The Best Bang For The Buck!

Brother, Can You Spare A Buck? was a huge success and one of the best buys for your entertainment dollar. Yes, Everything Was A Dollar and from the food to the Talent Show to the Live Auction, every minute of the event was fun.

The Talent Show cast demonstrated that Crows do everything better! We had singing, dancing, musicians, comedy and juggling. The winner of the Show - Simon Waddell. What a show man! Kudos to all who made this a great show. Tim Wilcox was impersonating a one man band as he accompanied and ran the lights for the show. Todd Waddell provided our sound system for the evening. When people ask how do you do that? I have a one word answer - Volunteers. It is amazing what we can do when we work together.

On to the Grinch...but keep a watchful eye. This event will be back by popular demand!

Be Careful What You Wish For

It began as an idea behind the walls of the costume room. The topic was how to make things easier for the costume crew and the cast when sorting, transporting and putting costumes in order for a show.

The solution seemed simple enough. Garment bags that could hold the costume and accessories. We didn't find anything suitable, let alone affordable while letting our fingers do the walking online. So we did the next best thing and invented the wheel...or the garment bag as it were. 

Mandi Bussell, our cupcake costume designer, offered to help design a pattern. We spent the afternoon putting together ideas of what we wanted, what was practical and what we could actually pull off. She plotted out a pattern on newsprint and left it with me to put the pieces together and make a working model. 

Meanwhile our trusty Board member, Stephen Brainard, talked to his mom about making a "few" garment bags. She was visiting Eugene from Colorado and eagerly raised her hand to work on the project. Unable to make a working model in the time she was here visiting, I handed her the untested pattern. 

A week later, Stephen brings in a finished product. Although she only sews in white thread (we love white thread but hate white socks!) she did a bang up job. A few weeks later, we now have almost half of the amount we were hoping for. The woman is a sewing machine addict! She must be chained to her machine to do this many so fast.

Laurie Brainard, you are an amazing woman and dedicated volunteer. There is no way to tell you how much this means to our kids. Laurie says she volunteered because Upstart Crow Studios is a good organization and it helps her grandkids even though she lives in a different state. 

It is nice to know that volunteers come in all shapes, sizes, ages and apparently from Colorado! 

The Flying Crow

The summer is winding down but it seems the crow is flying high. Mural artists Erin Bucklew and Kari Johnson started on the mural project this year thanks in part to a grant from the Lane Arts Council. It was unveiled at the Last Friday Artwalk in July, but this Friday, August 28th it will be revealed in all its glory.
Erin, along with some of our young crows, have added bits and pieces to make the Flying Crow a symbol for all the arts, young people and most of all to the power of creative expression within all of us. It celebrates the artist within each of us and the imagination that inspires us. A tribute to the collaborative energy in the Studios, this project has evolved into a master work with new something to discover each time you look at it.
Come join us at the final summer Artwalk and see other works by Erin Bucklew and Alex D'Souza. Come dance the night away with our eclectic youth bands playing in the parking lot from 6 to 9 pm. Come see why Upstart Crow Studios is the best kept secret in Eugene!

Making A Difference

"This place must be the best kept secret in Eugene", says Lane Arts Council Director, Douglas Beauchamp. What is not a secret is the difference Upstart Crow Studios is making in the lives of the young people who come to the Crow.

This summer we have been hard at work making the power of creative expression a reality for a talented young artist. Joel Fish knocked on the door asking what he could do to make a difference. His vision began on a blank wall on the catwalk over the main dance studio. It was there he found a canvas that awakened his power to express a powerful message to all who pass through. 

Two simple words now grace the catwalk wall. Pursue. Passion. From vision to execution, Joel captured the essence of the energy in this building. The small addition of motivators - "if you can dream it, you can do it" and "the power of creative expression" boldly speak to what happens at the Crow. 

Upstart Crow Studios proudly joins the Last Friday Artwalk in the Whiteaker neighborhood. Artwalkers are compelled by the message and at once engaged in the possibilities. Becoming less of a secret and more the talk of the town, Upstart Crow Studios looks forward to another outstanding season.

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. 

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!

We Got Trouble

The trouble is right here in River City, we are having WAY too much fun at rehearsals. The cast seems to be enjoying the fact that our very own Harold Hill, Chas King, is a billiard playing hustler and proud of it! The Ladies Society is all but faint from his captivating and charming snake oil ways of shaking things up in their quiet little town of River City. Marcellus, the infamous Ben Brown, is trying to keep Marian the librarian, the formidable Helene Morse, from poking too far into Professor Hill's questionable past. But the burning question is...can Amaryllis, the sweet Taylor Dalton, play that note on the piano right? Yes, she may!

Right Here In River City

The Upstart Crow Symphonic Band has been practicing for the upcoming event - Right Here In River City! An old fashioned concert in the park. Everyone is invited to bring a picnic lunch, family and friends and head down to Skinner Butte Park at River Play and spend a sparkler afternoon of fun and music. Admission is free so come join the crows and win a chance to conduct the orchestra...that is if you can wrangle the baton away from Tim!