We've got issues.
It’s a timeless literary trope, from Ecclesiastes to Groundhog Day: A cynical man, mired in despair and the funk of worldly resentments, is confronted with the error of his ways to such an extent that he undergoes an immediate and permanent transformation, emerging from darkness into light. Such victories of the spirit are the epitome of happily ever after, and we never tire of their telling. Continue reading
Carly Aquilino has been doing standup for less than three years and she’s already got a hit show — millennial favorite Girl Code, a comedy series where women in entertainment “weigh in on the sisterhood that all girls share” — and a cult following: In a recent episode, a fan gets Aquilino’s face tattooed on her thigh (another fan shaved her face into his back…). EW caught up with Aquilino over the phone from her New York apartment. She brings her act to Eugene for the first time Dec. 6 at McDonald Theatre. Continue reading
This holiday season, stages beckon with dance offerings for the young and young at heart. Ballet Fantastique rolls out its new holiday tradition, An American Christmas Carol, choreographed by Donna Marisa Bontrager and Hannah Bontrager. This jazzy retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale sets the ghostly story in post-WW II America and features live music by jazz singer Halie Loren. Performances run Dec. 12-14 at the Hult Center; $17-$49. Folks on the coast can catch the show Friday, Dec.19, at the Florence Events Center; $16-$24. Continue reading
There’s something fuzzy and bittersweet about that old populist daydream of an adorable orphan so possessed by optimism that her mere presence can sand down the rough edges of a capitalist tycoon and compel an embattled president to launch the New Deal. If that’s not a political fairy tale for a bygone era, I don’t know what is. Continue reading
There are plenty of traditional holiday sounds available this month, but happily, Eugene music organizations are also providing worthwhile alternatives when the wassail grows stale. The seasonal fare starts with the ever-popular University of Oregon holiday choral and gospel concerts Dec. 6-7 at Beall Concert Hall, featuring youthfully exuberant energy and traditional faves. Continue reading
Wanna catch a show? Holiday theater abounds in our suddenly festive town. This year local theaters are offering fun, family-friendly shows that aren’t necessarily Christmas-focused. Your options are as follows: She Loves Me Cottage Theatre is producing this sweet musical. She Loves Me is taken from the same story as the 1993 classic, Sleepless in Seattle. Fun music and dancing accompany the tale of corresponding sweethearts. The Cottage Theatre builds on a string of strong musicals, making this play a good bet. Dec. 5-21. Continue reading
What combines dancing penguins, tightrope-walking snowmen, gravity-defying aerial feats, illusion, acrobatics and some good old-fashioned song and dance? The answer is Cirque Dreams: Holidaze, featuring 20 such dizzying acts and lighting up the Hult Center stage Nov. 22 and 23. Continue reading
Friday, Nov. 21 Fern Ridge & Veneta Annual Holiday Bazaar, food and crafts by local artisans, 10am-7pm today and 10am-4pm Nov. 22, 541-935-8443. Maude Kerns presents “Art for All Seasons” exhibit, Nov. 21 – Dec. 19, Opening Reception Nov. 21, 6-8pm, Maude Kerns Art Center, 1910 E. 15th Ave., 345-1571. FREE. Annie, 7:30pm, Nov. 21, 22, 28, 29 & Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20; 2pm brunch matinees, Nov. 30 & Dec. 7, Actors Cabaret of Eugene, 996 Willamette St., 683-4368. $16-$42.95. Saturday, Nov. 22 Continue reading
The Eugene Ballet Company has steadfastly delivered heartwarming performances of The Nutcracker in every one of its 35 seasons. Usually things go off without a hitch, though over the years there have been a few mishaps. “This is live performance,” says Toni Pimble, artistic director for EBC. “And the unexpected is always upon us.” Continue reading
Words by Bryan Kalbrosky • Photos by Todd Cooper It was a spectacle of epic proportions at the Valley River Center and Matthew Knight Arena on Saturday, Nov. 15, and the center of attention was comedian and actor Kevin Hart. Continue reading