Photos: Oregon Welcomes Shakespeare Festival’s Newly Appointed Artistic Director

On Wednesday, June 12, Meyer Memorial Trust hosted a reception at the Froelick Gallery to welcome newly appointed artistic director Nataki Garret.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced that Nataki Garrett would become its sixth artistic director on March 19, 2019.

Prior to joining the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Garrett served as acting artistic director for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, Garrett also served as the former associate dean and the co-head of the undergraduate acting program at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) School of Theater.

In August 2019, Garret will succeed Bill Rauch, who has helmed the festival for 12 years. Rauch will be assuming artistic leadership of The Ronald O. Perelman Center for Performing Arts at the World Trade Center in New York City.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2019 season opened March 8 and runs through Oct. 27.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival 2019 Reception

Vanetta Abdel Shatif; Karol Collymore, Portfolio Director, Social & Community Impact at Nike; and Kendall Clawson, Executive Director at GRANTMAKERS of Oregon and Southwest Washington. (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Dana Walton-Macaulay, Dean of Student Life - Student Affairs PSU, Charles Froelick, Co-Founder Froelick Gallery; and Lulani Arquette, President/CEO Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Bobbie Dore Foster, The Skanner News Executive Editor; Nataki Garrett, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director; Michelle J. DePass, Meyer Memorial Trust President & CEO; and Sade Gaines, KATU Marketing Associate. (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Shari Dunn, Kay Toran, Nkenge Harmon Johnson, Kali Thorne Ladd, and Raahi Reddy. (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Rukaiyah Adams, Meyer Memorial Trust Chief Investment Officer; and Kay Toran, Volunteers of America President/CEO. (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Rukaiyah Adams, Meyer Memorial Trust Chief Investment Officer; and Mariann Hyland, Oregon Community Foundation VP of People & Culture. (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Traci Rossi, Executive Director at The Center for Women's Leadership; and Dr. Shirley A. Jackson, professor and chair of Black Studies at Portland State University. (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Nkenge Harmon Johnson, president & CEO of Urban League of Portland; Nataki Garrett, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director; and Raahi Reddy, Program Manager Metro Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program. (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Willie Little, Portland-based multi-media installation artist and storyteller speaks with Mariann Hyland, Oregon Community Foundation VP of People & Culture. (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Molly Craft Johnson, Special Assistant and Board Liaison Meyer Memorial Trust (MMT); Carol Cheney, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Manager MMT; Kimberly A.C. Wilson, Director of Communications, MMT; and Faiz Jama (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Nataki Garrett, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director laughs with guests (photo by Jerry Foster)
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Vanetta Abdel Shatif; Karol Collymore, Portfolio Director, Social & Community Impact at Nike; and Kendall Clawson, Executive Director at GRANTMAKERS of Oregon and Southwest Washington. (photo by Jerry Foster)

Dana Walton-Macaulay, Dean of Student Life - Student Affairs PSU, Charles Froelick, Co-Founder Froelick Gallery; and Lulani Arquette, President/CEO Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. (photo by Jerry Foster)

Bobbie Dore Foster, The Skanner News Executive Editor; Nataki Garrett, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director; Michelle J. DePass, Meyer Memorial Trust President & CEO; and Sade Gaines, KATU Marketing Associate. (photo by Jerry Foster)

Shari Dunn, Kay Toran, Nkenge Harmon Johnson, Kali Thorne Ladd, and Raahi Reddy. (photo by Jerry Foster)

Rukaiyah Adams, Meyer Memorial Trust Chief Investment Officer; and Kay Toran, Volunteers of America President/CEO. (photo by Jerry Foster)

Rukaiyah Adams, Meyer Memorial Trust Chief Investment Officer; and Mariann Hyland, Oregon Community Foundation VP of People & Culture. (photo by Jerry Foster)

Traci Rossi, Executive Director at The Center for Women's Leadership; and Dr. Shirley A. Jackson, professor and chair of Black Studies at Portland State University. (photo by Jerry Foster)

Nkenge Harmon Johnson, president & CEO of Urban League of Portland; Nataki Garrett, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director; and Raahi Reddy, Program Manager Metro Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program. (photo by Jerry Foster)

Willie Little, Portland-based multi-media installation artist and storyteller speaks with Mariann Hyland, Oregon Community Foundation VP of People & Culture. (photo by Jerry Foster)

Molly Craft Johnson, Special Assistant and Board Liaison Meyer Memorial Trust (MMT); Carol Cheney, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Manager MMT; Kimberly A.C. Wilson, Director of Communications, MMT; and Faiz Jama (photo by Jerry Foster)

Nataki Garrett, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director laughs with guests (photo by Jerry Foster)