RiverStars Performing Arts presents \u201cRED GOLD\u201d an original dance\/theatre work about Illinois Valley Food Farm Heritage set in a post apocalyptic world on <\/i>April 13th and 14th at 7:00 PM at the Lorna Byrne Cafe\/Theatre in Cave Junction, Oregon<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Post apocalyptic entertainment is all the rage these days. \u00a0Generally, the mass media popularizes a world that normalizes torture and violence. \u00a0RiverStars Performing Art\u2019s \u201cRed Gold\u201d affords a different vision, one where people take back some control over their food supply and work together to take care of their own basic sustenance. \u00a0Told through dance and theatre, this magical tale follows the Vincent family\u2019s quest to grow a garden in a world that has been devastated and overcome with concrete and pollution. We follow Levante, our play\u2019s protagonist, on a wild journey where she meets colorful characters like Fast Frank, Queen Eisenia, HydroHarry, and Mad Chad. \u00a0She dances with Dill, Lemon Thyme, and Savory, and goes on a poop gathering mission to build soil. Gardeners, children, teens and elders will love this whimsical, funny romp into the future that turns doomsday into a second chance.<\/p>\n
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Seniors, Taylor Hammers and Elijah Ocean, (Queen Eisenia and Fast Frank respectively,) are the first graduates of RiverStars, having studied in the program for four years in the advanced group, ArtStars. \u00a0Both will delight audiences in their final student performances. These two performers have been adored and revered by Valley theatre goers for their vibrant performances in past productions. (Taylor as Tom and Jerry\u2019s Cat in SuperReal<\/i> and Cavetown Underground\u2019s<\/i> narrator, and Elijah as dog in the Heart of Winter<\/i> and Generic Attractive Superhero in SuperReal<\/i>.) \u00a0Taylor, whose mother died of cancer last year, is graduating 6th in her class from Illinois Valley High School and is off to Pacific University in the Fall. Elijah will begin training to become a theatre arts educator for RiverStars. \u00a0Both of their stories reflect the cathartic power of Illinois Valley\u2019s Performing Arts program, RiverStars Performing Arts.<\/p>\n
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RiverStars Performing Arts offers free weekly dance and theatre classes, as well as creation and performance opportunities to all Illinois Valley youth, public, private or homeschooled. \u00a0The theatre program uses Viewpoint Theory and the irreverent Commedia Dell\u2019Arte style as techniques for quality acting, and Eveoke technique for dance. The program was seed funded by the Oregon Community Foundation\u2019s Studio to School Program and has received subsequent funding from Oregon Humanities, Collins Foundation and the State of Oregon.<\/p>\n
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RiverStars was founded by dancefarm\u2019s articultural director Gina Angelique and producer Christopher Hall, former producer and Artistic Director of Eveoke Dance Theatre. \u00a0Eveoke taught more than 6,000 youth in San Diego from 1993-2013 and performed original dance theatre to critical and audience acclaim. The couple wanted to contribute to an arts soil for the valley that would eventually yield a well nurtured and vibrant Illinois Valley theatre scene. \u00a0This work was in alignment with their mission to cultivate community and pursue sustainability for arts and agriculture. Dancefarm partnered with Three Rivers School District and Illinois Valley Community Development Organization with an eye toward sustainability of the program.<\/p>\n
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Having a prestigious and respected organization like the IVCDO serve as the umbrella for RiverStars is a reciprocal and positive relationship that helps ensure sustainability for the program. \u00a0The Illinois Valley Community Development Organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to improve the economic and social conditions in rural southwest Oregon through cooperative programs and partnerships. Executive Director, Kenny Houck comments, \u201cIVCanDO is proud to support the powerful community partnership that brings performing artists directly into our local schools, empowers constructive youthful expression, and helps build the tradition of arts in the Illinois Valley.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Scott Polen of Lorna Byrne Middle School has been the \u201cprincipal behind the program\u201d for Three Rivers School District. \u00a0He is forging a new paradigm for community arts organizations and their capacity to partner with schools as an innovative way of ensuring high quality performance education for his students. \u00a0Concerned that so much arts funding had been cut, and after school programs heavily favored sports, Polen worked with Gina Angelique and Lindsey Gillette to create a functional and reciprocal relationship that benefits his school and the greater community. \u00a0The School provides significant matching in kind support vis a vis bus transportation home, dinner for after school participants and rehearsal space. This kind of proactive effort to support and enable quality arts programming has made Lorna Byrne a leader for arts education. \u00a0Our local public school is buoyed by the program. Participant, Maya Houck says, \u201cRiverStars days are the best days at school!\u201d<\/p>\n
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Gina Angelique serves as RiverStar\u2019s Lead Educator, articulating curriculum, artistic vision, and education quality. \u00a0Lindsey Gillette is the program\u2019s Project Lead, serving as liaison to partnering foundations and community organizations while teaching as the arts educator for theatre. \u00a0The two work together to realize the vision of a comprehensive and high quality theatre and dance program where students contribute greatly to performance content. Both share the effort to constantly connect the program to improvement in the valley\u2019s social justice issues. \u00a0The leadership team includes Kari Kvittem as dance educator and Samantha Watson as administrator. Alisa Ocean is Costume Designer, Elijah Ocean is sound designer. Angelique says, \u201cThis show is a true triumph regarding our quest to align our theatre work with the agricultural history of our region. \u00a0It has provided our young performers with outstanding opportunities to realize vibrant, whimsical characters that delight audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
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