Willamette Week The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. From Stage to Sketchbook, Clever Enough’s Artistic Director Never Stops Creating My essential seven: Valerie Asbell From stage to sketchbook, Clever Enough’s artistic director never stops creating. (Garry Bastian) Hamlet, she decided that Ophelia (whom she was playing) should be a chess prodigy. “I know the chess metaphor has been done to death, but I was like, ‘Screw it. I don’t care. I’m doing it anyway.’” Asbell says. “I think that life is kind of like a chess game. You play your move the best you can—and sometimes you’re a pawn in life and sometimes you’re the queen and sometimes you’re whatever.”