Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Rave In The Nave


Stage Door took the stage this past weekend in Portland at Rave In The Nave, an annual performing arts series at the Christ United Methodist Church. Joined by the resident dance company, All That! Dance, the students at Upstart Crow Studios performed dance, song and drama surrounded by a live audience on a theatre in the half round stage.

Performing their 20 minute show entitled, Defying Gravity, members of the Stage Door Team appeared to be working the audience with humor and style as they opened the show with Seize The Day, a powerful number from Disney's Newsies. The show is filled with other Disney hits, such as I Just Can't Wait To Be King and Spoonful of Sugar, all defining the character of the upstart crow and the resolve to be the best that you can be while ultimately defying the gravity of being different and unique.

All That! took the stage by storm with a hot salsa number. From modern to ballet to ballroom the crowd watched the dancers move with power and grace across the dance floor. The boys hip hop group brought cheers from the audience as they artfully moved to the beat.

Prior to the performance, Stage Door members had the pleasure of working with Devon Allen, the head of Acting at Portland State University. She along with her partner, Matthew, worked with the students on volume, relaxation, a bit of Shakespeare and some intense work with the chairs!

Stage Door moves into Little Shop of Horrors rehearsals these next few weeks. With Audrey II about to make its appearance, things are about to get creepy at the Crow...if you don't mind being on the menu, why don't you join us!

1 comment:

Suzi Steffen said...

You write these things, Eularee, and you make me want to come to rehearsal and tweet about Little Shop of Horrors. Sounded (on Facebook from the participants) like y'all had a great time in Portland and did a fine job.

Can't wait to see "Downtown" and more in LSOH! I hear you're doing Joseph in the summer ... congrats on all that you do. What a fantastic program!