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 #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 “The Undertaking” on fertilegroundpdx.org

$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.

More info coming soon!

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 

Read Artistic Director Jessica Wallenfels' roundup on Fertile Ground 2016, "Sampling Locally Grown, Artisanal Theatre at Portland’s Fertile Ground."

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