Pardon us if we are a little emotional today.

We are still feeling so much love and appreciation for everyone who joined us for our annual Season Premiere Party on Sunday evening. Thank you to those of you who showed up to talk, dine, and experience scenes from the upcoming season with us. Along with our season sponsors' support, we raised $100,140 to keep our work fresh, our education programs flourishing, and our productions accessible to everyone who wants to awaken to the wonder of theatre.

We are also mourning the loss of Michael Friedman , composer, lyricists and co-creator of Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson which you may have seen with us a few years ago. As anyone who has the power to move hundreds of hearts at a time with either a whisper or a snarl, his death was too soon. We are grateful for his work and the privilege we had of producing it.
And work is happening here and around town. Our Playhouse has seen increased support of the brick and mortar kind in the past few weeks with Colas Construction powering through the renovations that will transform our space into one comfortable for our actors and audiences alike, so we can focus on what is truly important – engagement.

Our Season 10 apprentice company have been engaging with our Portland theatre community by seeing the work of those who came before them. This past week included members of our staff and all five apprentices stopping by Artists Repertory Theatre to see three former apprentices - Joe Gibson, Alex Ramirez and Andrea Vernae - tear up the stage in Branden Jacob Jenkins’ An Octoroon .   Bobby Bermea spoke of the force that is Andrea Vernae along with her fellow rising star Kailey Rhodes in his inaugural piece for Oregon ArtsWatch. If that doesn’t convince you to see it, we don’t know what will.

The apprentices also caught former apprentice Jake Simonds in   …like Nobody’s Watching , the one-man performance he created and stars in. It closes on Saturday, so get on it if you want to catch this one!

Don’t forget to take a look at our website to find out What’s On. See what our former apprentices and current apprentice company are up to, keep an eye on the renovations and learn more about our Fall Reading Series coming up in October.

One final reminder: It’s National Arts in Education Week.  Hug an arts teacher (or just say “thank you”) and check out one of our programs aimed at increasing creative expression in our schools such as the Fall Festival of Shakespeare .

Thanks to our sponsors:  
The 2017-18 season is presented by Harold Goldstein & Carol Streeter and Ronni Lacroute 

Our work is made possible by Mary & Don Blair, Ellyn Bye, Colas Construction, The Collins Foundation, Joel Hamberg Painting, Mary Chomenko and Greg Hinckley, Kinsman Foundation, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Oregon Cultural Trust, ME Fitness, Meyer Memorial Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, Roy and Diane Marvin Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Ned Ludd, Raymond Family Foundation, SERA Architects, Judy Shih & Joel Axelrod, State of Oregon, Phillip Terranova, Phyllis L. Weaver Memorial, Steve & Elsie Weaver, James B. Wiley Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Wrather Family Foundation, and Friends of Sandra Zickefoose. 

Thanks to the Regional Arts & Culture Council, including support from the City of Portland, Multnomah County and the Arts Education & Access Fund.
Portland Playhouse receives support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded by the State of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts.