BELLA: AN AMERICAN TALL TALE
BELLA: AN AMERICAN TALL TALE
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Kirsten Childs
May 4 – June 5, 2022
Directed by Damaris Webb
Music Direction by Chika Ma’atunde
Choreography by Julana Torres
BIPOC Nights
Friday, May 6th ( PREVIEW), 7.30pm
Saturday, May 14th, 7.30pm
Wednesday, May 25th, 7.30pm
ASL Interpreted Show
Thursday, May 26th, 7.30pm
ABOUT
Hop on board for a Western musical adventure, the likes of which you’ve never experienced.
Looking to escape scandal, Bella travels west with hopes of starting from scratch. Along the way, she takes us on a journey that is powerful, joyful and downright funny.
A woman of mythic proportions and heroic appeal – Bella: An American Tall Tale is one story you one you won’t want to miss. Book your tickets today!
NB: This production is not available on-demand.
Content Advisory
- The use of the N-word
- Mentions rape & sexual assault
- Mentions slavery
- Mentions the middle passage
- White face is used
- Mentions the trail of tears
- Stereotypes of Africans as cannibals
- Mentions killing
- Gun violence
- Mentions of the KKK
- Mentions lynching
- Slurs against Indigenous peoples.
- There is a strip tease by a Chinese American cowboy
This play may not be appropriate for those 13 & under. We ask that parents and guardians use their own best judgment when deciding if this play is suitable for their child.
Lobby Artwork
We are thrilled to display Alice Price’s beautiful artwork in our Lobby during Bella: An American Tall Tale.
The best bit – Alice’s work is available for purchase, so make sure you check it out when you’re at the Playhouse.
Alice Price is a dynamic, multi-genre visual artist whose pieces connect the intersectionality of femininity and the Black experience. Inspired by music such as hip hop, old school, R&B, soul, jazz and classical, Price’s art ranges from paintings and sketches to forward-thinking fashion. Alice uses her environment and experiences to encourage viewers of her work to spend time re-evaluating their ideas on social norms. She’s known to work with numerous mediums including paintings, cross-texture clothing, graffiti, album and book cover art. Alice’s work has been the subject of group commercial gallery exhibitions throughout the city of Portland and nine pieces of her work are on display at Portland Art Museum. She has a growing audience for her live paintings and she participates in many community-centered events around North and Northeast Portland. You can find Alice on Instagram and Twitter @alicepricecreative or @gorilla_funk
Cast
Bella: Danielle Barker
Aunt Dinah/Ida Lou Simpson: Lauren Steele
Pit Musicians
Conductor/Piano: Eric Nordin
Percussion:Rob Smith
Creative Team
Playwright: Kirsten Childs
Director: Damaris Webb
Appears as courtesy of Actor's Equity
Portland Playhouse Apprentice Company Member
Former Portland Playhouse Apprentice Company Member
Thank you to our show sponsor Karen Fink,and to these funders:
Our media sponsor is Oregon ArtsWatch
Interested in Getting Involved?
Become a volunteer usher, support our operations, and more!
