All posts by Evalyn Hansen

I'm a theater buff. I am passionate about theater. I see as many plays as I can as often as I can. I go to lectures, previews, prefaces, backstage tours, dramatic readings, dress rehearsals, post matinee discussions, talks in the park and an occasional cast party. If I'm not there, I would like to be. I have my BA in dramatic arts from UC Berkeley, my MA from San Francisco State and I'm currently studying directing at Southern Oregon University. I volunteer for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and recently I understudied a walk-on part in "Trip to Bountiful" at Oregon Stage Works.

Interview

To be someone else, it helps to know who you are

October 4, 2015 Evalyn Hansen Leave a comment

Actor Rodney Gardiner is currently playing Nathan Detroit in Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s production of “Guys and Dolls.” Previous notable OSF roles include the two Dromios in “The Comedy of Errors” and Guy in “The Imaginary Invalid.” Gardner earned a BFA from State University of New York and is a founding member of New York’s Waterwell Theater. He has been performing Shakespeare since the age of 14. He is married to choreographer, Sarah Lozoff; they have two lovely children. We visited at Café 116 in Ashland one beautiful day.

EH: How did you get interested in acting?

Continue reading To be someone else, it helps to know who you are →

Interview

Historic theater bridges Roaring ’20s, Depression era

August 23, 2015 Evalyn Hansen Leave a comment

Randy McKay, executive director of Jefferson Live!, is coordinating the upcoming blues concert with Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts at the EdenVale Winery on Aug. 29 to benefit the restoration of Medford’s historic Holly Theatre. McKay also manages the Cascade Theatre in Redding, Calif. I met McKay at the Holly Theatre one afternoon.

EH: Walking into this theater takes your breath away.

RM: I’m here almost every day and have been for several years. Every time I walk in here, it’s still pretty impressive.

EH: Is it the dimensions?

RM: I think that’s part of it, because we don’t have a balcony. There’s nothing to break up this huge open space, so it feels even bigger than it otherwise would. If it were a traditional theater, with an orchestra level and a balcony cutting it in half, it wouldn’t seem quite so huge. Continue reading Historic theater bridges Roaring ’20s, Depression era →

Interview

Helena de Crespo to perform at Fringe Festival

August 10, 2015 Evalyn Hansen Leave a comment

Helena de Crespo is on her way to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with her one-woman-performance of “Elective Affinities” by David Adjmi. The play is often staged in a beautiful home, featuring Alice Hauptmann, full of charm and charisma.

In 2012, De Crespo performed the piece for an invited audience at Stan and Maurine Mazor’s chateau in Ashland. In 2011, “Elective Affinities” was performed by Zoe Caldwell in the Soho Rep’s site-specific production in an Upper East Side apartment in New York City.

De Crespo and I visited as we drove through heavy traffic to the Portland Airport.

EH: What is the Fringe Festival? Continue reading Helena de Crespo to perform at Fringe Festival →

Interview

Designer creates spaces for people to have experiences

July 26, 2015 Evalyn Hansen Leave a comment

Craig Hudson designed the sets and lights for Oregon Cabaret Theatre’s stunning production of “Cabaret.” Hudson founded OCT when he took a peek into an old pink church at First & Hargadine Streets in Ashland. He transformed it into a lush theatrical venue complete with dark green walls, polished wood balconies, and dominated by a spectacular crystal chandelier.

Hudson divides his time between Ashland, where he is the resident set designer at OCT, and his exquisite bed and breakfast in Mexico City called The Red Tree House. He is now in the midst of building a dazzling supper club (to open soon) just below the Cabaret Theatre: The Hearsay Restaurant, Lounge & Garden, where we met one afternoon. Continue reading Designer creates spaces for people to have experiences →

Interview

Readings of new plays by local playwrights featured

July 14, 2015 Evalyn Hansen Leave a comment

“Moonlighting 2015: A Change is Coming …;” – new short plays by local playwrights – will be presented in Ashland Contemporary Theatre’s series of dramatic readings which opens this Friday afternoon, July 17, at Grizzly Peak Winery followed by performances on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19, at the Ashland Community Center.

Transformation (personal, social, and political) is a recurring theme throughout the series. Many of the plays reflect life’s dramatic turning points laced with wry humor. Continue reading Readings of new plays by local playwrights featured →

Interview

Bruce Young

July 12, 2015 Evalyn Hansen Leave a comment

Bruce A. Young plays Lefty, the loveable urban street person, in “The Happiest Song Plays Last,” currently playing at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Last season, he played Gonzalo in “The Tempest.” Throughout his acting career, Young has been involved in creating remarkable and innovative theater. We visited over lunch at the Standing Stone Brewing Company in Ashland.

EH: When did you first become interested in acting?

BY: When I was in grade school, I was walking by a community theater, the stage doors were open. They were rehearsing and painting outside. I wandered in with big eyes, and said, “Can I help?” It was such a great little community theater, they were very inclusive. Continue reading Bruce Young →

Interview

Ana Kuzmanic

June 28, 2015 Evalyn Hansen Leave a comment

Ana Kuzmanic, costume designer for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s production of “The Count of Monte Cristo,” is originally from Croatia. She received a master’s degree in costume and scenery design from Northwestern University, where she now teaches. We met at Mix on the Plaza in Ashland.

EH: How did you find yourself in costume design?

AK: I was first fascinated by the representation of the human body in art. If you look at the voluptuous ideal of beauty from 100 years ago, the ideal of beauty today is opposite. Continue reading Ana Kuzmanic →