THE PORTLAND PLAYHOUSE

ARTISTIC SERVICES: DURING OUR 17TH SEASON (2024-2025), WE PRODUCED FOUR PLAYS THAT DREW 9,204 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. THE SEASON OPENED IN FALL 2024 WITH THE MUSICAL "AMLIE," BASED ON THE BELOVED 2001 FRENCH FILM, WHICH PLAYED TO SOLD-OUT HOUSES ACROSS ITS FIVE-WEEK RUN. OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW (INSPIRED BY DICKENS' "A CHRISTMAS CAROL") SOLD 3,618 TICKETS OVER FIVE WEEKS. IN WINTER 2025 WE PRODUCED NOTES FROM THE FIELD," ANNA DEAVERE SMITH'S POWERFUL ONE-PERSON EXPLORATION OF THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE, DRAWN FROM INTERVIEWS WITH STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND ADVOCATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE CLOSED THE SEASON IN SPRING 2025 WITH AUGUST WILSON'S "JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE," THE SECOND PLAY IN WILSON'S AMERICAN CENTURY CYCLE, WHICH FOLLOWS A GROUP OF BLACK BOARDING HOUSE RESIDENTS IN 1911 PITTSBURGH GRAPPLING WITH THE LEGACIES OF SLAVERY AND THE SEARCH FOR IDENTITY. JOE TURNER ALSO PLAYED TO SOLD-OUT HOUSES AND CAPPED A SEASON OF RECORD TICKET SALES.AUDIENCE FEEDBACK FROM "JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE"-"IT BROUGHT NEW INSIGHTS AND PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO MY UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN HISTORY - VERY TROUBLING BUT SO HELPFUL TO APPRECIATE A PERIOD FRAUGHT WITH CHANGE, NOT UNLIKE WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW. THIS IS WHY THEATRE AND ALL THE ARTS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR A STRONG NATION. ABSOLUTELY GREAT STORY, SUPERB PRESENTATION, MOVING PERFORMANCES BY TOPNOTCH ACTORS. THANK YOU! NOTES FROM THE FIELD" INCLUDED THAT "EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THIS SHOW! IT IS EVERYTHING ART AND THEATER SHOULD BE - MOVING, MEMORABLE, INSPIRATIONAL, REFLECTIVE, AND RELEVANT. WE'LL BE THINKING ABOUT THIS PLAY FOR A LONG TIME."