Arts, Entertainment and Events, Communities, Front Page, Oakridge/Westfir

Commentary: For the spirit-lifting Spotlight Project, it’s time for the spotlight — and a standing ovation

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Loren Christopher Michaels

By DOUG BATES/Editor/The Herald — The lead illustration with this commentary may look like an ad, but it isn’t. It’s free space The Herald is giving to Oakridge-Westfir volunteers who have worked literally hundreds of hours over the past year to bring live performing arts back to town in the face of a morale-crushing pandemic.

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Bringing more than just a couple of cameras and a few lights into the mix, ‘The Spotlight Project Presents’ plans to give its viewers a ‘live’ experience that will offer a full talk show set for interviews with guests, a main stage show utilizing four separate camera angles to enhance the experience, along with a high-end broadcast system that should make this streaming production something to remember. Loren Christopher Michaels photo

Take a bow, Loren Christopher Michaels, Rachel Nehmer and a cast of many others whose creative energies will culminate Sunday, May 16, in the premiere of The Spotlight Project Presents. The family-friendly variety show, streaming at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live, will feature musical guests Kai Botak and Kerri Vanden Berg, magician Jeff Martin and special guest Mayor Kathy Holston, and will be hosted by actor and director Becky Chamberlain.

The show will also feature a segment called Community Corner with Catrina Davis, highlighting local artisans, businesses and special events in our community.

The founders of the not-for-profit project, Michaels and Nehmer, have spent the past nine months renovating the old stage at the Willamette Activity Center in Oakridge. In that time, with the help of several volunteers, they have repainted the stage, resurfaced the floors and installed curtains, lighting and sound equipment along with building a complete broadcast system to give local talent a safe environment to share their talents with the people of Oakridge, Westfir and beyond.

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A set on the newly rebuilt stage at the Willamette Acitivity Center in Oakridge. Loren Christopher Michaels photo

The format of The Spotlight Project Presents is part talk show and part variety show with guest interviews and live stage performances. There will be a different broadcast every other Sunday at 7 p.m. starting with the May 16th premiere.

To watch these live broadcasts go to https://www.facebook.com/Spotlightingtalent and click on The Spotlight Project Presents Facebook Live event to reserve your seat today.  (Note for non-techies like yours truly: For most users, Facebook Live is a feature of the social network that uses the camera on a computer or mobile device to broadcast real-time video to Facebook. Michaels’ Spotlight Project is taking the feature to a whole new level.)

Loren Michaels,oakridge,performing arts,spotlight project
Michaels has a long and varied career as a magician, illusionist,actor,director and musician.

Michaels, who achieved an extensive and successful career in show business before settling in Oakridge, wants this project to be what he calls “a blessing to uplift the spirits and give the talented a forum – a place for those theater people who are invested in show business to come back to.”

It’s a blessing, indeed, for a community that has long supported the performing arts. Any who care to donate money or materials toward The Spotlight Project may contact [email protected].

In the meantime, mark your calendars for 7 p.m. Sunday, May 16. It’s been far too long since the stage lights have been switched on in Oakridge, and a grateful community needs to support those who have worked so hard to bring live entertainment back into our lives.

Herald Editor Doug Bates is a retired newspaper journalist who lives in Oakridge.

 

 

 

 

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