The playwrights are in town; rehearsals and revision begin on Monday, July 16th.
All staged readings on the Big Weekend will be interpreted.
A Playwright Festival
FREE and open to the public. No reservations needed!
The Big Weekend
The JAW Big Weekend features public readings of the four new works selected by the JAW reading committee, presented at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and 29. Kicking off the festivities, Friday, July 27 at 8 p.m., is the work of this year’s Promising Playwrights.
All of the staged readings will be interpreted
Friday, July 27
Promising Playwrights Kickoff Event 8 p.m. | Ellyn Bye Studio
Saturday July 28
three girls never learnt the way homeby Matthew Paul Olmos 4 p.m.
The Tasters by Meghan Brown 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 29
Pick a Colorby Emily Feldman 4 p.m.
The Birds of Empathy by Clarence Coo 8 p.m.
More information is available about these plays at
The presentations and the panel will be ASL interpreted.
Performance interpreter: Dot Hearn
Panel discussion interpreters: Dot Hearn and Dana Walls
Screenings of socially conscious art, a talk by artist Anya Pearson,
and a panel discussion, which ask the question:
How do we heal from trauma?
Anya Pearson is an award-winning actress, playwright, poet, producer and activist living and working in Portland.
Anya is the author of the choreopoem, Made to Dance in Burning Buildings, which is a fusion of poetry, theatre, and violent and visceral contemporary dance which explores PTSD and trauma. The showcase production of Made to Dance in Burning Buildings recently played to a sold-out house at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater in New York City. NY Theatre Critic, Anthony J. Piccione, called it a "standout." The World Premiere of Made to Dance in Burning Buildings will take place at Shaking the Tree Theatre in Portland in February 2019. She is also producing a documentary, which follows the development of the play as well as her passionate quest to empower other survivors. The documentary will also feature the stories of other survivors.
Anya's latest piece, Above a Whisper, is a fusion of poetry, narrative, dance, visual art, and film about Sexual Harassment. An excerpt of this full-length piece debuted at Shaking the Tree's SALT in May 2018 in Portland, Oregon.
Anya is the inaugural winner of the prestigious $10,000 Voice is a Muscle Grant from the Corporeal Voices Foundation ran by best-selling author Lidia Yuknavitch. Anya has recently received a $10,000 commission from Bag & Baggage Theatre in Hillsboro to adapt Measure for Measure with an African-American lens focused on the prison industrial complex. As an actress, she has appeared in numerous regional theater productions as well as independent films. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Her poems have been published in the literary journals Elohi Gadugi and M Review. Her poem, “The Accomplice” was also featured in the BaseRoots Theatre Company main stage show, My Soul Grown Deep, which she also co-produced. She is a graduate of the prestigious two-year program at the William Esper Studio in New York City where she studied acting with Terry Knickerbocker. She is also a graduate of the writing program at Marylhurst University. Her best production is truly her 5 ½ year old daughter, Aidan.
We Can Listen is funded in part by The Old Church Concert Hall and RACC and strives to build community, educate, and share the positive impact that truly listening to diverse voices can have on us all. Through a cultural intersection of storytelling, film, music, and personal expression we support individuals and grassroots organizations as they raise their voices on compelling social justice issues Portlanders have demonstrated are important to them. We hope these persona stories will reach audiences they haven’t reached before, and provide the opportunity, for all who hear them, to increase their understanding of issues that require action and awareness in our greater community.
Moderated by Grammy-nominated local recording artist and theatrical performer, Julianne R. Johnson, each We Can Listen event explores a topic of current, social, political, or environmental importance in an atmosphere of trust and respect for both speakers and audience alike.
"Bus Stop" is set in a diner about 25 miles west of Kansas City in early March 1955. A freak snowstorm has halted the progress of the bus, and the eight characters (five on the bus) have a weather-enforced layover in the diner from approximately 1 to 5 a.m. The characters pass the time exploring their unique lives, loves and challenges to great humor, drama and intrigue. The production is appropriate for ages 10 and older, and contains light violence and some verbal sexual references. Running time is 90 minutes, with no intermission. Tickets on sale at the door - cash or check only. Students, seniors, veterans, PCC alumnae and staff: $5 PCC retired staff: Free with ID All others: $10 (except where noted on special event performances) With our 400 seat theatre there are always tickets available at the walk-up box office in the PAC lobby one hour before the performance is scheduled to begin. Please use cash or check only. There is no assigned seating and plenty of room for groups to sit together, as well as family and friends to accompany wheelchair seating. Our back rows are reserved for wheelchair, limited mobility patrons and late seating.
Internationally acclaimed UK writer, artist and part-time superhero Jess Thom (Touretteshero) is committed to increasing opportunities for those living with Tourette’s Syndrome. She characterizes herself as a ‘superhero’ not a ‘sufferer’ of the condition she has experienced since she was a child. In her thoughtful, funny, and groundbreaking presentation, Ms. Thom will speak about making visible the hidden barriers that exclude people with disabilities, and others, from public spaces. Whose responsibility it is to adapt to our culture? What are our preconceptions about disability? How can disability be reconceptualized as a springboard for creativity and spontaneity? How does diversity and inclusive thinking benefit all of us? Together, Ms. Thom argues, we can ‘change the world one tic at a time.’
Presented in collaboration with Boom Arts and Disability Art & Culture Project as part of the Dis/Representation: Evolving Disability Conversations series.
Date & Time: Tuesday, May, 2018 at 7:00 pm; doors open at 6:30pm
Location: The Old Church1422 SW 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97201
Programmed by the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation and We Can Listen, seven Native American artists share their perspectives through their art. The first half of the program will focus on each artist’s story through their work.
In the second half of the program, the discussion will focus on how the artists’ work addresses justice issues that affect Native communities locally and globally. The conversation will also include an exploration on how the artists’ work address issues around visibility, identity, essentialism and stereotype.
In conjunction with a city-wide movement to raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women – click here for information about another wonderful FREE event we are hosting May 2nd -we will be screening the award winning short film “Missing Indigenous.” Members of the film crew are featured guests in our panel.
LOCATION: 602 NE Prescott St, Portland, Oregon 97211 TICKETS: Select "ASL tickets" when making your purchase for the community discount INTERPRETERS: Pam and Edwin Cancel
Husband, father, former athlete, garbage collector – 53-year old Troy struggles to define himself both inside and out of his 1950s PittsburgH home. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, Fences asks “What makes us choose the things we keep at a distance and what we decide to let in?”
This will be the seventh of Wilson’s 10-play “American Century Cycle” that the Playhouse has staged.
Director Lou Bellamy (Obie award for Two Trains Running) is the founding Artistic Director of Penumbra Theatre Company, which has produced more August Wilson productions than any company in the world, including the premiere of Jitney!
*new* This summer (2018), if you use ASL and want to attend the summer play at Drake Park in Bend, you must request interpreters. There is no scheduled interpreted performance unless there is a request. The play this year will be "Jesus Christ Superstar."
The second change to Lay It Out Events' program, is that it is now called "Theater in the Park" and not "Shakespeare in the Park." They are not limiting the plays to Shakepeare. This year's play, "Jesus Christ Superstar," is a big musical about the last week of Jesus' life. The play has two performances on August 24 & 25.
If you want to see this play and need sign access, contact the sponsor, Lay It Out Events (see below). They are happy to provide interpreters, but only if there is a request. They have been great about providing signing access for many years and will secure interpreters IF there is interest.
I have been involved with coordinating the interpreters and have been one of the interpreters several times. My reason for sharing this information is that I don't want anyone to assume there will be an interpreted performance as there has been in the past. A request needs to be made, and far enough in advance to reserve the interpreters with enough time to prepare and Lay It Out Events will be happy to provide interpreters if you let them know.
contact: Lay It Out Events (541) 323-0964 or info@layitoutevents.com
"How do you lift up a society? Shaw’s deliciously witty and timely classic tackles this question with unexpected results. Barbara has dedicated her life to serving the poor and clashes with her father who amassed his fortune selling weapons for war. As Shaw explores notions of right versus wrong, left versus right, and everything in between, you’ll find yourself laughing while questioning your own beliefs. "
“One of Shaw's brightest, slyest, most provocatively outrageous and most timeless comedies." –New York Post
"A comedy of explosive ideas." PDXMonthly
Run Time: Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one intermission.
Note: Recommended for ages 12 and up. Children under 6 are not permitted at any production at The Armory.
“An absolute delight: moving, warm, generous and sparkling with the absurdly hilarious interjections of a woman who has both Tourette’s syndrome and an extremely Pythonesque sense of humour.” – The Guardian
Four one-of-a-kind evenings of highly irreverent stand-up from one of Europe's most distinctive voices in arts and disability justice. Each performance will also include various short performances by local and visiting artists.
Additional performers by date:
Friday, May 4: Jan Derbyshire, Vancouver-based comedian and facilitator/consultant for Canada’s Deaf, Disability, and Mad Arts sector
Saturday, May 5: Disability Art & Culture Project, Artistic Director Kathy Coleman, and the Inclusive Arts Vibe Dance Company
Friday, May 11: Portland-based multidisciplinary performance project Wobbly Dance and documentary filmmaker Cheryl Green
Saturday, May 12: Portland-based performer Little Clown Big Shoes
Make sure to check out the two free events with Touretteshero
a talk, an experiential workshop, and four performances
with Touretteshero from the UK
*all events will be interpreted*
May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 events will be at Echo Theater, 1515 SE 37th Ave Portland, OR 97214
Quick overview (more info below).
* Tues, May 8th 6:00-7:30 pm "Laughter, Access, Diversity, & Inclusion: Jess Thom, Changing the World One Tic at a Time" at Multnomah County Library downtown, a discussion with Jess Thom
* Thu 5/4 & Sat 5/5 7:30-9:30 pm "Stand Up, Sit Down, Roll Over" performances, artist presentation, and a short conversation. All performances are *relaxed; at Echo Theatre in SE Portland.
* Sun 5/6 2:00-5:00 pm "Heroes of the Imagination, a workshop with Touretteshero" for kids of all abilities and their families, *relaxed and fun, experiential; at Echo Theatre in SE Portland.
* Thu 5/11 & Sat 5/12 7:30-9:30 pm "Stand Up, Sit Down, Roll Over" performances, artist presentation, and a short conversation. All performances are *relaxed; at Echo Theatre in SE Portland.
*All Touretteshero performances are offered as “relaxed,” meaning all audiences are welcome to move around or make noise if and as they wish or need.
* Tues, May 8th 6:00-7:30 pm "Laughter, Access, Diversity, & Inclusion: Jess Thom, Changing the World One Tic at a Time" at Multnomah County Library downtown, a discussion with Jess Thom
"Internationally acclaimed UK writer, artist and part-time superhero Jess Thom (Touretteshero) is committed to increasing opportunities for those living with Tourette’s Syndrome. She characterizes herself as a ‘superhero’ not a ‘sufferer’ of the condition she has experienced since she was a child. In her thoughtful, funny, and groundbreaking presentation, Ms. Thom will speak about making visible the hidden barriers that exclude people with disabilities, and others, from public spaces. Whose responsibility it is to adapt to our culture? What are our preconceptions about disability? How can disability be reconceptualized as a springboard for creativity and spontaneity? How does diversity and inclusive thinking benefit all of us? Together, Ms. Thom argues, we can ‘change the world one tic at a time.’"
* Thu 5/4 & Sat 5/5 7:30-9:30 pm "Stand Up, Sit Down, Roll Over" performances, artist presentation, and a short conversation. All performances are relaxed - meaning all audiences are welcome to move around or make noise if and as they wish or need.
Boom Arts presents four one-of-a-kind evenings of highly irreverent stand-up from one of Europe's most distinctive voices in arts and disability justice, accompanied by performance & conversation programs featuring local and visiting artists. May 4, 5, 11, & 12 at 7:30pm at Echo Theater, 1515 SE 37th Ave. Tickets $12 and up at www.boomarts.org.
Guest artists:
-Friday, May 4: Jan Derbyshire, Vancouver-based artist and comedian and facilitator/consultant for Canada’s Deaf, Disability, and Mad Arts sector
-Saturday, May 5: Portland’s own Disability Art & Culture Project, Artistic Director Kathy Coleman, and the Inclusive Arts Vibe Dance Company
* Sun 5/6 2:00-5:00 pm "Heroes of the Imagination, a workshop with Touretteshero" for kids of all abilities and their families, relaxed and fun, experiential; at Echo Theater, 1515 SE 37th Ave, Portland
An afternoon of free, fully accessible, multi-sensory drop-in activities for disabled and non-disabled children (and their grown up sidekicks) created and facilitated by Touretteshero and featuring superhero-themed activities. Heroes of the Imagination is wheelchair accessible; a roaming American Sign Language interpreter and an audio describer will be on hand to make sure everyone can get involved; and a “chill space” will be set up for anyone who needs a break. Over the course of the afternoon, children will discover their powers, create their own superhero identity, and use their imaginations to change the world.
* Thu 5/11 & Sat 5/12 7:30-9:30 pm "Stand Up, Sit Down, Roll Over" performances, artist presentation, and a short conversation. All performances are relaxed - meaning all audiences are welcome to move around or make noise if and as they wish or need.
Boom Arts presents four one-of-a-kind evenings of highly irreverent stand-up from one of Europe's most distinctive voices in arts and disability justice, accompanied by performance & conversation programs featuring local and visiting artists. May 4, 5, 11, & 12 at 7:30pm at Echo Theater, 1515 SE 37th Ave. Tickets $12 and up at www.boomarts.org.
Guest artists:
-Friday, May 11: Portland-based multidisciplinary performance project Wobbly Dance and documentary filmmaker Cheryl Green
-Saturday, May 12: Portland-based performer Little Clown Big Shoes plus TBD
