Blogtown, PDX

Monday, June 9, 2008

Artsy Live from the Drammys

Posted by Alison Hallett on Mon, Jun 9 at 6:44 PM

Live blogging from the Drammys, Portland’s own local theater awards.

Nothing has happened yet, so skip this post if all you’re looking for are winners—I’ll have those up as they’re announced.

We’re at the Crystal Ballroom—I’m sitting in the corner grudgingly drinking a pink McBeer, while all around folks are mingling and schmoozing and waiting for the ceremony itself to get started. It’s a far younger and livelier crowd than the audiences at most of the actual plays I’ve seen recently—unsurprisingly, the theater community saw an opportunity to play dressup and seized the shit out of it. I see heels, bare shoulders, elaborate updoes. A man in a skirt just walked by. (Or was that a ultilkilt?) Everyone looks very pretty, except for me, who just spilled beer on myself. Luckily my beer and my shirt are the same color.

Everyone looks familiar, for obvious reasons—there’s Tyler Cafall, who was one of the only parts of Artist’s Rep’s The History Boys that I didn’t find viscerally offensive. His date just spilled a drink; he cleaned it up. Ahh, chivalry. (At what point does liveblogging become creepyblogging?) There’s Darius Pierce, who I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see get a nod tonight for his excellent turn in Portland Center Stage’s The Beard of Avon; there’s Val Landrum, who certainly earned herself a supporting actress nomination with her turn as Stella in Artist Rep’s Streetcar. Michael O’Connell, maybe a little something-something for his role in Shining City?

I’m not one to make predictions, but on my wish list: I’d like to see Imago’s The Dinner get a shout out, and I’m hard pressed to think of a better female performance than that Andrea Frankle, who played Blanche in Streetcar. Sojourn’s Throwing Bones deserves a little love.

O theater critic Richard Wattenberg (a former professor of mine, which he may or may not remember) just dropped by and said that “Live from the Drammys” is a sexy name for a blog post. I know, right?

Everyone is schmoozing and mingling. How nice. More later when the ceremony itself commences.

Permalink

Installations: The Mercury's 4th Annual Fashion Show

Our Friends

Our Enemies

Portland Mercury

Columns

Letters
- In which we let the readers make snarky commentary.
My, What A Busy Week!
- A week's worth of summer.
New Column!
- C'mon down to Mentally Incompetent Three-Fingered Larry's Fireworks!
One Day at a Time
- Welcome to Celebrity Bloodbath Week™. Please fasten your seatbelt.
- by Ann Romano
I Love Television
- America: Why I Love Her (More!)
- by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey
Savage Love
- Three's Company
- by Dan Savage
I, Anonymous
- Just playing.
- by Anonymous
Sold Out
- Two stores on NW 23rd, two ways to think about shopping.
- by Marjorie Skinner

Visual Art

RACC's Grant Process

An explanation of the RACC's grant process
- by Matt Stangel
- Jul 2, 2009
Visual Art Listings »

Books

A New Superhero

David Mazzucchelli's Asterios Polyp is philosophical, funny, and quite possibly brilliant.
- by Alison Hallett
- Jul 2, 2009
Self-Definition, Pop Salvation

Self-definition and coming of age in the novel Pop Salvation.
- by Jane Carlen
- Jul 2, 2009
Book Listings »

Theater

Same Old Song and Dance

Dirty Rotten Scoundrel's genuine charm is swaddled in one too many lengthy musical numbers.
- by Alison Hallett
- Jul 2, 2009
...in the Park

Exploring your outdoor theater options.
- by Alison Hallett
- Jun 25, 2009
Theater Listings »

News

Hitting the Wrong Notes

North Williams neighbors cringe as developers ring out the old and move in the new.
- by Sarah Mirk
- Jul 2, 2009

Price of Justice

County to settle its stake in the Chasse lawsuit for a record $925,000.
- by Matt Davis
- Jul 2, 2009
Finding $15 Million

City council faces a $15 million funding hole for Major League Soccer.
- by Matt Davis
- Jul 2, 2009
Hall Monitor

Amanda Fritz proposes a controversial pay freeze for some city employees.
- by Matt Davis
- Jul 2, 2009

Music

The Flower and the Machine

Experimental Dental Schools vs. the World
- by Ezra Ace Caraeff
- Jul 2, 2009

From Dawn 'Til Dusk

Portland band At Dusk reaches its twilight.
- by Ned Lannamann
- Jul 2, 2009
Northwest Passage

Dirty Projectors' love letter to Portland.
- by Andrew R Tonry
- Jul 2, 2009
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

Growing up with Michael Jackson (who never grew up).
- by Dave Segal
- Jul 2, 2009

Find Music Listings

Film

Armed and Dangerous

Public Enemies: Johnny Depp's got a tommy gun!
- by Erik Henriksen
- Jul 2, 2009

Going with Whatever Works

Woody Allen's latest is called Whatever Works. Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
- by Ned Lannamann
- Jul 2, 2009
Extraterrestrial Homesick Blues

The Mercury talks with director Duncan Jones about his great new science-fiction film Moon.
- by Erik Henriksen
- Jul 2, 2009
Death Becomes Him

The Academy Award-winning Departures is good, but not that good.
- by Marjorie Skinner
- Jul 2, 2009

Find Movie Times & Reviews

Food and Drink

Service!

One day, 24 hours: The Mercury takes a look at the people behind your meal.
- by Patrick Alan Coleman
- Jul 2, 2009

Food News

A tasty new storytelling event and the end of an Alberta Street dining pioneer.
- by Patrick Alan Coleman
- Jun 25, 2009

Find Restaurants »

It's Happening Tonight

Fri 3 Jul 2009

in FILM

Team Amercia

Team America: World Police-the perfect film to celebrate Fourth of July. MORE…
in MUSIC

Gaytriotic

If you were born in the US of GAY, flaunt your right to party. MORE…

Happening This Week »

Event Calendar

Most Popular	I, Anonymous	Best of the Merc
Now We're Cooking... with Pot! There's really no better way to get through a holiday than flying high on baked goods by Katie Shimer Nov 13, 2008 A Beautiful Place To Drown Oregon's Most Dangerous Swimming Holes by Erin Ergenbright Jul 15, 2004 LET'S BLOW SOME SHIT UP An Explosive Guide to the Latest in Firework Technology by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey Jun 28, 2001 I, Anonymous Just playing. by Anonymous Jul 2, 2009 I, Anonymous Passive Driving by Anonymous Jun 25, 2009 I, Anonymous Highly Qualified by Anonymous Jun 18, 2009 more I, Anonymous » YES ON 9 PIN UP!! Nov 2, 2000 Famous African-Americans Who Have Signed My Rack Feb 28, 2002 From Where I Sit News from Inside the Portland Mercury Office by Sean Tejaratchi Jul 27, 2000 more Best of the Merc »

Most Emailed Stories

Now We're Cooking... with Pot!

There's really no better way to get through a holiday than flying high on baked goods
- by Katie Shimer
- Nov 13, 2008
Mad Medicine

Portland Hearing Voices celebrates mental diversity.
- by Marjorie Skinner
- Jun 25, 2009
More»

Top Commenters

Mercury Newsletter

Get the best of the Mercury each week in your inbox!

Face Painter- Hand Painted Tattoos
I am looking for face painting gigs for children's and adult events/parties.I use high quality, vegan stage make-up. Super efficient and friendly. (15+ paintings in 1 hour)