Jefferson Center hosts event Sunday afternoon at the Historic Ashland Armory
The Jefferson Center will host a discussion of the state of theater and current issues facing the performing arts in the Rogue Valley and beyond on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 20.
Leading the discussion will be Jessica Sage, producing artistic director of the Rogue Theater Company.
The internet and other technologies have exerted a profound effect on performing arts in the last couple of decades. More recently, the pandemic has hit live performance hard. As live theater emerges from a difficult two years, new uncertainties and opportunities have arisen. This event will address how local artistic endeavors can thrive in the internet age.
How will the situation of the arts in the Rogue Valley evolve in the coming years? What kinds of audiences does live theater seek these days, and what do audiences seek from theater? How dependent is theater on local audiences and patrons in a relatively small area like the Rogue Valley, as opposed drawing in others from outside the area? What role should local governments, educational institutions, and businesses play in supporting performing arts?
Long active in theater here and elsewhere, Sage debuted her play “Fragments” at Rogue Theater Company. She has acted on stage throughout the U.S. and Europe. She was last seen performing as Mama in RTC’s production of “‘night, Mother.” Before that, she played Emma in “Annapurna” opposite Peter Alzado in Oregon Stage Works’ production, where she served as co-producing artistic director. She has taught acting, written plays, and produced stage works for nearly three decades, directing 35 theatrical productions, including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Ashland High School.
Sage was awarded the “Extraordinary Theatre Artist” and “Ovation Award” from the California Educational Theatre Association, as well as a special Gubernatorial Commendation for her work with California Youth in Theatre.
This event is free and open to the public. It is set to run from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Jefferson Center’s space, suite 101, in the Old Armory Building, 208 Oak St., in Ashland.
This event is part of the Salon Series at The Jefferson Center, a Rogue Valley nonprofit focused on critical thinking using secular humanist values to understand and engage with issues important to our community. Go to thejeffcenter.org for more details on this and other events.
Source: Jefferson Center news release.Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at [email protected] or call or text him at 541-631-1313.
