The recepients of the 2007 Oregon Literary Fellowships have been announced and Portland’s own William S. Gregory is the recipient of this year Walt Morey Fellowship for Drama.

Out-of-state judges selected 10 writers and two publishers to receive grants of $2,500 each. A reception in February 2008 will honor this year’s recipients.

William Gregory (”Sam” to his friends) is a longtime member of PCS’s PlayGroup. His famed esprit and the unexpected humanity of the humor in his plays has resulted in the epithet “Portland’s answer to Oscar Wilde.” Recently, you may have caught Sam’s contribution to PlayGroup’s incredible Frenching the Bones Halloween performance event.

Sam is also the creative mind behind, in recent years, Gift of the Gods (Classic Greek Theatre), Child of Pleasure (CoHo Productions), Edward II (adapted from Marlowe for Triangle Productions) and Fuente Ovejuna (adapted from Lope de Vega for Miracle Theatre Group).

As a party trick, Sam (in collaboration with maestro Rick Lewis) can write a fully realized original musical number in under 20 minutes. He showed off this talent at Portland Center Stage’s annual Commission! Commission! event two years running.

As we reach the end of the year, I encourage everyone to open up their hearts and their wallets and give what they can to non-profits that benefit their local community.

If part of your giving this year should run to the arts and culture (and, if you’re reading this, it probably should!) please remember the Oregon Cultural Trust and the amazing tax credit available when you match your arts giving. 

I’m going to let Governor Ted Kulongoski explain it:

 “The arts, heritage and humanities form the rich fabric of Oregon culture. And with a strong cultural climate comes a strong economy and more united communities. Cultural institutions – and the businesses that support them – employ thousands of Oregonians across the state. These institutions also attract visitors from around the world, who spend millions of dollars each year in Oregon communities large and small. As Governor, I have continued funding for cultural agencies whose mission is to strengthen arts and culture in Oregon. This year we made a major reinvestment in culture, history, art, movies and preservation, and now there is opportunity to build on that great success. So, today I urge all Oregonians to invest in our cultural legacy by contributing to the Oregon Cultural Trust.

Every year since 2002, the number of donors to the Oregon Cultural Trust has increased over the previous year as more and more people learn about the benefits of the Trust to Oregon and taxpayers. With the powerful incentive of Oregon’s unique cultural tax credit, 12,000 Oregonians have contributed to the Trust and the permanent endowment has grown to more than $7 million. We want this trend to continue.

Making a contribution is easy – and smart. If you have made a donation to an Oregon cultural nonprofit, your matching gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust qualifies as a state tax credit, a dollar for dollar reduction in the tax you owe, up to $500 for individuals, $1,000 for couples filing jointly, and $2,500 for Oregon corporations. You can see a complete list of qualifying nonprofits and learn more about the tax credit by visiting www.culturaltrust.org. You can also contribute to the Trust online. Or call 503-986-0088.

The Oregon Cultural Trust is Oregon’s way of saying that culture in our communities is important – and that every Oregonian can play a role in supporting it.

Earn your own credit for culture. Make a gift in any amount to the Cultural Trust this year. Thank you.”

Cost of admission: make a gift of any size to one or more of the many arts & culture nonprofits who’ll be at the party. Then, make a matching gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust.

It’s a fun way to use part of your state kicker check to “kick some dollars to culture!”

Food, drink, entertainment, and prizes will be provided.

5:30 – 8:00 pm.

Portland Center for the Performing Arts, 1111 SW Broadway at Main.

Visit here to learn more and to RSVP.

Today, Friday, December 7th, is the last day on the job for Bob Hicks, long-time theater critic and arts editor for the O.  Bob has spent the last 30 of his 34 years as a journalist in Portland focused on the arts.  His adroit criticism and analysis of performance in our burg has been invaluable in shaping Portland’s unique scene and his advocacy and support have been a major boost for three decades.

As a way to say thank you, members of the PDX theater community banded together to surprise Bob with an ad in today’s A&E bidding him a fond farewell and announcing a gift in his honor to the Portland Area Theatre Alliance’s Valentine Fund.

And Bob posted a message on the PATA Greenroom website in response.

You will be missed, sir!

Topping the ranks of $10-50m revenue companies is Gerding Edlen Development, a major supporter of Portland Center Stage and the Amory Theater Fund. Not only are they #1 in the “Medium Companies” list, their cash contributions (in excess of $800,000 last year) would rate them 14th place on the highly competitive $50m+ “Large Companies” ranks. Wow!

Massive philanthropists on the “Large Companies” list include:

• our Main Stage Season sponsor, KeyBank
• our Production sponsor for A Christmas Carol, The Standard
• our Educational Programs sponsors, NW Natural and Umpqua Bank
• our vital corporate partners at U.S. Bank and Nike

Some other Portland Center Stage supporters who were recognized: RBC Dain Rauscher, Stoel Rives LLP, Vernier Software & Technology, PGE, Bullivant Houser Bailey, Saks Fifth Avenue, Norris Beggs & Simpson Co. and Miller Nash LLP.

Thank you to these businesses and all of the companies who support professional theater in Portland.

We couldn’t do it without you!