You Can’t Recall My Name, So We Just Hold Hands

Grab your tissues and head over to the Hult Center Saturday, April 12, or Sunday, April 13, for an emotional concert by the Eugene Vocal Arts and Eugene Concert Orchestra that portrays the love and sorrow that accompanies Alzheimer’s disease. Shadow and Light: An Alzheimer’s Journey is a unique musical performance that depicts Alzheimer’s from the patients’ and their loved ones’ points of view. Prior to each performance, all attendees are invited to a pre-show screening of The Story of Shadow and Light: Giving Voice to an Alzheimer’s Story, an award-winning documentary. “‘Shadow and Light: An Alzheimer’s Journey, is the most important work that we’ve done,” says choir artistic director Diane Retallack. Rettalack says she has personal experience with Alzheimer’s disease and believes this performance is the perfect way to not only introduce the condition and its effects — but also to educate those who have not encountered it through loved ones. “It’s an experience that I think everyone, regardless of what their life situation is, would find this meaningful,” Retallack says. The performance includes a one-hour video documentary, followed by the performance itself which is 70 minutes long with no intermission. “It’s very poignant, from whatever side you experience this work,” Rettalack says.

The Saturday, April 12, Shadow and Light documentary screening begins at 5:30 pm with performance following at 7 pm, and on Sunday, April 13, the screening is at 1 pm followed by the concert at 2:30 pm, both at the Hult Center’s Soreng Theater, 1 Eugene Center. Tickets range from $25 to $42 and can be purchased at HultCenter.org.

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.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

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!