Artslandia at the Performance: Portland Playhouse Nov/Dec 2014 | Page 36

Q+A

DANCING
VEGETABLES
OCT'S STAN FOOTE RESPECTS KIDS' INTELLIGENCE

MEET STAN FOOTE.
“I’m a nice man,” says the artistic director of
Oregon Children’s Theatre with a shrug. “And I
like kids; I think they’re funny. I like to encourage them.” Restless behind a desk but great at
“conceptually putting something together,” not
identifying as an actor himself but deeply respectful of theatre, Foote still marvels — even after 26
years — at having found the perfect niche. “Who
gets this job?” he exclaims. “I have it!”
Oregon Children’s Theatre has plenty of projects
under its big, colorful umbrella, including many
educational and touring programs, a Young Professionals company, and an improv group named
Impulse. Foote helped develop and continues to
weigh in on all of these. But lately, he’s especially focused on collaborating with other theatres
throughout the country to develop new works and
curating his home theatre’s performance season
to serve Portland’s diverse tastes. “Girl shows, boy
shows, little kid and big kid offerings, adventures,
musicals, comedies ... we want a mixture, and we
want the adults to have as much fun as the kids!”
BY A.L. ADAMS. PHOTO BY RAINA STINSON.
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