Variety Show Recap: June

Our first Rose City Variety Show was a big hit. We were blessed to be welcomed with open arms by the art and music communities in Portland. Our beautiful, light-filled variety show features the queer and multi-disciplinary artists of Future Prairie. The show is inspired by the chautauquas of the 19th and early 20th centuries, where people from all walks of life came together to experience education, entertainment, and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, and entertainers. We have a rotating cast of artists, dancers, teachers, painters, singers, poets, and more. Since 1995, the City of Roses has been known as an artistic hotspot full of feminist activism, innovative community development, and audacious art making. We can't wait to get this series started and introduce you to our city's artists and all they have to offer. 

Our first artist of the evening was Daisy Dee, who did live drawing of the show's performers but also the audience members. 

Musician Maiah Wynne then shared a set of songs she's been polishing at shows all around town and even got to showcase recently by playing with the Portland Cello Project!

Poet Anna Suarez then shared two new pieces from a series about queer femininity and body positivity. 

Singer Joni Renee then sang a cover of "5748 km" by Lisa LeBlanc, accompanied by Sean Cummings on the guitar. 

Artist Andi Bixel gave a lecture about her artistic and entrepreneurial journey. 

Artist Shen Telles gave a live, You Tube-style makeup tutorial that featured a surprising twist ending!

We closed out the evening with two short films from local screenwriter and director Anna Weltner.