracle family that will always live in my heart: interns Yasmine, Claire and Rocio, thank you … Gabby, Alejandra, Angela … you three rock! Tim, you are simply amazing. Olga, what a brilliant artist and person and friend (don’t forget Fridays at 3 p.m.). Dañel, thank you for letting me be a part of your family. To my mentor and friend José, I am honored and humbled by the knowledge you have given me. It is a rare and special relationship that we share, and will be a lifelong one that I will always value. Thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime, and for believing in me.

To my readers: This will be my very last memoirs. It is time to find my way in the world as a leader now. Thanks to all of you who have followed my memoirs for the past two years. And with that, there is nothing left to say except … mentee out!

Sponsor Spotlight: Neighborhood Notes
Miracle is grateful to the support of our online media partner Neighborhood Notes, a community-focused news like no other source. Just as Miracle does onstage, Neighborhood Notes start conversations that encourage participation, action and collaboration. With thoughtful and investigative reporting, they are committed to bringing the stories that are often overlooked, but that matter to the people who call Portland home. Neighborhood Notes strives to be a resource that fosters communication and connections across all 95 of Portland’s diverse neighborhoods. Check it out at http://www.neighborhoodnotes.com

Make a difference and make it monthly
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The Insider goes outside
That’s right – it’s summer vacation time, when the Insider wants to go outside (that is, if it ever becomes sunny and warm). So you may not hear from us quite as regularly over the months of July and August. But never fear — we will be sure to give you lots of notice of all the exciting things we have planned for La Luna Nueva, our festival of Latino arts and culture for Hispanic Heritage Month beginning in mid-September. ¡Hasta luego!