A CHRISTMAS STORY Plays Portland Center Stage, Previews 11/21

Department store Santas, schoolyard bullies, freezing flagpoles and a certain horribly embarrassing pair of bunny pajamas... these are just some of the pleasures awaiting audiences at Portland Center Stage's first-annual production of A Christmas Story, adapted by Phil Grecian from the cult holiday film of the same name. A Christmas Story previews on Sunday, November 21st, opens on Friday, November 26th and runs Tuesday through Sunday through December 26, 2010. Tickets start at $33, with student and under 30 discounts available. Rush tickets are $20. Show times are 7:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday, with 2:00 pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. There is no performance on Thanksgiving (November 25th) or Christmas Day (December 25th). Christmas Eve (December 24th) has a noon and a 5 pm performance. See the show calendar http://www.pcs.org/xmas-story-2010/ for the complete performance schedule.

Based on a series of classic short stories by '60s era New York underground radio raconteur Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story follows young Ralphie Parker on his quest for the quintessential Christmas present- a Red Ryder range model air rifle. Ralphie doesn't just want it... he aches with desire for that knurled blue steel beauty (with a compass, and a stock, and this thing which tells time). Along the way, however, there are bullies to dodge, dares to issue, themes to write and mountains of meatloaf and cabbage to eat. Childhood is a minefield, Shepherd wryly reminds us... equally full of unexpected pleasures and unanticipated disappointments...and in Portland Center Stage's new production each high and low point bursts with all the joy and hope of a childhood era gone but never forgotten.

Holiday Oasis Returns

Downtown Thanksgiving weekend shoppers will once again have the chance to take a break mid-marathon at our relaxing Holiday Oasis at the Armory. On Saturday, Nov. 27th from 10 am to 6 pm, there will be FREE 15 minute chair massage, a charity wrapping station, some great gift packages from PCS (including a steal of a deal in this year's Green Gift Guide) plus cocktails and live holiday jazz from Pilot Lite for the adults and free hot cocoa and holiday movie classics for the kids.

Sounds.Like.Portland.

Saturdays at 6:30 pm the Armory will host free live pre-show holiday music from:

November 27 Pilot Lite
December 4 Portland Boychoir
December 11 St. Mary's High School Marian Singers

A Christmas Story was adapted by Phil Grecian, from the motion picture by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark. The original source material for A Christmas Story started as a series of childhood tall tales told by Jean Shepherd on his late night radio program in the '50s, many of which were subsequently turned into short stories that appeared in the collections In God We Trust All Others Pay Cash and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters.

A Christmas Story will be directed by Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan and the all-local cast will feature PCS favorites Ebbe Roe Smith as "The Old Man," Darius Pierce as Adult Ralphie, and Laura Faye Smith as Miss Shields. Valerie Stevens will play Mother. Michael Cline will have his PCS debut as Young Ralphie, and be joined by an ensemble of 11 children including: sibling duo Henry (ensemble) and Aimee Martin (Helen) (last seen at PCS as Tiny Tim and Mary Cratchit in A Christmas Carol); Ethan McKay and Dylan Earhart as Ralphie's best buddies Schwartz and Flick, respectively; Harrison Goyette as Ralphie's kid brother Randy; Calvin Whitney as schoolyard bully Scut Farkus; Hannah Wilson as Ralphie's love interest Esther Jane; and Aliemah Bradley (understudy/ensemble).

The vintage '40s Lake Michigan industrial town will be created by scenic designer Tony Cisek, supported by bunny suits, aviator caps, jailbird strips and snowsuits created by costume designer Jeff Cone, while the sounds and mood of a winter playground will be created by sound designer Casi Pacilio and lighting designer Nancy Schertler.

Additional support for this production has been provided by US Bank, Troutman Sanders, The Standard and CTA Labs. Media support has been provided by Kink.fm.

Portland Center Stage's 2009/10 season is funded in part by Umpqua Private Bank, the Regional Arts & Culture Council and Work for Art; the Oregon Arts Commission; the Paul G.Allen Family Foundation; and Tim & Mary Boyle.

Portland Center Stage inspires our community by bringing stories to life in unexpected ways. Established in 1988 as an off shoot of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, PCS became an independent theater in 1994 and has been under the leadership of Artistic Director Chris Coleman since May 2000. The company presents a blend of classic, contemporary and original productions in a conscious effort to appeal to the eclectic palate of theatergoers in Portland. PCS also offers a variety of education and outreach programs for curious minds from six to 106, including discussions, classes, workshops and partnerships with organizations throughout the Portland metro area.

THE GERDING THEATER AT THE ARMORY houses a 599-seat Main Stage and the 200-seat black box Ellyn Bye Studio. It was the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, and the first performing arts venue, to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification. The Gerding Theater at the Armory opened to the public on Oct. 1, 2006. The capital campaign to fund the renovation of this hub for community artistic activity continues.

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