Latest news with #OregonShakespeareFestival
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘We cannot do it alone': Portland theater company launches fundraiser to avoid closure
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Another Portland arts organization is launching a fundraiser in hopes of avoiding a permanent closure. On Thursday morning, Portland Center Stage revealed its goal to in order to save the future of the organization. Leaders intend to collect $2.5 million by Aug. 31, stating that they could cease operations even sooner without additional funding. City councilors strike down PGE's plan to axe portion of Forest Park trees PCS was originally founded in 1988. In the decades since, it has become the largest theater company in the Rose City and also claims to be one of the most influential in the U.S. Over 4 million people have seen shows at PCS, and their education program has served thousands of students. But the organization has struggled to recover since the pandemic, according to a press release. 'In 2019, PCS was poised to hit a record-breaking year for subscriptions,' the theater company said. 'Then came the COVID-19 shutdown. Like theaters across the country, PCS experienced devastating revenue losses. Although the company reopened in 2021, the build-back has been volatile. Audience habits have changed, costs have risen by over 20%, and national trends show sustained decreases in attendance.' Other local arts organizations have revealed similar struggles. Shooting near SW Portland preschool involved security guard, police say Two years ago, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as obstacles that led to several closures and prompted its $2.5 million campaign to save its next season. The Portland-based Artists Repertory Theatre also due to financial difficulties. Additionally, the Happy-Valley-based Pickathon launched a the experiential music festival and Portland'5 Centers for the Arts announced to bring in attendance. When it comes to PCS, Artistic Director Marissa Wolf said the organization has already undergone budget cuts and restructuring to save funds — but further support is necessary. Oregon needs 'urgent action' against behavioral health crisis, audit finds 'We're investing in smarter strategies and expanding partnerships,' Wolf added. 'But we cannot do it alone. We need our community now more than ever. We know PCS matters to Portland, and we want to be around for generations to come!' In addition to the fundraising campaign, the theater company is launching a plan to 'ensure long-term stability and health' within the next five years. This includes collaborating with local businesses to boost revenue and garnering an annual net surplus of up to $500,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Denis Arndt, Who Was a First-Time Tony Nominee at 77, Dies at 86
Denis Arndt, a former helicopter pilot whose acting career reached its zenith when he made his Broadway debut at age 77 in the comedy 'Heisenberg' and earned a Tony Award nomination, died on March 25 at his home in Ashland, Ore. He was 86. His wife, Magee Downey, confirmed the death. She said the specific cause was not known. Mr. Arndt built his reputation as a stage actor at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the 1970s and '80s. He later became a familiar face on television series like 'L.A. Law' and 'Picket Fences' and played one of the detectives who interrogate Sharon Stone in a famous erotically charged scene in 'Basic Instinct' (1992). He first appeared in 'Heisenberg,' a two-character play by Simon Stephens, which the Manhattan Theater Club produced at City Center's Studio at Stage II in 2015. The play transferred to the Samuel J. Friedman Theater on Broadway the next year. Mr. Arndt played Alex, a reserved, 75-year-old Irish-born butcher, who is in a London train station when he is unexpectedly kissed on the neck by Georgie (Mary-Louise Parker), a loud, impulsive and mysterious 42-year-old American. Her boldness ignites a romance. Ben Brantley, reviewing 'Heisenberg' in The New York Times, called Mr. Arndt and Ms. Parker 'the sexiest couple on a New York stage now.' Mr. Arndt, he wrote, 'makes what has to be the most unlikely and irresistible Broadway debut of the year. He lends roiling, at first barely detectable energy to the seeming passivity of a man who, on occasion, finds himself crying for reasons he cannot (nor wants to) explain. But this ostensibly confirmed celibate oozes a gentle, undeniable sensuality.' In an interview with The Times during the run of the play, Mr. Arndt spoke ecstatically about the chemistry he felt onstage with Ms. Parker, who was appearing in her seventh Broadway show. 'I feel compelled to give her my complete attention,' he said. 'I see the goddess. I do. I truly do.' Mr. Arndt, Ms. Parker told The Times, 'is everything I could want — passionate and so smart and so sensitive.' The Heisenberg of the play's title is the Nobel Prize-winning German physicist Werner Heisenberg, known for his uncertainty principle. That principle is not mentioned by the characters, but his name evokes the unpredictability of their romance. Mr. Arndt was nominated for the Tony for best actor in a play in 2017 but lost to Kevin Kline, who won for his performance in the Noël Coward comedy 'Present Laughter.' When Mr. Arndt and Ms. Parker reprised their roles at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in 2017, Charles McNulty of The Los Angeles Times wrote, 'Arndt lends poignant majesty to his character's rediscovered sensuality.' Denis Leroy Arndt was born on Feb. 23, 1939, in, Clyde, Ohio, and later moved with his parents and two younger sisters to Spokane, Wash. His father, Bryce, was a railroad switchman, and his mother, Arline, owned a seamstress shop, where she made curtains. He started acting in high school, but after graduating he enlisted in the Army, where he spent about a decade. He trained as a helicopter pilot and later flew missions in Vietnam, receiving two Purple Hearts when his aircraft came under fire. He enjoyed flying — 'You had the machine in your hand, and it became an extension of your central nervous system,' he told The Times — and worked as a commercial pilot in Alaska after his discharge. He studied history at the University of Washington on the G.I. Bill, but he did not graduate and soon began acting in Seattle theaters. In the 1970s, he started a long association with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, in Ashland. Mark Murphey, who shared the stage with Mr. Arndt in 'Hamlet,' 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Two Gentlemen of Verona,' said in an interview: 'As an actor, he was in the moment; he was different every time, every night was different. He was just incredibly vital and riveting. He just had that edge.' Mr. Arndt played the lead in 'King Lear,' Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey Into Night' and other plays at the festival and often performed at other theaters on the West Coast. He also appeared in Michael Weller's 'The Ballad of Soapy Smith' at the Public Theater in Manhattan in 1984 and 'Richard II' at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in 1987. In 1988, he left the Oregon festival, where he was playing Hickey in O'Neill's 'The Iceman Cometh,' to join the cast of 'Annie McGuire,' a new sitcom starring Mary Tyler Moore, as her husband, a construction engineer. He had already done some film and television work, but a commitment to a series with a star like Ms. Moore was something new in his career. The Sunday Oregonian newspaper reported at the time that some people at the festival were upset that Mr. Arndt had left. But, he told the newspaper, landing a role in a high-profile network series was a reward for his years of stage work. 'The idea of being invited to play marbles with the big kids is something we all aspire to,' he said. (He would return to the Oregon festival in 2014 as Prospero in 'The Tempest' and in multiple roles in 'The Great Society,' the second of Robert Schenkkan's plays about President Lyndon B. Johnson.) 'Annie McGuire' lasted only 10 episodes, but Mr. Arndt soon became a regular presence on television. He played lawyers in recurring roles on 'L.A. Law,' 'Picket Fences" and 'The Practice' and was seen on 'Boston Legal,' 'Life Goes On,' 'Supernatural,' 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'The Good Fight,' 'How to Get Away With Murder' and 'Mr. Mercedes.' In addition to his wife, Mr. Arndt is survived by two daughters, McKenna Rowe and Bryce Brooks, and a son, Tanner Arndt, from their marriage; three daughters, Tammy, Laurie and Kirsten Arndt, and a son, Scott, from his marriage to Marjorie Arveson, which ended in divorce; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Mr. Arndt was not the first choice for 'Heisenberg,' but he stepped in quickly when Kenneth Welsh, who was originally cast in the Off Broadway production, left four days before rehearsals were to begin. 'I was prepared for this,' Mr. Arndt told The Los Angeles Times. He added, 'My insight, chemistry, with this woman, her incredible skill — it's too much fun to use all the tools in my box.'
Khaleej Times
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'Basic Instinct' actor Denis Arndt has died, confirms family
Tony Award-nominated veteran actor Denis Arndt has died. He was 86. According to Deadline, his family confirmed his passing in an obituary, remembering him as a talented and passionate individual who lived life to the fullest. Arndt's remarkable career spanned over five decades, with notable performances on stage and screen. Born on February 23, 1939, in Issaquah, Washington, Arndt served as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, earning two Purple Hearts. According to Deadline, after the war, he began his acting career in Seattle, eventually moving to regional theater and later, Broadway. His regional theatre credits include productions at the Seattle Rep, Arizona Theatre Company, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where he performed title roles in King Lear and Coriolanus. In 2017, Arndt received a Tony nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Alex in Simon Stephens' Heisenberg, opposite Mary-Louise Parker. Arndt's screen career began in the 1970s, with appearances in popular TV shows such as Murder, She Wrote, CSI, and Grey's Anatomy. He also had notable film roles, including the interrogation scene in Basic Instinct (1992) and a part in Undisputed (2002) alongside Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames. In their heartfelt obituary, Arndt's family remembered him as a charismatic and passionate individual who lived life on his own terms. "In his own way, Dad lived his life as a full and generous performance... His legacy, both on and off stage, will live on in the hearts of family, friends, and community members." According to Deadline, Arndt's family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, people follow their passion and live life to the fullest, as he did.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Oregon town is a mecca for theater, wine, and outdoor adventure
Suppose you want to spend a few days attending a Tony Award-winning theater festival, exploring art galleries, strolling through vineyards, hiking, rafting, and skiing. In that case, you'd typically have to visit several different destinations. You can also visit Ashland, Oregon. This beautiful town in Southern Oregon is equally big on art, culture, and adventure. Add in fantastic wineries, breweries, and restaurants, and you've got yourself the making for a perfect getaway. Here are the best things to do in Ashland, Oregon, to help you plan your time there. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival was initially founded in 1935, and it's come a long way, baby. Initially, just two works of Shakespeare were performed in a dilapidated building, but it's blossomed into a 9-month celebration of the arts, typically held between March and October. Shakespeare is still on the bill yearly, but so are modern musicals, experimental works, comedies, dramas, first-run plays, and more. You can see them all over town in outdoor venues, church basements, and three state-of-the-art venues rivaling anything in a larger city. If you're driving through the streets of Ashland,, look out for deer. Although sightings of these creatures are rare in other urban areas, somewhere along the way, the deer of Ashland lost their fear of humans and saunter through the streets, yards, and sidewalks at a leisurely, oblivious gait. Downtown Ashland has the laid-back feeling of another era. The businesses are independently owned and offer the unique charm you can only find on Main Streets without chain stores. Be sure to check out Bloomsbury Books and Three Penny Mercantile, a vintage clothing store with unique finds. Art lovers have reason to rejoice -more than 30 galleries and studios grace Ashland, showcasing work from local artists and beyond. One of the best things about Ashland is its proximity to two major rivers: the Rogue and the Upper Klamath. The Rogue is scenic and gentle and a great place for kayakers and rafters of any skill level. The Upper Klamath contains class 3 and 4 rapids, ideal for advanced rafters or even beginners with a guide. Momentum Rafting Expeditions offers seasoned guides and all the equipment you need for either river, whether you prefer a group or private trip. Arrive hungry - they are famous for serving gourmet local food on their trips. If fishing is more your speed, be sure to stop by Ashland Fly Shop for some gear and pointers. They love talking about fishing and offer classes and guided trips. If you prefer land-based activities, the Grizzly Peak Trailhead is only a 12-mile drive (or hike) from Ashland. Located within the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument, the trail is 6 miles there and back, leading you to higher elevations to soak in sweeping views of downtown Ashland, the Cascade Mountains, and the Rogue Valley. If you're looking for something more relaxed, Lithia Park is a 100-acre paradise downtown. Its lovely paved walking trails lead to duck ponds, Ashland Creek, rose gardens, and idyllic Japanese gardens. The Sterling Mine Ditch Trail in nearby Jacksonville is named after a 26-mile-long ditch constructed in 1877 to supply water to gold miners. The trail system features views of mountains, valleys, fields blanketed with velvet green and wildflowers, and historic mining tunnels. When most people think of Oregon wine, they think of the wineries of Willamette Valley. Although lesser known, Southern Oregon is equally worthy of a wine trip with 170 microclimates and five AVAs. Boutique, family-owned operations are the norm, as are gorgeous vistas of mountains, vineyards, and families in their tasting rooms. Standout wineries to visit in Ashland include Weisinger Family Winery and Irvine & Roberts Vineyards. In addition to stellar vino, both wineries boast large, welcoming patios with panoramic views of the mountains. The Rogue Valley is famous for its farms, and perhaps there is no place better to appreciate their efforts than in a local restaurant. Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine offers a made-from-scratch seasonal meal featuring ingredients from local farmers and artisans served beside craft cocktails. Save room for dessert, even if you usually avoid sweets - their pastry chef is legendary. If you're looking for something more casual, Caldera Brewing serves delicious soups, salads, and pizzas, incorporating local ingredients alongside refreshing award-winning beer that is brewed onsite. Hearsay Restaurant, Lounge, and Garden is one of the most fabulous restaurants in town. The interior has the atmosphere of a jazz club or speakeasy, while the patio is a tranquil paradise of trees, plants, and twinkling lights. The menu features outstanding dishes like perfectly cooked seared scallops, housemade bread, and braised short ribs served with creamy polenta. For a truly unique experience, you won't want to miss Mas and its Omakase tasting menu. Focusing on local ingredients, the menu features dishes so unique and creative that they often look too delicious to eat. Ignore that each course looks like a work of art and eat it anyway—it's worth it. Crater Lake National Park is an hour and a half from Ashland but well worth the drive. Be prepared to gasp when you encounter what is quite possibly the bluest waters on earth. The lake was formed by the collapse of a volcano more than 7,700 years ago and is ringed by the remnants of the ancient mountain. It's a great place to hike, camp, or take a scenic drive. The Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest is over 628,000 acres of forest, hiking trails, lakes, rivers, and mountains. If you only have a few hours to explore, spend them at the lovely Applegate Lake, which is the perfect spot for swimming, picnicking, or taking a stroll. Winter is a special time in Ashland. Lights are strung downtown and look like something straight out of a Christmas card. Each year in December, the city holds its annual Festival of Lights. It's also a fantastic opportunity for outdoor adventure, the outdoor skating rink at Lithia Park is so magical even non-skaters bundle up to watch happy people sail by on the ice without a care in the world. Skiers adore Mount Ashland, with four chairlifts and incredible panoramic views of the Rogue Valley. The resort offers rental equipment and lessons for beginners. There are also dedicated trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There are enough activities in Ashland to warrant a trip of several days. Ashland Hills Hotel and Suites is a fun, colorful hotel with retro decor. The rooms are spacious, and many offer gorgeous views of the mountains. There are tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a hot tub, and breakfast is included with each stay. The hotel is less than a 10-minute drive from town. If you'd rather stay in the heart of downtown, the Ashland Springs Hotel was built in 1925 and has been beautifully and lovingly restored. The property features a European-style outdoor courtyard draped with lights and luxury amenities like an incredible spa to relax your cares away. Also located downtown, Winchester Inn offers boutique lodging in a beautifully renovated home dating back to 1886. The graciously decorated rooms feature amenities like 600-thread count sateen sheets, fresh flowers, plush robes, and luxury bath amenities. The Winchester Inn features two award-winning restaurants and a multi-course breakfast is included with your stay. No matter where you stay in Ashland, you may experience a pang of regret when it's time to leave. Luckily, she'll be there to welcome you back.
