2018 Fertile Ground Festival Guide

FESTIVAL GUIDE

JANUARY 18–28, 2018 ABUNDANT ACTS OF CREATION IN PORTLAND!

®

A C I T Y - W I D E F E S T I VA L OF NEW WORKS

PATA PORTLAND AREA

THEATRE ALLIANCE ®

WELCOME TO Message from the Director Our Portland festival is a nine-year strong labor of love where innovation abounds, ideas can be explored and “acts of creation” run rampant—and if you’re reading this, you’ve got a part in the success of this city-wide celebration of new work!

Art-making in all its forms—theatre, dance, visual, comedy, film, just to name a few —is an incredible investment of time and effort, an inspired dedication to creation.

Likewise, this labor of love extends throughout all participants in the Fertile Ground. From the artists, producers (sometimes one and the same) and their friends and loved ones who support their endeavors, to all of the folks behindthe-scenes and at theatres and performance spaces all over town who go the extra mile and give just a little more to support Fertile Ground. But it is also the audiences of both curious arts-lovers and artists who are accomplices in this labor of love. You all are out seeing these “acts of creation,” giving artists permission and encouragement by demonstrating your belief in the value of new work by being present and open to the adventure of Fertile Ground.

Fertile Ground is an incubator for new work in all forms of art creation— and that creation includes you. I invite you to join this creative process, this conversation between artist and audience, and explore what Portland’s abundant arts scene has to offer.

In this year’s festival we will see theatre in its short and long forms, musical theatre, circus arts, sketch comedy, improvisation, animation, a wide variety of dance disciplines, as well as the voices of youth and lesser heard voices, and shows that are derived from audience participation.

Once again, this year’s crop of offerings includes a dozen-plus works from PDX Playwrights, Artists Rep’s lunchtime reading series, Lake Oswego’s Lakewood Theatre with a handful of readings, lots of dance from Groovin’ Greenhouse at Polaris Dance Theatre, and, back this year, is animation arts with HOMEBREW: A PDX Animation Showcase.

Fertile Ground is unique program of Portland Area Theatre Alliance, of which is a blessing to over a thousand artists and audiences. We continue to be supported by the incredible people at Artslandia who have become a vital voice for all things going on in the Portland arts scene.

You embrace your sense of adventure when you are a part of Fertile Ground.

I invite you to get out there and try something new this year. Will you love everything you see? Maybe not, but I believe you’ll relish the expanse of artistic expression overall.

Grow forth on your labor-of-love adventure and thank you for the part you play, Nicole Lane Fertile Ground Festival Director

It Takes a Village…

With recognition and deep thanks to the many people who make Fertile Ground thrive each year through their volunteerism and support: This phenomenal 11-day Fertile Ground Festival comes together every year because of the wide array of people who generously contribute their time, talents and support to allow this one-of-a-kind new work festival to thrive each year, among them are: Dre Slaman and the Board of Directors of the Portland Area Theatre Alliance, all the Fertile Ground Festival committee members, Caitlin Barile and Becky Fernandes with Box Office Tickets, Misty Tompoles and the entire crew at Artslandia, Lauren Emery with PDX Playwrights, Sara Anderson with Polaris Dance Theatre, the warm welcome at Artists Repertory Theatre for so many events, our enduring sponsor The Oregonian/OregonLive.com, the attentive Portland media for intrepidly celebrating this deluge of artistic events over just 11 days, all of our marketing table ambassadors and the venues that generously hosted us, and to the dozens of producers and artists who have staked their projects in Fertile Ground to watch them grow!

FERTILE GROUND COMMITTEE NICOLE LANE ������������������������������������������� Festival Director DRE SLAMAN..................PATA Board Fertile Ground Chair ABBY CHRISTOPHER ����������������������Social Media Manager GARY CORBIN ��������������������������� Festival Pass Coordinator /BOT Specialist ANDY LINDBERG ��������������������� Website & Graphic Design LISA JOHNSTON-SMITH.......................Cover Art/Designer JENNI GREENMILLER ���������������������Volunteer Coordinator JESSICA GLEASON ������������������ Festival Guide Copy Editor MADDIE ODEGAARD ��������������������������Marketing Assistant ANDREW GOLLA �������������������������Artists Producer Liaison TRISHA MEAD �������������������������������������������������������Founder COMMITTEE AT LARGE: Carol Kimball, Nancy Matthews, Karen O'Donnell Stein, Scott Stephens

WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS

PATA

®

PORTLAND AREA

THEATRE ALLIANCE

THANKS! Special thanks to these Fertile Ground donors:

Bennett Battaile, Howard Cutler, Kyle Fuchs, Joseph Galante, Ignacio Gonzalez, Robert Holub, Ronni Lacroute, John Manson, Margie Miller, Virginia Oshel, Karen Paladino, Steve Perkins, Tiffany Rousseau, Gary Taliaferro, Danelle Till, Benson Schaeffer, James Ward, Gretchen Young Extending our gratitude to all of you donors who WILL donate in support of Fertile Ground!

Contributions, large and small, help seed new work in Portland with this unique festival. Fertile Ground is a program of the Portland Area Theatre Alliance, a 503(c)3 non-profit organization. You donations are fully tax deductible. Your contribution ensures that new art will continue to flourish in Portland.

2

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

2018 WORKS LISTINGS 4x4: A Collection of One-Acts | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS................................ 15 A Bed of My Own | DOVERHAM PRODUCTIONS Sponsored by Corrib Theatre... 17 Alaska | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with Artists Rep.................. 7 An Unqualified Genius | STANFIELD + JOURDEN PRODUCTIONS............... 7 Ape Comedy: long-form improv & sketch comedy | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS & THE APE THEATER............................................................ 14

A Teaspoon of Water: Contemplative Salon | BE SPACE/LIFE ART BEING... 7 A Woman in Washington’s Army | LAKEWOOD THEATRE COMPANY...... 15 Bi- | MILAGRO THEATRE..................................................................................... 7 But I’m Special! | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS......................................................... 13 Crazy Dukes Instant Play Fest | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS................................ 15 Daisy Dukes Shorts Night! | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS...................................... 10 Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump | YOCTOTHEATRE......................... 9 Death of a Cranky Philosopher | MASQUE ALFRESCO & HART THEATRE. 18 Fertile Ground 2018 Kick Off Party | PORTLAND AREA THEATRE ALLIANCE................................................................. 12

Gone | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with Artists Rep.................. 19 Grand Junction | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with Artists Rep........................................................................................................ 10

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 | FEATURING POLARIS DANCE THEATRE &

ALEXANDER DONES.......................................................................................... 21

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 | FEATURING POLARIS DANCE THEATRE &

GALEXI............................................................................................................. 13

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 | FEATURING POLARIS DANCE THEATRE &

NW FUSION...................................................................................................... 19

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 | FEATURING POLARIS DANCE THEATRE &

POLARIS JUNIOR COMPANY & NEO YOUTH COMPANY..................................... 12

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 | FEATURING POLARIS DANCE THEATRE &

VITALITY DANCE COLLECTIVE............................................................................. 10

Heaven Or Helen | LATE BLOOMERS INC.................................................... 11 Hell Door Boogie | ELIZABETH ROTHAN in partnership with Portland Actors Conservatory.................................................................................................... 17

HOMEBREW 2017: A PDX ANIMATION SHOWCASE |

ARTFUL RAVEN STUDIO..................................................................................... 14

How The Light Gets In | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with

Artists Rep........................................................................................................ 18

I Love You/Who Are You | PORTLAND CIVIC THEATRE GUILD..................... 16 Interlocus: Between Space & Time | TIFFANY ROUSSEAU...................... 10 Just This One | WHINK PRODUCTIONS........................................................ 11 Like you Mean It | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS........................................................ 21 Living Things: A Musical Anthology | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS.................... 14 Long Story Short: 10 minute plays | PCC STUDENTS.............................. 8 Love and Diseases | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with Artists Rep.......................................................................................................... 7

Magellanica | ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE................................................. 12 Matter Is Mother | COHO PRODUCTIONS & JULIA BRAY............................. 16 My Audience with Angels, Saints and Demons | LAKEWOOD THEATRE COMPANY....................................................................... 12

New York Nights | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS........................................................ 15

Not Safe for Adults (a play for kids!) | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS

in association with Artists Rep.......................................................................... 20

One Off! - Completely Improvised One Act Plays |

LAKEWOOD THEATRE COMPANY....................................................................... 17

Out of the Blue | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with

Artists Rep........................................................................................................ 18

Parnassus On Wheels | LAKEWOOD THEATRE COMPANY........................... 15 Performing Artists Summit | RISK/REWARD in partnership with Artists Rep........................................................................................................ 21

Persephone Xoa Iris | IZUMI PRODUCTIONS................................................ 7 Petite Dams | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with Artists Rep..... 16 Philip’s Glass Menagerie | COHO PRODUCTIONS...................................... 8 Portland’s Mini Musical Festival | LIVE ON STAGE.................................... 8 Real People. Not Actors. | SPRING 4TH PRODUCTIONS............................. 10 Remain(s) | ORPHIC...................................................................................... 19 Revelations | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS................................................................. 22 Rosa Red | THE BROKEN PLANETARIUM........................................................ 13 Sable and The Forest | THEATRE VERTIGO.................................................. 16 Sex We Can! An Erotic Uprising | DANCE NAKED PRODUCTIONS........... 18 Spellbinders | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS & NORTHWEST THEATRE WORKSHOP..... 17 Stranger Than Fiction | ECHO THEATER COMPANY..................................... 11 Strangest Yellow | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with Artists Rep........................................................................................................ 17

That Midsummer | TWILIGHT THEATRE........................................................ 11 The Contract | CONFRONTATION THEATRE.................................................... 15 The Crazy Dukes Instant Play Festival Launch | PDX PLAYWRIGHTS.. 11 The Doctor and the Devil | PLURALITY THEATRE GROUP............................. 8 The Godd Couple | BIALYSTOCK & BLOOM.................................................. 21 The High Captain | CLINTON STREET THEATER............................................... 8 The Inheritance | GIGI ROSENBERG.............................................................. 9 The Jade Decanter | ARTFUL RAVEN STUDIO............................................... 14 The Phantom of Oz | CINDY BROWN & THE WILLAMETTE RADIO WORKSHOP.......................................................................................... 22

The Pumphrey Family Reunion: An Oregon Valentine | JESTER EDUCATIONAL THEATER........................................................................ 13 The Storyteller | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with

Artists Rep.................................................................................................................... 10

Three Sisters | NORTHWEST CLASSICAL THEATRE COLLABORATIVE................. 9 To Be Determined… | CRAFTSMAN THEATRE COMPANY............................ 19 Truth AND Dare | ROGUE PACK.................................................................... 20 Uncle Vanya –Scenes from Life in the Country in Four Acts | PETE.. 9 Velvet (working title) | THEATRE VERTIGO................................................. 16 Voodoo Snowball | NORTHWEST THEATRE WORKSHOP & PDX PLAYWRIGHTS........................................................................................... 18

Winter | MEG MORRIGAN.............................................................................. 13 Young Playwrights Festival | LAKEWOOD THEATRE COMPANY................ 20 Young Playwrights Series | LINESTORM PLAYWRIGHTS in association with Artists Rep.......................................................................... 21 FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

3

FERTILE GROUND 2018 Calendar THURSDAY JAN 18

8pm

Stranger Than Fiction

An Unqualified Genius

That Midsummer

Ape Comedy: long-form improv and sketch comedy

12pm

Alaska & Love and Diseases

9pm

An Unqualified Genius

7pm

A Teaspoon of Water: Contemplative Salon

The Crazy Dukes Instant Play Festival Launch

An Unqualified Genius

9:30pm

Persephone Xoa Iris

Fertile Ground 2018 Kick Off Party

7:30pm Bi-

Long Story Short: 10 minute plays

Philip’s Glass Menagerie

Portland’s Mini Musical Festival

The Doctor and the Devil

The High Captain

The Inheritance

Three Sisters

Uncle Vanya

9pm

Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump

FRIDAY JAN 19

12pm

Living Things: A Musical Anthology 1pm

HOMEBREW 2017: A PDX ANIMATION SHOWCASE

2pm Magellanica

2pm

A Teaspoon of Water

A Woman in Washington’s Army

My Audience with Angels, Saints and Demons

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018

featuring Polaris Dance

Theatre & Polaris Junior

Company & Neo Youth Company

Interlocus: Between Space & Time

Magellanica

New York Nights

The Pumphrey Family

Reunion: An Oregon Valentine

Portland’s Mini Musical Festival

Philip’s Glass Menagerie

Winter

Rosa Red

4pm

Rosa Red

The High Captain

5pm

The Inheritance

The Pumphrey Family Reunion

12pm

Grand Junction

7pm

But I’m Special!

6pm

The Storyteller

7pm

Daisy Dukes Shorts Night!

Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump

Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump

Interlocus: Between Space & Time

5pm

4x4: A Collection of One-Acts

Heaven Or Helen

Persephone Xoa Iris

7pm

An Unqualified Genius

Interlocus: Between Space & Time

Crazy Dukes Instant Play Fest

Heaven Or Helen

Persephone Xoa Iris

Parnassus On Wheels

Real People. Not Actors.

The Contract

7:30pm Bi-

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018

featuring Polaris Dance

Theatre & Vitality Dance Collective

7:30pm Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018

featuring Polaris Dance Theatre & Galexi

Bi

Just This One

Portland’s Mini Musical Festival

Three Sisters

2:30pm Stranger Than Fiction

7:30pm Uncle Vanya

MONDAY JAN 22

Philip’s Glass Menagerie

The Doctor and the Devil

Just This One

The High Captain

12pm

Petite Dams

Portland’s Mini Musical Festival

The Jade Decanter

7pm

Persephone Xoa Iris

Three Sisters

The Contract

Philip’s Glass Menagerie

Uncle Vanya

7:30pm

I Love You/Who Are You

The Doctor and the Devil

Matter Is Mother

The High Captain

8pm

Stranger Than Fiction

That Midsummer

Three Sisters

A Teaspoon of Water

Velvet & Sable and The Forest

Uncle Vanya

9pm

8pm

Winter

4

SATURDAY JAN 20

SUNDAY JAN 21

FERTILE GROUND 2018 Calendar TUESDAY JAN 23 10:30am Hell Door Boogie

8pm

Rosa Red

Sex We Can! An Erotic Uprising 8:30pm

To Be Determined…

5pm

The Inheritance

7pm

Daisy Dukes Shorts Night!

Mr. President – Letters to Trump

I Love You/Who Are You

12pm

Strangest Yellow

7pm

One Off! - Completely Improvised One Act Plays

12pm Gone

Persephone Xoa Iris

7pm

Persephone Xoa Iris

Spellbinders

Voodoo Snowball

The Contract

A Bed of My Own

7:30pm

7:30pm

A Bed of My Own

Remain(s)

Matter Is Mother

Death of a Cranky Philosopher

The Jade Decanter

Velvet & Sable and The Forest

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 featuring Polaris Dance Theatre & NW Fusion

The Doctor and the Devil

Three Sisters

WEDNESDAY JAN 24

Just This One

Truth AND Dare

Philip’s Glass Menagerie

12pm

Out of the Blue

7pm

Persephone Xoa Iris

Real People. Not Actors.

7:30pm

Parnassus On Wheels

Three Sisters

8pm

Rosa Red

Winter

THURSDAY JAN 25 12pm

How The Light Gets In

7pm

Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump

Persephone Xoa Iris

Real People. Not Actors.

Voodoo Snowball

FRIDAY JAN 26

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 featuring Polaris Dance Theatre & Alexander Dones

Just This One

Philip’s Glass Menagerie

8pm

Sex We Can! An Erotic Uprising

Stranger Than Fiction

The Doctor and the Devil

The Godd Couple

The Inheritance

Three Sisters

8:30pm To Be Determined…

Truth AND Dare

9pm

8pm

Sex We Can! An Erotic Uprising

8:30pm To Be Determined…

9pm

Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump

Spellbinders

SATURDAY JAN 27 12pm

Not Safe for Adults (a play for kids!)

2pm

Long Story Short: 10 minute plays

Philip’s Glass Menagerie

Winter

The Doctor and the Devil

Young Playwrights Festival

Three Sisters

3pm

Performing Artists Summit

Living Things: A Musical Anthology

SUNDAY JAN 28

Stranger Than Fiction

Death of a Cranky Philosopher

Death of a Cranky Philosopher

Remain(s)

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018

featuring Polaris Dance

Theatre & Polaris Junior

Company & Neo Youth Company

7:30pm

7:30pm

12pm

Like you Mean It

Young Playwrights Series

2pm

But I’m Special!

The Phantom of Oz

Three Sisters

2:30pm Stranger Than Fiction 4pm

Just This One

5pm Revelations 7pm

4x4: A Collection of One-Acts

One Off! - Completely Improvised One Act Plays

Real People. Not Actors.

7:30pm Death of a Cranky

Philosopher

8:30pm To Be Determined…

5

HOW TO USE this guide

FESTIVAL

PASSES ONLY

50!

$

SEE AS MANY AS YOU CAN

GET IN!

Buy and manage your reservations at www.boxofficetickets.com Or by email fertileground@boxofficetickets.com Reservations required. Based on availability. Buy and learn more fertilegroundpdx.org

Events are listed chronologically by date and time, then alphabetically by producer. Full listings for each event appears only once on the first date of the show. Please see full listing date references for additional information.

FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE

Fertile Ground is ecstatic to offer festival-goers a wide variety of world premiere projects. Listings that fall under “Fully Staged World Premiere” typically mean the show is fully formed and ready for the stage, to include design and technical support (light, sound, set, costumes, props), so that audience members will have a world premiere theatrical experience. However, for some in this category fully formed means the producer/creator has developed a new show that they are ready to share with the public.

Some of these shows have performance dates that extend beyond the festival weekends—check listings for complete run dates and try to catch them all.

DANCE

Dance and theatre performances share common (fertile) ground in their development process and often in their form and presentation. Although founded in the theatre arts, Fertile Ground is an opportunity for audiences to experience a diversity of art forms. This year, we are delighted to offer once again the wide variety of companies and choreographers who make up the Polaris Dance Theatre’s Groovin' Greenhouse.

FILM/ANIMATION

New “acts of creation” come in many art forms! This year, we welcome back HOMEBREW: A PDX Animation Showcase, which will bring viewers new works in the craft of animation. Get curious and see what these Portland artists are making for the screen this year.

6

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

WORK SHOP

These projects are not quite ready to premiere, but are straining to be on their feet in front of an audience in a big way.

These workshop productions are a wonderful opportunity to see a piece that is on the road to completion and perhaps lend your thoughts to its end product. Workshop performances are striving to get ready for the next step in the process toward a world premiere and your presence and input can help them do just that.

STAGED READING

Most works of theatre have a multi-stage journey before they hit the stage as a world premiere. A staged reading is one point in that trajectory.

More than a script reading, a staged reading involves actors bringing a script to life with stage movement (blocking) and sometimes working through some design and technical ideas.

READING

Take a chance! Come listen in as a playwright, with actors, shares the dialogue of a script with an audience—often for the first time, sometimes with fresh revisions, and always seeking input. This is your opportunity to participate in the development of a play. These readings often feature some of Portland’s best playwrights and actors, and will give you a unique glimpse into the plays that will grace our stages of the future.

FESTIVAL ENRICHMENT

This is your opportunity to hear first-hand from a panel of theatre-makers about the process of getting new work to the stage, trends in new work and ideas artists are germinating for the future. Once again, Jerry Tischleder, Artistic Director of Risk/Reward will bring together some of Portland’s independent theatre, dance and hybrid art-makers at Artists Rep to discuss what’s on their minds.

THURSDAY

18

JANUARY THEATRE

LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

Love and Diseases

By Brianna Barrett Directed by Jason Potter

Alaska

by Audrey Block FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 18 @ 12pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free A double solo show extravaganza. About Love and Diseases: A camera. A cancer diagnosis. True love. Romantic comedy.

When a young woman in her early 20s faces a serious illness, the threads of her life come together in surprising and unusual ways. About Alaska. Alaska: where the state sport is dog mushing, the state marine mammal is a bowhead whale, and the land mammal is a moose. Alaska: a place where a teenager can work a summer job as a tour guide without memorizing actual facts.

Alaska: where the state motto should read: “Live Free AND Die Here. Horribly.”

THEATRE SALON Be Space/Life Art Being presents

A Teaspoon of Water: Contemplative Salon

Created in Ensemble by Dana Broeck, Kristin Gordon George, Beth Lorio, Zorwyn Madrone, Megan Phillips, Elizabeth Russell, Reeva Wortel FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18 @ 7pm; Jan 20 @ 9pm; Jan 21 @ 2pm VENUE: Vibrant Studios, 1532 SW Jefferson St. TICKETS: $15 BUY TICKETS: be-space.org; 512-460-9414 An amalgam of two rich traditions — Contemplative Practice and the Evening Salon—A Teaspoon of Water seeks to bring the performer and the audience to the same floor in an intimate exchange.

Mindful, heartful, depthful creation arises from the space between.

At The Community Altar: Generosity & Joy! holding openness & flexibility, structure & form.

The personal is political, this dance is for everyone.

Rearranging and reconfiguring perception to reveal utopia within dystopia.

Inviting budding, wild seeds to emerge as red parrots and curiosity; Reminding and reweaving what’s possible in our human being-ness, transforming chaos and confusion into authentic expression.

At The Community Altar, drop into presence— honeyed, vibrant presence.

NOTE: The performance on Sunday, Jan 21 is a Special Extended Version with an opportunity for the audience to participate in collaborative creation with the ensemble.

THEATRE READING Stanfield + Jourden Productions presents

An Unqualified Genius

By Richard Herstek Directed by Richard Herstek FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 21 @ 7pm; Jan 19, 20 @ 9pm VENUE: Headwaters Theater, 55 NE Farragut St. TICKETS: $15 suggested donation; Pay What You Like BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org; or at the door The cast and crew of the Nightshade Theatre Company struggle to find its way when Dmitri Drabek, director and spiritual head of the troupe, dies suddenly.

They have been performing Dimitri’s (incomprehensible) avant-garde work for 15 years. And they have no idea what to do next. Posturing, pretentiousness, political agendas and creative differences set off one argument after another. But in the midst of their bickering, a discovery is made. Dmitri’s final, unfinished play. Now the cast has a mission—to stage one final performance of Dmitri’s work, putting on the show of their lives that will cement his immortality as an Unqualified Genius.

In the middle of rehearsing what they believe will be Dimitri’s glorious send-off, however, they come to realize that Dmitri was a complete hack. That everything he ever wrote was “avant-garbage.” And their careers have all been one big joke.

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Milagro Theatre presents

Bi-

Written & directed by Georgina Escobar Choreographed by Gabriela Portuguez FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 19 & 20 @ 7:30pm ADDITIONAL RUN DATES: Jan 11, 12 & 13 @ 7:30pm; Jan 14 @ 2pm VENUE: Milagro Theatre, 425 SE 6th Ave. TICKETS: $25–$32 BUY TICKETS: Milagro.org; 503-236-7253 Inspired by a collection of provocative real-life stories from across America, a two-spirited guru takes us on a journey that delves deep into bicultural, bilingual, bisexual, and binary sensibilities.

Through movement, object manipulation, investigative theatre and music, Biwill break open the boxes of selective classification and raise the question, “What is your ‘bi-dentity'?” Bi- is a story of “What if ” of an unknown place and time, inspired from the book Flatland, by Edwin Abbott, written in 1884, in which geometric beings create their own societal classism. In the tale of Bi-, La Tierra Plana is a place where young people want to break out of categories and face the dangerous unknown in a brave new world.

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Izumi Productions presents

Persephone Xoa Iris

By Gretchen Peterson FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 @ 7pm VENUE: Taborspace, 5441 SE Belmont St. TICKETS: $15 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org; at the door A Myth. A Memoir. A Mission. Storyteller Gretchen Peterson performs three original stories in an intricate and poignant one-woman show. First, Persephone’s Promise re-imagines the Greek myth of the goddess split between her mother and her husband. Next, Xoa (Zoh’ uh) is the amusing personal narrative of the heretofore unknown Greek goddess: The goddess of women who love women.

Finally, Iris Eldinger: Superhero tells the astounding tale of a brand-new superhero. Drawing upon mythology, lesbian history, and comic book ethos, Gretchen’s enchanting trilogy reveals the fierce passions, frustrated paths, and the

MANAGE YOUR FESTIVAL PASS AT BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM OR EMAIL FERTILEGROUND@BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

7

fiery enlightenment of women who love women. Over the span of eight shows, Gretchen will perform Persephone Xoa Iris in three different Taborspace venues at the historic Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church. On 1/18, 1/23, and 1/25, absorb the subconscious vibe of the subterranean theatre in the Dining Room. On 1/19 and 1/22, enjoy the cozy intimacy of the Copeland Commons Coffee House, and on 1/20, 1/24, and 1/26, revel in the hushed majesty of the Sanctuary. Three great venues—one great performance!

THEATRE WORLD PREMIERE 10-MINUTE PLAYS PCC Students present

Long Story Short: 10 minute plays

Writers & directors: Tayde Ramirez, Richard Sangeleer, John Pfeil, Jake Edgar, Garrett DeRose, Matt Sorensen & David Traynor; Creative Advisor: Gail Jeidy FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 25 @ 7:30pm VENUE: MAHB 104 Auditorium, Portland Community College, Cascade Campus, 705 N. Killingsworth St. TICKETS: Free Six Portland Community College playwrights walk their works onto the stage in Long Story Short: 10-minute plays. The plays were written in PCC Creative Writing Scriptwriting classes and celebrated in a handbook of 10-minute student plays produced Summer 2017.

“This is our world premiere,” says Gail Jeidy, Scriptwriting instructor and creative advisor to the performance.

“Students are drawn to this short form which gives full voice to their stories.” The diverse works pose questions of sexuality (Enough Wine to Kill a Horse - Sorensen) and coming to terms with family in the AI age (Sage - Pfeil). One pits a maniacal visionary against a female job-seeker (The Role Modeling Agency - Edgar) and another explores what happens when an everyday shopper meets a sentient selfcheck-out station (Barcodes - DeRose).

There’s a complete telenovela in under 10 minutes (Beautifully Ugly - Ramirez) and a tortured take on the writing process (Last Call - Sangeleer). Playwrights Tayde Ramirez, Richard Sangeleer, John Pfeil, Jake Edgar and Matt Sorensen direct their original works. Garrett DeRose’s Barcodes comes to life under the direction of David Traynor. (Language advisory)

THEATRE WORKSHOP CoHo Productions presents

Philip’s Glass Menagerie

Written & directed by Philip Cuomo FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 @ 7:30pm; Jan 21 @ 2pm VENUE: CoHo Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh St. TICKETS: $20 BUY TICKETS: cohoproductions.org; 503-220-2646 A gentleman caller, a collection of fragile glass animals, and Isaac Lamb as a Southern Belle in a big dress! Silent film elements and physical comedy highlight this poignant, hilarious and whimsical telling of Tennessee Williams’ story of family facades, dreams of escape, and the reality of everyday. Join Isaac, Philip and the CoHo Clown Cohort as they hop, skip, jump, and trip the light fantastic, while the Wingfields ask, “If a mime drops a glass unicorn, does it make a sound?”

MUSICAL THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Live On Stage presents

Portland’s Mini Musical Festival

By Chanda Hall, Lisamarie Harrison, Mont Chris Hubbard, Aubrey Jessen, Mark LaPierre, Reece Marshburn, Kurt Misar, Marianna Thielen & Matthew B. Zrebski Directed by Diane Englert & Kelly Wetherald Music Direction by Darcy White FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 19, & 20 @ 7:30pm; Jan 21@ 2pm VENUE: Portland’5 Center for the Performing Arts, Brunish Theater, 1111 SW Broadway TICKETS: $28.50; $20 students BUY TICKETS: liveonstage.us; 503-902-5052 Here is your chance to see a bunch of new musicals all in one night! Join Live On Stage for Portland’s own festival of all new musicals and check out six-brand new 15-minute musicals by local writers and composers. Last year’s festival was a huge hit with sold out performances.

Brett Campbell from Oregon ArtsWatch wrote Portland’s Mini Musical Festival was “one of the most enjoyable theatrical experiences of the year.” Our 2018 festival is ALL NEW and promises not to disappoint! We’ll delve (albeit briefly) into musical tales of battling wizards and

warlords, reality show drama queens, strangers united by a fatality, work friends who didn’t get the memo, and more! We are thrilled to have many of your favorite musical theatre performers in this year’s festival. And the intimate Brunish Theater is an intimate setting for these little gems; there is not a bad seat in the house. All mini musicals are accompanied by a live band. Now, grab your tickets and your friends and join us for the perfect night out for every musical theatre lover!

DEVISED THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMERE Plurality Theatre Group presents

The Doctor and the Devil

Created collaboratively by the director, performers & designers Directed by Mac Kimmerle FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 @ 7:30pm VENUE: New Expressive Works, Studio 2, 810 SE Belmont St. TICKETS: $15 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org 500 years ago, a story surfaced of a great doctor who sought to decipher the machinations of the universe and existence. His relentless search drove him to exchange his soul for power and knowledge. The Doctor and the Devil revives this historic myth of Doctor Faustus in a poignant experimental work that seeks to break the boundaries of Being. Humanity has become capable of so much since the days of Faustus, and our access to knowledge and power is only growing as we push further into our technological future. What is our relationship to the digital world we have created? What is our relationship to our growing exposure to knowledge? Through meditating on the myth of Doctor Faustus, this expressive piece of experimental theatre questions our relationship to our ever-growing capacities, and our quest for meaning.

THEATRE WORKSHOP Clinton Street Theater presents

The High Captain

Written & directed by Joe Jatcko FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 19, 20 @ 7:30pm; Jan 21 @ 2pm VENUE: Clinton Street Theater 2522 SE Clinton St. TICKETS: $10 advance; $15 door; no one turned away BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org

FESTIVAL PASSES ONLY $50 A Cultural Adventure! RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. BASED ON AVAILABILITY. INFO AT FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG 8

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

Exactly one year into an uncharted era in American presidential politics, this bold, new satire poses a simple question: Is our current political climate any less surreal than one whose leaders are high on gas fumes? Several shipwrecked barge workers attempt to set up a government on their desert island home, a task complicated by the fact they are all high on their vessel’s petroleum cargo. Faced with the challenges of forming a new nation, sides are taken, and an election is held to determine the new “captain” of the island. A singularly bizarre and original theatre experience, The High Captain seeks to provide catharsis, perspective— and maybe even a little hope.

SOLO PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP Gigi Rosenberg presents

The Inheritance

Written & performed by Gigi Rosenberg Directed by Michael Griggs Dramaturgy by Seth Barrish FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 26 @ 7:30pm; Jan 20, 27 @ 5pm VENUE: Performance Works NW, 4625 SE 67th Ave. TICKETS: $15 advance; $20 door BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org A firstborn daughter of the 1960s navigates her fractured family of origin to make sense of her inheritance. Excerpts from earlier versions of this workshop production have been performed at Portland Story Theater and in the solo show workshop at New York City’s Barrow Group Theatre.

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative presents

Three Sisters

by Anton Chekhov Directed & adapted by Patrick Walsh FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27 @ 7:30pm; Jan 21, 28 @ 2pm ADDITIONAL RUN DATES: Jan 12,13, 17 @ 7:30pm; Jan 14 @2pm VENUE: The Shoebox Theatre, 2110 SE 10th Ave. TICKETS: $25; $20 students/seniors BUY TICKETS: nwctc.org In its first outing since the critically acclaimed Waiting For Godot, NWCTC returns to the Shoebox Theatre to stage an exciting new adaptation of this classic of modern drama. Adapted and directed

by Patrick Walsh, the production boasts a

cast of 14 fresh faces to NWCTC audiences as well as a bold approach to Chekhov’s masterwork. The production will also move to the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon as part of a unique outreach program, built off of the new, collaborative production model.

Written in 1900 and first produced in 1901, Three Sisters was Anton Chekhov’s first commission for the Moscow Arts Theatre. Often described as a metaphor for the decline of elite coupled with the search for meaning in a modern world, Chekhov offers us three sisters—Olga, Masha, and Irina and their brother Andrey—who led a cultured life in Moscow but are forced to live in a “lifeless” provincial town for a decade. Each sister longs to return to Moscow, where they can resume their former lives. Their struggles among themselves (and their entanglements with a visiting regimental army), propel each of the sisters between hope for a better future and despair for their current situation.

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE PETE presents

Uncle Vanya – Scenes from Life in the Country in Four Acts

A version of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya Translated & adapted from the original Russian version by Štepán Šimek Directed by Cristi Miles FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 19, 20, 21 @ 7:30pm ADDITIONAL RUN DATES: Jan 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17 @ 7:30pm VENUE: Diver Studio Theatre, Performing Arts Building, Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.

TICKETS: $30; $25 (35 & under, 65 & older) BUY TICKETS: petensemble.org What will people in 200 years say about us? Anything good? In collaboration with local musicians, Courtney Von Drehle (Three Leg Torso, Klezmocracy), Ralph Huntley (Livewire, Klezmocracy) and Andre Temkin (Chervona), PETE endeavors to reawaken Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya with a brand new translation by Štepán Šimek. Routine life in the country is upset by the arrival of the famous professor and his beautiful wife. Productive days have turned into lazy afternoons of flirting and raucous nights filled with drinking and political arguments, dramatic love triangles and

bawdy brawls about the meaninglessness of life. All at the estate end up questioning their life’s purpose and meaning. Just like any family get together! PETE members Jacob Coleman and Amber Whitehall will be joined by Portland favorites Maureen Porter, Victor Mack, Joellen Sweeney, Lucy Paschall and Portland newcomer Prentice Onayemi.

THEATRE WORKSHOP YOCTOtheatre presents

Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump

Written & directed by Mary Rose & Sean Bowie FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 18, 26 @ 9pm; Jan 19, 20, 25, 27 @ 7pm VENUE: Headwaters Theatre, 55 NE Farragut St. TICKETS: $15–20 suggested donation; Pay What You Will BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org Let’s pretend … and let’s say you win a contest and get to write a message to the 45th POTUS which he is guaranteed to read. Do you thank him? Scold him? Tear him the proverbial “new one”? Reason with him? Manipulate him? Seduce him?

Sing a song? Try to change his mind? … You have one chance … What do you say? How do you communicate? It’s up to you. YOCTO has taken submissions from people all over the place with different points of view sharing their thoughts and feelings on the anniversary of the event that has shaken up the world like a boggle bubble! YOCTOtheatre, the company that brought you the smash hit CockTales and a couple of other shows you may or may not have heard of, is presenting this new show for Fertile Ground 2018. We shall commemorate the one year anniversary of President Trump’s inauguration by banding together and delivering our messages to the oval office … of our imaginations.

FESTIVAL PASSES $ O N LY

50!

Buy and manage your reservations at www.boxofficetickets.com Or by email fertileground@boxofficetickets.com Reservations required. Based on availability.

Buy and learn more fertilegroundpdx.org

MANAGE YOUR FESTIVAL PASS AT BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM OR EMAIL FERTILEGROUND@BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

9

FRIDAY

19

JANUARY THEATRE

LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

Grand Junction

By Rich Rubin Directed by Pat Moran FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 19 @ 12pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free A comedy-drama about sisters, new beginnings and pie. Finalist for the 2018 Portland Civic Theatre Guild New Play Award. Approximately 90 minutes (no intermission).

THEATRE LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

The Storyteller

By Sara Jean Accuardi Directed by Caitlin Fisher-Draeger FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 19 @ 6pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free Randi has lived off the grid with her father for as long as she can remember.

She knows better than to question things—at least, until recently. Now she wants to know everything. She wants to know her story. But who’s going to tell it?

FESTIVAL PASSES O N LY $

50!

Buy and manage your reservations at www.boxofficetickets.com Or by email fertileground@boxofficetickets.com Reservations required. Based on availability. Buy and learn more fertilegroundpdx.org

THEATRE

DANCE

WORKSHOP PDX Playwrights presents

Polaris Dance Theatre presents

Daisy Dukes Shorts Night!

By PDX Playwights Directed by Julie Akers FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 19, 27 @ 7pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org A juried selection of eight shorts based on the phrase “Now is the time,” these plays explore the theme in wildly different, compelling ways. Don’t miss this urgent and thoroughly modern collection from Portland’s finest playwrights! Henry Brimble Tackles the Big Awesome by Steve Lohse, NOW by Miriam Feder, Rest Stop Confidential by Adam Harrell, The Kiss of Botrytis by Danna Schaeffer, A Blue Tarp Christmas by Carol Weliky, Now No Now

by William Levesque, American Blight and Myosotis Love by Charlie LaTourette.

THEATRE STAGED READING Tiffany Rousseau presents

Interlocus: Between Space & Time

By Tiffany Rousseau Directed by Benjamin Vawter FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 19, 20 @ 7pm; Jan 21 @ 2pm VENUE: The Vault, Bag&Baggage Productions, 350 E Main St., Hillsboro TICKETS: $5 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org Samantha, a young barista living in Portland, Oregon has the little-known ability to step out of time. Though the time limit on her ability is only five minutes, it’s enough for her to use it as a way to forget the past. That is, until she meets Ethan, a young writer who can also step out of time.

As they try to navigate their newfound friendship, Samantha wrestles with her anxiety and recent loss of her mother and Ethan attempts to find a deeper connection with Samantha. Meanwhile, Samantha’s father, Craig looks for a way back into his daughter’s life after ending up on the streets due to depression and joblessness.

This story, inspired by the poetry of Pablo Neruda, is an exploration of moments in life that feel like the interlocus, the playwright’s given name to the space between a lightning flash and a thunder clap. It is a space in time when everything seems to halt after the sight, waiting for the sound, a moment when time stops and everything can change.

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 featuring Polaris Dance Theatre & Vitality Dance Collective

VENUE: Polaris Dance Theatre, 1826 NW 18th Ave. FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 19 @ 7:30pm TICKETS: $18–22 BUY TICKETS: polarisdance.org Polaris Dance Theatre presents Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with a series of world premiere dance works. Polaris, along with other Portland established and emerging dance companies and choreographers are working to present brand new works in Polaris Dance Theatre’s intimate black box theatre. Each evening will include a performance by Polaris Dance Theatre’s professional company. Artistic Director and resident Choreographer Robert Guitron steps aside to give his company dancers the reins to choreograph their own fellow dancers. Exciting new works include solos, duets, trios and full company pieces.

Caley Hernandez, Faith Morrison, Trevor Wilde, Mar Undag, Daniel Do, Taylor Baker, Lucy Dillon, Natalie Press and Katie Gunderson will all create short new works for this exciting run of Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with the addition of a few Polaris Dance Theatre alumni! This evening’s program is shared with the intriguing Vitality Dance Collective who will present, Soulever, choreographed by Kristina York, Kaely Spisak, Kelsey Mahoney-Watson, Kimberlee King. Soulever is a four-part study on the trials and tribulations of life and how our connections with others help lift us up. Including: On Death and Dying, Break.Free.Fall., I want you to hold me (but I’ll settle for the breeze), and Arms. Vitality Dance Collective is under the Artistic Direction of Kristian York with Assistant Director, Kaely Spisak.

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Spring 4th productions presents

Real People. Not Actors.

Written & directed by Tobin L. Gollihar & Ian Paul Sieren FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 19, 24, 25, 28 @ 7pm ADDITIONAL RUN DATES: Feb 1, 2 @ 7pm VENUE: Performance Works NW, 4625 SE 67th Ave. TICKETS: $15; $10 students/seniors BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org

FESTIVAL PASSES ONLY $50 See as many as you can get in! RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. BASED ON AVAILABILITY. INFO AT FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG 10

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

Think your job can’t be automated? The Shareholders disagree. Writer/performer/ producer team Tobin Gollihar and Ian Sieren return to this year’s Fertile Ground Festival with Real People. Not Actors., a darkly comedic look at a near future where all our jobs have been automated, and all our government services have been contracted to the Corporations. In Real People. Not Actors. our real actors explore how real people are pushed to the limit, and how they try to subvert a system that views them as nothing more than an impediment to profit. Real People. Not Actors. is Tobin Gollihar and Ian Sieren’s fifteenth original play and their fourth under the aegis of the Fertile Ground Festival of New Works.

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Late Bloomers Inc. presents

Heaven Or Helen

Written & directed by Vanessa Hopkins FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 19, 21 @ 7pm VENUE: Shout House, 210 SE Madison St. TICKETS: $10–$15 sliding scale BUY TICKETS fertilegroundpdx.org There are so many women in history that have led extraordinary and highly influential lives that no one knows anything about: Helen Schucman, was a spunky little Jewish lady with a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a self proclaimed atheist. In the mid 1960s while a professor of Psychology at Columbia University, she was instructed by a “Force” (she later believed to be Jesus) to write the book A Course In Miracles. She and her colleague, Dr. William Thetford, spent over seven years secretly committed to documenting what she was channeling.

She struggled deeply during those years of dictation, fearing for her sanity as well as her reputation. When it was finally published, she insisted her name not be associated with the book until after her death, in 1981. Heaven or Helen not only gives us the back story of her unique life but takes us on an intimate inner journey through her subconscious mind and the archetypical mind of all women who've struggled with such topics. Through digital imagery, movement, original music and soundscapes, expect to be taken on a ride in and out of dimensional time and space. A multidiciplinary performance based on the true story of Helen Schucman, a clinical psychologist and self proclaimed atheist who “channeled” the book A Course in Miracles.

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Whink Productions presents

Just This One

Music & lyrics by Paul deLay Book by Wayne Harrel Directed by Judy Straalsund Musical Direction by Dave Fleschner FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 19, 20, 26, 27 @ 7:30pm; Jan 28 @ 4pm VENUE: Michelle’s Piano Company, 600 SE Stark St. TICKETS: $25; $40 reserved table BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org Moe DuPree is going to jail...right after this final gig. But as he wails his tunes one last time, three sultry singers crash the party looking for a piece of musical action and, perhaps, him. Moe’s blues legacy, future happiness, and two years hard-earned sobriety hang in the balance as he struggles to find the one—just this one—he can trust. Based on the amazing songs of Portland blues legend Paul deLay, this new musical stars Salim Sanchez and a stage full of Oregon blues all-stars, including LaRhonda Steele, Lisa Mann, Saeeda Wright, Dave Fleschner and Hank Shreve. To learn more about the show, the artists, the late Paul deLay, and last year’s concerts at the Alberta Rose Theatre and Waterfront Blues Festival, visit JustThisOne.com.

CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS/ THEATRE/DANCE WORKSHOP

Echo Theater Company presents

Stranger Than Fiction

By Echo Theater Company & Tempos Contemporary Circus Directed by Aaron Wheeler-Kay, Angela Bryant & Kraig Mead FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 19, 20, 26, 27 @ 8pm; Jan 21, 28 @ 2:30pm VENUE: Echo Theater, 1515 SE 37th Ave. TICKETS: $25; $18 youth (12 & under); seniors (62 & older) BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org; 503-231-1232 In an increasing polarized society, what are the common truths we share?

Continuing in the Echo tradition, this is ensemble-created work, exploring what truths we consider essential. Stranger Than Fiction is a collection of works by performing artists exploring the overlap of circus arts, dance, narrative and physical theatre to explore themes of social justice.

This show is a collaboration between

artists from a broad range of ages, performing disciplines, lived experiences and abilities, including disabled artists.

Each performance will incorporate multiple methods of interpretation to increase audience access. “Truth, of course, must of necessity be stranger than fiction, for we have made fiction to suit ourselves.” G. K. Chesterton

THEATRE STAGED READING Twilight Theatre presents

That Midsummer

Written & directed by Tony Bump FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 19, 20 @ 8pm VENUE: Twilight Theatre, 7515 N Brandon Ave. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: twilighttheatercompany.org It's midsummer when our local theatre company produced A Midsummer Night’s Dream… As we peek behind the curtain we see the actors and staff working and playing hard to make a vision come to life. Love and loss and little bit of theatre magic brings this group of players through a midsummer they will never forget. That Midsummer is a sweet comedy about life in a community of theatre, written by the composer and author of Mrs. Rank’s Boarding House.

TIME BASED THEATRE PDX Playwrights presents

The Crazy Dukes Instant Play Festival Launch

By PDX Playwrights FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 19 @ 9pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St. TICKETS: Free The kickoff of PDX Playwrights’ second annual Crazy Dukes Instant Play Festival!

It’s guaranteed to be the very newest, freshest work performed at Fertile Ground 2018. How do we know this? Because the work is created during the festival by our talented playwrights and company of actors! We’ll take 3-4 play prompts from our audience at intermission for Daisy Dukes Shorts Night—roughly 8pm. Just after Daisy Dukes, we’ll randomly assign actors to playwrights in front of your very eyes. They won’t know anything until you do. Return for the performance Sunday, Jan 21 at 7pm.

MANAGE YOUR FESTIVAL PASS AT BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM OR EMAIL FERTILEGROUND@BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

11

PARTY!

SATURDAY

Portland Area Theatre Alliance presents

Fertile Ground 2018 Kick Off Party

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Artists Repertory Theatre presents

Magellanica

By E.M. Lewis Directed by Dámaso Rodríguez FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 20, 21 @ 2pm ADDITIONAL PASSHOLDER DATES: Feb 8, 9 @ 5:30pm ADDITIONAL RUN DATES: Jan 25, 26, Feb 1, 2, 15, 16 @ 5:30pm; Jan 28, Feb 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 @ 2pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: $25 previews Jan 20, 21; $50 regular price, $25 students/under 25 BUY TICKETS: www.artistsrep.org, 503-241-1278 In 1985, scientists and engineers from around the world converge at the South Pole Research Station to figure out, among other things, if there really is a hole in the sky. In the darkest, coldest, most dangerous place on Earth, eight imperfect souls are trapped together.

Utterly isolated from the outside world for eight and a half months, this research team must face life or death challenges, their own inner demons and depend upon each other for survival. A 5-act adventure, with a dinner break by an award-winning Oregonian playwright. NOTE: Runtime is approximately 6 hours.

ALSO ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 19 7pm YOCTOtheatre presents Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm Izumi Productions presents Persephone Xoa Iris | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Milagro Theatre presents Bi- | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Live On Stage presents Portland’s Mini Musical Festival | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm CoHo Productions presents Philip’s Glass Menagerie | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Plurality Theatre Group presents The Doctor and the Devil | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Clinton Street Theater presents The High Captain | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative presents Three Sisters | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm PETE presents Uncle Vanya | See full listing on Jan 18 9pm Stanfield + Jourden Productions presents An Unqualified Genius | See full listing on Jan 18

FESTIVAL PASSES

20

JANUARY

FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 19 @ 9:30pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, Alder Lobby, 1516 SW Alder St. TICKETS: Free The ultimate arts-lovin’ folk mix, mingle and meet up to celebrate creativity in Portland. Swing in after a show and kick off Fertile Ground with lovers of new work just like you! The is a great opportunity for culture junkies to grab a drink, compare notes and plot out what’s on the “must-see” list for FG17.

ONLY

SEE AS MANY AS YOU CAN GET IN!

50!

$

CHECK WEBSITE FOR UPDATES, PHOTOS & MORE DETAILS WWW.FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG Reservations required. Based on availability.

Buy and learn more fertilegroundpdx.org

THEATRE WORKSHOP Lakewood Theatre Company presents

My Audience with Angels, Saints and Demons

Written & directed by Cheryl E. Grant FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 20 @ 2pm VENUE: Lakewood Theatre Company, 368 S State St., Lake Oswego TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: lakewood-center.org; 503.635.3901 Writer, director, actress Cheryl E. Grant returns to Fertile Ground with short plays about isolation, the struggle for connection and love. These characterdriven plays take place in the dimensions of memory, in between the lines, poems, to the longing of hearts that don’t quite fit and the souls that can’t conform, longing to find their place and create a strange beauty in this difficult world.

DANCE Polaris Dance Theatre presents

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 featuring Polaris Dance Theatre & Polaris Junior Company & Neo Youth Company VENUE: Polaris Dance Theatre, 1826 NW 18th Ave. FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 20 @ 2pm TICKETS: $18–22 BUY TICKETS: polarisdance.org Polaris Dance Theatre presents Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with a series of world premiere dance works. Polaris, along with other Portland established and emerging dance companies and choreographers are working to present brand new works in Polaris Dance Theatre’s intimate black box theatre.

Each evening will include a performance

by Polaris Dance Theatre’s professional company. Artistic Director and resident Choreographer Robert Guitron steps aside to give his company dancers the reins to choreograph their own fellow dancers. Exciting new works include solos, duets, trios and full company pieces. Caley Hernandez, Faith Morrison, Trevor Wilde, Mar Undag, Daniel Do, Taylor Baker, Lucy Dillon, Natalie Press and Katie Gunderson will all create short new works for this exciting run of Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with the addition of a few Polaris Dance Theatre alumni! We’re additionally proud to be presenting work by Polaris Dance Theatre’s Junior Company (JCo) and

FESTIVAL PASSES ONLY $50 A Cultural Adventure! RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. BASED ON AVAILABILITY. INFO AT FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG 12

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

Neo Youth Company. These young, energetic and talented dancers bring new work to the evening. JCo and Neo pieces are choreographed by Director, M’Liss Quinnly.

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Jester Educational Theater presents

The Pumphrey Family Reunion: An Oregon Valentine

Written & directed by Kevin Muir Music Direction by David Hastings Choreography by Rachel Lidskog FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 20, 21 @ 2pm ADDITIONAL RUN DATES: Jan 31 @ noon (Parklane School); Feb 14 @ 9:30am (Fairview School) & 1:15 pm (Davis School); Mar 9 @ 9:30am (Wood School); Apr 11 @ 1:15 (James John School); May 11 @ 9:30am (Highland School); June 1 @ 9:30am (Chavez School) VENUE: Mister Theater, 1847 E Burnside St. #101 TICKETS: $20; $15 students/seniors BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org; 503-880-3357 Jester Educational Theater presents The Pumphrey Family Reunion: An Oregon Valentine, an original, “All-Oregon” musical with live musical accompaniment.

This show follows the exploits of members of the Pumphrey Clan as they compete as a team against other family members at their reunion campout in their selfstyled “Pumphriad Games.” The theme this year is ‘Oregon.’ Will they have the chutzpah and Oregon smarts to bring home the trophy? This show is aligned to fourth grade social studies curriculum and presents Oregon history, civics and culture through song, dance, comedy and drama.

A special focus is given to exploring the societal challenges of Oregon’s Chinese, Japanese, Native American and African American residents. We also check in with the Oregon System of Initiative, the Bottle Bill, Abigail Scott Duniway and Harvey Scott, Sacajawea, Chief Joseph, Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery, John McLoughlin and Jesse Applegate, a Native American legend, the Oregon Trail, and rumor has it that Bigfoot makes an appearance as well. Seven performers, seven songs, three musicians, 70 minutes.

Family-friendly.

One more thing: The Pumphrey Family Reunion is touring grade schools in four Portland-area districts this year reaching about 1,200 at-risk kids.

THEATRE

THEATRE

WORKSHOP Meg Morrigan presents

STAGED READING PDX Playwrights presents

Written & directed by Meg Morrigan FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 20, 27 @ 2pm; Jan 22, 24 @ 8pm VENUE: Craftsman Theatre, 437 NE 79th Ave. TICKETS: $12 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org I used to have this recurring dream...

The mundane and the magical, the psychic and the physical, collide in this “psycho-spiritual vision quest” that draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale. This in-development text uses a freeform, stream-of-consciousness style in its exploration of womanhood, mothers and daughters, the multiverse, free will, and spirituality.

By Alissa Jessup Directed by Alissa Jessup FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 20 @ 7pm; Jan 28 @ 2pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org But I’m Special! is a multi-character comedic solo performance about adoption, identity and letting your freak flag fly. Based on Alissa Jessup’s life: being adopted in the ‘70s, meeting her birth mother at 33 and learning that the worldat-large doesn’t realize just how special she is, But I’m Special! explores what happens when Alissa is forced to deal with the reality that her nature is in complete opposition from her nurture. (Talkback immediately follows show)

Winter

THEATRE STAGED READING The Broken Planetarium presents

Rosa Red

By Laura Christina Dunn Music by Laura Christina Dunn & Maggie Mascal Directed by Laura Christina Dunn & Maggie Mascal FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 20 @ 4pm; Jan 21 @ 2pm; Jan 24, 25 @ 8pm VENUE: My Voice Music, 538 SE Ash St. TICKETS: $5 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org From the creators of Frankenstein: A Cabaret, The Broken Planetarium presents a staged reading of their new musical based on the letters the revolutionary socialist Rosa Luxemburg wrote from prison the year before she was murdered.

The play juxtaposes the lives of two women: the revolutionary Luxemburg and the recipient of her letters, Sophie Liebknecht, a housewife and mother.

Through the playful banter of these two characters, original folk music, and playwright Laura Christina Dunn’s lyric treatment of Luxemburg’s life story, the play examines the two women’s vastly different scopes of life yet deep friendship, asking the question, how do we remain connected in a world that we want so much to change?

But I’m Special!

DANCE Polaris Dance Theatre presents

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 featuring Polaris Dance Theatre & Galexi

VENUE: Polaris Dance Theatre, 1826 NW 18th Ave. FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 20 @ 7:30pm TICKETS: $18–22 BUY TICKETS: polarisdance.org Polaris Dance Theatre presents Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with a series of world premiere dance works. Polaris, along with other Portland established and emerging dance companies and choreographers are working to present brand new works in Polaris Dance Theatre’s intimate black box theatre. Each evening will include a performance by Polaris Dance Theatre’s professional company. Artistic Director and resident Choreographer Robert Guitron steps aside to give his company dancers the reins to choreograph their own fellow dancers. Exciting new works include solos, duets, trios and full company pieces. Caley Hernandez, Faith Morrison, Trevor Wilde, Mar Undag, Daniel Do, Taylor Baker, Lucy Dillon, Natalie Press and Katie Gunderson will all create short new works for this exciting run of Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with the addition of a few Polaris Dance Theatre alumni! This evening is shared with Galexi. Galexi presents The Dynamic Galaxy combining the new music of

MANAGE YOUR FESTIVAL PASS AT BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM OR EMAIL FERTILEGROUND@BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

13

Portland’s own trip hop EDM duo, Galexi and the cutting-edge modern dance of Polaris Dance Company alumnae. The piece is a mesmerizing journey through the cosmos—a virtual reality-like trip through space with dancing on a far off planet and a death-star disco ball. The Galexians have come to infuse the Earth with harmony. Their mission: to create a new world of harmony where sound waves create spontaneous healing. “We are one with the sound, one with the universe. We are Galexi. The music sounds like Bjork meets Sia meets Moroder… and the dance is out of this world!”

COMEDY FULLY IMPROVISED SEASON PREMIERE Artful Raven Studio presents

The Jade Decanter

Created by Nathaniel Hadley & Sophya Vital Directed by Nathaniel Hadley FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 20, 27 @ 7:30pm VENUE: The Brody Theater, 16 NW Broadway TICKETS: $10 advance; $15 door BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org Experience the intrigue, mystery and hilarity as we use the most classic themes of noir storytelling to create a wholly improvised full-length feature show. So who dies and which shady character did it? With a brand new cast and crew, no mystery will ever be the same. Set right in the gritty dark underworld of crime and intrigue from the 1940s, this premiere show will be a night to remember. Eight people, two acts, driven by one thing: your suggestion.

COMEDY SKETCH & IMPROV PDX Playwrights & The Ape Theater present

Ape Comedy: long-form improv and sketch comedy

By Alissa Jessup, Chris Caniglia & Brooke Totman, with Rex Marshall FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 20 @ 9pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org The Ape at LARGE! Come see Portland’s hottest comedic long-form improvisers and sketch performers! The Ape Theater is a comedy-based theatre and training ground in NE Portland that’s committed to creating new work that ignites, engages

and entertains. They offer classes and workshops in long-form improv, sketch comedy, writing, performance and collaboration. The Ape’s training is deeply rooted in the belief that solid acting is the key to great comedic performances.

Founded by working professional artists Alissa Jessup (The Mindy Project, True Blood, The Groundlings Theater) Brooke Totman (The Benefits of Gusbandry, The Groundlings Theatre), and Chris Caniglia (30 Rock, Upright Citizens Brigade, The Peoples Improv Theater NY). The show also features Soul Night, a short performance piece written by Rex Marshall: Dancing is grotesque. The laws of attraction follow no rules. Meeting people is awful. This piece concerns the impossible task of finding someone who likes your tempo.

ALSO ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 20 5pm Gigi Rosenberg presents The Inheritance | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm YOCTOtheatre presents Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm Tiffany Rousseau presents Interlocus: Between Space & Time | See full listing on Jan 19 7pm Izumi Productions presents Persephone Xoa Iris | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Milagro Theatre presents Bi- | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Whink Productions presents Just This One | See full listing on Jan 19 7:30pm Live On Stage presents Portland’s Mini Musical Festival | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm CoHo Productions presents Philip’s Glass Menagerie | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Plurality Theatre Group presents The Doctor and the Devil | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Clinton Street Theater presents The High Captain | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative presents Three Sisters | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm PETE presents Uncle Vanya | See full listing on Jan 18 8pm Echo Theater Company presents Stranger Than Fiction | See full listing on Jan 19 8pm Twilight Theatre presents That Midsummer | See full listing on Jan 19

9pm Be Space/Life Art Being presents A Teaspoon of Water | See full listing on Jan 18 9pm Stanfield + Jourden Productions presents An Unqualified Genius | See full listing on Jan 18

SUNDAY

21

JANUARY THEATRE STAGED READING PDX Playwrights presents

Living Things: A Musical Anthology

Written by Archie Washington Music by Curtis Settino & Courtney Rainwater Directed by Evan Tait FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 21 @ 12pm; Jan 27 @ 9pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E Burnside St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org While existing in its own reality, Living Things: A Musical Anthology will engage your imagination in entertaining and moving vignettes, with a unique assortment of characters that live and sing in love, in fear, and in hope. A lost butterfly is rescued by a sex-crazed moth.

Martian probes fight over the meaning of life. A tree in a mall falls for a carousel horse. Carnival targets are tired of being hit. Model rocket parts resist another mission. House flies devour experiences before the inevitable. Children’s bedclothes escape into the night for an adventure. This show is being presented for the first time to the public with local actors and live music. Comment cards will be available before and after the performances.

MULTI-MEDIA/ANIMATION WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING Artful Raven Studio presents

HOMEBREW 2017: A PDX ANIMATION SHOWCASE

Curated by Sophya Vidal Works by Various local PDX Animators FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 21 @ 1pm VENUE: 5th Avenue Cinema, 510 SW Hall St.

FESTIVAL PASSES ONLY $50 See as many as you can get in! RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. BASED ON AVAILABILITY. INFO AT FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG 14

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

TICKETS: $10; $5 for ASIFA/ SIGGRAPH Members BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org HOMEBREW 2018: A PDX Animation Showcase has returned for year three!

This is a new collection of works from the gamut of local animators making the screening collection fun, refreshing and very Portland. Organized and moderated

by Sophya Vidal, a long-standing member of the animation and theatre community, creative and thoughtful storytelling are at the core of the program. The screening includes several new works. It will be followed by a panel with many of the creators, so bring your best questions and get to know your Portland Animation Ambassadors. This event is brought to you

by The Animation Resource Community Service (ARCS) and Portland ASIFA.​

THEATRE READING Lakewood Theatre Company presents

A Woman in Washington’s Army

By Laurence Overmire Directed by Nancy McDonald FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 21 @ 2pm VENUE: Lakewood Theatre Company, 368 S State St, Lake Oswego TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: lakewood-center.org; 503.635.3901 A Woman in Washington’s Army is based on the incredible, but true story of Deborah Samson, a young woman who disguised herself as a man and fought with distinction during the Revolutionary War. After the war, she became the first female touring lecturer and, upon her death, her husband became the first man to receive a pension as a soldier’s widower. Steeped in colonial history, with period music, this play is a time-traveling adventure with plenty of action and colorful characters.

The playwright, who is also a genealogist, discovered Deborah while researching the descendants of Gov. William Bradford of the Mayflower. “I feel she deserves an honored place in history,” said Overmire.

THEATRE STAGED READING PDX Playwrights presents

New York Nights

Written & directed by Adam Harrell FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 21 @ 2pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org

In this romantic comedy with a magical twist, Annie, a struggling young actress, is having trouble adjusting to the mean streets of New York until she summons a “fallen” genie named Jinn who must help her as part of a cosmic rehabilitation program.

THEATRE STAGED READING PDX Playwrights presents

4x4: A Collection of One-Acts

By Karen Polinsky, Merridawn Duckler, Christopher Serra & Charlie LaTourette FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 21 @ 5pm, Jan 28 @ 7pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org Two comedic and two dramatic oneacts presented by PDX Playwrights.

Contraband by Karen Polinsky: An exmarine storms security at a busy airport to get back his runaway son, and then decides to leave the dumb kid with the authorities—a true story. The Mystery of the Glass Ceiling by Merridawn Duckler: In this gumshoe-in-stilettos comedy, Leila, P.I. is drawn by the foxiest of clients into a Hollywood den of fake Lacanian therapists deep in the phony headshot business. Can the ghost of proto-feminism past (yes, that’s a thing), film legend Ida Lupino, help her prove that nothing is more noir than sisterhood? The Sea by Christopher Serra: Elle struggles through a reconciliation of guilt, rage, resentment, and love from the wreckage of a lost relationship. Steve & Steve by Charlie Latourette: Two sprocket salesmen with a great deal in common enjoy tuna sandwiches and consider the importance of individual creative expression in a society that favors conformity.

TIME BASED THEATRE WORKSHOP PDX Playwrights presents

Crazy Dukes Instant Play Fest

By PDX Playwrights FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 21 @ 7pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org The Crazy Dukes Instant Play Festival is guaranteed to be the very newest, freshest work performed at Fertile Ground 2018.

How do we know this? Because the work is created DURING the festival! Think

of it as theatre on a highwire with no net.

Our talented playwrights got 3-4 prompts a couple days ago after Daisy Dukes Shorts Night on Jan 19 and they were randomly assigned cast members. The playwrights had 48 hours to write and rehearse their 10-minute plays that will be presented tonight. Guaranteed crazy and guaranteed amazing!

THEATRE FULLY STAGED WORLD PREMIERE Lakewood Theatre Company presents

Parnassus On Wheels

Directed by Stephanie Mulligan

By C. S. Whitcomb Based on the novel by Christopher Morley FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 21 @ 7pm, Jan 24 @ 7:30pm VENUE: Lakewood Theatre Company, 368 S. State St., Lake Oswego TICKETS: $15 BUY TICKETS: lakewood-center.org; 503.635.3901 World premiere play by C.S. Whitcomb based on the novel by Christopher Morley.

Helen has spent all of her 40-something years taking care of the family farm.

Fed up and itching for adventure, Helen impulsively buys a caravan filled with books from a wiry Irishman and abandons her chickens for life on the road as a traveling bookseller. Action, adventure, comedy and love ensue. Starring Amanda Soden, Orion Bradshaw, Jeff Gorham.

Show Sponsor: Andy & Nancy Bryant

THEATRE READING Confrontation Theatre presents

The Contract

By James Webb Directed by Andrea Vernae FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 21, 22, 23 @ 7pm VENUE : The Sanctuary at Sandy Plaza, 1785 NE Sandy Blvd.

TICKETS: Pay What You Can BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org James Webb’s The Contract is a provocative play that explores the taboos of Christianity, homosexuality, in the black church. The play explores the great divide between “gay and God,” as a married pastor with homosexual predilections has sexual relations with men hired by his wife who refuses to lose the mega-ministry as a result of her husband’s indiscretions.

MANAGE YOUR FESTIVAL PASS AT BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM OR EMAIL FERTILEGROUND@BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

15

ALSO ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 2pm Be Space/Life Art Being presents A Teaspoon of Water | See full listing on Jan 18 2pm Tiffany Rousseau presents Interlocus: Between Space & Time | See full listing on Jan 19 2pm Artists Repertory Theatre presents Magellanica | See full listing on Jan 20 2pm Live On Stage presents Portland’s Mini Musical Festival | See full listing on Jan 18 2pm CoHo Productions presents Philip’s Glass Menagerie | See full listing on Jan 18 2pm The Broken Planetarium presents Rosa Red | See full listing on Jan 20 2pm Clinton Street Theater presents The High Captain | See full listing on Jan 18 2pm Jester Educational Theater presents The Pumphrey Family Reunion | See full listing on Jan 20 2pm Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative presents Three Sisters | See full listing on Jan 18 2:30pm Echo Theater Company presents Stranger Than Fiction | See full listing on Jan 19 7:30pm PETE presents Uncle Vanya | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm Stanfield + Jourden Productions presents An Unqualified Genius | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm Late Bloomers Inc. presents Heaven Or Helen | See full listing on Jan 19

MONDAY

22

JANUARY THEATRE

LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

Petite Dams

Written & directed by Josie Seid FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 22 @ 12pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free Set against a backdrop of Louisiana mere months after the end of the Civil War, this play follows a self-made family of African American women as they consider life as free women.

THEATRE STAGED READING Portland Civic Theatre Guild presents

I Love You/Who Are You

By Matthew Miller Directed by Trish Egan FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 22 @ 7:30pm; Jan 23 @ 10:30am VENUE: The Sanctuary, 1785 NE Sandy Blvd.

TICKETS: $15 (7:30pm show, 1/22); $10 (10:30am show, 1/23) BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org; at the door Could it be synchrondipity? The small details—a hand bag, a cell phone, car keys, bag of chips, glass of wine, pair of heels, pair of flats, a wedding ring, and a retirement home brochure—tell the story of a couple’s decades-long relationship with humor, wit and truth. Portland Civic Theatre Guild is pleased to offer the 2018 New Play Award Winner I Love You/ Who Are You for Fertile Ground.

THEATRE WORKSHOP CoHo Productions & Julia Bray present

Matter Is Mother

Written, directed & performed by Julia Bray FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 22, 23 @ 7:30pm VENUE: CoHo Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh St. TICKETS: $15 BUY TICKETS: cohoproductions.org 503-220-2646 Matter is Mother is a one-woman magical comedy that explores the parallels between the way we treat the earth and our possessions with the ways in which we treat the forgotten feminine within all bodies. Set at a mythical all-inclusive tropical resort, a legend tells of a great motherly sea creature named Sona who eats her human children’s literal and figurative trash. If a human has properly honored and reckoned with their discarded items and the feelings attached to them, Sona will recycle the energy—if not, they must deep sea dive to face that which they’ve abandoned within themselves. As the blissfully unaware guests arrive for vacation and are faced with the threat of Sona, the audience is coaxed into a tropical world of feeling through character-driven monologues, projected visuals, original dance and song, and the occasional splash of water.

Developed within the CoHo Lab, Matter is Mother offers environmental science

cloaked in raucous comedy and solutions for healing wrapped in poetry and performance.

THEATRE STAGED READING Theatre Vertigo presents

Velvet (working title)

By Aubrey Jessen Directed by Emilie Landmann

Sable and The Forest

By Autumn Buck Directed by Phillip Berns FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 22, 23 @ 7:30pm VENUE: Shoebox Theater, 2110 SE 10th Ave. TICKETS: Pay What You Will BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org; (503) 482-8655 Aubrey Jessen is a writer, performer, and director in Portland, Oregon. She is a founding member of Action/Adventure Theatre, where you may have seen her original script Ghost Town performed as one half of last spring’s Double Feature.

Prior to that, she co-wrote the Drammynominated original script, Hawthorne, with Greta West. If you like musicals, you may have seen her work with LiveOnstage, in Work Friends, and Save the Date, in collaboration with Mont Chris Hubbard.

Aubrey is also a Speech-Language Pathologist, and works to create inclusive theatre curriculum for children and young adults with communication disorders.

Autumn Buck is an actor, writer, editor and whatever else you need currently residing in the Pacific Northwest. She received a BFA degree in performance from Southern Oregon University.

She lives with her partner and their corgi named Applesauce. Sable and The Forest is her first full-length play.

She has been seen onstage at Bag&Baggage Productions, Southern Oregon Univeristy and is an Associate Artist at Theatre Vertigo.

ALSO ON MONDAY, JANUARY 22 7pm Izumi Productions presents Persephone Xoa Iris | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm Confrontation Theatre presents The Contract | See full listing on Jan 21 8pm Meg Morrigan presents Winter | See full listing on Jan 20

FESTIVAL PASSES ONLY $50 A Cultural Adventure! RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. BASED ON AVAILABILITY. INFO AT FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG 16

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

TUESDAY

23

JANUARY

Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Strangest Yellow questions how much has changed since then.

THEATRE WORKSHOP Lakewood Theatre Company presents

One Off ! – Completely Improvised One Act Plays

THEATRE STAGED READING Elizabeth Rothan in partnership with Portland Actors Conservatory presents

Hell Door Boogie

By ER Rothan Graphic novel conceived by Russell Rothan Directed by Falynn Burton & Eric Viale FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 23 @ 10:30am VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, Studio 2, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free Is there a chance to get out of Hell? One of Hell’s misfortunate souls, Broderick, comes across some outlawed contraband (A black market problem that has been running rampant since agents from the other side found a way to cross over.)

Broderick, one of Satan’s workers who is responsible for cataloging, warehousing and destroying these artifacts succumbs to a particular piece of contraband, a fishbowl. Chaos, controversy and blackmail ensue when Broderick brings his beloved fish into his own living room filled with degenerates, bandits and egos that are embedded in the furniture. The introduction of the fishbowl begins a domino effect that eventually reaches the ear and piques the interest of Satan himself. Quote from Egostino “Where can one go, when one is as low as one can get?”

THEATRE LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

Strangest Yellow

By Susan Faust Directed by Jessie Hirschhorn FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 23 @ 12pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free When a Victorian-era woman is given a rigid prescription for mental health— ”never touch pen, brush or pencil as long as you live”—she must decide whether to give up her writing or her marriage. Based on the famous short story The Yellow

By Infinite Improv Directed by Aden & Eric Nepom FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 23, 28 @ 7pm VENUE: Lakewood Theatre Company, 368 S State St, Lake Oswego TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: lakewood-center.org; 503.635.3901 The world of improvised theatre can open the imagination in ways utterly unpredictable, totally magical and completely entertaining! Join us in this highly interactive showcase where your suggestions transform our players into all kinds of characters and transport them to all manner of places! How will the show turn out? Nobody knows until the moment that we all share it together!

Play with theatre you help create, or simply sit back and enjoy an afternoon of unforgettable, unscripted theatre with the locally and nationally recognized, awardwinning, talented friends and company of Infinite Improv!, in One Off!—completely improvised one act plays.

THEATRE STAGED READING PDX Playwrights & Northwest Theatre Workshop present

Spellbinders

By Brad Bolchunos Directed by Michelle Seaton FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 23 @ 7pm (Literary Arts); Jan 26 @ 9pm (Hipbone Studio) VENUES: Literary Arts, 925 SW Washington St.; Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org Desperate to heal in the aftermath of war, Russian scientist Leon Theremin dives into the world of hypnosis. His choice could crush his career, destroy his friendships, and maybe even end his life. Where citizens starve on the streets and suspicions run rampant, an innovation can launch national acclaim and a misstep can bring execution. Yet he fixates on hypnosis pioneer Franz Anton Mesmer and his controversial techniques

to help a blind young piano prodigy.

Theremin’s obsession approaches lunacy as he struggles to allay the distrust of his superintendent, the worry of his mentor, and the interest of a young woman who reminds him of his troubled past.

Between brilliance and madness, art and science, showmanship and scandal, a note of change hangs upon his creation of an odd new musical instrument played without touch—if he dares to confront what haunts him. The January 23 event at Literary Arts includes a post-reading panel discussion with local theremin and hypnotherapy practitioners.

THEATRE STAGED READING DoverHam Productions, sponsored by Corrib Theatre, presents

A Bed of My Own

Written & directed by Robert Hamm FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 23, 26 @ 7:30pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW. Morrison St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundspdx.org Rosie has a problem. Her man, Stan, won’t get out of bed—ever. It’s not that he’s sick or anything—he’s way more than healthy. He’s just decided not to get up.

So, in desperation, Rosie has her meek little ex-husband, Reager, over for dinner —and to solve her problem. Thus begins a tragicomedy about power in personal relations. Inspired by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, populated by characters based on clients at a methadone clinic, this new revision of A Bed of My Own explores three approaches to securing power over people you love. “…a veritable masterpiece, redolent at times of Tennessee Williams…and Jean-Paul Sarte…”

-The Alameda Journal ALSO ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 10:30am Portland Civic Theatre Guild presents I Love You/Who Are You | See full listing on Jan 22 7pm Izumi Productions presents Persephone Xoa Iris | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm CoHo Productions & Julia Bray present Matter Is Mother | See full listing on Jan 22 7:30pm Theatre Vertigo presents Velvet & Sable and The Forest | See full listing on Jan 22

MANAGE YOUR FESTIVAL PASS AT BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM OR EMAIL FERTILEGROUND@BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

17

WEDNESDAY

24

JANUARY

THURSDAY

25

JANUARY

him. As Gus’ health deteriorates, Philip’s last hope is a showdown that no one— including Philip—thinks he has in him.

Join us January 25 at Literary Arts for a post- reading panel discussion with professional counselors in death and dying.

THEATRE THEATRE

THEATRE

LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

By Miriam Feder Directed by Julie Akers FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 24 @ 12pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free A letter arrives out of the blue. Does it offer family? Opportunity? Or is it just it a scam? How do we go about discovering the answers? Is it the same answer all around? Three people juggle loss, disappointment, depression, and possibly love as they consider the risks and rewards people present.

By E.M. Lewis Directed by Dan Kitrosser FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 25 @ 12pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free A travel writer who never travels. A Japanese architect who can’t figure out how to build a simple tea house. A tattoo artist who refuses to draw on a woman’s skin. And a homeless girl who lives under a weeping willow tree in the Japanese Garden. Four lonely people find each other when one of them falls apart.

Out of the Blue

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24 7pm Izumi Productions presents Persephone Xoa Iris | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm Spring 4th productions presents Real People. Not Actors. | See full listing on Jan 19 7:30pm Lakewood Theatre Company presents Parnassus On Wheels | See full listing on Jan 21 7:30pm Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative presents Three Sisters | See full listing on Jan 18 8pm The Broken Planetarium presents Rosa Red | See full listing on Jan 20 8pm Meg Morrigan presents Winter | See full listing on Jan 20

FESTIVAL $

PASSES

50!

Buy and manage your reservations at www.boxofficetickets.com Or by email fertileground@boxofficetickets.com Reservations required. Based on availability.

Buy and learn more fertilegroundpdx.org

How The Light Gets In

THEATRE STAGED READING Northwest Theatre Workshop & PDX Playwrights present

Voodoo Snowball

By Gary Corbin Directed by Eric Lyness FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 25 @ 7pm (Literary Arts); Jan 26 @ 7pm (Hipbone Studio) VENUES: Literary Arts 925 SW Washington St.; Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org Philip, a man of ritual, somehow reached his 40s without ever committing to anything—at least, nothing that matters to his parents or his almost-fiancée, Elise.

But then his sister Danielle informs him that Gus, his estranged father, is dying of lung cancer and clings to life only through his wife’s prayers and his own superstition, embodied in Danielle’s gift to him of a Voodoo Snowball. Elise views Philip’s willingness to reconcile with Gus as symbolic of his ability to commit to family and, thus, to their future together.

But when Philip’s half-hearted attempts fail to break through the protective shield his mother maintains around morphineaddled Gus, Elise is ready to give up on

WORKSHOP Masque Alfresco & HART Theatre present

Death of a Cranky Philosopher

By Don Teeters Directed by Fayra Teeters FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 25, 26, 27, 28 @ 7:30pm VENUE: HART Theatre, 185 Southeast Washington St, Hillsboro TICKETS: $16; $14 seniors 60+; $12 students BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org; 503-254-5104 Death of a Cranky Philosopher follows the recovery of Vaughn Miracle, a high school philosophy teacher, who gets shot in the head by one of his students and finds himself in a coma-induced netherworld ruled by erratic botanical beings who put him on trial for murder. How much do jargon and childhood word play distort the reality of adulthood by locking in early nonsensical and emotional beliefs?

A famous philosopher once stated, “The limits of my language are the limits of my world.” But is language unable to keep pace with our evolving brains as new thoughts fade into vagueness? The information highway promotes solutions from all directions, offering protective camouflage for partisan interests with no meaningful basis. Labels and slogans don’t have insights; perceptive minds do, although fuzzy reasoning can make that problematic. It certainly does for Vaughn Miracle in this dramatic comedy of his pseudo-philosophical life. This madcap journey into a lost psyche features Aaron Morrow in the title role, Kenneth Dembo as the netherworld boss, plus Paul Roder (Artistic Director for HART), Rian Turner, Athena McElrath, and Jean Christensen in supporting roles.

THEATRE WORLD PREMIERE Dance Naked Productions presents

Sex We Can! An Erotic Uprising

By Multiple Artists Directed by Eleanor O’Brien FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 25, 26, 27 @ 8pm ADDITIONAL RUN DATES: Feb 1 @ 8pm; Feb 2 @ 9:30pm; Feb 9, 10 @ 8pm; Feb 14 @ 8:30pm

FESTIVAL PASSES ONLY $50 See as many as you can get in! RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. BASED ON AVAILABILITY. INFO AT FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG 18

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

VENUE: Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton St. TICKETS: $15-25 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org Sex We Can! An Erotic Uprising is a movement, a crusade, AND a live performance. Featuring story, song and spectacle from sex-positive artists of all stripes, this world premiere celebrates sexual expression as a tool of the resistance. Wilhelm Reich said, “The goal of sexual suppression is that of producing an individual who is adjusted to the authoritarian order and who will submit to it in spite of all misery and degradation.” We will NOT submit, and we will not be shamed! We are here to conjure the world we want to create. How do we heal #MeToo and #Ihave? How do we resolve the battles of the sexes and create camaraderie and compassion? Sex We Can! envisions an alternate reality and offers a blueprint for creating new cultural paradigms. Sex as medicine, sex as community, sex as the antidote to capitalism. Veteran Fertile Ground producer Eleanor O’Brien (Inviting Desire, Lust & Marriage, Revelations) invites you to join Dance Naked Productions in a theatrical event that encourages conversation and ignites arousal. Calling all freedom fighters for the sexual revolution—we shall (over) come!

PERFORMANCE ART WORKSHOP Craftsman Theatre Company presents

To Be Determined…

Created & directed by Jess & Katelyn Ford FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 25, 26, 27, 28 @ 8:30pm VENUE: Craftsman Theatre Company, Backyard Studio, 437 NE 79th Ave. TICKETS: Pay What You Will BUY TICKETS: craftsmantheatreco.org Change will only occur when we alter our methods of communication concerning our current climate. Through a myriad of mixed media sources, Craftsman Theatre Company’s founding members invite you to explore our vastly changing world.

Musings on alternative energy sources, movements speaking of the changing oceans, and discussions of human nature vs Mother Nature implore the audience to look deeper into themselves and the world around them. Exploring both alluring dreams and ominous nightmares, To Be Determined… delves into the pressing nuance of climate change as it manifests the past, present and future of our world.

ALSO ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 7pm YOCTOtheatre presents Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm Izumi Productions presents Persephone Xoa Iris | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm Spring 4th productions presents Real People. Not Actors.| See full listing on Jan 19 7:30pm PCC Students present Long Story Short: 10 minute plays | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm CoHo Productions presents Philip’s Glass Menagerie | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Plurality Theatre Group presents The Doctor and the Devil | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative presents Three Sisters | See full listing on Jan 18 8pm The Broken Planetarium presents Rosa Red | See full listing on Jan 20

FRIDAY

26

JANUARY THEATRE

LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

Gone

By Lolly Ward Directed by Matt Pavik FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 26 @ 12pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free A living will provides peace of mind as four stepsiblings divide their anticipated inheritance. Gamble the night away, but whatever you do, don’t leave the house— your family is watching.

DANCE Polaris Dance Theatre presents

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 featuring Polaris Dance Theatre & NW Fusion VENUE: Polaris Dance Theatre, 1826 NW 18th Ave. FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 26 @ 7:30pm TICKETS: $18–22

BUY TICKETS: polarisdance.org Polaris Dance Theatre presents Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with a series of world premiere dance works. Polaris, along with other Portland established and emerging dance companies and choreographers are working to present brand new works in Polaris Dance Theatre’s intimate black box theatre. Each evening will include a performance by Polaris Dance Theatre’s professional company. Artistic Director and resident Choreographer Robert Guitron steps aside to give his company dancers the reins to choreograph their own fellow dancers. Exciting new works include solos, duets, trios and full company pieces. Caley Hernandez, Faith Morrison, Trevor Wilde, Mar Undag, Daniel Do, Taylor Baker, Lucy Dillon, Natalie Press and Katie Gunderson will all create short new works for this exciting run of Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with the addition of a few Polaris Dance Theatre alumni! This evening is shared with NW Fusion under the direction of Brad Hampton and will present selected pieces from works by Jonathan Royse Windham, Sarah Boardman and internationally acclaimed choreographer Chase Brock. In addition, NW Fusion will also be presenting an excerpt from their upcoming Spring Concert where they will be celebrating the world of Pop music through the years in dance. For more information please visit: NWFusion.org.

THEATRE READING Orphic presents

Remain(s)

By Karin Magaldi Directed by Andrew Wardenaar FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 26, 27 @ 7:30pm VENUE: The Shout House, 210 SE Madison St. TICKETS: Free, reservations recommended RESERVE TICKETS: orphicplays.org; 971-570-9273 Orphic annually commissions a playwright to write an original play inspired by a specific Greek tragedy. For this year’s project, Karin Magaldi is adapting Ajax,

by Sophocles, and has titled her play Remain(s). After months of research, interviews, and rehearsal, the developing script will be presented to audiences for the first time as a workshop reading.

Looking at Sophocles’ masterpiece, we have found ourselves astonished, saddened, and compelled to tell this story on the contemporary stage. Death follows

MANAGE YOUR FESTIVAL PASS AT BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM OR EMAIL FERTILEGROUND@BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

19

those that come home from war. They can’t drink it away. It remains. The feeling that they fought for nothing will not pass.

It remains. Nothing is innocent anymore, not even the lowliest beasts. The killing does not stop, and the aftermath of the slaughter is littered with remains. Not just bodies, but ghosts trapped at home and sequestered to screens. Do we hear them?

Do we talk to them? Do we offer them a warm blanket and a place to sit down on a snowy night?

your very eyes. We will bring our truth.

Bring yours too and witness these brave youths’ stories—if you dare.

THEATRE/IMPROVISATIONAL COMEDY STAGED READING & IMPROV Rogue Pack presents

Truth AND Dare

Project Creator: Ann Singer (Rogue Pack), in collaboration with Janet Scanlon/Kara Moore (Play @ Work) Directed by Danielle Pecoff & Kara Moore FESTIVAL DATES: Jan. 26, 27 @ 7:30 pm VENUE: Sellwood Playhouse, 901 SE Spokane St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: roguepack.org Rogue Pack teens from Boys & Girls Aid give voice to their truths and dare to improvise as these brave young women return to Sellwood Playhouse for an evening of storytelling and improvisational comedy. Taking the stage to share their honesty through their writing, daring to peel away society’s labels and face the unknown as they collaborate with the audience, Rogue Pack Storytellers team with Play@Work, who works in affiliation with Kickstand Comedy Space, Portland’s home for “Underground Comedy.” Play@Work goes out into the community to teach improv classes to local businesses and organizations. They work with Rogue Pack youth to reveal the potential that lurks behind this diverse band of young people. Come with your suggestions and Rogue Pack will dare to be truthful, and create new works before

FESTIVAL PASSES

ALSO ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 26 7pm Izumi Productions presents Persephone Xoa Iris | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm Northwest Theatre Workshop & PDX Playwrights present Voodoo Snowball See full listing on Jan 25 7:30pm DoverHam Productions presents A Bed of My Own | See full listing on Jan 23 7:30pm Masque Alfresco & HART Theatre present Death of a Cranky Philosopher | See full listing on Jan 25 7:30pm Whink Productions presents Just This One | See full listing on Jan 19 7:30pm CoHo Productions presents Philip’s Glass Menagerie | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Orphic presents Remain(s) | See full listing on Jan 26 7:30pm Plurality Theatre Group presents The Doctor and the Devil | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Gigi Rosenberg presents The Inheritance | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative presents Three Sisters | See full listing on Jan 18 8pm Dance Naked Productions presents Sex We Can! An Erotic Uprising| See full listing on Jan 25 8pm Echo Theater Company presents Stranger Than Fiction |See full listing on Jan 19 8:30pm Craftsman Theatre Company presents To Be Determined…| See full listing on Jan 25 9pm YOCTOtheatre presents Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump | See full listing on Jan 18 9pm PDX Playwrights & Northwest Theatre Workshop present Spellbinders | See full listing on Jan 23

ONLY

SEE AS MANY AS YOU CAN GET IN!

50!

$

CHECK WEBSITE FOR UPDATES, PHOTOS & MORE DETAILS WWW.FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG

Reservations required. Based on availability.

Buy and learn more fertilegroundpdx.org

SATURDAY

27

JANUARY THEATRE

LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

Not Safe for Adults (a play for kids!)

By Dan Kitrosser Directed by Pat Moran FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 27 @ 12pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free Time Out Kids once called children’s storyteller Dan Kitrosser “Multitalented and manic!” And now he’s here to spread some of his mayhem with interactive folktales from around the world. With song, dance, puppetry and all-out hilarity, bring your kids to this free show. But parents should be warned: It’s not safe for adults!

THEATRE READINGS Lakewood Theatre Company presents

Young Playwrights Festival

By Philip Chan, Kendall Gordon & Aishwarya Marathe Program directed by Megan Kate Ward FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 27 @ 2pm VENUE: Lakewood Theatre Company, 368 S State St, Lake Oswego TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: lakewood-center.org; 503.635.3901 Young Playwrights Festival (YPF) is a collection of one-act plays by High School playwrights from the Portland metro area who have been selected to work with professional directors and actors to gain insight, experience and feedback to develop their plays. YPF provides an opportunity for these playwrights to learn and discover how to hone their playwriting skills through a series of workshops with theatre professionals.

The culmination of this process is to experience the audience response at this presentation of their work.

FESTIVAL PASSES ONLY $50 A Cultural Adventure! RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. BASED ON AVAILABILITY. INFO AT FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG 20

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

FESTIVAL ENRICHMENT MULTIDISCIPLINARY In partnership with Artists Rep, Risk/Reward presents

Performing Artists Summit

FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 27 @ 3pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St. TICKETS: Free Risk/Reward hosts this gathering of Portland’s independent theatre, dance and hybrid art-makers. Come together to help survey the field and discuss ways that independent performance makers and organizations can create and support a more vibrant community for all. More info at risk-reward.org.

DANCE Polaris Dance Theatre presents

Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 featuring Polaris Dance Theatre & Alexander Dones

VENUE: Polaris Dance Theatre 1826, NW 18th Ave. FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 27 @ 7:30pm TICKETS: $18-22 BUY TICKETS: polarisdance.org Polaris Dance Theatre presents Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with a series of world premiere dance works. Polaris, along with other Portland established and emerging dance companies and choreographers are working to present brand new works in Polaris Dance Theatre’s intimate black box theatre. Each evening will include a performance by Polaris Dance Theatre’s professional company. Artistic Director and resident Choreographer Robert Guitron steps aside to give his company dancers the reins to choreograph their own fellow dancers. Exciting new works include solos, duets, trios and full company pieces. Caley Hernandez, Faith Morrison, Trevor Wilde, Mar Undag, Daniel Do, Taylor Baker, Lucy Dillon, Natalie Press and Katie Gunderson will all create short new works for this exciting run of Groovin’ Greenhouse 2018 with the addition of a few Polaris Dance Theatre alumni! This evening is shared with r:ad, directed by Alexander Dones. r:ad will be presenting soothsayer an ongoing workin-progress that follows the pilgrim and his adventures as he explores what he considers to be the Four Questions: Who are we, where did we come from, where are we going, and what does it all mean (if anything at all). Melding dance with other artistic mediums including sound, film, text, and acting, variations of soothsayer

feature solos, duets, and an ensemble of various characters. Every iteration of soothsayer is different; the work is loosely inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy as well as the works of Jack Kerouac, Quentin Tarantino, Stephen King, and Marcel Duchamp.

COMEDY STAGED READING Bialystock & Bloom present

The Godd Couple

By Mark Lysgaard & Mitch Rofsky Directed by Mitch Rofsky FESTIVAL DATES: Jan 27 @ 8pm VENUE: World Trade Center Auditorium, Two World Trade Center, 25 SW Salmon St. TICKETS: $15 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org Jews and Arabs may make awkward neighbors in the Middle East. It’s even worse when they share a New York apartment. Irv Goldblum and Frank Hassan were incompatible freshman year roommates. When Irv’s wife kicks him out, he turns to Frank for shelter. Then, Frank’s family shows up from Saudi Arabia. Frank now has to manage Irv, while keeping his “Americanization”…and his sexuality… from his family. You shouldn’t laugh at others’ troubles, but if you laugh at The Godd Couple, we understand.

ALSO ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 2pm Groovin’ Greenhouse featuring Polaris Dance Theatre, Polaris Junior Company & Neo Youth Company | See full listing on Jan 20 2pm Meg Morrigan presents Winter | See full listing on Jan 20 5pm Gigi Rosenberg presents The Inheritance | See full listing on Jan 18 7pm PDX Playwrights present Daisy Dukes Shorts Night! | See full listing on Jan 19 7pm YOCTOtheatre presents Dear Mr. President – Letters to Trump | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Masque Alfresco & HART Theatre present Death of a Cranky Philosopher | See full listing on Jan 25 7:30pm Whink Productions presents Just This One | See full listing on Jan 19 7:30pm CoHo Productions presents Philip’s Glass Menagerie | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Artful Raven Studio presents The Jade Decanter | See full listing on Jan 20

7:30pm Plurality Theatre Group presents The Doctor and the Devil | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative presents Three Sisters | See full listing on Jan 18 7:30pm Rogue Pack presents Truth AND Dare | See full listing on Jan 26 8pm Dance Naked Productions presents Sex We Can! An Erotic Uprising | See full listing on Jan 25 8pm Echo Theater Company presents Stranger Than Fiction | See full listing on Jan 19 8:30pm Craftsman Theatre Company presents To Be Determined… | See full listing on Jan 25 9pm PDX Playwrights presents Living Things: A Musical Anthology | See full listing on Jan 21

SUNDAY

28

JANUARY THEATRE STAGED READING PDX Playwrights presents

Like you Mean It

By Michael S. Kelly FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 28 @ 12pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St. TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org A young Argentine is trying desperately to go on his date. His narcissistic boss is in the throes of a spiritual epiphany. The boss’ lover wants to leave her revengeseeking Russian husband. And then there’s the two Greek gods. What could go wrong?

THEATRE LUNCH READING Linestorm Playwrights in association with Artists Rep present

Young Playwrights Series

By High School and Middle School Playwrights Directed by Dan Kitrosser FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 28 @ 12pm VENUE: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St.

MANAGE YOUR FESTIVAL PASS AT BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM OR EMAIL FERTILEGROUND@BOXOFFICETICKETS.COM FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

21

Discovery.

Delight. & Culture.

A curated introduction

to the places and spaces in Portland you need to know.

1 YOU APPLY

2 WE CURATE & DELIVER

3 YOU UNPACK YOUR CULTURE

MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION BOX OF CULTURE FOR PORTLAND.

TICKETS: Free Young playwrights will be working on their one-act plays with professional playwrights, to be performed by professional actors.

LITERARY ART STAGED READING Cindy Brown & The Willamette Radio Workshop present

The Phantom of Oz

By Cindy Brown Directed by Sam Mowry FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 28 @ 2pm VENUE: O’Connor’s Vault, 7850 SW Capitol Hwy. TICKETS: Free Creepy munchkins. A mysterious phantom. A real wicked witch. Join author Cindy Brown and The Willamette Radio Workshop for a book launch and live radio reading of The Phantom of Oz, the fifth in Brown’s Agatha-nominated series of madcap mysteries set in the off, off, off Broadway world of theatre.

When someone drops a chandelier on the Wicked Witch of the East, actress and part-time PI Ivy Meadows needs to find the culprit. Was it the ghost who haunts the Grand Phoenician Theatre? A “wicked witch” among the cast of The Wizard: A Space OZpera? Or is it someone—or something—more sinister? This isn’t your typical author reading, but a performance by the award-winning Willamette Radio Workshop with some of Portland’s finest actors, complete with spooky sound effects, ghost stories, and a few songs— plus free cake, and a cash bar. It’s a book launch, a party, and a show, and it’s free!

(21 and over)

THEATRE STAGED READING PDX Playwrights present

Revelations

By James Kim Directed by Alex Haslett FESTIVAL DATE: Jan 28 @ 5pm VENUE: Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St.

FESTIVAL PASSES

TICKETS: $10 BUY TICKETS: fertilegroundpdx.org A group of high-ranking angels and biblical figures are holding a secret meeting to debate the merits of God’s Final Judgment of the human race, and it’s not going well. John, the Revelator, is worried things aren’t going his way. Gabriel, the Archangel, just wants everyone to follow the rules.

Michael, the Angel of Death, wants to prolong humanity’s suffering. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who’ve sent a Representative in their stead, are champing at the bit. And the Seraphim, heaven’s highest-ranking angel, needs to juggle all of these egos, including God’s, so that everyone can come to an agreement. Equal parts drama and dark comedy, this one-act play shows how “Thy will be done” isn’t as easy as it sounds.

ALSO ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 2pm PDX Playwrights presents But I’m Special! | See full listing on Jan 20 2pm Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative presents Three Sisters | See full listing on Jan 18 2:30pm Echo Theater Company presents Stranger Than Fiction | See full listing on Jan 19 4pm Whink Productions presents Just This One |See full listing on Jan 19 7pm PDX Playwrights presents 4x4: A Collection of One-Acts | See full listing on Jan 21 7pm Lakewood presents One Off! Completely Improvised One Act Plays | See full listing on Jan 23 7pm Spring 4th productions presents Real People. Not Actors.| See full listing on Jan 19 7:30pm Masque Alfresco & HART Theatre present Death of a Cranky Philosopher | See full listing on Jan 25 8:30pm Craftsman Theatre Company presents To Be Determined…

See full listing on Jan 25

ONLY

SEE AS MANY AS YOU CAN GET IN!

$

50!

CHECK WEBSITE FOR UPDATES, PHOTOS & MORE DETAILS WWW.FERTILEGROUNDPDX.ORG

www.artslandiabox.com 22

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

Reservations required. Based on availability.

Buy and learn more fertilegroundpdx.org

Do Something

Dramatic Theater. Dance. Music.

Oregonian Plus members enjoy event discounts and opportunities to win tickets to incredible performances.

Join them.

OREGONLIVE.COM/activate

N II A AN OO RR E EGGOON NPPLLUUS S

FERTILE GROUND: A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

23

FESTIVAL VENUES 5th Avenue Cinema 510 SW Hall St. Portland, OR 97201

Mister Theater 1847 E Burnside #101 Portland, OR 97214

Artists Repertory Theatre 1515 SW Morrison St. Portland, OR 97205

Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building 104 Portland Community College, Cascade campus 705 N. Killingsworth St. Portland, OR 97217

The Brody Theater 16 NW Broadway Portland, OR 97209 Clinton Street Theatre 2522 SE Clinton St. Portland, OR 97202

My Voice Music 538 SE Ash St. Portland, OR 97214

CoHo Theatre 2257 NW Raleigh St. Portland, OR 97210

New Expressive Works 810 SE Belmont St. Portland, OR 97214

Craftsman Theatre Company, Backyard Studio 437 NE 79th Ave. Portland, OR 97213

O’ Connors Vault 7850 SW Capitol Hwy. Portland, OR 97219

Reed College, Performing Arts Building, Diver Studio Theatre 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.

Portland, OR 97202 Echo Theatre 1515 SE 37th Ave. Portland, OR 97214 HART Theatre 185 Southeast Washington St. Hillsboro, OR 97123 Headwaters Theatre 5 NE Farragut St. #4 Portland, OR 97211 Hipbone Studio 1847 E. Burnside St. Portland, OR 97214 Lakewood Theatre Company 368 S. State St. Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Michelle’s Piano Company 600 SE Stark St. Portland, OR 97214 Milagro Theatre 525 SE Stark St. Portland, OR 97214

Performance Works NW 4625 SE 67th Ave. Portland, OR 97206 Polaris Dance Theatre 1826 NW 18th Ave. Portland, OR 97209 Portland’5 Center for the Arts, Brunish Theater 1111 SW Boadway Portland, OR 97205 The Sanctuary 1785 NE Sandy Blvd.

Portland, OR 97232 Sellwood Playhouse 901 SE Spokane St. Portland, OR 97202 The Shoebox Theatre 2110 SE 10th Ave. Portland, OR 97214 Shout House 210 SE Madison, Ste. 11 Portland, OR 97214 Taborspace 5441 SE Belmont St. Portland, OR 97215 Twilight Theatre 7515 N Brandon Ave. Portland, OR 97217

Bag&Baggage Productions, The Vault 350 E Main St. Hillsboro, OR 97123 Vibrant Studios 1532 SW Jefferson St. Portland, OR 97201 World Trade Center 121 SW Salmon St. Portland, OR 97204

FESTIVAL

PASSES ONLY

50!

$

SEE AS MANY AS YOU CAN

GET IN! Buy and manage your reservations at boxofficetickets.com Or by email fertileground@ boxofficetickets.com Reservations required.

Based on availability.

Buy and learn more fertilegroundpdx.org