Southern Oregon artists and educators are developing new theater productions while Rogue Community College expands its training in digital media and entertainment production.
This month's JX Arts brought together Ashland playwright John Yunker, director Ness Hopkins and Rogue Community College educator Steven Swift to talk about their latest projects.
An Ashland play inspired by an endangered bee
Yunker's new environmental comedy, "Species of Least Concern," draws on a distinctly Southern Oregon subject: Franklin's bumble bee, an endangered species historically found only in Southern Oregon and Northern California.
The play centers on an entomologist who believes he has spotted the rare bee near a mountain biking trail. The discovery fuels conflicts among mountain bikers, hikers and environmentalists while the story explores grief and loss.
"The play is set here in Ashland, actually, and inspired by real and imagined events here in our area," Yunker said.
The play recently received a staged reading at Capital Stage in Sacramento. Yunker said he hopes to organize a reading in Ashland next, possibly using Southern Oregon University students in some of the roles.
Bringing Kidz in Space to Ashland
Director and producer Ness Hopkins is preparing to bring "Kidz in Space" to the Historic Ashland Armory Aug. 28-30.
The 1980s-inspired musical features nine performers, including five Southern Oregon University students, and draws on the sounds and aesthetics of glam rock and science fiction.
One of the production's biggest challenges has been building a rocket ship large enough to hold several performers while still working as a stage prop.
"It had to be light enough and yet look strong enough and be big enough to fit six — kids, or adults, rather — in it," Hopkins said.
Hopkins said the production will also use video, lighting and performers moving through the audience to transform the Armory, which isn't a traditional theater space.
Hopkins hopes the Ashland production will eventually become a touring show, with Portland and Eugene among the possible next stops.
RCC expands entertainment production training
At Rogue Community College, Steven Swift is helping expand programs in digital media and entertainment production.
"We're introducing a new degree this year that's called entertainment production," Swift said.
RCC's Board of Education approved the new Associate of Applied Science Design and Digital Media: Entertainment Production option in January. The program is intended to train students for work in areas including film, audio and digital media production.
Swift said one of the first classes offered this fall will be an introduction to podcasting, teaching students how to record and produce audio.
The college is also adding technology for more advanced production work, including an LED wall for virtual filmmaking and an immersive Dolby Atmos audio teaching space.
Swift said the LED wall is about 21 feet wide and 15 feet tall and can pair with motion-tracking technology so backgrounds shift with the movement of a camera.
The additions are part of RCC's effort to give students hands-on experience with the technology increasingly used in film, video, audio and other digital media production.
Guests
- Dave Jackson, JPR music director, host of Open Air
- Ness Hopkins, director, Kidz in Space, founder, The Human Stage
- John Yunker, playwright, Species of Least Concern
- Steven Swift, digital innovator, Rogue Community College
