Artists Repertory Theatre

ARTISTIC AND PRODUCTION - AFTER COMPLETING PARTIAL RENOVATIONS ART REOPENED OUR THEATER WITH A 2024-2025 SEASON OF 3 WORLD PREMIERES. ITINERANT SINCE 2019, DURING THE PANDEMIC AND RENOVATIONS, WE FINALLY RETURN HOME AND WILL PRODUCE IN THE 3000 SQ FT LOBBY, WHICH HAS CLEVERLY BEEN BUILT OUT AS AN INTERIM VENUE UNTIL RENOVATIONS ARE FULLY COMPLETED IN AN ESTIMATED 2-3 YEARS TIME. WE CELEBRATED THIS MOMENTOUS HOMECOMING BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND NOURISHING OUR LOCAL ROOTS WITH A "HOME GROWN" THEMED SEASON THAT FOCUSES ON LOCALLY CREATED PLAYS:THE EVENT! (OCT 13 - NOV 10, 2024) BY LAVA ALAPAI, LINDA ALPER, ANTHONY HUDSON (CONF. TRIBES OF GRAND RONDE), DAN KITROSSER, SUSANNAH MARS, LUAN SCHOOLER, JOSIE SEID. THIS PLAYFUL, BIG-HEARTED PROJECT INCORPORATED AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION, TELLING A DELIGHTFULLY BUOYANT STORY ABOUT A DYING SMALL TOWN IN OREGON, MAGICAL OSTRICHES, SPACE ALIENS, AND ONE QUEER KID NAMED RUDY. BEGUN DURING THE PANDEMIC AS PART OF ARTS MERCURY COMPANY, THIS COLLABORATIVELY CREATED WORK STRETCHES THE BOUNDARIES OF LIVE THEATRE TO INCLUDE THE AUDIENCE IN BOTH REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCE.SAPIENCE (FEB 23 - MARCH 23, 2025) BY DIANA BURBANO. COMMISSIONED & DEVELOPED BY ART, SAPIENCE IS AN IMAGINATIVE EXPLORATION OF HOW WE COMMUNICATE AND SEEK TO BE UNDERSTOOD. IT CENTERS ON ELSA, A PRIMATOLOGIST STUDYING COMMUNICATION AND ATTEMPTING TO TEACH WOOKIE, AN ORANGUTAN, TO SPEAK. SHE IS ALSO AUTISTIC BUT BELIEVES THAT HER PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES ARE DISTINCTLY COMPARTMENTALIZED. HER WORLDS COLLIDE WHEN HER NEPHEW AJ, A TEENAGER WHO IS ALSO ON THE SPECTRUM, FORMS A RELATIONSHIP WITH WOOKIE. ART BUILT UPON OUR 2-YEAR RELATIONSHIP WITH PHAME, A PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY FOR ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROJECT IS BOTH THEATRICALLY EXCITING AND RESPONSIVE TO THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.THE STORYTELLER (APRIL 22 - MAY 18, 2025) BY SARA JEAN ACCUARDI. A MAGICAL PLAY, AWARDED THE 2023 OREGON BOOK AWARD/ANGUS L. BOWMER AWARD FOR DRAMA. INSPIRED BY SHAKESPEARES THE TEMPEST, IT CENTERS ON 17-YEAR-OLD RANDI WHO HAS LIVED HER ENTIRE LIFE OFF THE GRID WITH HER DAD ON A ROTTING OLD HOUSEBOAT, AND SHES SICK OF IT. THAT THE PLAY HAS NOT BEEN PRODUCED ELSEWHERE IS AN ACCIDENT OF TIMING: SHE WAS DEVELOPING IT JUST AS THE PANDEMIC HIT AND RECEIVED THE AWARD JUST AS THE AMERICAN THEATRE COLLAPSED. ART WAS HONORED TO OFFER THE PREMIERE AND DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS REMARKABLE PLAY ABOUT THE STORIES THAT WE NEED AND THAT WE TELL OURSELVES.