Oregon
Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 'Coriolanus' set to premier Tuesday – Ashland News – Community-Supported, NonProfit News
The play features an all women and non-binary cast to share one of Shakespeare’s Roman tragedies with audiences
By Cameron Aalto, Ashland.news
“Coriolanus,” one of Shakespeare’s most rarely produced plays, hits the stage Tuesday, July 23, in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Thomas Theatre.
Directed by Rosa Joshi, the play tells the story of a powerful yet starving population and a war-hero turned politician. In his attempt to be made consul, he offends the civilian plebeians and is rejected not only by the population, but also tribunes who exiled him from Rome.
The Roman tragedy is described by Joshi in an email interview as “a complex story with a complicated central character. Coriolanus is not clearly sympathetic but also not a clear villain who you can ‘love to hate.’ He’s a war hero with a deep sense of integrity on his way to the highest political office in the state — the hitch is that he has to beg for it from the common people, and he despises the common people. And he can’t hide it like the other politicians in the play do.”
When asked why people should attend the show, Joshi shares, “the production is infused with stylized movement that supports the story telling” which can be seen through “(a) mob that is a ‘hydra,’ soldiers storming a city, actors transforming before your eyes into different characters.” She describes the production as “visually dynamic and highly physical,” and adds that “the ensemble of actors who make the play are amazing — the virtuosity of their performance, I think, will captivate an audience.”
Joshi explains that the depth of Coriolanus’ character is one of the reasons that she decided to direct the play: “at the same time, Coriolanus is a fascinating character who has real vulnerability, humanity and depth — and that is what really draws me to this play. There’s no easy answers and I find that absolutely entrancing.”
Originally approached to direct the show by Portland Center Stage, Joshi writes that the small cast size and themes of leadership applicable to contemporary circumstances were additional motivations: “I was approached to do this play initially by Portland Center Stage as a workshop exploring if we could do it with a small cast. That was exciting as it invited a level of theatricality that is compelling to me. And I’m always interested in plays that examine the nature of leadership. I think in a democracy it is always essential for us to explore what we want in our leaders. It’s what keeps (Shakespeare’s) history plays alive and relevant to me as a contemporary American citizen.”
The plays official description states that its “themes of ambition and delicate democracy … will particularly resonate during an election year.” When asked about the parallels that viewers might see, Joshi explains, “I’m always thinking about how a classic play that is centuries old will connect with a contemporary audience. I think the politics of ‘Coriolanus’ will resonate with (the) audience. While Coriolanus is definitely the central character, this is also the story about a down-trodden populace manipulated by ambitious, duplicitous politicians who are in turn threatened by a revered but unpredictable war hero. The politicians in the play don’t love the people, but they know how to hide their disdain in order to stay in power.”
‘Coriolanus’ event at Bloomsbury on Sunday
To learn more about the play with translator Sean San José, adapter and director Rosa Joshi, and president and co-founder of Play on Shakespeare Lue Douthit, join Bloomsbury Books for their conversation and book signing of “Coriolanus.” The event will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at Bloomsbury Books. For more information, click here.
She states that “the circumstances (of the play) and the political dynamics are definitely familiar” and that “(u)ltimately it’s a story for me about the fragility of democracy itself. Does democracy work? And this felt like an approach that would speak to who we are in the world today.”
In a unique approach, “Coriolanus” will feature a full cast of women and non-binary actors. The production, presented by OSF and Portland Center Stage, is also partnering with Upstart Crow Collective.
Upstart Crow Collective reimagines classical plays by “producing racially diverse casts of women and non-binary people.”
Joshi states that “the choice of cast is very intentional. It comes from a desire to create more opportunities for women and non-binary people in the Western classical canon and also to examine how we experience these stories when these actors occupy the stage. We don’t change the gender of the characters on stage, we focus on playing the truth of character and on telling the story. And then when you do this, things that we ‘take for granted’ get thrown up into the air and we start to question the ‘norms’ of gendered behavior.”
In addition to this, Joshi says that the opportunity of an all-woman and non-binary cast provides the opportunity “… to see incredible actors take on roles they don’t normally have access to playing. And it opens up who can tell these stories. It allows young women and non-binary people to imagine themselves in these classic plays in new ways. And it (allows) all of us to experience how truly expansive Shakespeare can be — how the plays can hold all of humanity inside them.”
The eight-person cast of Coriolanus “telling this epic story we get to engage with (is) a kind of theatricality that I love,” said Joshi. Some actors will play both characters with power and characters without, “senators turn into citizens on stage on a dime,” she says. Because of this, Joshi explains that viewers can see each character’s humanity: “when you have the people in power played by the same actors as the common people, (…) a certain shared humanity comes through. The oppressors literally become the oppressed right before your eyes. It’s the kind of storytelling that I find thrilling and that can only happen in the theater — where an audience leans in and actively engages their imagination to create the world.”
“Coriolanus” is scheduled to run from July 23 to Oct. 13 with preface events offered by OSF at Carpenter Hall.
To order a ticket, click here.
Ashland.news intern Cameron Aalto is a recent graduate of Southern Oregon University. Email him at aaltoc@sou.edu.
Oregon is losing a second edge defender to transfer.
Blake Purchase will enter the transfer portal, he announced via X. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
“I want to start by thanking God for this journey and everything that has come with it,” Purchase told DenverSportsMedia.com. “Thank you to my family for the continued love and support they have given me. I’m forever grateful for these past three seasons at the University of Oregon. The lessons l’ve learned here will stay with me for a lifetime. Thank you to all the coaches who poured into me and helped me grow as both a person and a player. And to my teammates – the bonds we built are forever. You are my brothers for life.”
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Purchase had 32 tackles (4.5 for loss) with two sacks, one interception and one pass breakup this season. His 352 snaps on defense ranked 14th for UO this season.
Purchase had two tackles while redshirting last season and five tackles as a true freshman in 2023.
A four-star recruit out of Cherry Creek (Colorado) High School, Purchase was the No. 294 overall prospect and No. 34 edge defender in the class of 2023 in the 247Sports Composite.
Purchase will be the sixteenth scholarship player to transfer from UO this offseason, joining defensive backs Jahlil Florence, Dakoda Fields, Solomon Davis, Sione Laulea, Kingston Lopa and Daylen Austin, receivers Justius Lowe and Kyler Kasper, quarterbacks Austin Novosad and Luke Moga, offensive lineman Lipe Moala and running backs Jay Harris, Makhi Hughes and Jayden Limar. Oregon has 79 projected scholarship players in 2026.
Despite a strong start and competitive effort for much of the night, Oregon State men’s basketball fell apart down the stretch of a 82-76 loss to University of Portland on Saturday night at Chiles Center.
A corner three-pointer by Mikah Ballew buried the Beavers (9-10, 2-4 WCC), putting Portland up 78-70 with just 1:10 remaining.
The Pilots (9-10, 2-4 WCC) had four players in double figures: Cameron Williams with 23, Jermaine Webb Balsinger and Joel Foxwell with 18 apiece, and Ballew with 16.
The Beavers were led by Olavi Suutela with 19 points and Johan Munch with 14. Dez White, Josiah Lake II and Yaak Yaak each had 10, and OSU out-shot the Pilots — 47% to 43% — but untimely turnovers and missed shots hurt them in the second half.
OSU came out hot, taking a 18-8 lead early in the first half including 12 points from Suutela. It got up to 24-15 before the Pilots mounted a response.
Turnovers and miscommunication by the Beavers on offense led to a 8-0 run by Portland. OSU clung to its lead for a while, but Portland took its first at 31-30 late in the first half.
The Pilots carried a 39-38 lead into the break.
Coming out of the half, after some back and forth, the Beavers went on an 11-1 run — fueled by the scoring and defensive effort of Suutela, and inside play of Noah Amenhauser — to take a 54-45 advantage at the 13:11 mark.
Turnovers reared their ugly head once again for the Beavers, though, and a pair of jumpers by Joel Foxwell cut the OSU lead down to 56-53.
Portland retook the lead, 57-56, with 10 minutes remaining. With an increased energy on both ends of the floor and OSU missing open shots, the Pilots led 66-63 with six minutes remaining and never relinquished it.
Portland’s defense smothered OSU in the halfcourt, and Wayne Tinkle’s side couldn’t find an easy basket, settling often for one-on-one opportunities rather than consistent and meaningful ball movement. Portland led, 71-68, with 3:19 to go.
Trailing by nine, Lake II hit a three-pointer to cut it to six with five seconds left. Too little, too late for the Beavers as they slipped back below .500.
Next game: Oregon State (9-10, 2-4 WCC) vs. LMU (11-7, 2-3 WCC)
- When: Wednesday, Jan. 14
- Time: 7:00 pm PT
- Where: Gill Coliseum, Corvallis
- Stream: ESPN+
ATLANTA – The Oregon Ducks’ 56‑22 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl ended their national championship dreams, leaving heartbreak in its wake.
The defeat brought flashbacks to last year’s season-ending 41‑21 Rose Bowl loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, who went on to win the National Championship. Overreactions are rolling in as frustrations boil. While Oregon’s chances at winning its first-ever National Championship may be over, the sky isn’t falling in Eugene.
Indiana beat Oregon in all three phases, and the Ducks looked clearly inferior to their Big Ten foe. Still, amid the humbling loss, Oregon coach Dan Lanning and his team demonstrated leadership and resilience. Lanning didn’t bash his players or dwell on errors… instead, he led in the locker room, turning this lopsided loss into a potential turning point – a learning experience- that this core group of Ducks can utilize next season.
The comment section can be a rough place the day after the game. Some of the once-Oregon mighty turned quickly on the coaching staff and even some of the players.
Emotional responses are natural after back-to-back lopsided playoff losses, but Oregon’s program under Lanning remains strong. The facts speak volumes.
The 39-year-old has compiled a 48‑8 record, notching double-digit wins in each of his first four seasons. He ranks fourth all-time in wins among Ducks head coaches and has guided Oregon to consecutive College Football Playoff appearances, a Big Ten Championship, and victories in the Orange, Fiesta, and Holiday Bowls. Oregon is the only FBS team to win 13 games in each of the past two seasons, tying the program record set in 2025, 2024, and 2014.
Dan Lanning enters his fifth season as head coach at Oregon. It took Dabo Swinney nine seasons to win his first national title at Clemson before becoming a perennial contender. Kirby Smart captured his first championship in his sixth season at Georgia.
Lanning’s loyalty to Oregon has been clear amid the constant coaching carousel – something Ducks fans shouldn’t be quick to forget.
Dan Lanning’s Leadership Under Pressure
There are two moments that illustrate Lanning’s leadership from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The game couldn’t have started any worse for Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. On the very first play, Moore threw a pick-six. As Indiana teammates ran to congratulate cornerback D’Angelo Ponds on his big play, Lanning didn’t flinch. The coach found his quarterback, and immediately picked him up. Lanning spoke to Moore for a good 20 seconds after the turnover delivering a message amid a stadium full of Hoosiers fans in a frenzy. Lanning provided the calm in the chaos.
The next drive, Moore seemed to regain his composure, leading the Ducks on a 14-play drive and throwing a 19-yard touchdown to tight end Jamari Johnson.
It was a brief highlight but an important one that shows the true colors of Lanning when the chips are down.
Another moment came after the loss. In his postgame press conference, Lanning was asked what Moore can learn from the lopsided loss. Lanning took the opportunity to shield Moore from singling him out. He instead focused on how the entire team can learn from the experience.
“I think every man can learn from adversity,” Lanning said. “I just told that whole locker room, right, this is going to be about how you respond in life. This is going to be a life lesson that a lot of people never get. We just got our butt kicked. Right? That’s going to happen in life, right, and not just Dante. Every single person in the locker room, every coach, every person can learn, ‘Hey, how do you respond to that?’ Some people crawl into a hole, right, don’t face the music.”
“Some people say, ‘Okay, let’s figure it out. Let me challenge myself so I can be better. Let me be an example of how you handle moments like this.’ I think there is a way to handle that. Dante has been exceptional. Bryce, these guys have been exceptional, stewards of what we wanted to look like all year long. And it’s gone right for us 13 times. Didn’t go right tonight. And you can’t let that overshadow,” Lanning said.
MORE: What Dan Lanning Said After Oregon’s Loss to Indiana
MORE: Instant Takeaways From Oregon’s Playoff Loss to Indiana
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Turning The Defeat Into A Life Lesson
Oregon’s team is led by mostly underclassmen. Moore is 20 years old, and freshmen like Dakorien Moore, Jordon Davison, Brandon Finney, Aaron Flowers, and Dierre Hill Jr. play prominent roles. The Ducks’ youth was evident, yet it also presents an opportunity: Oregon ranks second nationally behind North Texas in touchdowns scored by both true freshmen (26) and all freshmen (29). This season, 35 true or redshirt freshmen have taken the field.
On the other side, Indiana fielded a much older team, with an average age around 23 years old. If the Ducks’ inexperience was their Achilles heel this season in the playoff, they certainly got a lifetime of experience in 60 minutes vs. Indiana and coach Curt Cignetti.
Lanning did his part by helping his team process the loss without letting it define them.
“Every one of us has unbelievable disappointment. Learn from it. But there’s a lot of lessons to be learned for everybody in life, and we’ll learn the hard lessons here. And you know what, most people will never be in the position where they get to learn that lesson that we get to learn on. These guys were in that position,” Lanning said.
Experience Matters In The Playoff
A trend is emerging in the College Football Playoff: the most experienced quarterbacks often find the most success. This year’s National Championship game will feature Miami quarterback Carson Beck and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Beck, 23, has played 54 college games over six seasons. Mendoza, 22, has played 35 games over three seasons.
Moore has played 29 games, but this was his first season as a full-time starter. If he returns to Oregon for 2026 instead of taking his talents to the NFL, he will join the ranks of the more experienced quarterbacks in college football.
The Ducks are losing integral players to the program in linebacker Bryce Boettcher, running back Noah Whittington, kicker Atticus Sappington, receiver Gary Bryant Jr., offensive linemen Isaiah World, Alex Harkey, Matthew Bedford and Emmanuel Pregnon… to name a few. Lanning made sure to highlight the contributions of the seniors after their final game as a Duck when he described the hardest part of being in the locker room after the loss.
“You hurt for those guys because the world is going to judge everybody in that room based on the result tonight. I’m going to judge those guys on the kind of fathers they become someday, the kind of husbands they become someday. But in this moment, you feel like a failure, right, for them, and they’re not. They’re not failures. These guys won a lot of damn ball games. They’ve had a lot of success. They’ve changed some people’s lives, but right now, that moment is going to hurt,” Lanning said.
“And the hard part, you know, you got guys like Bryce (Boettcher) that they don’t get to be a Duck anymore. They will be a Duck forever, but he does not get to go wear that uniform and go play a game for us again. I really wanted that for them, really wanted them to be able to enjoy that and experience that, and they don’t get to,” Lanning continued.
The Ducks fell short of their National Championship goal, but the guidance of Lanning and the lessons learned by Oregon’s young core set the stage for next season.
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