Profile Theatre Project

FOUNDED IN 1997, PROFILE THEATRE PROJECT (THE ORGANIZATION) IS THE ONLY THEATER ON THE WEST COAST DEDICATED TO AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF THE PLAYWRIGHTS VOICE. PROFILE THEATRES MISSION IS TO PRODUCE A SEASON OF WORLD-CLASS PRODUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTERED AROUND THE FEATURED WRITER WHOSE VISION BROADENS OUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD AND DEEPENS OUR COLLECTIVE COMPASSION. EACH YEAR WE USE A MASTER ARTISTS UNIQUE VISION AS A LENS TO EXPLORE THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN ART AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THAT THE THEATRE IS A CONVENING GROUND FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER TOGETHER, SHARING STORIES AND BUILDING COMMUNITY AROUND SOCIAL ISSUES AND POLITICAL EVENTS. SINCE 2018, WEVE MOVED FROM A ONE-PLAYWRIGHT, ONE-SEASON MODEL TO ONE WHERE WE CURATE THE BODIES OF WORK OF TWO OR THREE WRITERS IN TANDEM OVER TWO YEARS, ALLOWING US TO AMPLIFY SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES OF OUR TIME THROUGH THE LENS OF MULTIPLE LEADING PLAYWRIGHTS. OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS ARE OUR MAIN STAGE SEASON OF LARGE-SCALE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS; OUR EXPANSIVE IN DIALOGUE PROGRAM OF LECTURES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND CONCERT STAGINGS THAT HELP PATRONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENGAGE MORE DEEPLY WITH THE WORK ON THE MAINSTAGE; OUR COMMUNITY PROFILE PROGRAM, WHICH USES THE PRACTICE OF WRITING TO CREATE NETWORKS OF MUTUAL SUPPORT AND RESILIENCE IN A DEDICATED AFFINITY SPACE FOR A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EACH SEASON; AND OUR PLAYWRIGHTS RESIDENCY, WHICH EMBEDS THE FEATURED WRITER IN OUR PORTLAND THEATRE TO DEVELOP NEW WORK, LEAD WORKSHOPS, AND ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY OF PATRONS AND ARTISTS. SINCE 2016, WE HAVE EXCLUSIVELY CENTERED BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, WOM*N, AND JEWISH WRITERS AND ARTISTS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT BY CENTERING THE STORIES OF THE GLOBAL MAJORITY, WE IN OUR SMALL WAY HELP TO CREATE A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. SINCE 2022, WE HAVE BEGUN COMMISSIONING AND PREMIERING NEW PLAYS BY OUR FEATURED WRITERS. THE ABILITY TO PREMIERE NEW WORK BY SOME OF THE COUNTRYS MOST IMPORTANT MID-CAREER WRITERS MEANS THAT PROFILE THEATRE PROJECT IS NOW IN A POSITION TO CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO THE CANON OF NEW AMERICAN PLAYS, IN ADDITION TO SERVING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH WORLD CLASS THEATRE AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.