STARTING JANUARY 8 AT PORTLAND CENTER STAGE
December 18, 2012 – PORTLAND, ORE. America’s original foodie takes center stage at last! Portland Center Stage’s production of I Love to Eat, by James Still,begins preview performances on Tuesday, January 8, opens on Friday, January 11 and runsTuesday through Sundaythrough February 3, 2013. Tickets start at $39, with discounts available for students and those under 25. Rush tickets are $20.
Before Julia Child, before today’s proliferation of cooking shows and networks, there was James Beard, the first TV chef. He brought fine cooking to the small screen in 1946 and helped establish an American cuisine. But, as is often the case with pioneers, his early efforts on screen have been lost. He went on to become America’s first “foodie,” and the award bearing his name is still the prize most coveted by chefs. Playwright James Still invites you to meet the man described as “the face and belly of American gastronomy” in this play that recreates an evening at Beard’s New York home. “This play is really a love story, the story of a man whose joy in life became sharing food in the way it most connects us and brings us together, and teaches us how to respect it as both a pleasure and an art form,” says Director Jessica Kubzansky of the iconic Beard.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays and select Saturdays, and matinees at noon on Thursdays. See the show calendar at www.pcs.org/eat for the complete performance schedule. Tickets can be purchased online at www.pcs.org, by phone at 503.445.3700 or by visiting the box office located at 128 NW Eleventh Avenue.
The role of James Beard will be played by Rob Nagle. A veteran actor of film, television and stage, Mr. Nagle is a proud member of both Antaeus Company and the Troubadour Theater Company in Los Angeles. He has appeared in leading regional theaters throughout the US, including Denver Center Theatre Company, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory and the Old Globe Theatre. Among his numerous film credits are New Year’s Eve, Life as We Know It and The Soloist. Television appearances include Touch, Castle and Mad Men, as well as numerous others. Mr. Nagle resides in Los Angeles with his wife and pug, Roosevelt.
This Portland Center Stage production is directed by Jessica Kubzansky. Beard’s cozy home kitchen is brought to the stage by Scenic Designer Tom Buderwitz and Lighting Designer Daniel Meeker. Costumes are designed by Jeff Cone. Sound Designer John Zalewski and Stage Manager Jeremy Eisen round out the creative team.
Additional support for this production is provided by Argyle Winery, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon, Drs. Ann Smith Sehdev & Paul Sehdev and Jan & John Swanson. Portland Center Stage’s 2012/2013 season is funded in part by Umpqua Bank, our lead corporate champion; the Regional Arts & Culture Council and Work for Art; the Oregon Arts Commission; the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation; The Oregonian, and Tim & Mary Boyle. The Mark Spencer Hotel is the official hotel partner for Portland Center Stage.
Portland Center Stage inspires our community by bringing stories to life in unexpected ways. Established in 1988 as a branch of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, PCS became an independent theater in 1994 and has been under the leadership of Artistic Director Chris Coleman since May 2000. The company presents a blend of classic, contemporary and original productions in a conscious effort to appeal to the eclectic palate of theatergoers in Portland. PCS also offers a variety of education and outreach programs for curious minds from six to 106, including discussions, classes, workshops and partnerships with organizations throughout the Portland metro area.
THE GERDING THEATER AT THE ARMORY houses a 599-seat Main Stage and the 200-seat black box Ellyn Bye Studio. It was the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, and the first performing arts venue, to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification. The Gerding Theater at the Armory opened to the public on October 1, 2006. The capital campaign to fund the renovation of this hub for community artistic activity continues.