Arts Seen and Heard

Badass Theatre Company's first production, Invasion! directed by Antonio Sonera, will open June 6 in Portland and exemplify the company's mission of celebrating otherness and inclusiveness and creating civic pride. An interview with Sonera, who attracted funding from numerous sources and promises to make his shows affordable.

A few months ago, the founders of the Portland band Northeast Northwest were begging to do shows. Now they're being pursued to perform. Founders Phoebe Spier and Zach Dunham explain how they got where they are and give tips for young bands.

Nancy Fischer reveals the secrets to how her self-published book, "Pandora's Key," zoomed up the charts on Amazon.com in her category over the holidays.

How did Tory Orzeck, designer and inventor of the Orp-- a smart bike horn and light designed to improve bike safety--attract more than $86,000 in Kickstarter funding? How did he attract press that got the word out about his Kickstarter campaign? He only needs $4K more to meet his goal, but needs to meet his goal this week.

Richard Moore ,who wrote the music and lyrics for Rain! The Musical, discusses his journey as a musician and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this Fertile Ground Festival event in Portland. Rain! The Musical is the story of a one-hit-wonder rocker who returns home to Portland to woo back the lover he jilted to discover that it hasn't rained in 274 days. The show, directed by Louanne Moldovan, continues Feb. 1-3.

Why did Portland-based Shaking The Tree attract a surprise $30,000 arts grant--a gift founder Samantha Van Der Merwe didn't request or apply for? How can other artists and arts organizations learn from her experience? Louanne Moldovan, Arts Seen and Heard's theater expert, talks to Van Der Merwe about the grant from the Robert Rauchenberg Foundation, which gave grants to 20 groundbreaking arts organizations nationwide.

Brian Tashima, author of "Secret of The Songshell," which is a finalist for a 2012 USA Best Books Award in fantasy fiction, and a musician who won Hawaii's version of a Grammy award, provides PR tips to writers and musicians. Tashima is also a former record label owner.

An interview with Circle Theatre Project about the project's mission--to provide opportunities for women and girls in theater, and "Little Women," a production that runs Nov. 29 through Dec. 9 and explores "the inescapable woman problem." Interviewed are Patty Price Yates, artistic director, Lisamarie Harrison, managing director and Meghan Daaboul, director of Little Women.

Jim Lommasson's "Exit Wounds," an exhibit at the Armory until Nov. 22, has been described as "deeply moving," and "amazing." Jim, described as a "Portland treasure," tells us why his projects focus on war--and about the war secrets his dad hid for 60 years.

Tom Beckett, head of the theater department at daVinci Arts Middle School, talks about "The Lost Princess of Oz," which opens Nov. 9--and his belief in producing risky, original works to help students grow.