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Traditional fairy tale 'Swanwhite' is for all ages

Story by James Hill

¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½’s Theater Arts program plans to re-imagine a classic play.

“Swanwhite” is August Strindberg’s play written as a wedding present to his wife. This drama, which appeals to crowds of all ages, is about a young princess named Swanwhite and her evil stepmother and prince. Strindberg writes in the play, “you can love, you can forgive, and so, you can do everything!”

“The idea behind ‘Swanwhite’ is to bring a fairy tale to life,” said ¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½ Artistic Director and Theater Arts Instructor Michael Najjar. “We want to create a fable that will take the audience on a magical journey.”

The production premieres at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10 and continues May 12 and 19. There will also be two noon matinees on Fridays, May 11 and 18, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 20. The Friday, May 11 matinee is an Art Beat 2007 event and will be a free performance. The Friday, May 18 show, where local schools are invited at a special discounted rate, will be interpreted for the hearing impaired. Prices are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and a $5 per person group rate. All showings will be held in the Performing Arts Center at the Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Ave.

The student cast includes Juliet Marks as Swanwhite, Connor Marvin (Lake Oswego) as the Prince, Laura Bogert (southwest Portland) as Swanwhite’s mother, Jessica Panick as the Prince’s mother, Peter Ashenberner (southeast Portland) as the Young King, Christopher Mahoney-Watson as the Fisherman, Shahrzad Smith (Beaverton) as Signe, Alexandria Donatelli (northwest Portland) as Elsa, Stephanie Monroe (Hillsboro) as Tova, Adria Malcolm (southeast Portland) as the Stepmother and Joshua Wagner as Duke. The designers include ¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½ instructors Dan Hays (lighting and set design), Margaret Chapman (costume design) and Diane Trapp (makeup).

For more information, call the ¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½ Box Office at 503-977-4949, or visit the Web site at: www.pcc.edu/theatre.

¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½ is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon, serving approximately 88,200 full- and part-time students. For more ¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½ news, please visit us on the Web at www.pcc.edu/news. ¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½ has three comprehensive campuses, five workforce training and education centers, and 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The ¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½ district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.