Live Sketch Artists for School Girls
We invited local comic artists to bring their sketchbooks to a performance of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play and draw whatever inspired them about the experience. Here are the results!
Barry Deutsch
Barry is an award-winning children's graphic novelist and political cartoonist - and a huge nerd for musical theater. He lives in Portland, Oregon, in a bright blue house with pink trim and many housemates. Check out his cartoons at leftycartoons.com.
Becky Hawkins
Becky makes comics about life in Portland with her tiny cartoon sidekick, Shoulder Angel. Her ongoing projects are a watercolor comic diary on postcard paper and the 1940s lesbian superhero noir history webcomic SuperButch, co-created with cartoonist Barry Deutsch.
Ron Randall
Ron's work has appeared in all the major comics publishers in the United States, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Image, Dark Horse and IDW on properties as varied as FutureQuest, Spider-man, Supergirl, Predator and Star Wars. His own science fiction series Trekker is his signature project. Funded through a series of successful Kickstarters, it tells the on-going adventures of 23rd century bounty hunter Mercy St. Clair. ronrandall.com
Naomi Rubin
Naomi makes comics and illustrations in Portland, OR. She’s currently creating Moonsprout Station, a queer fantasy comic about identity and relationships in a sweeping, natural setting. She’s also an artist for Ododon Games' forthcoming feminist video game “Rise of the Eagle Princess.” For the past four years, she’s been doing panels and talks about transgender representation in comics and media. Before all of that, she translated and designed books for Manga University, like the Kanji de Manga language learning series and the ALA Top 10 The Manga Cookbook.
Tim Timmerman
Tim has been a practicing artist for over 30 years and has exhibited widely in galleries in the northwest and nationally including the Portland airport. He is a professor of art at George Fox University in Newberg, leads men’s experiential weekends, and creates a humorous podcast called “Roberta’s Pearls.” Tim is a Scottie owner, sojourner, curator, writer, goodness seeker, storyteller, collector, truth hound and a loyal uncle, brother and friend. You can find his work at timtimmerman.com or on Instagram as @timtimmermanartist.
Lindsey Walker Zapata
Lindsey started drawing by making cards and pictures as a child and she continues to this day. She received a BA in Studio arts at George Fox University and she creates, sells, and teaches art in the Portland area. In her spare time, she loves to hike and paint across the US. For examples of these adventures follow her on Instagram at @walklindsey.
More about School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play:
Jocelyn Bioh: An Interview with the Playwright
"As a young girl, there was so much I didn’t understand about what was being imposed on me about beauty ideals." The playwright of School Girls lends some insight into her brilliantly funny and poignantly revealing new play.
Invisible No Longer: A Discussion of Beauty and Blackness
We asked members of the cast and the director if they would share some thoughts and experiences with colorism in their own lives. Here are a selection of their responses.
Meet the Playwright of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
Explore the play through the perspective of playwright Jocelyn Bioh.
Popular Ghanaian Drinks Make Their Way into Armory Cocktails
Read about the Ghanaian influences on our specialty cocktails for School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play. Plus, we include a recipe so you can try making one at home!
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play Plot Synopsis
Spoilers ahead! Here's the plot summary for School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.
School Girls Cast & Creative Team
Meet the cast and creative team for School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.
Reviews of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
“Brisk and funny ... too precious an opportunity to miss.” - The Portland Observer
Current & Upcoming
Improvisation Classes for Beginners
Whether you're looking to get more confident in social situations, think quicker on your feet, or get in touch with your imaginative side, these "one-off" improv classes will set you on the path to success!
Adult Class : TWELFTH NIGHT, Before & After
Join veteran actor Joe Costa for a unique opportunity to take a “deep dive” into both Shakespeare’s text of Twelfth Night, and the PCS Production. Participants will read the play out loud as a group, with “intermissions” provided for lively discussion of themes and content. Interested participants will have a chance to act in selected scenes, guided by the instructor.
Improv Comedy: Love, Shakespeare
Witness the Magic of unscripted Elizabethan comedy! Step into the offbeat world of Love, Shakespeare, where seasoned Portland comedians attempt something audacious: performing a fully improvised Elizabethan play based on your suggestions!
Albina Music Trust presents A Brown Branch Christmas
Celebrate this holiday season with A Brown Branch Christmas at Portland Center Stage. Now in its fourth season, this two-night big band celebration features directors Domo Branch and Charlie Brown III guiding a heavy 15-piece lineup of regional and national musicians.
BIPOC Affinity Night DJ Party with ALoSo
Join us for a double feature BIPOC Affinity Night, featuring a live DJ set by ALoSo, plus holiday craft market vendor tables, art exhibits by Albina Music Trust Wall to Wall Sound and Jason Hill's Favorite Things, with complimentary select drinks provided by Multnomah Whiskey Library and Deschutes Brewery while supplies last.
Winter Teen Academy: Scene Work
Calling all teens! Are you looking to expand your acting skills and be the best scene partner you can be for your fellow actors? In this class, we will dig deep into scene study, character motivation, and active listening, while learning the necessary questions to ask in every rehearsal situation. You'll develop fuller characters and deeper relationships on stage by partnering in scene work — and have lots of fun too!
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
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