The New Guard at Post5

Paul Angelo, Rusty Tennant and Patrick Walsh will take over the Sellwood theater.

Life changes when you move to Sellwood. That's true for theater companies too.

Post5 Theatre announced new leadership—the trio of Paul Angelo, Rusty Tennant and Patrick Walsh—since former co-directors Ty and Cassandra Boice are moving to Seattle. Ty Boice founded the company in 2011 with Orion Bradshaw and Jeff Gorham, and he oversaw its migration from the Mile Post 5 arts community to a renovated Sellwood church last November.

Paul Angelo - photo by Russell J Young Paul Angelo (Russell J Young)

Even after the Boices announced their move and Post5 entered an interim state, the shows went on, with the couple acting and directing through a strong 2015 showing that included a psychologically disturbed Equus and a comedic 1950s remake of Much Ado About Nothing.

Post5 founders Orion Bradshaw, Jeff Gorham and Ty Boice Post5 founders Orion Bradshaw, Jeff Gorham and Ty Boice

"The new leadership team will work with the Boice's through the New Year to ensure a smooth transition and a successful 2016 season," read the announcement from Post5's board of directors.

All three are Portland theater veterans and Tennant is a regular name at Post5.

"The sky is the limit for this company," he said. The new guard is rooting down but aiming high—"I'm genuinely excited at the prospect of working with this team to build something special in Sellwood," said Tennant. "Developing this ensemble and investing in our space in Sellwood are top priorities."

Rusty Tennant - photo from Fuse Theatre Ensemble Rusty Tennant (Fuse Theatre Ensemble)

It's "a dream come true," for Angelo, who said, "We can take what Ty and Cass have built and continue to watch it grow into a national powerhouse."

The mission stays the same: to "'hold a mirror up to nature with the inventive, effervescent storytelling of William Shakespeare and contemporary playwrights for all theatre audiences." And it sounds so Boice-ian that there'll be no forgetting the old guard, Sellwood and Seattle aside.

Cassandra and Ty Boice - photo from Post5 Theatre Cassandra and Ty Boice (Post5 Theatre)

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