Do Jump, 3 Leg Torso to present holiday show
For The Review, Tidings
Do Jump, 3 Leg Torso and special guests are preparing a holiday celebration full of musical, acrobatic and theatrical delights.
"Celebrate the Season" is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21 and 3 p.m. Dec. 21 and 22 at Alberta Rose Theater, 3000 N.E. Alberta St., Portland.
The program will feature a mashup of classic Do Jump holiday favorites plus new surprises, the music of 3 Leg Torso, and vocalists Pepe Raphael and Joan Szymko.
For nearly 40 years, Do Jump has been creating theatrical acrobatic and aerial performances for Portland and throughout North America, including a run at the New Victory Theater on Broadway in New York City.
"Celebrate the Season" fuses Do Jump's holiday show with 3 Leg Torso's eclectic music that takes inspiration from France, Eastern Europe, Argentine, North America and the Middle East.
Do Jump was founded by Robin Lane in 1977. Her groundbreaking style combines humor, dance, theater, circus skills, illusion, visual arts, narrative and live original music.
The company is an ensemble of actors, dancers, acrobats, aerialists, circus performers, musicians, composers and designers, many of whom have worked together for decades.
This performance features company members/acrobats Tia Palomino, Tony Palomino, Jack StockLynn, Brittany Walsh, Shersten Finley, Kailee McMurran Nicolo Kehrwald, Jacki Ward Kehrwald, Mike Mesa, Robin Woolman and Patrick McGuire.
Founded in 1996 by violinist/composer Bela Balogh and accordionist/composer Courtney Von Drehle, 3 Leg Torso is joined by longtime percussionist T. J. Arko and bass player Bill Athens.
3 Leg Torso has performed their original music with symphony orchestras, contributed music to films and television programs, and have crafted and performed live scores for dance and theater performances.
Szymko's choral music is regularly performed at regional, national and international choral festivals, competitions and conferences. She is widely recognized as a foremost American composer for women's choir.
Pepe Raphael, a native of Madrid, Spain, came to America to follow his career in classical ballet.
He danced principal roles with several classical ballet companies in the U.S. including Ballet Hispanico of New York, Princeton Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet and then moved to Oregon to dance with James Canfield's Pacific Ballet Theatre and Oregon Ballet Theatre, ultimately making Portland his home.
After retiring from ballet he went on to musical theater where he performed leading roles in "Evita" and "West Side Story" with The Musical Theatre Company, Music Theatre of Oregon, Triangle Productions and The Portland Opera.
His musical career in Portland includes performing and recording with Thomas Lauderdale's Pink Martini on their first album "Sympathique."
In 1997, he initiated his current ensemble, Pepe and the Bottle Blondes, and today they continue to entertain audiences across the state.
Tickets are available online at albertarosetheatre.com/tickets/html or call 503-764-4131.
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