About
Who Are We?
Streaming Showcase was developed in 2020 as a SUN Community Schools program in order to give students the opportunity to learn theatre arts and acting, and to perform for a live audience in a manner that complies with social distancing guidelines.
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Streaming Showcase:
Are you someone who has always wanted to be an actor? Or are you a seasoned performer who can’t get onstage these days because of social distancing? Would you like to take an online acting+improv class from local pros and perform in a live stream showcase for an audience of family, friends, and other community members? If YES, join Streaming Showcase. It is FREE for PPS students to participate!
Sessions 1-3:
For our first session in 2020, we presented a showcase of 45-second monologues called "Live 45." For our second session (2021), we presented an original musical production called "Big Ears." In Session 3 (2021), we developed and presented another original musical theatre production called "Starleta: A Space Fable."
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All shows can be found HERE.
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About the Teachers:
My name is Heather, and I'm the organizer of Streaming Showcase. I'm a parent/caregiver to three children, ages 9, 10, and 14, in PPS schools. I have an education in theatre arts (performance and costume design) and a background in theatre performance and production. My previous teaching experience includes K-2 students for Hand2Mouth Theatre with Portland Public Schools; 1st graders for SUN Community School; a musical theater summer program at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts (ages 8-12); a drama program at the Nellis AFB Community Center (ages 6-12); and three Streaming Showcase sessions (5-8th graders). As a producer, I helped bring 18 shows to the stage with Theatre Vertigo over six years, and four fully staged musicals to Arleta School (both in Portland, Oregon). I have appeared onstage locally with Theatre Vertigo, Hand2Mouth Theatre, Portland World Theater, and Sowelu Theater. I have served on the Executive Board of Arleta School PTA since 2018, and I am the small craft trainer and archery instructor for Girl Scout troop 22403. I passionately believe in the power of live performance to create connection and galvanize transformation.
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Hi. My name is Damon Kupper. I consider myself an Edu-tainer, who offers years of teaching experience and skills as a professional theatre artist. I bring to our school a history of working both regionally and internationally with diverse youth groups. I am also a proud Arleta parent who has worked on previous school theater productions. I have both a BA and MFA in Theatre, have directed and designed plays on tight budgets, and consider myself an inspired and resourceful maker as well. I believe in the empowering and transformative power of theatre to foster empathy, respect, and self-confidence.
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Hello, my name is Lalia Montagne. My darling son went to Arleta for 4 years, which is when I began teaching dance, theater/acting, and Spanish there through the SUN program, and thus the theater arts program at Arleta was born! I received my BFA degree in dance at the University of Colorado and continued on from there performing, choreographing, teaching and directing in the US and France. I created and ran a summer arts program, Rocks to Stones, for 5 glorious years, supported by the amazing Arleta community. I have seen the power of theater to give confidence and courage to kids and have been overjoyed to work with so many over the years. I have been involved with many Arleta theater productions and most recently wrote and directed "The Magic Wardrobe." My darling son is now a senior in high school ( yikes ), and I am currently studying for a certificate in Storytelling for Social Change. I'm excited for Streaming Showcase!
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My name is Angela Morris. I have two students at Arleta, a first grader and a fifth grader. I received my BS in Theatre from PSU and attended the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts 2-year theatre certificate program. I have worked professionally in theater in Portland, Lake Oswego, and Tigard. My last performance was in "Scrooge the Musical," and I sing with the Grotto Carolers every Christmas season. I have also taught Musical Theatre, Theatre, Dance, and Vocal Lessons. My last project at Arleta was directing "Alice In Wonderland, the Musical" and co-directing "Back to the Summer" for a 2-week summer day camp.
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About SUN:
SUN Community Schools are a collaboration between Multnomah County, Portland Parks & Recreation, and Centennial, Reynolds, Parkrose, David Douglas, Gresham-Barlow, and Portland Public School Districts. Eleven SUN sites are operated by PP&R. Critical components of the program include education, social services, multicultural and cultural arts, recreation and leisure services, health services, and community involvement.
