For this episode of Territory Tales we met with Andrew Edwards, Executive Director of the Lakewood Theatre Company and the Lakewood Center for the Arts. We were absolutely charmed by his artistic spirit. While he had a background in musical theater from high school, it wasn't until he auditioned for the Freshmen Plays in college that he got the itch for performing on stage. He met a professor who he formed a life-long friendship with and who taught Andrew about a word he called "theatrition," which means to value and understand all the roles that go into the making of a theater production. From acting to lighting to costume design to ticket sales, it all has to happen for a show to succeed, and Andrew was all in!
Eventually he made his way to the Lakewood Theatre Company, which is the oldest continually operating theater company in the Portland metro area. As the parent organization for the Lakewood Center for the Arts, the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, Lakewood Center Associates and the Lakewood Gallery, Andrew is deep in the trenches of the art scene there, so, we jokingly referred to him as the director of all things ARTS in Lake Oswego. While he wouldn't take the title, he did agree that Lake Oswego has really become the city of arts, and he's proud of the Center's contributions to that title.
Beyond their amazing theater productions, they offer endless classes, and are a hub for artists, actors, musicians and novelists. Give this podcast a listen for the full scoop on Andrew and Lake Oswego arts!
You can watch the video below or listen to the podcast under the video. Note: Podcast episode was originally filmed Nov 2019.
