This content was published: February 24, 2014. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Sylvania Theatre Arts’ Patrick Tangredi dishes on ‘Spoon River’ play
Photos and story by James Hill
The Theatre Arts Program at the Sylvania Campus has a new play – “The Spoon River Project.” Based on Edgar Lee Masters’ “Spoon River Anthology,” the former residents of the small, but complex town of Spoon River examine their lives and longings for who they were and what might have been. Often compared to Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” this American masterpiece is having its Oregon premiere right here at PCC.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 7 and Saturdays, March 8 and 15. The program will host special pay-what-you-will matinees at 11 a.m., Thursday and Friday, March 13 and 14. The closing show is set for 2 p.m., Sunday, March 16. All performances are in the Performing Arts Center, Sylvania Campus. Tickets are available 30 minutes before performances at the box office. They are $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors, students and staff, and $5 for groups of 12 or more. For more information about events, call (971) 722-4949.
In addition, “The Spoon River Project” is guest-directed by Julie Akers with vocal and music direction by the Sylvania Music Program’s Julianne Johnson-Weiss. If you want to know more about the cast and crew and remaining dates, visit the Theatre Arts webpage.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »
Patrick:
I have attended many PCC performances under your direction and continue to be impressed: the plays are well directed, well cast, and thoughtfully chosen.
While I am not familiar with Spoon River Project, I am big fan of a play that it apparently resembles: Wilder’s “Our Town.” and am confident I can expect yet another strong performance from your crew.
Look forward to this next play Patrick and keep up the good work.
Jim Fasulo
I’m glad PCC featured this on their homepage. Spoon River Anthology is one of my favorites! It will be exciting to see these poems come alive as a musical!
I had no idea PCC’s drama department was so well developed. Impressive! Really looking forward to seeing this show!
The PCC Theater Department really deserves this attention, and I’m glad to see them get it. They do extraordinary work under Patrick Tangredi’s lead. Edgar Lee Master’s Spoon River Anthology is a classic, and I’m glad to see that the college community will get a chance to learn about or renew their acquaintance with it in play form.
This is great, but I would like to point out that Patrick Tangredi is NOT the director for “Spoon River.” Julie Akers is the director, as she has been for the last several Winter productions. I’m not sure why she isn’t credited anywhere for this.
Also, I want to point out that this is not a musical. The author of “Spoon River” states in the introduction of the script that “Spoon River” is NOT a musical, but simply a play with music (there is a difference).
I hope I’m not sounding like a negative nellie here, just want readers to be properly informed.
Did you know that PCC Theatre has a FB page? Follow us at: https://www.facebook.com/pcc.theatre
Jennifer, mind you Patrick referred to himself as the “Theater Arts Artistic Director”, and the brief on it above simply states Theater Arts Director, not Spoon River Director. Yes some the information is incorrect, but please glance over it again. Looks great though! It certainly suprised me!
Colby
Oh yes, it does look great and was a pleasant surprise! We have an incredible theater program here and I’m glad/lucky to be part of it. I was just pointing out that Julie is the director, since it doesn’t say. :)
Yes, where is Julie Akers name? Jennifer Landers has a legitimate point, which Colby has simply glossed over. Odd that the actual director of the piece does not have her name anywhere.
Steffan, I understand what you are saying and as the STAGE MANAGER OF THIS PRODUCTION, I understand it may seem fair, but from what I understand, the writer of this article popped in when no one else was in the theater, and so it was abrupt and quick. Some of the information is incorrect, and I’m not saying it is right in any way, but that there were somethings pointed out that were rude and I believe should not have been said. Thanks,
Colby Newbold
The information was taken from the program’s own webpage and details provided by Patrick. The video interview is simply a “taste” of what’s coming up with Theatre Arts and to encourage people to attend. It was planned out several weeks and scheduled around Patrick’s busy schedule. If you do see an error, please use the provided email link above or contact whoever is in charge of writing the promotion materials for the program to have it changed.
A clarification from Patrick Tangredi:
Julie Akers directed The Spoon River Project. Her name was mistakenly omitted from the PCC website and was not noticed until after this video was produced and posted. It has since been corrected on the website, but I wanted to address the comments above.
Julie was also the director of last winter’s Blithe Spirit, and has returned for the second straight year as a guest director at PCC for this production.
Missing from this thread was the fact that PCC’s own Julianne Johnson-Weiss’s name was also mistakenly absent from the original PCC Theatre site. Julianne served as both the Vocal and Music Director, two unique (and may I add wonderfully handled) roles.
All of us, (staff and students) at PCC Theatre has been very fortunate to be able to have both artists working on this production. I also appreciate the work put into helping promote this production by James Hill.
I regret the omissions, as I was responsible for the content on the PCC Theatre website. I offer my apologies for the error. It was an oversight, not an intentional I hope this clears up any confusion. Please feel free to contact me if you would like further information about PCC Theatre at Sylvania or this production.
Thank you for supporting PCC Theatre!