2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

My children attended Baker High School in rural Eastern Oregon.  The theater arts program was amazing thanks to an awesome teacher, who is now retired, and has helped to create  Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre in Baker City. My son took full advantage of the availability of the theater opportunities in Baker City, and grew beyond our wildest expectations.  He will graduate from the University of Oregon June 13 with BA in theater.  He is one of only 22 in the country that has been selected to intern with the Tony Award winning Actors Theatre of Louisville Kentucky.

The Arts are an avenue for success for many that do not fit in a left brained world.  Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre is focusing on bringing acting opportunities to the youth in Baker City and beyond.  The Elgin Opera House has experienced huge success in musical theater venues in the small town of Elgin, population approximately 1,900! Most of the small schools over there have no drama program. You should have had Lynne Burroughs from Baker City, or Terry Hale from the Elgin Opera House on your program.  These are two people are really keeping the arts alive on the east side of the mountains in the face of huge cuts.

posted 2 years, 12 months ago
view in context