Welcome to the first ever Portland Queer Arts Spectacular! At Portland Queer Arts we want to feature unapologetically queer-forward work and create the audience that can help support and bring these amazing stories into the world.

This performance is based on the belief that representation matters, and that through art, in all its many forms, we can seek our own truth, we can heal, and we can find hope for a better tomorrow.

It is our mission to tear down the boundaries that separate artists from their patrons. So, get to know these artists, take action to support their work and of course… enjoy the show!

  1. I Simply Cannot Do It Alone Val E. Dation
  2. Evolution Avery Gadling
  3. My Little Ribs Around You Fool’isha
  4. Boob Poem Sage Lilac
  5. Nirvana
    Kimo Camat
    w/ Juliet Terrill, & Mak Kastelic
  6. Love in Parts Kimo Camat
  7. Champagne & Sunflower Seeds
    Kimo Camat
    w/ Juliet Terrill, & Mak Kastelic
  8. Content Warning Avery Gadling
  9. Icicle Icicle Michael Gearheart
  10. MILK Franco Nieto
  11. Georgi e Precilla Alexander Frazier & Justin Montalvo
  12. Make It Clap Roxy Allen
  13. What What In da Butt? Val E. Dation
  14. Bro Duet Ariel Isakowitz & Justin Montalvo

Roxy Allen (They/Them)

Roxy Allen is a nonbinary queer teaching artist whose work is a reflection of their

life; messy, vulnerable, and beautiful. They are a death doula and stylist based in the Pacific Northwest. They have been involved in the national spoken word community since 2002, and have toured all over the PNW since 2012.

Roxy has worked as an organizer, volunteer and poet. They are the longest running consecutive champion in the history of the Eugene Poetry Slam, and have shared the stage with artists such as Buddy Wakefield, Andrea Gibson, Rudy Francisco, and Sabrina Benaim.

Garrett Bond (He/Him)

Garrett Bond currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director for the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. He is an avid conductor, composer, pianist, educator and singer. Garrett works as a clinician and educator in the Portland Public School district and surrounding areas. As well, Garrett is a part-time singer with the band Pink Martini. Thank you for supporting queer arts and thank you for being present in our community!

Photo Credit: Lee Gumbs

Annie Borden (She/Her)

Annie is from Seattle, Washington where she trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and then went on to receive her BFA in Dance at the University of Arizona. Since being in Portland she has worked with artists such as, Katie Scherman, Bodyvox Dance, Meredith Wilde, Kristalyn Gill, Greg Bielemeir, Josie Mosley and Shaun Keylock.

She is currently in her second season as a Company Artist with Open Space Dance, where she has the privilege of working with choreographers such as Franco Nieto, Noelle Kayser, and Elijah Labay.

Photo Credit: Briah Michel

Kimo Camat (He/Him)

Kimo is a Portland born performer who studied Drama & Theatre at University of Portland. Kimo is so thrilled to be part of the Portland Queer Arts Spectacular performing with bandmates Mak Kastelic and Juliet Terrill.

Kimo hopes to spend the next year continuing to produce his KIKI series as well as recording his first EP of original music. Drawing inspiration from genres ranging from classic soul, neo funk, and a dash of musical theater, Kimo hopes to produce poignant and relatable concerts for and about the LGBTQ+ community.

You can catch him next as Audrey II (aka Voice of the Plant) in Little Shop of Horrors at Triangle Productions! To read more about upcoming performances that Kimo is in, the KIKI Series, and other happenings, go to kimocamat.com

Photo Credit: Lee Gumbs

Two time Princess Grace award nominated Tony Carnell began their dance training at age nine. Originally from Boise Idaho, Tony started in the world of hip hop and eventually made their way into the world of classical ballet where they trained for nearly a decade, attending training programs, and apprenticeships all around the country.

Shortly after graduating high school, Tony accepted a company position as a soloist with a contemporary ballet company in Idaho where they were later promoted to principal dancer. During their time in Boise and aboard, Tony also worked for a variety of dance companies and organizations such as, Project flux, LED boise, Ballet Idaho, Alonzo Kings LINES BALLET, Whim Whim Dance company, Open Space Dance, Heidi Duckler dance company, and more.

Tony continues to work professionally in Idaho, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, performing and choreographing in the worlds of classical ballet, hip hop, contemporary and jazz, in addition to being an actor, model, producer, and director. Currently, Tony is represented by Go2Talent Agency in Los Angeles, California.

Tony Carnell (They/Them)

Photo Credit: Josh Windsor

Avery Gadling (It/He/Them)

Avery is a queer chaos crypted poet based in Portland, Oregon. Avery spends his time writing, dreaming, and cuddling their 4 legged daughter (who is, arguably, cooler than he is by far). Avery's work focuses on the magic within everyday action and intent, and his hope is that those who leave his shows know that they are not alone.

Photo Credit: Josh Windsor

Michael Gearheart (He/Him)

Michael Gearheart is a native of the Pacific Northwest and a former end of life caregiver, currently working on audio/visual collage, writing, and filmmaking. You can find more of Michael’s work on their YouTube channel, Spotify page, and at michaelgearheart.com, where their art uses empathy and whimsy in guided meditations on joy and distress.

Val E. Dation (They/Them)

Val, aka Ariel Isakowitz, is a professional dancer of over 10 years, with a career spanning three continents, in genres ranging from contemporary dance to musical theatre to street cabaret. They stumbled into drag shortly after moving to Portland, and have blossomed upon finally finding an art form large enough to allow them to fully express their queerness, in every form that it takes.

Who is Val? Val is raunchy. He is campy. She is sexy. Most of all though, they are REAL. In and out of drag, Val/Ariel is obsessed with bringing authenticity everywhere they go. Val is a generous girl, and he just wants everyone to be happy. After all... the world would be a better place if everyone could just have a lot Val E. Dation inside of them… 😉

Photo Credit: Greg Parkinson

Mak Kastelic (He/They)

Mak is a professional musician & music teacher turned environmentalist. He is the music director at Broadway Rose Theatre Company, and a musician at Lakewood Center for the Arts.

Matt Katz (He/They/Her)

Matt Katz is an accomplished musician with credits as songwriter, producer, and arranger for records and live performances. In addition to his audio work, Matt continues to play keys and sing backup vocals as a session worker and in various bands, as well as teach private piano and voice lessons. Matt believes if you have a song to sing, you should sing because no one is going to sing it for you!

Photo Credit: Josh Windsor

Sage Lilac (She/Her)

Sage Lilac, the 2024 Portland Poetry Slam Champion, is a transgender spoken word poet living in Portland, Oregon. She has been performing works on the ambiguity of gender and holding trauma softly for close to ten years. At any given time you might find her sitting in silent meditation or working in the garden where she lives and trains at Dharma Rain Zen Center.

Photo Credit: Corey Rives

Fool’isha (He/Him)

Fool’isha (also known as Justin Montalvo) is a NYC native, restless world-traveler and multi-faceted theatre artist. Justin received his BFA in Acting from CalArts before very quickly becoming disillusioned with the acting industry, and discovered Fool’isha while sorting through the wreckage of his past. She is equal parts Drag, Theatre, and Public Service Announcement. Justin is delighted to bring her to the west coast and honored to be in the company of such a wonderful cornucopia of fellow queer artists. Haribol!

Photo Credit: Jason Hill

Franco Nieto (He/Him)

Princess Grace Award winner Franco Nieto was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. He made the unconventional switch from football to ballet in his teenage years and has now taught and danced in over 10 different countries and performed with the likes of Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John.

Franco spent 10 years as a principal dancer with NW Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, where he toured the world and worked hand in hand with the leading minds in choreography to create and bring to life countless original works. His early training came from the Vancouver School of Arts & Academics and Columbia Dance, and his formative line of choreography was born from his mentorship with Tracey Durbin. He graduated with his BFA in Jazz from Point Park University. Franco, is a founder and Artistic Director of Portland’s newest contemporary dance company and School, Open Space Dance.

Photo Credit: Jason Hill

Open Space Dance

Open Space is a creative container for dance and movement where every body is welcomed. From community classes for adults, to professional training at their dance school, everyone is welcome to embrace wonder, move freely, and explore their body in a judgment-free zone where curiosity is encouraged and play is the way.

Whether you have professional training or it is your first time at a studio, there is room for you to learn and grow at Open Space. You'll find mentorship, high caliber training in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and more all wrapped up in fun classes that let you embrace your authentic self.

For their shows, Open Space brings together great minds in contemporary dance for an interdisciplinary approach that harnesses the creativity of Portland artists from all backgrounds to create bold performances grounded in movement.

Tonight’s performance includes Open Space Artistic Director Franco Nieto, alongside company artists Annie Borden and Audrey Wells.

Patrick Rowley (He/Him)

Patrick recently graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Sonic Arts and Music Production. During his studies, he was an active member of the Rose Choir.

His performing arts journey began in Florence, Oregon, where he participated in band and choir and performed annually with Last Resort Players and Children’s Repertory of Oregon Workshops (CROW).

This year, Patrick joined the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, continuing to pursue his passion for singing.

Patrick aspires to build a career in music production and inspire the next generation of artists.

Photo Credit: Lisa Haagen

Juliet Terrill (She/Her)

Juliet Terrill is a bassist and songwriter from Houston, Texas. Her career has taken her everywhere from touring across continents, billboards in Times Square, and the bar down the street. She currently plays with her own band Juliet and the East, performing queer musical storytelling songs of a broad variety of genres.

Photo Credit: Lee Gumbs

Audrey Wells (She/Her)

Audrey is a Company Artist with Open Space Dance, a creative container for dance and movement where every body is welcomed.

Production Credits

Mejee Lutcher
(He/Him)
Production Manager

Charlie Nicholson
(He/Him)
Stage Manager

Joey Matias-Torres
(He/Him)
Stage Crew

Quinn Moxley
(He/Him)
Follow Spot

Special Thanks To

Josh Windsor
(He/They)
Photography

Riya Kataria
(She/Her)
Social Media Intern

Glenford Kennedy
(He/Him)
Volunteer

Ry Ott
(They/Them)
Volunteer

Santi St. James
(They/Them)
Volunteer

Robert Textor
(He/Him)
Volunteer

Jojo Sabin
(He/Him)
Volunteer

Portland Queer Arts is able to accept tax deductible donations through a generous fiscal sponsorship agreement with the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus.

Through this agreement, donations made to PGMC on behalf of Portland Queer Arts will go directly to support our programs and initiatives!

Portland Queer Arts is proud to have the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus serve as our fiscal sponsor as we await our official recognition as a non-profit charitable organization under IRS 501(c)(3) rules.

You can donate now by texting the code "PDXPQA" to 44-321, or click the button below to donate now!

Sponsored in part by:

A Portland Queer Arts Foundation Program

© 2024 Portland Queer Arts, Inc.