Mark Spencer News

Andrew Hinderaker's stunning theatrical hybrid The Magic Play begins preview performances at The Armory on March 3, opens on March 9 and runs through April 1 on the U.S. Bank Main Stage. The Armory's production brings together the artistic team from the celebrated world premiere at Goodman Theatre/Olney Theatre Center, including director Halena Kays; magic creator/actor Brett Schneider; actor Sean Parris; master illusionist Jim Steinmeyer; scenic designer Lizzie Bracken, costume designer Alison Siple; aerial choreographer Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi; and flying effects by ZFX, Inc. Portland Center State at The Armory's run of The Magic Play is a co-production with Actors Theatre of Louisville and Syracuse Stage.

Love appears in unlikely places in Adam Szymkowicz's new play, Kodachrome, which makes its world premiere at The Armory directed by Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan. The production opens February 9, with previews beginning February 3 and performances running through March 10 in the Ellyn Bye Studio. Kodachrome was developed at The Armory's JAW: A Playwrights Festival in 2015 under the title Colchester and will be the company's 26th world premiere production.

Ted Austin, board chair for Portland Center Stage at The Armory, announced today that Artistic Director Chris Coleman will depart The Armory at the end of the current 2017 - 2018 season to become artistic director of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts' (DCPA) Theatre Company.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Luis Alfaro's Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles comes to The Armory after a triumphant six-month run in Ashland. Directed by Juliette Carrillo, this powerful adaptation of Euripides' Medea set in modern-day Los Angeles features the same cast as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival run: Sabina Zuniga Varela as Medea, Lakin Valdez as Jason , VIVIS as Tita, Nancy Rodriguez as Josefina, Vilma Silva as Armida, and Jahnangel Jimenez as Acan. New to the company is Ken Yoshikawa as Soldier.

Local favorite Isaac Lamb will take the stage for Every Brilliant Thing, a play that tackles the impact of depression using a life-affirming list and a partly-improvised structure that engages audiences in a way never before seen at The Armory. Created by British playwright Duncan Macmillan with comedian Jonny Donahoe, Every Brilliant Thing began as a short-play-turned-art-installation before becoming a full-length theater piece that was embraced at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Off-Broadway, and adapted into an HBO movie. Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan will direct Every Brilliant Thing in the round in the Ellyn Bye Studio the first studio show in Portland Center Stage at The Armory's 30th anniversary season. Every Brilliant Thing begins preview performances on September 23, opens on September 29 and runs through November 5.

Local favorite Isaac Lamb will take the stage for Every Brilliant Thing, a play that tackles the impact of depression using a life-affirming list and a partly-improvised structure that engages audiences in a way never before seen at The Armory. Created by British playwright Duncan Macmillan with comedian Jonny Donahoe, Every Brilliant Thing began as a short-play-turned-art-installation before becoming a full-length theater piece that was embraced at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Off-Broadway, and adapted into an HBO movie. Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan will direct Every Brilliant Thing in the round in the Ellyn Bye Studio - the first studio show in Portland Center Stage at The Armory's 30th anniversary season. Every Brilliant Thing begins preview performances on September 23, opens on September 29 and runs through November 5.

Portland Center Stage at The Armory's 30th anniversary season opens with the groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home. Created by Jeanine Tesori (music) and Lisa Kron (book and lyrics) and based on the celebrated graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel, Fun Home will begin preview performances on September 16, open September 22, and run through October 22 on The Armory's U.S. Bank Main Stage. Artistic Director Chris Coleman will direct a cast lead by Allison Mickelson, Sara Masterson and Aida Valentine as the central character, Alison, at three different ages. Robert Mammana (previously at The Armory as Skye Masterson in Guys and Dolls and Father in Ragtime) and Faith Sandberg will play Alison's parents, Bruce and Helen Bechdel.

The 19th annual JAW: A Playwrights Festival is Portland's chance to preview spanking new scripts while they're still in development, enjoy a host of Press Play performances and dig deeper with Community Artist Labs presented by JAW featured artists. The JAW Big Weekend is July 28-30 in various locations at The Armory. JAW is always FREE and open to the public. More information about JAW is available at www.pcs.org/jaw.

Portland Center Stage at The Armory has selected the four playwrights who develop new plays in Portland during the 19th annual JAW: A Playwrights Festival.

The future of playwriting will be on display at The Armory during theVisions & Voices Showcase on May 15 and 16 at7:00 p.m.

His Eye is on the Sparrow, Larry Parr's stirring one-woman musical that celebrates the life of groundbreaking artist Ethel Waters, opens at The Armory on February 10, with previews beginning February 4 and performances running through March 19.

Portland Center Stage at The Armory is using a story produced for the stage as a lens for audiences to explore a key part of U.S. history, guided by a 'Visit Astoria' travel itinerary. Consisting of three days of outlined destinations and attractions, the itinerary both educates travelers on the history surrounding Astoria, the first U.S. settlement on the West Coast, and aids in bolstering the tourism industry in Oregon. Inspired by the world premiere production of Astoria: Part One, playing at The Armory January 14 through February 12, 2017, the travel itinerary gives theater-goers and tourists alike the chance to explore the region featured in the production and gain a deeper connection with the story on stage. The 'Visit Astoria' itinerary is one of two travel itineraries - made possible in part by a grant from Travel Oregon-that were released this season as part of Portland Center Stage at The Armory'sNorthwest Stories series.

'The latest in holiday children's literature, 'The Christmas Mouse,' is soon to become a classic that families will read every December. Set at the time of Jesus' birth, we find a tiny mouse and his fellow barn animal friends anticipating the holy birth; but not everyone is excited. 'I wanted to create a story that would put focus back on the true meaning of Christmas,' said Mark Spencer. 'There was something innocent and endearing about a tiny mouse being the voice of faith and grace during a time when we can so often be caught up in the material trappings of the holiday.' 'The Christmas Mouse' is written entirely in rhyme and the illustrations, created by artist Polona Lovsin, beautifully bring to life a camel, goat, donkey, sheep and mouse. Children will be drawn to their sweet faces and the wonderful story as it moves from fear and doubt to faith and generosity. 'I'm an engineer,' said Spencer. 'Writing children's fiction was never even a consideration. However, one day while visiting friends, I noticed a tiny doll house door along their baseboard. 'That little door created a spark of inspiration and over time the story began to take shape in his mind until one final night when it just seemed to flow from his fingertips. 'Readers of The Christmas Mouse will be glad that Spencer tapped into that inner child and created this wonderful holiday tale which includes an idea for creating an annual family tradition. The little mouse door plays an important role in the story. It is through the door that the grace of God enters; a door into our hearts. Spencer suggests families might create a simple door, with paper and crayon, to symbolize the spirit of Christmas entering each home. It is a wonderful way to keep the true meaning of Christmas alive.' 'This is such a sweet story,' said Lisa Umina, founder and publisher of Halo Publishing International. 'And I have it on good authority that these adorable creatures will be appearing in a sequel before too long.' Early readers of The Christmas Mouse are already sharing their positive comments: 'What a great message of giving and generosity. It is a message that will teach kids a lot of important lessons. Most of all, it will teach kids the true meaning of Christmas so that they could get ready not by expecting gifts but by sharing as much as they can with others, especially those who are less fortunate.' -Irene Roth 'The Christmas Mouse' is now available in paperback and e-book formats at: * Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Mouse-Spencer-Mark-ebook/dp/B01LYWC8W4/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474928874&sr=1-5&keywords=mark+spencer * Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-mouse-mark-spencer/1124662359?ean=9781612444888 About Mark Spencer: Mark Spencer is currently a Project Director with SEE Inc. with a background in engineering and architectural design. He enjoys foremost his boys, along with firefighting, skiing, snowboarding, and also has an interest in fiction and technical writing. The Christmas Mouse is his first published work. About Halo Publishing International: Halo Publishing International is a self-publishing company that publishes adult fiction and non-fiction, children's literature, self-help, spiritual, and faith-based books. It continually strive to help authors reach their publishing goals and provide many different services that help them do so. http://www.HaloPublishing.com Press & Media Contact: Lisa M. Umina, Publisher Halo Publishing International 1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176 San Antonio, TX 78213 - USA +1 877-705-9647 contact@halopublishing.com http://www.halopublishing.com

Portland Center Stage at The Armory, thanks to a grant from Travel Oregon, is using a story produced for the stage as a lens for audiences to explore Oregon's cultural history guided by a 'Travel the Trail' vacation itinerary. Consisting of six days of outlined destinations and attractions, the itinerary both educates travelers on the Oregon Trail's history and aids in bolstering the tourism industry in Oregon. 

Laura Cantrell is back on tour with a residency at Atwood's in Boston every Tuesday through November 17th. In addition, she will play a in Philadelphia on 11/9 and in New York on 11/12.

On Sunday night, Benjamin Scheuer was selected as the recipient of a 2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance in The Lion. Scheuer, who also received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Lyrics, is currently performing The Lion to packed houses in Portland Center Stage's Ellyn Bye Studio through June 14.

Richard Greenberg's Pulitzer Prize-nominated play, Three Days of Rain, opens on Portland Center Stage's U.S. Bank Main Stage on May 22, with preview performances beginning May 17, 2015.

Nashville-born, New York City-based singer-songwriter Laura Cantrell will perform at Rough Trade NYC on October 27. The show is in support of Cantrell's critically acclaimed new album, No Way There From Here, which is out now on Thrift Shop Recordings. In celebration of the release, Cantrell recently performed the album tracks 'Starry Skies' and 'Can't Wait' on 'CBS This Morning.'

You don't expect something like outlaw country or hints of old southern rock coming out of Vermont, but it does. Following their 2012 release, Valance, and a seemingly endless two-year tour, Waylon Speed has announced their next album. It's called Kin and it's out June 24 on WS's own label, Crow on Ten Records in North America and everywhere else.

You don't expect something like outlaw country or hints of old southern rock coming out of Vermont, but it does. Following their 2012 release, Valance, and a seemingly endless two-year tour, Waylon Speed has announced their next album. It's called Kin and it's out June 24 on WS's own label, Crow on Ten Records in North America and everywhere else.