Bobby Bermea

Bobby Bermea is the co-artistic director of The Beirut Wedding World Theatre Project and a long-time member of Sojourn Theatre and Actors Equity Association. Bermea is a writer, director and award-winning actor and has appeared in theatres literally from New York, NY to Honolulu, HI. In recent years, Bermea has directed productions of Saint Heroin and Reborning for Beirut Wedding, My Soul Grown Deep and The Green Book with BaseRoots Theatre, Hollow Roots with BoomArts, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents with Theatre Vertigo, Wait Until Dark at Northwest Classical Theatre (Drammy Award Nomination for Outstanding Director), Top Dog/Underdog at Street Scenes, and Fires in the Mirror, Blue Door, and Welcome to Arroyo’s at Profile Theatre.

Interview with Bobby Bermea

What excites you about this production?

The script. Lo really knows her characters and how they speak, what makes them laugh and what brings them together. I feel like it’s way too rare for Black women to be presented on stage with so much warmth and humor, and where they 100% get each other’s back all the time. We have this preconception that people taking care of each other is not dramatic. You need conflict. And I would argue that in At the Root there is conflict — with men, with unfair expectations, with cancer, with the outside world. But the focus of the piece is on how Black women overcome these obstacles together. We don’t see a lot of that in any media, let alone theatre.

What are you most looking forward to the audience experiencing?

The easy answer is everything but if I have to pick one it’s the music. I think Lo is a wonderful songwriter with a unique neo-soul style all her own And the lyrics are really personal and heartfelt. The three leads all have especially rich, evocative voices besides the tremendous skill and precision they sing with.

How is the project different than others you have worked on?

Number one thing would be it’s all women, dealing with issues that impact women differently than they would men, and finding solutions that men don’t often utilize.

What do you find most fulfilling about the project?

The work of the actors and chorus. It’s always magical watching the process of words on a page being given life by artists, especially when they’re so gifted and generous. Watching Josie, Antoinette and Marilyn inhabit these different women has been a real treat.

Anthony Michael Shepard

Anthony (he/him) is a St. Louis native, former Playhouse Apprentice, Black Theatre United Rise Mentee, and a graduate of the Dobbins Conservatory. Anthony has appeared in local productions such as Fucking A (Shaking The Tree), Bella: An American Tall Tale (Portland Playhouse), Titus Andronicus (PPH), and a workshop of Great Wide Open (PPH and Many Hats Collaborations). As always, Anthony gives honor, love, and gratitude to his friends, family, and mentors; who continue to inspire and elevate his artistry to new heights. Follow him on Insta: anthony.shepard and TikTok: blackboysong

Interview with Anthony Michael Shepard

What drew you to working on this project?

Lo the voice of the dawn heralding the return of spring Steele’s artistry drew me to this!

What are you most enjoying about the rehearsal process?

I love being immersed in Lo’s music and communicating it to the cast while also cracking a million jokes. I love looking for what works and all the happy mistakes on the way.

How does a Revels production feel different from other projects you have worked on?

Revels sort of feels like stepping into a different dimension- both a return to my church choir days and an expansion of what musical theater can be.

Why should folks come see this show?

It’s a banger! There’s a raw vulnerability in the text and music that gives people an inside look at the community black women create. Even if you don’t understand you will certainly relate!

Lauren Steele

Lauren Steele is a multidisciplinary artist from Portland, Oregon, with a B.F.A. in Theatre from Southern Methodist University. She has appeared at Portland Center Stage in Hair, Tick… Tick… Boom!, and the ripple, the wave, that carried me home. You may have also seen her in “What I Learned in Paris” and Bella: An American Tall Tale at Portland Playhouse. Lauren recently released her first full-length album, Happy Girl, under her musical stage name “Lo Steele”, and was named one of Willamette Week’s “Best New Bands” of 2022. Check out her music on all streaming platforms, and social media @losteele.

Interview with Lo Steele

Why should people come see At the Root?

My relationship to music is a unique one, it isn’t traditional or formal. I’m often making up chords I’m unable to transcribe, but I know how to feel- a that’s my super power, and I think that shines through in the piece. I am so grateful to have an incredible cast and chorus who are expert-feelers too, who embody the script and music with such honestly and joy and vulnerability. Come see and come feel!

What made you want to participate in this project and create this piece?

I majored in playwriting in college, but haven’t done much long-form writing since then. I was so grateful to be asked to write a piece for Revels. It felt like a timely challenge and an opportunity to rediscover my voice as a playwright.

What about the Portland Revels made it seem like a good fit for you and your work?

I believe both theatre watching and theatre making should be accessible to all. This is a healing art and shouldn’t be exclusive to only the privileged. Revels prioritizes theatre making as a tool toward community building and celebration, which I would like to make my priority too!

Marilyn Keller

After 35 years as a revered member of the Portland music scene, Marilyn Keller has been inducted into the 2016 Jazz Society of Oregon’s Hall of Fame. Not only has Marilyn excelled in Jazz, Ragtime and Dixieland- she started her career as a Top-40 Band Vocalist. Her style has morphed into a wide range of interpretations including R&B, pop, blues, and Gospel. Marilyn’s vocals have been called mesmerizing, flawless, emotional and ethereal. Marilyn has toured to Europe and Australia and her magical vocals have appeared on movie soundtracks, numerous recordings, commercials and documentary narratives. Marilyn’s dedication to education includes working with bands and choirs at Portland State University, Jefferson, Grant, Madison and Rex Putnam High Schools- plus many other schools as well as The American Music Program and the Portland Youth Philharmonic.

Netty McKenzie

Netty McKenzie is thrilled to be making her Portland Revels debut with At The Root! Netty is singer/actor born and raised in Portland Oregon. Netty was last seen in Last Stop on Market Street (Oregon Children’s Theater), and Matilda the Musical ( Portland Playhouse) She is a graduate of Portland State University where she received a B.S. in Theater Arts. When she is not performing, Netty is a Mama of two children and manages an after school program for elementary school students called SUN( schools uniting neighborhoods). She would like to thank the black women in her life for their guidance and unwavering love! She Hopes you all enjoy the show!

Josie Seid

Currently living in Portland, OR, Josie is a creator of theater art internationally, who moves in several circles. As a proud member of the LineStorm Playwrights collective, she is the author of Petite Dames, which was nominated for The Kilroys List in 2015 and was recently workshopped at Lewis and Clark’s Ray Warren Symposium on Race and Revolutionary Struggle. Other works include Path of Glory, The Great God of the Dark Storm Cloud, Jordan’s Wisdom, Overdue, Stand by Me, and This is Message Number 13. Her short play, A Wing and a Prayer was commissioned by Portland Center Stage and featured in the nationwide Play At Home project. As an actor and musical theater performer, she’s been seen in shows on Portland area stages such as: An Octoroon with Artist’s Repertory Theater with which she is a Resident Artist and a member of the Mercury Company, Men on Boats with Theater Vertigo, Into the Woods with Broadway Rose Theatre Company. She is also an international arts envoy who has performed in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt.

Blanca Forzan

Blanca (she/her) Lighting Designer, set designer and Writer, has a degree in Architectures from Del Valle de Mexico University, was a Banff Center Inter ( Canada), and worked with the National Institute of Fine Arts for over two decades ( Mexico City). Notables shows include : Faust (Brooklyn Academy of Music, N.Y ) and Hamlet ( Cadiz Spain ). Other credits : Bicycle Country (Aurora Theatre, Lawrenceville, G.A.) Octoroon and A Dolls House Part 2, La Ruta (Artist Repertory Theatre), In The Next Room (Portland State University, Men on Boats (Willamette University, Salem ) and Jump ( Confrontation Theatre) Mother Courage and Ruin Imago Theatre with Profile Theatre, Measure of a innocent Bag & Baggage, 2020, A Bright New Boise 2021 (Willamette University) A Christmas Carol 2021 (Portland Playhouse) In the Name of Forgotten Women ( Coho Theatre 2022) Neat with Passinart at IFCC 2022, Bella An American Tall Tale, Portland Playhouse 2022. The Hombres 2022 Artist Repertory Theatre. Blink (Third Rail 2022) Dia de los Muertos, Portland Playhouse 2022. Black Nativity (Passinart ,2022). 2023 El Huracan by Charise Castro Gable Stage Miami Florida. Happy to be for my first time here with Portland Revels.

Julio Montelongo

Julio (he/him) returns to the theater world with great excitement and glee after a ten year hiatus. A Southwestern Native, Julio began his roots in theater on the main stage throughout his Pre-K thru 12 grade education. While attending undergrad., Julio took some time to explore and create in different venues to find inspiration and joy before returning the main stage. A lover of adventure, community and a good laugh, , his driving inspirations to create are new experiences, wherever they may come from, every day people with a story to tell and whatever makes people laugh and feel comfortable. This will be his second production he has worked on post-hiatus, the first being with Bag&Baggage in Hillsboro.

Viola Horton

Viola is pleased to be working with the Design Team at Portland Revels. Her most recent show was “Spear” at Corrib Theatre, working as Costume Designer. Prior Shows include ”Myra’s Story” as Costume Technician with Lead Costume Designer Gregory Pulver, also with Corrib Theatre, “American Fast” as Lead Costume Designer with Artist Repertory Theatre, Costume Technician with Passinart Theatre in “A Song For Coretta”, Portland Playhouse in “Bella! An American Tall Tale”, and Artist Repertory Theatre in “The Children” with Lead Costume Designer Wanda Walden. Other collaborations include Costume Technician work on an independent film called “Gone Two”, with Lead Costume Designer Ashley Russell, and many other theatre productions around the Portland Metro area. She is the owner of Every Body’s Beautiful, sewing, tailoring and alterations and PanAfrican Hip, an Afrocentric menswear line that was featured in the Spring 2020 catalog edition of Africa Imports – Authentic African Fashions & More. She holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education, from Lewis & Clark College, and a certificate in Apparel Design from the Portland Fashion Institute. She and her husband Steve enjoy spending time with their daughter Stephanie and granddaughter Naomi, going to live theatre, play readings, travelling, spending time on the beach, and working on various home improvement projects.

Jenn Lindell-Evans

Jenn works as a paralegal at an immigration law office by day and is a freelance stage and production manager on nights and weekends. Since graduating from Reed College in 2014, Jenn has been happily immersed in Portland theatre, working with several companies around town. Favorite credits include Playhouse Creatures (Coho), Cabaret (Fuse Theatre Ensemble), King Lear (Portland Actors Ensemble), Hamlet/Romeo and Juliet (Salt and Sage), and Emerald Odyssey (The Portland Revels). Jenn has a passion for theatre education and loves making weird stuff with friends.

Kyra Sanford

Kyra Sanford is a freelance scenic designer, painter, technical director, and props designer, working for companies such as Corrib, Bag&Baggage, Broadway Rose, Northwest Classical, Coho, Milagro, and various others. She is currently the technical director and resident scenic designer at Clark College. She received her BFA in Scenic Design from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University. Instagram: @sanfordscenic

Johanna Ruefli

Johanna (she/her) has been with the Portland Revels since 2014. She has been stage managing since 2006. When not in the theater, she can be found backstage at concert venues hosting the VIPs. She does all of this for her Springer Doodle Millie, and Siamese cats Lucy and Laurie. In her spare time she skydives and was involved in helping the rebellion defeat the empire.

2024 Spring Revels:

At the Root

Revels presents a world premiere work by local actor/singer/songwriter Lo Steele, celebrating the bonds women build through the ritual of styling one another’s hair. At the Root features a series of short vignettes showcasing these rituals as markers of life transitions. Creating and honoring community with choral singing and audience participation, this is production not to be missed.

Story and Music By Lo Steele
Directed by Bobby Bermea
Musical Direction by Anthony Michael Shepard

Spring Revels ON TOUR!

A core part of our Spring Revels program is when we bring the productions on tour to community spaces, making the work accessible to a broader audience. Below are the dates, times and locations of our At the Root touring performances.

Please note that Revels is not handling the ticketing for any of our touring performances. Please contact each venue directly to reserve your tickets or get more information.

May 25: 1:30pm Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14th Ave, Portland, OR 97212
May 26: 3:00pm Majestic Theatre, 115 SW 2nd St, Corvallis OR 97333

Artistic Team

Bobby Bermea

Stage Director

Artist Bio

Interview

Anthony Michael Shepard

Music Director

Artist Bio

Interview

Lauren Steele

Playwright

Artist Bio

Interview

Cast

Marilyn Keller

Ensemble

Artist Bio

Netty McKenzie

Ensemble

Artist Bio

Bobby Bermea

Interview with Bobby Bermea

Anthony Michael Shepard

Interview with Anthony Michael Shepard

Lauren Steele

Interview with Lo Steele

Marilyn Keller

Netty McKenzie

Josie Seid

Blanca Forzan

Julio Montelongo

Viola Horton

Jenn Lindell-Evans

Kyra Sanford

Johanna Ruefli

2024 Spring Revels:

At the Root

At the Root

Artistic Team

Bobby Bermea

Anthony Michael Shepard

Lauren Steele

Cast

Marilyn Keller

Netty McKenzie

Josie Seid

Chorus

Victoria

Alvarez-

Chacon

Alex Gray

Roberta Suzette Hunte

Shirley Lincicum

Ashlee Radney

Hannah Rice

Stage Management and Designers

Jenn Lindell-Evans

Ian Anderson

-Priddy

Kyra Sanford

Viola Horton

Success!