Portland Dialogue on Race Built Around Mamet Play

Artists Repertory Theater presents the David Mamet play "Race," about the upheaval in a law firm when the three partners – two black and one white – consider taking the case of a white man accused of perpetrating a crime against a black woman.

"'Race,' by David Mamet, is a play that begs for community discussion beyond the confines of the production," the company says. And Artists' Rep is doing just that, with an array of events wrapped around the show designed to further the dialogue about race in our own city.

The events are free and open to the public.

 

The play itself stars Todd van Voris, Reginald Andre Jackson, Jim Iorio and Ayanna Berkshire (above). It runs through April 8.

 

Also scheduled are:

Forum: Race, Society, and the Law

Sunday, March 25, 6pm in the Alder Lobby

In partnership with the August Wilson Red Door Project

Free and open to the public

Racial injustice is one of America's greatest disgraces. Acknowledging one's own bigotry, and the institutionalized bigotry of our society, is uncomfortable, at best.  On Sunday, March 25 at 6pm, join Artists Rep in discussing how racial issues affect our society and the Portland community. The panel will be moderated by August Wilson Red Door Project co-founder Lesli Mones and include the Honorable Donald Letourneau, Lewis & Clark Law School professor John Parry, ACLU of Oregon board member Fred Neal, Executive Director of the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation Sharon Gary-Smith, and The Skanner news editor Lisa Loving. We hope that, together, we can shine a light on the anger, guilt, and shame of discrimination that lies beyond polite social convention.

 

Deconstructing RACE: A Discussion with Walidah Imarisha

Monday, March 26, 7pm in the Morrison Theatre

In partnership with the August Wilson Red Door Project

Free and open to the public

The August Wilson Red Door Project is proud to host an evening with writer/artist/lecturer Walidah Imarisha. We will explore the historical and current political landscapes that help shape the themes of the show. Imarisha taught in Portland State University's Black studies department, where she created classes about the history of the Black Panther Party, race and the history of prisons, Hurricane Katrina, and hip hop as literature. She has facilitated writing workshops for schools, community centers, youth detention facilities, and women's prisons. Imarisha was a founding editor of AWOL, a national political hip hop magazine and toured as part of the poetry duo Good Sista/Bad Sista. She has been featured on several hip hop CDs and filmed and codirected Finding Common Ground in New Orleans, a documentary about Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.

 

For more information about these events contact Education Outreach Coordinator Torrie McDonald at tmcdonald@artistsrep.org or by calling 503-241-9807 ext 103

 

Online Talkback: Red Door Project hosts a blog for  discussion about Race

The August Wilson Red Door Project is a community programming partner for "Race." This organization's mission is to be a social change agent, using the arts as a catalyst for creating a lasting, positive change in the racial ecology of Portland by partnering with arts organizations and venues around Portland to promote high-quality art, theatre, and musical events that showcase the works of people of color. Another key commitment is to offer professionally facilitated community conversations to provide Portlanders with opportunities for transformational dialogue about issues of race. The Red Door Project also offers a blog for online discussions about plays and arts events that involve the topics of color and race in Portland. Find the "Race" talkback page at www.reddoorproject.org.

 

Group Art Installation in the Morrison Lobby for "Race"

As part of an ongoing effort to bring play-driven visual art work to the Morrison Lobby, a special installation for Race was curated by Open Door Gallery's Bobby Fouther. This group show features the works of over a dozen local African American artists, with more than 30 pieces, on the theme of race.

 

For more information go to www.artistsrep.org.