By MK Scott
If you have lived in Portland for the past 40 plus years, you may have heard of the late great musical theater director, James N. Erickson, who was a staple at the Lakewood Center as well as the now defunct Portland Civic Theatre, Sylvia’s Class Act Dinner Theatre and the Musical Company. Plus he produced Breakfast with Santa for Meier and Frank for over 30 years.
Erickson was also the head of the Beaverton High School Theater Arts Department for 29 years from 1970 to 1999, and was an enduring mentor for many of Portland’s thriving theater scene from Jay Horenstein, Greg Tamblyn, Dale Johannes, and John Oules to Broadway stars such as Brooks Ashmanskas and Shoshanna Bean.
After Erickson’s retirement in 1999 and sudden death in 2004, the Beaverton High Drama Department struggled for over a decade up until last year, when Shannon Dery stepped up to lead a new generation of theater (and queer) students.
To gain some support, I contacted my celebrity friends and was able to get Olivia Newton-John to do a small shout out to ask people to help save the school’s 2016 production of “Grease.”
We raised over $3,000, and as a bonus, many alumni that hadn’t visited their high school in decades came back and pledged their support for Erickson’s successor.
So how do we top Olivia Newton-John? It was luck that Beaverton chose Terrence McNally’s adaptation of the classic film of “Catch Me If You Can,” which made its world premiere at Seattle’s famed Fifth Avenue Theater, which I have a connection to. They encouraged me to get in touch with the composers, Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman (Hairspray), who agreed to record the shout-out — and totally surprised me with a cameo by the king of Broadway himself, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton)!
We need volunteers and contributions to give these kids the professionalism and the support that only the legacy of Erickson can provide.
Check out our Campaign video at www.gofundme.com/support-bhss-musical-fund.
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Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Thursday, May 7, 2015
(BREAK the ILLUSION) Straight Guy Asks Gay Guy to Prom: The Full Story!
Tags
Break the Illusion,
OVTV,
Series,
VLOG,
youth
Monday, September 29, 2014
(FAB HIGH) Behind The Fabulous Scenes!
Help Fabulous High reach more audiences by Liking, Re-posting, Sharing and tweeting us all over the place! It's people like you that help shows like FabHigh exist!
Facebook | www.facebook.com/FabulousHigh
Twitter | @FabHigh
Youtube | www.youtube.com/FabulousHighSeries
Web Site | www.FabulousHigh.com
Facebook | www.facebook.com/FabulousHigh
Twitter | @FabHigh
Youtube | www.youtube.com/FabulousHighSeries
Web Site | www.FabulousHigh.com
Tags
Behind the scenes,
FAB HIGH,
OVTV,
Series,
youth
Monday, September 22, 2014
(FAB HIGH) Part 3 of 3!
Episode: "Teacher's Pet"
The series follows the characters' personal struggles with identity, acceptance, relationships, and well... high school.
The series follows the characters' personal struggles with identity, acceptance, relationships, and well... high school.
Monday, September 15, 2014
(Fab High): Part 2 of 3!
The series follows the characters' personal struggles with identity, acceptance, relationships, and well... high school.
Episode: "The Highs & Lows"
Synopsis: The long arm of the law finally catches up with Ryan Woodson. Brooke & Jesse make a new friend while skipping class and a teacher learns a new lesson.
Facebook: https:www.facebook.com/fabuloushigh
Starring:
Chris Schellenger as "Ryan Woodson" (Part I & II)
Derek Villanueva as "Jesse Avila" (Part I & II)
Kimberly Tran as "Brooke Lee" (Part I & II)
Cameron Koa as "Cade" (Part II)
Sal Sabella as "Dr. Tony Weaver" (Part II)
Episode: "The Highs & Lows"
Synopsis: The long arm of the law finally catches up with Ryan Woodson. Brooke & Jesse make a new friend while skipping class and a teacher learns a new lesson.
Facebook: https:www.facebook.com/fabuloushigh
Starring:
Chris Schellenger as "Ryan Woodson" (Part I & II)
Derek Villanueva as "Jesse Avila" (Part I & II)
Kimberly Tran as "Brooke Lee" (Part I & II)
Cameron Koa as "Cade" (Part II)
Sal Sabella as "Dr. Tony Weaver" (Part II)
Monday, September 8, 2014
DEBUT! (Fab High): Part I of 3!
The series follows the characters' personal struggles with identity, acceptance, relationships, and well... high school.
Starring:
Chris Schellenger as "Ryan Woodson" (Part I & II)
Derek Villanueva as "Jesse Avila" (Part I & II)
Kimberly Tran as "Brooke Lee" (Part I & II)
Cameron Koa as "Cade" (Part II)
Starring:
Chris Schellenger as "Ryan Woodson" (Part I & II)
Derek Villanueva as "Jesse Avila" (Part I & II)
Kimberly Tran as "Brooke Lee" (Part I & II)
Cameron Koa as "Cade" (Part II)
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
(SHOWcase) Inside MK's Secret Project!
Our very own, MK Scott (whose Full name is Michael Scott Shafer-Montgomery) has been working on a secret project for as long as OUTview has been in existence.
MK says he wouldn't be who he is today without his Mentor, James N. Erickson, a legend in the Portland Theater Community. Erickson was the Theater Arts Teacher for Beaverton High School for 29 years, until his retirement in 1999 and his eventual death in 2004. Erickson was like a Broadway caliber Director, Choreographer, Designer and Producer all at the same time. As MK has mentioned on more than one occasion, several other notables got their start under the style of Erickson, including our very own Jesse Archer (Jesse on the Brink, Four Letter Word) as well as Broadway stars, Brooks Ashmanskas (currently seen in on Broadway in 'Bullets over Broadway') and Shoshana Bean (Wicked) and Recording artists like, Stephanie Schneiderman.
As the keeper of the past and how we can create more talent in the future, MK has carried on the Erickson Legacy with creating a Fund to help to preserve the legacy and to help keep After-School Theater Programs alive.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
(ASK MISTY:) Back To School Bullies!
Hi Misty! My names Dylan and I'm 14, I'm about to start high school and I'm terrified. My friends keep saying their worried that I'm gonna be bullied because I'm gay. How should I respond and whats really gonna happen in high school? ...dylanstar7
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
(Young Americans) SEASON FINALE: Where Are We Headed?
In the last installment of the season, we ask young Americans to talk about the most exciting/scariest thing there is - the future.
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Wednesday, August 21, 2013
(Young Americans) "Cultural Stereotypes"!
What does it mean about you when you live in a big city? What about a small town? How many of those stereotypes about culture and race and location are true? How does racism and social constructs effect how you see the world around you?
Tags
OVTV,
Series,
YOUNG AMERICANS,
youth
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
(Young Americans) "Socializing"!
Bar hopping, house parties, concerts, Facebook - how do you like to meet people? How do you socialize? How do the Young Americans today meet one another in world of social connectivity?
Tags
OVTV,
Series,
YOUNG AMERICANS,
youth
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
(Young Americans): Media Representations!
From movies, TV shows, commercials and even to the digital space, does today's media realistically portray our generation?
Tags
Culture,
OVTV,
Series,
YOUNG AMERICANS,
youth
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
(SHOWCASE) OUT Youth Theater Film Project!
Everybody enjoys a good love story. This film promises many. Fifteen LGBTQ youth and their straight allies write an original script about romantic love, love of family, love of God, and perhaps the toughest, self love.
We are following a remarkable group of young people who are passionate about being queer, creative, and committed to justice. We have unlimited access to the award-winning True Colors: OUT Youth Theater, established in 1994 and committed to sharing stories written and performed by LGBTQ youth.
Please Support This Kickstarter Project!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
EPIC: 'It Gets Better' Lady Gaga Gay Prom Extravaganza!
Check out this "It Gets Better" anti-bullying musical production set to Lady Gaga's "Hair" directed, produced, and edited by Madison, Wisconsin's Colton Boettcher.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
PAYBACK: Tuscaloosa County, AL Threatened with Lawsuit for Censoring Gay Student, Barring Her from Prom!
The Tuscaloosa County Board of Education is being threatened with a
lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is ordering the
district "to stop its censorship of speech supportive of lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and its prohibition against
same-sex couples at the prom" according to the Tuscaloosa News.
The threat stems from at least one alleged incident in early January: On Jan. 5, a Brookwood High School
administrator asked Elizabeth Garrett, a 10th-grader at Brookwood, to
remove a hooded sweatshirt with a slogan on it reading, “Warning, This
Individual Infected With ‘The Gay,' Proceed With Caution.”
When asked why she had to take off the sweatshirt, the administrator told Garrett that it was distracting, said Sam Wolfe, the SPLC attorney leading the case. Garret disagreed with the administrator, but took off the sweatshirt in the bathroom while the administrator waited outside to confirm that she had removed the sweatshirt when she came out.
When asked why she had to take off the sweatshirt, the administrator told Garrett that it was distracting, said Sam Wolfe, the SPLC attorney leading the case. Garret disagreed with the administrator, but took off the sweatshirt in the bathroom while the administrator waited outside to confirm that she had removed the sweatshirt when she came out.
Tags
bullying,
Homophobia,
MS,
youth
HIGH: Barefoot Bandit CAUGHT Bragging, Insulting Cops!
The notorious Barefoot Bandit was caught
boasting about his wild crime spree and hurling insults at police and
prosecutors, which could hurt the young thief during his sentencing in
federal court Friday. In jailhouse phone calls and emails that were
monitored by authorities, 20-year-old Colton Harris-Moore called the
police "swine" and "asses" and referred to the San Juan County
prosecutor as a "complete fool," while bragging about his illegal
exploits, reports the Seattle Times.
Federal prosecutors say the exposed statements show Harris-Moore's lack of remorse, but they are sticking to a plea agreement of asking the judge for a 6 1/2-year sentence. (He boasted about getting that relatively light punishment, too.) "The things I have done as far as flying and airplanes goes, is amazing," the Barefoot Bandit wrote in one email. "Nobody on this planet have done what I have, except for the Wright brothers."
Federal prosecutors say the exposed statements show Harris-Moore's lack of remorse, but they are sticking to a plea agreement of asking the judge for a 6 1/2-year sentence. (He boasted about getting that relatively light punishment, too.) "The things I have done as far as flying and airplanes goes, is amazing," the Barefoot Bandit wrote in one email. "Nobody on this planet have done what I have, except for the Wright brothers."
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
MESSAGE: Education Secretary Arne Duncan Marks First National Gay-Straight Alliance Day with Anti-Bullying Message!
Obama's Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has posted a video on the White House blog marking the first annual Gay-Straight Alliance Day, which is today.
Says Duncan, in part: "When students are harassed or bullied, it directly affects their work in the classroom, their aspirations for the future, and their desire to stay in school. Gay-Straight Alliances and similar student groups play an important role in creating welcoming, affirming, and respectful schools and colleges – safe places where learning can happen and students flourish. This work is absolutely essential. GSAs are a proven tool for creating welcoming school climates and helping students stay in school."
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