Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Smash Hit New Play

“Scorching.” “A blazingly well-acted production.” “This compassionate but cleareyed play throbs with heartfelt life.” The New York Times gave a definitive thumbs up to Sweat, a new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage currently premiering  at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. About a group of friends facing layoffs at the factory where they work, the play shows “the mechanics of 21st-century American capitalism, bear down on these characters with the brutal power of a jackhammer smashing through concrete.” And apparently, it’s also funny. Kudos to Nottage and the OSF—now bring it to Portland, please!  

Pop-Up Magazine Wants Your Story

Pop-Up Magazine is coming to Portland, and it’s on the hunt for stories. The “live magazine”—a show format that includes new reported stories, photography, documentary film, radio and music—is looking for pieces ranging from 2–10 minutes long for its Portland show. These pieces can be just talking, talking with music or pictures, films, audio stories or some happy blend of all of the above. To be included in their October 20 show at the Aladdin Theater, follow the submission guidelines here. 

Ding Ding! Round Three for PICA's Precipice Fund 

Round Three of PICA’s Precipice Fund is now open, inviting applicants for its 15–20 grants of $500 to $5000 for “unincorporated, collaborative visual art projects, programs, and alternative space in and around Portland." Past winners include an Intertribal music, art, and film festival called One Flaming Arrow, Old Town’s alternative arts space the Portland 'Pataphysical Society and takerlab, a series of workshops conducted by artists that explore political and social themes.

There's more information about the fund in this video, or you can go straight to their website for further details. 

Know Your City Bids Farwell to Marc Moscato—With a Party!  

Marc Moscato, the Executive Director of Know Your City, is to step down after six years at the helm. And all the Know Your City supporters out there are invited to the send-off. Know Your City, which “engages the public in art and social justice through creative placemaking projects,” is using its summer party to celebrate the organization’s recent successful Kickstarter drive, and bid farewell to Moscato, one of the organization’s co-founders. Amanda Tillstrom (formerly the organization’s Programming Coordinator) will be taking on the role of Interim Executive Director while the organization looks for a replacement for Moscato. Meanwhile, it’s party time this evening at Union Station. . .

Portland'5 Deputy Director Retires

And in more news of leadership changes in the arts world, Lori Kramer, Deputy Director at Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, is retiring. After thirty years with the organization, and eight as deputy director Kramer is stepping down. “Lori has been has been an integral part of our success over the past 30 years” said Portland’5 executive director Robyn Williams. “She was always extremely passionate about the work we did at P5 and cared deeply about the care and safekeeping of our three venues. She will be much missed.”