A CHRISTMAS MEMORY and WINTER SONG To Open At The Armory

A Christmas Memory and Winter Song, the two-show pairing BroadwayWorld called "warm, nourishing, and just exactly what you want on a cold winter's night," returns to Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The production brings Truman Capote's beloved holiday story together with a gorgeous collection of winter songs, stories, and memories created by Brandon Woolley and Merideth Kaye Clark. A Christmas Memory paired with Winter Song begins preview performances on Nov. 24, opens on Nov. 30, and runs through Dec. 30 in the Ellyn Bye Studio. Woolley returns to direct, while Clark (Elphaba in the First National Tour of Wicked, Cathy in The Last Five Years at The Armory) and Leif Norby (Astoria: Part One and Two at The Armory) reprise their roles.

"It is truly a gift to be able to return to A Christmas Memory paired with Winter Song this holiday season," Woolley said. "We hope audiences will enjoy sitting back and letting the words of Truman Capote and the lyrics of some of the best songwriters of our time fill you up during this winter season."

Regular tickets start at $25 and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at www.pcs.org, 503.445.3700, or in-person from the box office (128 NW Eleventh Avenue, Portland, OR). Rush tickets are $20. Students and patrons who are 30 or younger get 50% off the price of premium tickets. $5 tickets are available for Oregon Trail Card holders through the Arts for All program. Discounts for groups of 10+. Active duty or veteran military personnel and their immediate families get 50% off the price of premium tickets. Performance times are Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.; Thursday matinees at noon; date exclusions apply, see below for more information. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Children under 6 are not permitted at any production at The Armory. For more information visit www.pcs.org/winter-2018.

Music and stories come together in this cozy celebration of winter. In A Christmas Memory, Truman Capote's rural Alabama boyhood comes to life, in a touching portrait of an enduring friendship and tender holiday rituals. This gem of a story is paired with Winter Song, a collection of beloved tunes and tales that celebrate winter and all it represents: love, nostalgia, family, renewal, and warmth. This year's production of Winter Song will include new stories and songs. The co-creators are also recording a Winter Song concept album featuring songs and stories from the show, which will be available for purchase throughout the show's run.

Merideth Kaye Clark performed the role of Elphaba in the First National Tour of Wicked, Eva Perón in Evita (Northern Stage) and Nancy in Oliver! (5th Avenue Theatre). Her Portland credits include: Cathy in The Last Five Years and Tzeitl in Fiddler on the Roof (The Armory); Clara, Light in the Piazza (Portland Playhouse); and Lilli/Kathryn, Kiss Me Kate (Clackamas Repertory Theatre). Clark is also a concert artist and multi-instrumentalist. She debuted her acclaimed Joni Mitchell's BLUE concert at The Armory in 2015 and released the studio album in 2016. Her solo album Young Stellar Object also garnered critical praise.

Leif Norby was most recently seen at The Armory in Astoria: Part One and Two, Wild and Reckless, and The Oregon Trail. Other recent Portland appearances include: various roles in Adroit Maneuvers (Lighthouse Productions); Cervantes in Man of La Mancha (Lakewood Theatre Company), and Dr. Givings in In the Next Room (Profile Theatre).

Brandon Woolley, co-creator of Winter Song and director of A Christmas Memory and Winter Song, previously directed Mary's Wedding and Sex with Strangers at The Armory. He leads a creative team featuring Music Director/Accompanist Mont Chris Hubbard (music director for Merideth Kaye Clark's concert performances of Joni Mitchell's BLUE at The Armory); Scenic Designer Daniel Meeker (scenic designs for Kodachrome and others at The Armory); Costume Designer Paula Buchert (resident cutter/draper at The Armory); Lighting Designer Sarah Hughey (lighting designs for Major Barbara at The Armory); Sound Designer Casi Pacilio (The Armory's resident sound designer; most recently A Life); with Stage Manager Janine Vanderhoff.