Oregon Symphony Presents Storm Large: Crazy Love

Storm Large makes her Oregon Symphony debut with a romantic evening of beloved standards and some very special surprises.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Portland, OR
Sat, Feb 13, 2010 07:30 PM

Click here for details and tickets!

ORPHEE!

I am currently at the Opera with my fellow bloggers , Cynthia Fuhrman , Bob Hicks , and Byron Beck…we are going to head backstage for snacks, drinks and to meet the cast of Phillip Glass’ “Orphee” .  It’s opening night and there is a line forming outside…a crispy cold night and Byron has already noted my boobs hiding inside my silly coat…. a thing I like to call a bath mat with sleeves . At least I’m warm!

On to the green room!

————–

OK ! Just got back from previewing the stage with the lovely (and minty breath-ed) Laura Hassle , production manager at the Keller Auditorium . The stage is “raked” which means it is pitched forward at an angle. The idea behind this stage set up is to project the un mic-ed voices outward. It is also the reason for the terms “upstage” and “downstage”.

No, I didn’t know that before today. Yes, that is dumb….but we all learn things at our own pace.

There is also a stretched canvas ceiling over the 50′x30′ set , unusual for this performance space but functional for cool lights and even more projection of sound. The set is a present-day, tastefully appointed loft with a very modern aesthetic. Byron (www.byronbeck.com) squealed when he saw some Louis Vitton props backstage. So gay… and I say that with all the love in the world for my swishy friend with the naturally great taste….and his permission.

The stage is mic-ed for recording purposes only. These studly Lords and Ladies use only their natural power and hard earned chops to fill the 3000 seat house. I feel like a total dork having to have used a microphone in such a small space (The Ellen Bye) for my show , when these folks push their arpeggiated arias naturally like bazookas made of meat and hot oxygen.

Speaking of hot meat…..my buddy and BBT partner, Marc Acito is in this fine production. (Blogging from backstage….www.marcacito.com)He’s playing a glazier, (a glass worker)has one line, consisting of three words and, I’ve been told, is wearing a cool ass worker uniform, with the perfect Acito pun on the back: ” Phil’s Glass” .

I love that man.

Julia Sheridan , PR Manager for The Opera, has talked us all into doing this Opening Night Blog deal and has now filled our table with surar-y treats and alcohol. My hunch is, as the night goes on, our tweets and blogs will get a touch more..um
….colorful.

More at intermission.

———

Best line in the first act: ” My life stinks of success and death!”

Soooo French!

The text (projected over the stage) is straight from Jean Cocteau’s film, “Orphee” . All I know of Orphee is the greek, “Orpheus”. The tragic tale of a musician who loved his wife, Euridice, so much, he followed her to the Underworld to charm Hades and Persephone, with beautiful music, in exchange for getting his wife back. Hades is so moved, he allows Euridice to leave, with the caveat that though they can walk out, Orpheus in front, his wife walking a ways behind him, Orpheus CANNOT look back at her until they are both above ground, and among the living. Of course, as all awesome tragedies go, Orpheus gets to the surface, freaks out at the thought his Lady isn’t bringing up the rear, and turns around.

Jackass.

Anyways, the production is refined and clean with the signature Phillip Glass minimalism. The set, from the audiences’ perspective, looks like an ad for new condos in “Explore The Pearl” magazine, the cast is largely Portland hipster, with ironic beards, plaids, potbellies and beanies. However, La Princess (Death, who’s played with uber cat like cool by soprano, Lisa Saffer) is more Hollywood cougar. Long white furry coat draped over skinny black jeans and stacked heels…..long white coat…? So I’m kinda dressed like Death. Awesome.

Death glides around charming and taking people, following orders from the underworld. But, soon, like all women, she falls in love, gets all distracted, fucks up at work by taking a soul that lies between her and the object of her desire,Orphee. Ah, conflict.

ACT TWO:

Everything gets even more like a Calvin Klein fragrance ad. Though really happening in front of me, it could have been a black and white, French silent film full of hungry, bird boned models and scowl-y shirtless dudes. Sparse and beautiful, the piece never gets overwhelming musically nor visually. The principles and their body doubles move through the underworld via mirrors. (Mirrors are the doors between the living world and the world of the dead.) The actors move dreamily, in halting steps, through a diorama of love, longing, Ikea and impending doom. Death is love, and love sparks, fades, disappoints and then kills.

So French.

In the world of the living, death seems very dangerous and terrifying, but in the underworld, death is safe and stoic, with boundaries and rules. Love is forbidden.
In the end, the ultimate sacrifice must be made. Again, this is French, minimalist opera, so no, Death is not the ultimate sacrifice, it is forgoing passion and sweet danger of love for the sake of returning to a safe, banal life. A life where you forever try to recapture the feelings of passion, and the sweet danger of love…but cannot.

No I’m not drunk. I really enjoyed this production , go to www.portlandopera.org for more info on this and other upcoming productions.

See you out there,
xoxoStorm

Storm Large Live in New York

Storm Large Live in New York – 2nd Show Added

December 01, 2009 7:30pm (sold out) 11:30pm (just added)
Joe’s Pub
New York, NY

Click here for details and tickets!

Storm’s Holiday Ordeal Sold Out!

November 27, 2009
Aladdin Theater
Portland, OR

One Night Only – Two big shows
an evening with Storm Large and very special guests

Award-winning actress and singer Storm Large is back for her third wild year of holiday cheer and edginess, kicking off the most wonderful time of the year in her one-of-a -kind way.

A show unlike any other, Storm’s Holiday Ordeal is the perfect way to start “the season.” Singing her way through a variety of musical genres and joined by an eclectic array of special guests, Storm’s Holiday Ordeal is the one show you will not want to miss this season. Expect music, comedy, sassiness, outrageousness and, of course, the unexpected.

Two shows Featuring Storm Large: 7:30pm (all ages) and 10pm (21+)

Tickets on sale Oct. 10 at 10:00 am at all Ticketmaster outlets (503.224.4400 or www.ticketmaster.com). Cost: $30 plus service charge

BOTH SHOWS ARE SOLD OUT! THANK YOU!

The Balls Breakup ??

NO . The Balls have not broken up … we all adore each other and will play again when the stars align ……rest assured .

Making a living as an artist is a many splendor-ed thing . By “splendor” , I mean it’s fuckin’ HARD . To make ends meet you have to grow , flow , starve and sprint your whole working life . In my twenty years as an independent artist , I hadn’t done so well until the last six or seven , where I finally earned a pretty decent wage . However , up until only THREE years ago , I was still shlepping drinks as a part time bartender at Dante’s .

James , Davey , Brian and myself are so grateful that we did so well for so long , a fun band of great friends traveling together around the world …. it’s the best time any band could ask for . Fuck fame and riches and contracts and cred … we had a BLAST just making music and getting up to mischief on and off stage . Let the “OMG SERIOUSLY?!”  haters hate . We rule and they can suck it .

The Balls did very well for a long time , creatively and financially , but family life and work life takes priority sometimes and we all respect that . It’s really hard to keep a band going and everyone gainfully employed , paid and insured . Marriage , kids and real life peek in and need to be dealt with ….. so we find other ways to sing , play , make and rock while our brothers are working on other parts of their lives .

A band is a family and a business . With The Balls it was , and always will be , family first . So , no , we haven’t broken up . True we are not playing very often and may go a year or so without playing together . But , as I said at the top of this , we all still adore each other and love playing music together , so it’s really only a matter of time .
Thank you all for caring about us as much as you do , we think you’re pretty awesome too .
See you out there .
xoxoStorm

Basic Rights Oregon’s Annual Dinner & Auction

Basic Rights Oregon’s 27th Annual Dinner & Auction

Saturday, October 10, 2009

The theme of this year’s event is Love – a celebration of our love for community, our love for justice, and our love for family.

Hosting this year’s event will be the amazing and talented Storm Large!

Please click here for more details.

A Wordstock Literary Feast

A Wordstock Literary Feast

To view more information about this event, please click this link.

A Wordstock Literary Feast

October 9th, 2009
Lucier Resturant
1910 SW River Drive
Portland, OR 97201
www.lucier-portland.com

Join us at Lucier for a benefit for Wordstock for Teachers. You’ll enjoy bountiful appetizers, a hosted bar, polysyllabic profundities, an unparalleled Literary Auction, and performances by Storm Large, National Book Award finalist Katherine Dunn, and champion slam poet Jodie Knowles.

ACLU of Oregon’s Uncensored Celebration

Uncensored Celebration

Join the ACLU in celebration of freedom of expression. This event will feature local authors, djs, and bands, raffles, and other fun surprises.

Don’t miss Storm Large and Cool Nutz as Masters of Ceremonies!

Purchase tickets here

More Details here

Rid Of Me Movie

Check out the first trailer for the new feature film RID OF ME by James Westby (FILM GEEK, THE AUTEUR). Starring KATIE O’GRADY, JOHN KEYSER, STORM LARGE, and THERESA RUSSELL.

Stay tuned to the official RID OF ME YouTube Page for more trailers coming soon.

RID OF ME on IMDB

Storm Large Is Gretchen Lowell

“Gretchen Lowell, AKA The Beauty Killer, is the best serial killer in the whole world. Why? Because she’s so pretty. And she really cares about what she does. A lot of murderers today just shoot people in the head, but Gretchen takes the time to make her murders special. Did you know she’s killed more people than any other serial killer in America? It’s true!” Read More @ iheartgretchenlowell.com >>

• Storm Large IS Gretchen Lowell

Next Page »