An aging mother’s health teeters on the brink. Her adult daughter scrambles to find footing in her new role as caregiver. Death pounds at the door and they both wonder, could someone this pissed off actually be dying? The Undertaking portrays end-of-life care using theater, dance and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2, played live by Northwest Piano Trio musicians Heather Mastel-Lipson, Susan McDaniel and Hannah Hillebrand. Presented as part of the Fertile Ground Festival of New Work.
Buy tickets at Box Office Tickets for “The Undertaking”.
$25 regular performances
$15 preview performance and all student/seniors
January 25-27 at Community Music Center, 3350 SE Francis Street.
January 25th at 8pm
January 26th at 7:30pm
January 27th at 7:30pm
February 2-3 at Lincoln Recital Hall, 1620 SW Park Ave, Room 75.
February 2nd at 7:30pm
February 3rd at 2:00pm
The Undertaking
Conceived and directed by Jessica Wallenfels
With text by Emily Gregory
Created in collaboration with actors JoAnn Johnson and Beth Thompson
Musicians - Hannah Hillebrand, Heather Mastel-Lipson, Susan McDaniel
Scenic design - Kaye Blankenship
Costume design - Jenny Ampersand
The Undertaking is presented with a new play reading created from The Art of Aging Project. Weaving together essays and interview responses from people over 65, Camille Smicker directs a choral work read by local actors, created from elders speaking in their own words.
This piece is generously supported by a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.
Actor photos by Gary Norman feature Beth Thompson and JoAnn Johnson.
Northwest Piano Trio photo by John Green. L-R Heather Mastel-Lipson, Hannah Hillebrand, Susan McDaniel.
The 5 in 5 initiative is an intentionally audacious, self-imposed challenge to create five new works of theater in five years. The 5 in 5 Initiative responds with urgency to the dynamic world in which we live by lifting up the voices of artists through collaboration, engaging perspectives of community members and underrepresented populations, and increasing the diversity of representation on and behind Portland stages.
The Undertaking is the first of the five. Buy tickets.
5 in 5 at a Glance:
—-Over the period 2019-2023, Many Hats will create and produce five new works, intentionally challenging the constraints of a small theater company with an accelerated production timeline meant to respond to the dynamic sociopolitical environment of our time
—-Is a five year experiment in the exploration of theatrical form
—-Will include the creation of a new musical, devised piece, play, dance theater work and adaptation of nondramatic literature or source
—-Each new work will represent an experiment in collaboration, inviting artist(s)/community groups into a creative process to:
———1) Engage multiple perspectives with the goal of expanding understanding and promoting transformation
———2) Amplify the voices of underrepresented groups at a time when vulnerable populations are endangered and dissent is discouraged
———3) Increase representation of diverse populations and model inclusivity through project selection, casting, and employment practice
—-Overall impact by 2023 is to have achieved increased visibility of collaborating artists/groups, created opportunity for emerging artists and voices, impacted and grown Many Hats’ audience, and promoted greater understanding in those audiences with a rapidly expanded body of work for the company
From the Mission Story...
Theater is the study of transformation. Through the conflict of differing perspectives, change is wrought. We believe multiple perspectives are needed more than ever in our rich and dynamic world, and we believe in the principal of group process which underlies the heart of our nation’s governance.
A new work probing the effect of aging on family dynamics, as told through a chilling sci-fi riddle. A nine year old boy watches an invisible object floating in his room with terror, trying to convince his parents of its danger. It seems like a fantasy--until we learn the object has a history in his bloodline. Meanwhile, two old men dance on the precipice between consciousness and incoherence as death hovers nearby. Is the object waiting to occupy the body of a departing soul? And what happens if the living invite the object in? Brooklyn playwright Zay Amsbury spins an unsettling parable on the nature of dementia and familial alienation. Reading directed by Jessica Wallenfels, presented January 26, 2017 as part of Artist Repertory Theatre's Flash Reads Series in the Fertile Ground Festival.
Cast:
Ayanna Berkshire
Jason Glick
Darren Sze
Josiah "JP" Phillips
Del Lewis
Jane Fellows
Kimo Camat
Winner of Three 2015 Drammy Awards
Best Production of a Play, Many Hats Collaboration + Coho Productions
Outstanding Achievement in Piano Performance, Eric Nordin
Best Young Peformer, Elisha Henig
This visceral, sonically vivid new performance piece brings the classical piano music of Rachmaninoff to life through cutting edge physical theatre spun around a classic romance with magical elements of puppetry and mask. The power of music to connect, to ignite, and to heal weaves through this original fable by some of Portland’s most inventive and cherished collaborating theatre-artists. (Photos by Rachelle Hacmac unless otherwise noted).
"utterly charming" - Willamette Week
"a magical performance that blurs lines between music, dance, theater...a stunning and inspired performance piece" - Oregonlive
Cast: Kira Batcheller, Chris Harder, Elisha Henig, Brian Demar Jones, Matt Kerrigan, Garland Lyons, Jamie Rea, and Beth Thompson.
Creative team:
Scenic Designers - Alan Schwanke and Ted Jonathan Gold
Lighting Designer - Kaye Blankenship
Costume Designer - Bobby Brewer-Wallin
Properties Designer - Lauren Knapp
Mask Designer - Tony Fuemmeler
A classic album of epic proportion. An original story told through movement.
Conceived and created by Jessica Wallenfels
Arrangement, Composition and Music Direction by Eric Nordin
Choreographed in collaboration with Assistant Choreographer Erin Shannon and the cast
Set by Chris Rousseau
Lighting by Don Crossley
Costumes by kollodi
Sound by Annalise Albright
Cast
Dave Cole
Eilzabeth Klinger
Emilee Yaakola
Caitlin Upshaw
Tracy Turner
Rebecca Teran
Norman Wilson
Jeremy Sloan
Roxanne Stathos
Shea MacKinnon
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Performed at the Arena Stage of Theatre Vertigo
With support from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, the Puffin Foundation, the Heathman Hotel, and other donors
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Photos by Aaron C. Wong
Video by Nick Manci
Reel by Eric Nordin
The story of a turbulent but loving friendship inspired by Ann Patchett’s memoir.
Adapted and directed by Elizabeth Klinger
Sound assistance by Eric Ewing
Video by Lava Alapai
Created in collaboration with the cast
Cast
Betsy Cross
Joe Spencer
Jessica Wallenfels
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Performed at Shaking the Tree Studio, 2010 as part of the Fertile Ground Festival 2010
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Photos by Jessica Gleason
A site-specific physical theater piece exploring the female relationship to substance. Created using several in-depth interviews with drug-affected women for research and audio track.
Conceived and created by Jessica Wallenfels
2007
Produced by Kristan Seemel in association with Portland Center Stage
Sound Design and Direction by Annalise Albright
Music Composition by Matthew Marble
Production Design by Lava Alapai
Composed in collaboration with the cast
Cast
Ingrid Carlson
Nicole Gladwin
Emily Gleason
Amelia Goodbla
Skeeter Greene
Paige Jones
Kate Mura
Danielle Ross
Yolanda Suarez
Beth Thompson
Jessica Wallenfels
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Performed in the women's restroom of the Gerding Armory Theatre
2006
Performed for "Devise and Conquer," JAW Festival
Cast
Paige Jones
Yolanda Suarez
Jessica Wallenfels
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Performed in a women's restroom at the World Trade Center
All photos by Lava Alapai
An comedic examination of multiculturalism through puppetry, dance and theater.
by Lava Alapai
Directed by Kristan Seemel
Set by Lava Alapai
Lighting by Tony Fuemmeler
Costumes by Betsy Cross
Sound by Annalise Albright
Props by Drew Danhorn
Choreographed by Jessica Wallenfels in collaboration with dancers Amelia Nesbitt, Andrea Harmon, Clara Hillier and Erin Shannon
Cast
Lava Alapai
Jane Fellows
Yolanda Suarez
Jessica Wallenfels
Dancers
Amelia Nesbitt
Andrea Harmon
Clara Hillier
Erin Shannon
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Performed at Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 2006
With support from the Regional Arts and Culture Council
A clown tinted modern adaptation of The Hero With a Thousand Faces, where the journey is love.
Conceived and created by Jessica Wallenfels
Created in collaboration with the cast.
Cast
Bill Holznagel
Kristin Olson
Mary Rose
Timothy Scarrott.
Assistant direction by Mary Rose and Kali Eichen
Set by Jen LaMastra
Lighting by Lava Alapai
Costumes by kollodi
Sound by Annalise Albright
Original music compositions by Jennifer Wallenfels
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Performed at Tribe Theatre, 2005
A time-travelling, site specific piece exploring partnerships through the ages. Created for the "Devise and Conquer" presentation at the JAW Festival, "Stages" took audience members from an elevator to a balcony to the street below, affording glimpses of partnerships from a span of periods and pairings.
Conceived and created by Jessica Wallenfels
Composed in collaboration with the cast
Cast
John Ellingson
Jesse Young
Olga Sanchez
Damon Kupper
Arlene East
LaVerne Greene
With production support from Lava Alapai and kollodi
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Performed at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, 2005
Photos by Lava Alapai