Portland Center Stage Presents ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, 5/24

Portland Center Stage will host the world premiere of Randy Johnson's One Night with Janis Joplin, the new musical event celebrating the life of one of rock 'n roll's greatest legends, beginning May 24, 2011. Artistic Director Chris Coleman announced the news today, which happens to be the singer's birthday.
 
One Night explores Joplin's music, words, art and diverse influences. Playwright-director Johnson's unprecedented access to the Joplin Family archives has enabled him to give audiences a profound immersion in this blues-belting trailblazer's world. Packed with dynamic performances, including several legendary songs and other material the rock icon never formally recorded, this is Janis Joplin's musical journey presented in a powerfully immediate form.
 
PCS has partnered with Producers Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of Premiere Media, the Janis Joplin Estate and Jeff Jampol of Jampol Artist Management, as well as Johnson, to present this unique theatrical experience. One Night with Janis Joplin, written and directed by Randy Johnson, is the brand new, all inclusive Joplin musical. The show will run through June 26 on PCS' Main Stage in the Gerding Theater at the Armory. Premiere Media is planning a national tour of the production following its Portland run.
 
"When Randy and the other team members approached us about joining them on this project, we were thrilled," notes Chris Coleman. "Portland is one of the most engaged music cities in the country, and we knew our audience would be as excited as we are to be the first to experience this event, and participate in this celebration of an American treasure. We had planned to include Janis Joplin in our 2010-2011 season all along, but the opportunity to present this world-premiere piece gives us even more reasons to be excited." To read more about Janis Joplin, visit the official website: www.janisjoplin.com.
 
One Night with Janis Joplin Writer/Director Randy Johnson has amassed numerous impressive and diverse credits in his career, that include: Directed Elvis the Concert, which has consistently toured arenas all over the world for the past 14 years and is identified in the Guinness Book of World Records as "The most successful rock tour performed by an artist deceased""; Original Producer of Always Patsy Cline, the hit show that has played across the U.S. via regional theaters and national tours, as well as a successful Off Broadway run; Director of the event presenting Pope Benedict in his most recent U.S. appearance in New York and Writer/Director of THE WILDEST, the Music of Louis Prima and Keely Smith, which has been published by Samuel French. For a full bio and list of credits for Randy Johnson, visit www.randyjohnson1.com.
 
Tickets are on sale now for all performances, available via the PCS box office at 503-445-3700 or online at www.pcs.org. Best prices are available by purchasing early, and several performances are already close to selling out due to season ticket holders and other early buyers.
 
For inquiries and information regarding future productions, presentations and the national tour, please contact Daniel Chilewich of Premiere Media at 914.872.4017, or dchilewich@premieremedia.com.
 
Production Sponsors for One Night with Janis Joplin are John Taylor & Barbara West; Key Bank; and Ellyn Bye. Our Main Stage series sponsors are Tim & Mary Boyle, with additional funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, RACC/Work for Art, and the Oregon Arts Commission.
 
PORTLAND CENTER STAGE endeavors to "inspire our community by bringing stories to life in unexpected ways." Established in 1988 as an offshoot 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. Information about the campaign is available at http://www.pcs.org/armory_campaign/.

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