PHAME is thrilled to announce that tickets for the March 22nd culminating showcase performance of our “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” – taking place March 14-22 across the Portland metro region – are now on sale online and at the Aladdin Theater box office. Tickets are $15 each.

The PHAME Tour’s culminating showcase performance takes place Thursday, March 22, from 7 pm onward at the historic Aladdin Theater in Southeast Portland (3017 SE Milwaukie). PHAME’s previous Aladdin Theater appearances – at “Songs for Haiti” in 2010 and “From Oregon, With Love” in 2011 – resulted in wildly enthusiastic ovations from sold-out crowds.

PHAME’s “H is for Honored Showcase” at the Aladdin features collaborations with Live Wire Radio’s Courtenay Hameister, members of the Bureau of Standards Big Band and other special guests. PHAME Artistic Director Jessica Dart and Music Director Matthew Gailey lead the inspiring students of PHAME in performances and showcases of talent ranging from PHAME acting and dance classes, to the PHAME Choir, PHAME’s own songwriters and Vocal/Instrumental Combo, PHAME writers and visual artists. Tickets are $15, and all seats are general admission (doors at 6 pm; performance at 7 pm).

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Showcase” – Thursday, March 22nd at the Aladdin Theater - is the culminating show of our “H is for Honored Tour,” and is sponsored by Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation, Regional Arts and Culture Council, Work for Art, New Seasons Market, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition and Oregon Cultural Trust.

Click here to buy your tickets today!

Many hearty congratulations to all who auditioned! We had some difficult casting decisions to make.

The cast list may be viewed here. Rehearsals begin Saturday February 25th, 12:00-4:00pm. We’re so excited to get started!

In a first, PHAME Academy – the acclaimed nonprofit arts academy for adults with developmental disabilities – unveiled this week a new YouTube commercial promoting its upcoming regional tour - “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour,” running March 14-22, 2012 across the Portland metro region.

The YouTube-only commercial – created by filmmaker Brian Manley and PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin - features footage from some of PHAME’s recent productions, and is set to music by the up-and-coming Portland band Typhoon (with whom PHAME shared the stage in the PHAME Choir’s 2010 collaboration with Portland Cello Project at the Wonder Ballroom). Typhoon band leader Kyle Morton graciously allowed PHAME use of the band’s gorgeous song “Summer Home,” from the EP “A New Kind of House” for the commercial.

Be sure to check out the commercial, the just-released Tour schedule, and share it far and wide!

Mark your calendars – PHAME announced today the venue and date for its Wednesday, March 14, 2012 kick-off performance and party for “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour,” the nonprofit arts academy’s regional tour starring its inspiring adult artists and performers with developmental disabilities.

“We are delighted to kick off our ‘H is for Honored Tour’ with a performance and party March 14th in North Portland’s historic St. Johns neighborhood,” says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “St. Johns Community Center is the heart of the St. Johns neighborhood, and a perfect place for us to showcase the inspiring student artists and performers of PHAME with a performance and party to kick off our regional tour. We look forward to seeing so many familiar and new friends on March 14th at St. Johns Community Center!”

The March 14th Tour kick-off performance and party will feature selected performances, readings and art showings from “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour,” as well as a special party with treats and snacks from Official Tour Grocery, New Seasons Market. The event, like all other “H is for Honored Tour” showcases (excepting the Aladdin Theater show), is free and open to the public.

PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour - Kick-off Performance and Party
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
7 pm to 9 pm
St. Johns Community Center, 8427 N Central Street

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” is sponsored by Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation; Regional Arts and Culture Council; Work for Art; New Seasons Market (the Official Grocery of the Tour); Multnomah County Cultural Coalition and Oregon Cultural Trust.

PHAME is truly excited to announce a very special event coming up Thursday, February 9, 2012: a PHAME Choir Sing-Along Tea Party at the gorgeous Wieden + Kennedy Atrium, in collaboration with Portland’s own musical luminary – Pink Martini bandleader Thomas Lauderdale!

“Since collaborating with the PHAME Choir on their acclaimed 2011 TEDxPortland appearance, Pink Martini bandleader and pianist Thomas Lauderdale has become a great friend to PHAME, and we are delighted to welcome PHAME students, families and supporters to this marvelous event,” says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin.

“With the inspiring talents of the PHAME Choir under Music Director Matthew Gailey, Thomas’ infectious energy and spirit as a pianist and song-leader, and great treats from our friends at Cupcake Jones, this is certain to be an unforgettable sing-along party! We can’t wait to see you February 9th at the Wieden + Kennedy Atrium for a fabulous night.”

Some tickets ($100 each) are still available to this event – you can click here to purchase yours today.

More details on the event…

PHAME Choir + Thomas Lauderdale Sing-Along Tea Party
Thursday, February 9, 2012 – 7 pm
Wieden + Kennedy Atrium, 224 NW 13th Avenue, Portland
Special thanks to our official cupcake sponsor, Cupcake Jones

Tickets – $100 each, available online here

PHAME announced today the schedule and community partners for a major initiative this March – “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” 2012, a Portland metro regional tour showcasing the incredible talent of PHAME’s inspiring artists and performers with developmental disabilities.

From March 14 to 22, 2012, PHAME’s inspiring performers and artists will fan out across the tri-county Portland region as well as Southwest Washington, offering eight days of free arts programs in over a dozen communities – including Beaverton, Estacada, Gresham, Hillsboro, Vancouver WA and several neighborhoods across Portland – and culminating in a major PHAME and Friends showcase on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Portland’s Aladdin Theater, featuring PHAME students alongside other of Portland’s most notable artists and performers. Tickets for the Aladdin Theater show ($15 each) go on sale February 1, 2012.

“The H is for Honored Tour will fundamentally change hearts and minds about the incredible talent, humanity and possibility of adults with developmental disabilities,” says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “We are thrilled to be partnering with wonderful community organizations across the Portland metro region on this Tour, and look forward to showcasing the musicians, actors, dancers, writers and artists of PHAME in free showcase performances to thousands of community members on The H is for Honored Tour!”

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” kicks off with a PHAME showcase and media event at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at the St. Johns Community Center, 8427 N Central Street. This event is free and open to the public. The current full Tour itinerary is available online here, at PHAME’s “H is for Honored Tour” blog.

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” is supported by several generous Foundations, corporate partners and individual donors, and Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation was the first foundation to step forward in support of the Tour. Peter Cunningham, Equity Foundation Executive Director, said, “Equity Foundation is excited to support PHAME Academy in this endeavor with our Portland 100 Fund.  Equity Foundation is Oregon’s LGBT community foundation and our mission includes creating communities that promote the dignity and worth of all people and this tour exemplifies that mission!”

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” is sponsored by Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, Oregon Cultural Trust, numerous community and business partners and the support of generous individual donors. The “H is for Honored Tour” blog is online here. More information on the Tour – including updated Tour itinerary, community and business partners, new special events and more – will be updated in the weeks ahead.

With just 18 days to go, PHAME’s 2011 Give! Guide campaign has entered the home stretch, and seeks support from across the community to achieve its goal of raising $15,000 for PHAME’s essential arts education and programs for adults with developmental disabilities by the Give! Guide deadline of 11:59 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011.

“At 34% of our goal with 18 days to go, we are optimistic about finishing our 2011 PHAME Give! Guide campaign strongly, and need one big final push from everyone in the community to meet our goal,” says PHAME Executive Director, Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “We have an ambitious winter and spring 2012 ahead at PHAME, including our upcoming ‘PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour,’ and raising much-needed funds for PHAME during our 2011 Give! Guide campaign will allow us to serve our inspiring student artists and performers – and the community at large – with great confidence as we start 2012.”

To donate to PHAME through the Willamette Week Give! Guide, click here and select PHAME Academy in the Arts section. The Give! Guide runs through 11:59 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011.

Today, PHAME Academy announced acclaimed musician and music educator Matthew Gailey as its Music Director.

PHAME's new Music Director: Matthew Gailey

“When looking for the right combination of knowledge, skills, abilities and cultural fit for PHAME, Matthew was the clear standout candidate,” says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “While there were many talented candidates, Matthew is exceptional – he brings over a decade of demonstrated success as a music educator and musician, knowledge of and passion for PHAME, and compelling vision for the future of PHAME’s music program. He gave a dynamite audition with the PHAME Choir, and many of the students are still talking about him. We warmly welcome Matthew Gailey to PHAME as our Music Director!”

Gailey has more than a decade of experience as a music educator, conductor, musical theatre actor, singer and all-around performing artist. He holds a BA in Music Education from Florida Southern College, and did graduate study in Vocal Performance at Indiana University. Gailey has built award-winning choral programs at schools in Florida, performed in professional musical theatre across the United States, and studied jazz, choral music and opera with master teachers. Locally, he performs with the Bureau of Standards Big Band, the Matthew Gailey Band and other groups.

“When I was first introduced to PHAME Academy and its mission, I knew I had to be a part of this amazing organization,” Gailey says, on the occasion of his appointment as PHAME Music Director. “This is such a unique opportunity and I’m honored to be able to work with Stephen, Jessica and the rest of the staff in revealing the talent and gifts of PHAME’s students.”

Matthew begins his role this week at PHAME, and will meet and connect with PHAME students, families, friends and supporters in the weeks and months ahead. Welcome, Matthew!

Matthew Gailey Biography:
Matthew Gailey is a performing artist, songwriter and music educator with a dynamic musical background. Originally from Florida, Matthew received his BA in Music Education and student jazz improvisation with Nat Adderly at Florida Southern College. He then taught award-winning choirs in Florida’s public schools before studying music at the graduate level at Indiana University. While at Indiana, Matthew studied and performed with jazz notables such as David Baker and Pat Harbison, and performed multiple roles with the school’s renowned opera theater. After working in musical theater in New York and Texas, he moved to Portland with his wife in 2006. Currently, Matthew can be seen performing with local artists, his own group, and as the featured male vocalist with the Bureau of Standards Big Band. He looks forward to collaborating with the amazing students, staff and community of PHAME.

PHAME announced today that the organization’s 14th annual gala event – “Sparkle! A Night to Shine with PHAME” this past Sunday, Nov. 20 at The Tiffany Center – has raised more than $125,000 for PHAME Academy, and broken all previous gala fundraising records at PHAME.

“All of us at PHAME are just delighted with the great energy, great spirit and great fundraising that happened at ‘Sparkle!’” said Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “Our student artists and performers shined so bright at PHAME’s ‘Sparkle!’ gala, and our community of supporters responded with incredible generosity and heart. I want to thank our incredible ‘Sparkle!’ gala committee, our ‘Sparkle!’ event sponsors and table sponsors, PHAME’s board of directors and staff and our corps of volunteers for bringing together a fantastic and successful gala event!”

PHAME’s “Sparkle!” gala – the organization’s signature annual event, celebrating the incredible talent of PHAME’s student artists and performers – raises much-needed funds for this rapidly growing fine and performing arts academy for adults with developmental disabilities. Serving just over 100 students annually, PHAME programs include arts education (classes and workshops) in the full range of performing and fine arts; outreach and performance across the Portland metro community, including the upcoming “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” (March 14-22, 2012); and student life opportunities.

PHAME’s November 20, 2011 “Sparkle! A Night to Shine with PHAME” gala was attended by over 300 PHAME supporters, who enjoyed a silent and live auction, sparkling wine, a three-course dinner and first-rate entertainment from the PHAME Choir in collaboration with the Shanghai Woolies. PHAME will announce the venue and date for our 2012 gala event early in the new year.

PHAME’s continued “Sparkle moment!” series this week showcases the lives of three unique PHAME students, exploring their dreams, passions, and their illuminating experiences with PHAME.

Kim Forrer, baker and artist, has been a bright and bubbly addition to PHAME for over 12 years, and continues to shine on stage. “I like the standing ovations that we get at every show we do,” she says.

Katie Dunn has enjoyed PHAME for the last 15 years, appreciating all the recognition and respect she recives from her community and loved ones. “PHAME does a lot for me, as well as my family, my parents. The more classes I take, the more they are proud of me.”

Andy Reisbick, another long time PHAME student, reflects on all the friends he’s made at PHAME over the years and the sparkling nature of PHAME Academy.

Enjoy this “Sparkle moment!” with Andy Reisbick – and check out all of our “Sparkle moment!” videos online here.