Local teen featured in Oregon Children’s Theatre play

A Camas boy has landed the featured role in the upcoming Oregon Children’s Theatre production of “On the Eve of Friday Morning.”

Jordan Karlous, 14, will play the character “Bahad.”

The original production features Nassrin, a young girl in modern Iran whose father has just been arrested for smuggling banned books.

To ease Nassrin’s fears, her mother tells an ancient story. Concurrently, Bahad, an orphan boy from a thousand years past, listens as a story teller narrates the same tale.

The two worlds intertwine as Nassrin and Bahad step into the story and meet a poor twig-gatherer, a spoiled princess, and the mysterious and powerful Mushkil Gusha — the Remover of Obstacles. Through the story, they learn about the universal values of kindness and generosity.

According to a press release, Karlus is an eighth-grader at Skyridge Middle School, and has attended the OCT Acting Academy. He enjoys improvisational comedy, joking with his friends, playing Washington Soccer Association Select soccer, and hip hop dancing.

The production will be held Feb. 26 through March 20, Saturdays, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., at the Winningstad Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway, in downtown Portland. Ticket prices range from $16 to $26 each, and can be purchased by calling (503) 228-9571 or at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.octc.org.