Bend's been a surprise hub for theater as of late. Currently, two shows are having successful runs and another favorite is on the books for October.
Having found success on Broadway, the Tony-award-winning play Art has stormed the Greenwood Playhouse for a run that goes through next week. Originally a French-language play by Parisian Yasmina Reza, The Play "Art" asks the age-old question, is art more important than friendship? The answer may surprise you, as a piece of modern art tears apart three men's seemingly tight bond. Originally written in 1994 as an allegory about the politics and aesthetics of France, the themes hold up on this side of the pond - especially if you've had your eye on some of the Sotheby's treasures that have recently been on the auction block.
Also experiencing a revival is the story of true-life sexy bankrobbers, Bonnie & Clyde, which opens this week at the Bend Performing Arts Center. The story has inspired many memorable performances, including Serge Gainsbourg and Bridgette Bardot's breathy ode to the duo and the Academy Award-winning movie starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty. This is truly a story of better together - before they met, Clyde was a small-time thief and Bonnie was at a dead-end job in a small town. But when they joined forces, they were able to take bank robbing to a new level and fuel movies, music and plays such as this one. Starring Bend's own Jessica Nash in her first professional production and Nash's husband, Jeremy Bernard.
Horror film aficionados will be happy to learn that Evil Dead: The Musical will return to Bend's 2nd Street Theater for the month of October. Coming off a wildly successful run last year in Bend, which included an appearance by the film's cult star, Bruce Campbell, Evil Dead: The Musical makes a triumphant return in the evilest of months (that being the month of Halloween). If you missed Evil Dead: The Musical this is your chance to catch the campy goodness, and if you saw it already, think of it as Bend's answer to Rocky Horror Picture Show, with audience members dressing as their favorite characters. Here's hoping Evil Dead: The Musical becomes a Bend Halloween tradition. Special events will include a Zombie Pub Crawl, a Pre-Halloween garage sale and a sneak preview at the Tower Theater.
The Play "ART," Aug. 12, 13 &14, 7:30pm. Aug. 15, 2pm.
Greenwood Playhouse, 148 NW Greenwood Ave.
Bonnie & Clyde, $20, $17/students, seniors, groups. Aug. 12th and 22nd, 8pm. Aug. 15th and 29th, 6pm. Bend Performing Arts Center, 1155 SW Division St. Tickets available at Bendticket.com.
Evil Dead: the Musical, Oct. 1-31. 2nd Street Theater, 220 NE Lafayette Ave. Tickets on sale Aug. 15.
