Edgar Allen Crow Honored

It was our distinct pleasure to bestow Upstart Crow Studios highest award to Edgar Allen Crow on Saturday, June 20th. The lovely Edgar turned the ripe old age of 21 years and despite her tragic beginnings, she has managed to fly above her circumstances making her the perfect Upstart Crow.

Stage Door cast members put together a small tribute on Edgar's behalf, as well wishers gathered at her birthday party at the Cascade Raptor Center in south Eugene. Edgar is the darling of the Center and greets visitors with her infectious laughter (caw, caw, caw) and her easy going "oh well". From the time she crawled across the highway to an elementary school in Veneta, she has adored children and become a human imprint. The children fed her leaves of bugs and worms and she even had her very own cupcake. 

Edgar was presented with a certificate declaring her an honorary Upstart Crow. Signed, sealed and delivered this certificate bears witness that anyone (or any bird) can rise above their circumstances and use their strengths to overcome their weaknesses and truly become someone to crow about!

Happy Birthday, Edgar!

Acting Out!

What a fun week with a wonderful group of artistic kids! Act Out camp is a series of classes and workshops in the arts. It offers an opportunity to explore different mediums of performing and visual arts. Campers experienced theatre, dance, music, sculpting and set painting. 

The theatre class worked on a readers theatre version of the Frog Prince Continued. They even had a chance to experience what the phrase "the show must go on" means when one of the cast was sick on the last day and we had to quickly change the blocking and dispense the lines among the remaining cast. 

The STOMP class began their Friday showcase with a rousing chant of "Let's go, Upstart Crow". Their class focused on music literacy through the use of rhythmic chants and creating music from objects on stage. Between feet, hands, chairs, boxes and sticks the music was engaging and fun for the youngest to the oldest in the group. 

The African drumming group was superb. The dancing was tuneful in and of itself, with the steady undertones of the drum. They delighted their parents with their ability to stay on their feet through some pretty tricky dance steps.

The sets were designed and painted as a backdrop for their Friday showcase. The sets complimented the Frog Prince, while adding character to the African dance and the STOMP of the Crow!  The fairytale forest was filled with charm and whimsy with polka dot trees, a gingerbread house and firebreathing dragon. 

And I am sure that breakfast will bring hold more than cereal for them come next week, as they eat from their glazed bowls and spoons from the sculpting class. The work was beautiful and sparked by the creativity of each individual. You will certainly never find two of a kind in this group of talented young artists.

With more summer camps to come, I look forward to the next group of young people to add their voice and creative expression to the Crow!

Dynamic System Rocks The Crow

Great concert at the Crow and no one was sitting still as Dynamic System rocked the Crow's Nest Theatre for two hours Friday, June 12th. Nathan Grant, drummer extraordinare, along with Josh Lambe, on bass, and Patrick Dodd, guitar and lead singer took the stage and didn't let go as the audience listened to the group's mix of some phenomenal covers of rock and roll greats like Zepplin, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Hendrix among others. The hard core drumming, tight leads and vocals make this group a fun experience. 

You may know Nathan, as the drummer for the Upstart Crow Symphony Orchestra, and Josh Lambe, who also plays viola for the Orchestra. Tim Wilcox conducted the light show. The Crow congratulates Dynamic System for an evening of great music. Free CDS were given out to all the concert goers. 

Hoping to add a few more concerts at the Crow this summer. But we hear that Dynamic System will also be performing at Sam Bond's. Stay tuned and pump up the volume as this young group turns up the heat this summer with their hard rock style and crowd pleasing shows. 

You can contact Dynamic System at dynamicsystem53@gmail.com.

What is an Upstart Crow?

We had the good fortune to receive a grant to produce television commercials for the Crow. It has been a fun experience for the Stage Door team, who were the on air talent. The question that the commercial poses is "What is an Upstart Crow?"

Although we know the answer to the question, we had the opportunity to see it in action. Several of the kids in the theatre and dance program volunteered their time to produce a short cabaret show for a group of 3rd graders at Ridgeline Montessori School. They wrote the script, selected the music, directed and choreographed a musical theatre cavalcade of song and dance.

The show began as a gift from the teachers. They are moving and wanted to create a special gift for the class they were leaving behind. Their daughter contacted other theatre kids and presented the idea of putting together a show in 2 weeks. Reminiscent of the Little Rascal theatrical extravaganzas of my childhood, I watched these young people carry the torch.

This is an Upstart Crow. An individual who uses their talents and energy for the purpose of positive creative expression. The collaborative effort of these crows produced a powerful message for these 3rd graders - be the best that you can be.

The crow is not the most beautiful bird, quite common, ordinary if you will. Perhaps that is the best part of my job. To see these common birds find ways to give flight to their imaginations and become extraordinary through the process. And then to share that with other young people is exactly what every teacher hopes to inspire. As a teacher, I am always striving to work myself out of a job.

Ironically, the stage they performed on was the same one that Upstart Crow performed its first musical theatre production of Beauty and The Beast. We refurbished the stage area in a closed school cafeteria. We worked with a group of teenagers from the Lane County Juvenile Justice Department almost 10 years ago. Those teenagers worked long hard hours to make that theatre space accessible. More Upstart Crows.

Upstart Crow Studios is becoming a legacy. Something to truly crow about.

One Last Song and Dance

Stage Door Productions performed one last time at River Road/El Camino School today. The performance was a part of the winnings of a third grade teacher, Alison Bumstead, at the school for her winning dance number in Dance With The Stars, the annual fundraiser at Upstart Crow Studios.

Stage Door has performed several venues since September and each time has left the crowd wanting more. One little boy stopped me in the hall and said "this was the most awesome assembly we ever had!" Sure, getting out of school is fun but he was impressed with kids his own age performing live theatre.

I was impressed with the ability of these young people to ensure that the show go on. Several team members were unable to make it to the performance today. Quickly the team had to determine who would pick up the lines, change the choreography and vocal parts in a matter of about 10 minutes before the curtain literally went up. Though the audience had no idea how many cast members should have been performing, the Stage Door team made the performance a flawless execution. 

The theme of the show is about the unique qualities we all possess and how important it is to celebrate those unique talents rather than hide them or try to pretend we are other than who we truly are. The message came across loud and clear as these young thespians did their very best to communicate through song and dance with a dash of humor in the mix. 

The last show, yes, is always bittersweet. Done are the long rehearsals, the nagging directors, the lights, fatigue and dialogue you could say in your sleep. But so are the funny moments, the awkward pauses, the tripping over each other's lines or forgotten dance step. Hopefully in their place are confidence in tight situations, pride in accomplishment and friendships that will last a long time. Texts, tweets, emails and Facebook walls filled with a job well done and the anticipation of what next season will bring. 

Crows Have Heroes, Too

It was with great pride that I sat in a room filled with heroes on Thursday, April 23rd. In all, the United Way Volunteer luncheon had 25 tables making this a room of 250 people who volunteer in their community an extraordinary amount of hours. They came from all walks of life, some professionals, others were teenagers and young children, many were seniors. The oldest volunteer of the bunch was 93 years old! 

Their pictures went up on the screen as the emcee spoke briefly about the service these volunteers had done over the past year. The number of hours that some had volunteered was staggering. From 3 - 20 hours a week, for most and some were even higher. These are individuals who dedicated time from their busy lives to work for the greater good in their community. It really was an impressive event.

What made it even more special, was that our own Timothy Wilcox was nominated for the Arts and Culture Volunteer of the year. I don't know that many people know the amount of hours this young man gives to Upstart Crow. He works tirelessly to bring a level of music accompaniment that most youth performing arts programs do not have. He receives no pay for his countless hours of rehearsal with the orchestra, accompanying the cast at rehearsals and working with them on the their vocals as chorus and soloists. He is pretty handy with the tool box, not to mention the tech service to get the wireless up and running in the building and networking the printer in the office. And he has been seen in the hallways, vacuuming! Is there nothing this Super Hero can't do?

We have a wonderful organization, here at Upstart Crow Studios. But what makes it truly remarkable is the level of volunteerism that keeps us running. Thank you to all those who believe in the vision of keeping the arts alive and accessible to our community and especially to the children we serve. And a big round of applause for Timothy! 

Happy Birthday!

Today is a unique day in history and one that obviously speaks to all Crows. Happy Birthday, Shakespeare and oh by the way, bon voyage.

William Shakespeare's birth is not officially recorded but his baptism is dated on April 26th. It is commonly accepted that his birthday was April 23rd and that he was born in a house on Henley Street in Stratford, Englan. Much of what is known about the man remains in court documents and church records and most significantly from his rivals.

To be sure, that is how Upstart Crow Studios, gained its name. From the penned hand of one of Shakespeare's critics, Robert Greene, came these words, which seemed to fit our intent and mission at Upstart Crow.

Greene disparages Shakespeare, an actor who fancied himself a playwright. Greene writes this about Shakespeare.

"...for there is an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers, that with his tigers heart wrapped in a players hide, supposes he is well able to bombast out a blank verse as the best of us.."

From these words, Robert Greene gained fame. Shakespeare, on the other hand, is legend. His final enigma was to die on the day he was born, 52 years later. 

We wear the term "upstart crow" with great pride. We are unique individuals with dynamic voices. All crows are welcome here. Let us celebrate the individual today in honor of this worthy playwright, Shakespeare. We all have something to crow about!