OSF to Celebrate CultureFest 2014, 9/11-14

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival's CultureFest will celebrate multiethnic heritage and the diverse work on the Festival's stages September 11-14, 2014. Held every other year, among CultureFest's 2014 offerings are play readings and discussions, multicultural Green Shows and Spanish open-captioned performances of three plays.

"I'm amazed by the sense of generosity, celebration and community that has infused the preparations for CultureFest," said Antonio Lyons, CultureFest co-producer. "This year's festival will be four days of jam-packed fun, food and inspiration. There are artists and guests coming from around the country to help us celebrate diversity and engage in meaningful dialogue about how to make theater experiences accessible for all."

CultureFest kicks off Sept. 11 with a Green Show at 6:45 p.m. by UNIVERSES, OSF's ensemble-in-residence, followed at 8 p.m. by OSF Presents: St. Jude, written and performed by Luis Alfaro, OSF's Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Playwright-in-Residence. The weekend's play readings include Josh Wilder's Leftovers and Quiara Alegría Hudes's Elliot: A Soldier's Fugue-the first part of a trilogy that includes this season's Water by the Spoonful and next season's The Happiest Song Plays Last.

Spanish open-captioning will be offered at performances of The Comedy of Errors (Sept. 12, 8 p.m., and Sept. 14, 1:30 p.m.), Water by the Spoonful (Sept. 13, 1:30 p.m.) and The Great Society (Sept. 13, 8 p.m.).

The community is encouraged to join OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch, Carmen Morgan, David Henry Hwang (playwright, M. Butterfly) and Sarah Bellamy (Penumbra Theatre) for a discussion of "Creating Inclusivity in the American Theatre" on Sept. 12, and to help close out the celebration by taking part in "Whose Theatre Is This?: The Audience Speaks" on Sept. 14. Discussions will also accompany play readings, and the CultureFest Lounge will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in New Place every day to offer attendees a chance to relax and extend dialogues beyond the formal events.

El Gallo Taco Truck will park in front of the Thomas Theatre and sell authentic Mexican food throughout CultureFest. A portion of the proceeds from food sales will benefit scholarships for students of color.

Ticket discounts for performances will be available for underrepresented multicultural groups and individuals during the festivities. For individual and group ticket information, contact 541-482-2111 ext. 295 or CulturalConnections@osfashland.org.

CultureFest 2014 schedule:

Thursday, September 11

6:45 p.m. - UNIVERSES, Green Show
(Outdoor Courtyard Stage, OSF Campus) FREE EVENT
Internationally renowned poetry/theatre/music ensemble

8:00 p.m. - OSF Presents: St. Jude, written and performed by Luis Alfaro (Thomas Theatre, OSF Campus)
TICKETS: $10-$20

Friday, September 12

10 a.m. - Creating Inclusivity in the American Theatre: A Conversation with Carmen Morgan, Sarah Bellamy (Penumbra Theatre), David Henry Hwang (playwright, M. Butterfly) and Bill Rauch (Thomas Theatre, OSF Campus, 90 minutes) FREE TICKETED EVENT

4 p.m. -The Comedy of Errors: A Post-Matinee Discussion
(New Place, OSF Campus) FREE EVENT

6:45 p.m. - Versa Style Dance Company: Legacy, Green Show
(Outdoor Courtyard Stage, OSF Campus) FREE EVENT
A vibrant, energetic, family-fun production that inspires through edu-tainment

Saturday, September 13

10:00 a.m. - Play Reading and Discussion - Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue by Quiara Alegría Hudes (Varsity Theatre, 166 E. Main St., Ashland) FREE TICKETED EVENT
An exploration of the prequel to OSF's current production Water by the Spoonful

12:00 noon - Ballet Folklórico Ritmo Alegre, Green Show
(Outdoor Courtyard Stage, OSF Campus) FREE EVENT
Colorful, exuberant dances, representing the soul of Mexican folk tradition.

4:30 p.m. - Water by the Spoonful: A Post-Matinee Discussion
(New Place, OSF Campus) FREE EVENT

6:45 p.m. - Heiwa Taiko, Green Show
(Outdoor Courtyard Stage, OSF Campus) FREE EVENT
Dynamic, hip grandma Taiko drummers. Average age 72. Oldest 89.

Sunday, September 14

10:00 a.m. - Play Reading and Discussion - Leftovers by Josh Wilder
(Varsity Theatre, 166 E. Main St., Ashland) FREE TICKETED EVENT

12:00 noon - Mitsuki Dazai, Green Show
(Outdoor Courtyard Stage, OSF Campus) FREE EVENT
Enjoy beautiful and dramatic sounds of Japanese koto music!

4:30 p.m. - Whose Theatre Is This?: The Audience Speaks
(New Place, OSF Campus) FREE EVENT

6:45 p.m. - Versa Style Dance Company: Legacy, Green Show
(Outdoor Courtyard Stage, OSF Campus) FREE EVENT
A vibrant, energetic, family-fun production that inspires through edu-tainment