Sixth POTUS comes to life on Keizer stage

With the nation’s 250-year anniversary coming up, Keizer’s local theater company is presenting a play about a noted figure in American history.

Keizer Homegrown Theatre will stage “JQA” in June. The play by Aaron Posner follows the life of John Quincy Adams, the sixth U.S. president.

The play opens June 12 and runs for three weekends at the theater in the Keizer Cultural Center, 980 Chemawa Road N.E.

Adams, son of the second U.S. president John Adams, became president in 1825. In his earlier tenure as secretary of state, he crafted policies that led some historians to consider him the architect of American foreign diplomacy, but his goals as president were stymied by an unreceptive Congress.

A press release describes him as “a brilliant diplomat, ineffectual one-term president, and congressman known for his eloquence, arrogance and integrity.”

Director Jay Gipson-King, a North Salem High School teacher outside of his theater work, said the play is timely due to the nation’s focus on the 250th anniversary this year. While it follows a historical figure, he said the story offers political commentary relevant today.

He said he hopes the audience will leave the theater “thinking about their duty as citizens in this country.”

Each of the play’s six actors will play the titular character once, Gipson-King said. The play is a series of two-person scenes, and the actors will rotate through different characters.

Throughout the story, Adams interacts with other historical figures, including George Washington, Frederick Douglass, Andrew Jackson and his father.

The play opens June 12 with performances at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays for three weekends. There also will be 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays, June 14, June 21 and June 28.

General admission tickets cost $15 dollars, or free with an Oregon Trail card. Tickets can be purchased on the theater website.

The cast includes Emily Adela Loberg, Jessica Peterson, J.T. Reid Thya Robinson, Rick Sanders and Danna Swanenberg.

A McNary High School graduate, Megan Rosevear, is stage manager, and the costumes are made by Jeri Gamaney.

Emily Adela Loberg, left rehearses “JQA” with Jessica Peterson. (Jay Gipson-King photo)

Rick Sanders, left, and J.T. Reid lean on a desk while rehearsing for “JQA.” (Jay Gipson-King photo)

Jessica Peterson, left and Thya Robinson stand at the front of the stage with Emily Adela Loberg, Danna Swanenberg and Rick Sanders standing at the back. The actors are rehearsing “JQA.” (Jay Gipson-King photo)

NEWS TIP? Contact reporter Krista Kroiss at [email protected].

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