Sumus Theatre Ensemble

Per Owen Carey via Facebook Messenger who was a photographer for Sumas Theatre Ensemble for several years states that “Sumus Theatre Ensemble” in Latin for “WE ARE THEATRE ENSEMBLE”. 

Years:

1976 – 1982

Per Steve Maker The Sumus Theater Ensemble was “Founded in 1976 by six alumni of Fort Wright College in Spokane, Washington. The original six members of the Ensemble at its incorporation into a non-profit organization were; Marylin Abair, Rick Bryant, Ronald Hill, Steve Maker, Patricia Mohr and, Bonnie Toon.

Our directors/professors were Robert and Joan Welch. They were transplants from New York City. Robert, a pupil of Lee Strasburg, and Joan, a student of Irwin Piscator from Berlin. We were all trained specifically under the Method acting approach developed by Constantin Stanlslavsky of Russia. In founding Sumus, we definitely followed the same principles with our own variations. We selected our scripts that would be challenging for the actors, actresses, directors, and of course audiences.

The space at the YWCA originally was more of an all-purpose space and then came the YWCA/Wilson Center. Through the exceptional help of the Tucker Foundation, we equipped it with a complete light system, theatre lighting, dressing rooms, and sound system. “As part of our residency contract with the YWCA in downtown Portland, we taught a full set of theatre classes. These included Acting Movement Voice and Diction Make-up Mask making and Theatre Improvisation. Over the course of 20 years, we produced around 60 productions. All the productions were sponsored in some way by the Metropolitan Arts Commission.”

[The productions] [These] ranged from children’s theatre and the Federal Theatre Project of the WPA to classical, contemporary scripts, to new Off-Broadway productions. We were a part of the Visiting Arts Program for the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, giving workshops in Oregon Public Schools.

We toured our Children's productions around the state of Oregon through grants from the Templeton Foundation and the Tucker Foundation.

Performed late-night productions at Wilde Oscars in Portland.

At the height of production in the early 1990s, we produced a children’s production in the afternoon, a full-length performance at 8:00 pm, and a late-night short at 11:00 pm.

This was along with a comedy show hosted by Susan Rice and Art Krug.

The productions we produced dealing with gay themes were chosen because they were very strong scripts, excellent roles for acting, and thought-provoking and relevant to our times.

turn that into a performance hall.

Our photographer was Owen Carey. He would have many photos of our productions. His wife, Katy Powell is a good source of information. Bill Boese and Jeff Forbes were our lighting designers.”

• There were various shows and not always at their venues:

• Duck Variations [Duck Variations was produced at Wilde Oscars which was considered a gay bar from December 1, 1976 [ per interview Just Out Feb 3, 1984] -1983 located at 318 S.W. Third].  Per an email with Steve Maker, “I think they asked us. It was a good venue for the space and script.”]

• Village Wooing/Not enough Rope Wilson Center 1111 SW 10th – July 1979 per Willamette Week posting

• Mid-Summer Nights Dream opened November 13, 1980, Oregon Journal

• Of Mice and Men

• Company of Wayward Saints

• The Indian Wants the Bronx

• The Little Foxes

• Alice in Wonderland

• Original musical script of Cinderella

• Butterfly

• Gemini

• Artichoke

• Three-Penny Opera (two separate productions) [Three-Penny Opera was a cast and crew of 50 persons. Plus orchestra!]

• Spokesong

• Look Back in Anger

• The Match Seller

• The Rainmaker

• Root of the Mandrake

• Chechov Comedies

• The Good Doctor

• Irene Davenel (original script)

• Story Theatre

• Thousand Clowns [Per Owen Carey via Facebook Messenger: Katy [Owen Carey’s wife] starred in their production of A Thousand Clowns – knew Steve Maker as they went to college together at FT Wright college in Spokane – Owen started his theatre photographer career with this show]

Oregon Journal August 7, 1980

Artist Repertory Theatre took over the Wilson Center in 1982, per listing in Oregon Journal May 27, 1982 as stated on June 28, 1982, the Oregon Journal stated:

1982 - 1984

Per Steve, “We left in the early 80s after a change of personnel at the YWCA. They saw the space return to a more community hall. Too bad! It was a nice performing space. We of course, left all our improvement with the space for the next incantation. We spent several years on NW 27th and Upshur in the basement of the restaurant. It was not ideal, but we produced some fine theatre there.” [Prior Pub Theatre was housed here doing The Ritz in 1980. It was under The Bull Ring Restaurant at 1900 NW 27th Ave, Portland, OR 97210 side entrance to the basement.

• The Transfiguration of Benno Blimpie (with Sam Mowery) [A one-person show was handled by a crew of 8, but as the production was centered with the effects of over-eating, the food budget was enormous!] part of Summer Shorts along with:

• Titanic

• The Pushcart Pedders and Walter by Murray Schisgal per Cascade Voice newspaper 1983 [July] featuring Anna Donner as Maggie Cutwell. Director: Steve Maker [3 photos below] photos by Rick Dion

*Titanic by Christopher Durang  featuring Brad Smith, Dennis Clancy, Linda Stewart, Cynthia Lee Tennant, Patrick Hurley and James Cox  June 30-August 27 per  Cascade Voice newspaper 1983 [July]

1984 - 1986

Moved to 13 W 13th/Burnside

The space was then used by Storefront Theatre Company for several shows such as Emergency Room then it became the City Night Club in 1986-1997.

Some of the productions at this space were:

• Steambath

• T-Shirts

• The Circuit [Per Steve, “I am really glad to see The Circuit coming back to life! It was enjoyable to produce and an experience for me to be cast in it as well as producing it. The show was always sold out! If only all our shows were that popular. If we could have run it longer, we would have. But everyone had other things lined up. It must have run for a month. Tom was excellent to work with. His writing and stage presence really held that show together. I am sure there will be updates to the script as there have been updates to our lives and to our society. I wish you all good acting!”

Tom Enyart's "The Circuit" by ELSA DANIEL'S https://youtu.be/uRLdDHHmz04 A play about a group of traveling Drag Queens, pre-AIDS, and the inner dynamics, within the group. This is the Musical Finale. 'I ain't got nuthin' but the Blues...' Other YouTube: https://youtu.be/vXIq87RtWgM

• Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All To You May 14, 1982, Oregon Journal had a mention and a listing [LEFT] and below RIGHT Sextet Oregonian July 27, 1984.

• The Maids (male cast)[Per Owen Carey via Facebook Messenger, Katy, Owen’s wife directed this show]

[Below LEFT] Oregonian August 3, 1984, page 92 Ensemble opens new theater

[Below RIGHT] Bent [Per Owen Carey via Facebook Messenger: First worked with Stan Foote @ Sumus. They performed BENT at the large theatre @PAM [Portland Art Museum]. Jerry Leith directed.] Audition notice in Northwest Gay Review July 1982; performances from September 28 through October 3rd and Portland Art Museum’s Swann Auditorium. Featuring Tim Sackett and Mark Sparks - photo by Owen Carey - Below Right.

There is several mentions of a Sumas Theatre “loft”; it appears there were two spaces at one time.

ABOVE is from the Downtowner newspaper, December 4, 1984. Below LEFT, review from The Oregonian January 20, 1986, and Below RIGHT “Entertaining Mr. Sloan” review in February 8, 1986, Oregonian.