Portland Center Stage Jan/Feb 2015 | Page 57

TAG. YOU’RE IT. And in our version of the timeless chasing game, this is great news. We start by complimenting a member of the Portland performing arts community who, in turn, must write kind things about another community member. On and on it shall go throughout the 2014-15 performance season, to ensure that plenty of positivity is generated. And there’s only one rule: if you’ve been tagged, we can't tell you who’s responsible. You’ll find out for the first time right here in print. A.L. ADAMS SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF SHAKING THE TREE THEATRE In tiny theaters like Shaking the Tree and the Shoebox, you can see every tic, flick, gesture and glance; there’s no room for false moves. Samantha Van Der Merwe’s productions lock in every microscopic detail of performance, even when the characters represent much broader ideas. She’s a versatile and inventive problemsolver and a master of the spectrum of human emotion. SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWE NIKKI WEAVER EDUCTATION DIRECTOR OF PORTLAND PLAYHOUSE I admire Nikki Weaver because she’s finding a way to mother her two beautiful daughters, make her art and teach. This is so inspirational to me because it remains a huge conundrum for many women. I’m sure it’s not easy to balance these huge elements in her life, and I remember, as a young mother, feeling like I had to keep things separate and wait until each part could give way to the next. I’m sure that there are many ways to go about it, but she’s a shining example of how to live an artful, well-rounded life. EMBRACE THE MEDICINE OF ART NIKKI WEAVER LIAM KAAS-LENTZ PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER AT PORTLAND CENTER STAGE Liam is the person everyone wants to work with, which is why Portland Center Stage is stealing him from us. He’s the most diligent human being in his work life, the easiest person to talk to, and an incredible listener. He makes every theatrical experience a joy. He knows how to hold a room and give his heart. You haven’t worked in Portland until you’ve worked with him. If you’ve met Liam, you’ll most certainly remember him. LIAM KAAS-LENTZ DEMETRI PAVLATOS FREELANCE THEATRE GENIUS For as long as I’ve been in Portland, certain theatre companies have only survived because of the top-notch work Demetri does. He’s a master of all tangible theatrical needs and fully commits to the quality realization of these needs no matter how full his plate is. The work Demetri produces is at a caliber above the compensation he receives, and that work brings the shows he touches to a place that they simply could not reach without him. As a leader and an educator, he’s also actively producing the next generation of technicians through his commitment to teaching and mentoring young, passionate students. Without hyperbole, Portland theatre would be years behind itself without Demetri’s presence. . YASODHA GOPAL MD Curator & Gallery Owner 1204 NW Glisan Street Portland, OR 97209 503.329.2523 • GOPALGALLERY.ORG Inside and Upstairs in Thea’s Vintage Living ARTSLANDIA AT THE PERFORMANCE JANUARY | FEBRUARY 33