Hail to Thee, My Oregon!

Former Register-Guard columnist Bob Welch spins his popular Oregon stories for a live audience, Nov. 5-6.

“I had a great ride for 24 years and I wanted to find a way to say thank you,” Welch says.

Enter live theater.

“It’s a celebration of our state in stories, songs, images and, of course, s’mores,” Welch says.

An Oregon native, Welch is clearly smitten.

“I love that you can start at sea level, and end the day at the summit of the Sisters,” Welch says. “Oregonians have a passion for the state’s natural beauty. We have that in common. This is our home.”

Welch’s career encouraged him to explore Oregon’s scenic vistas. And retirement has persuaded him to share those stories in a new setting.

“I like to try new things,” Welch says. “And to ask myself, ‘Could I do this?’ Thanks to amazing support staff, people like Judy, we did it.”

Welch’s director, Judy Wenger, is a 30-year teaching veteran, who’s directed countless productions for kids.

“I’d have to say that the big difference in normal directing, and working with Bob, is that it’s his material. He’s the expert,” Wenger says. “In trusting me, he listens to what I have to say — And if he questions what I have to say, I taught middle school. I’m used to questions.”

So what can audiences expect?

“This is no travelogue,” Welch says. “It’s a romp across the state, east to west, that we hope will have people laughing, reflecting and falling in love all over again with this beautiful place.”

Cellist-guitarist Dale Bradley, violinist-violist Lisa McWhorter and pianist-cellist Peter Norland, along with comedic poet David Perham, join Welch onstage.

The show features photography by Stan Newman, Jason Friesen, Laren and JerriLynn Woolley, Jorma Meriaho and Eric Valentine, as well as a video piece by Ryan Welch.

And, as if it couldn’t get any cozier, quilts by Jennifer Rabner, Sally Welch and the Something to Crow About quilt shop will decorate the stage.

Last year’s inaugural production played to a sold-out house. This year, they’ve added a performance.

And yes, there will be free s’mores at intermission.

Catch “Bob Welch & Friends” 7:30 pm Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5-6, at the Hult Center; $27-$35; group discounts (10 or more tickets) are available for $29.75 and $23, respectively. Tickets for college age and below are $15. Tickets are available at hultcenter.org, by phone at 682-5000 or at the Hult Center box office.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!