Debuting in the 2019 Fertile Ground Festival, “The Undertaking” portrays aging, caregiving and death through the use of music, movement and theatrical storytelling. This unique interdisciplinary piece is a collaborative new work set to Dmitri Shostakovich’s piano trio #2, to be played live by local classical ensemble Northwest Piano Trio.

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

By exploring the relationship of an elder parent to her adult daughter caregiver, we witness the brutal ugliness of death along with an exquisite tenderness which reminds us how to live. The music of Shostakovich gives this piece the appropriate breadth of an intimate tragedy, incorporating an original script along with the classical score. “The Undertaking” takes on unexpectedly complicated questions and mixed emotions of caring for family members during a process that will eventually touch us all. 

An important part of our mission at Many Hats is to create space for voices that are underrepresented in our community. As a companion piece to The Undertaking, we are excited to be creating a second piece of theatre, The Art of Aging Project, which will weave together essays and interviews of those 65 and older about their own personal journey of aging. Do you or someone you know want to submit your contribution to this project? We are collecting responses through November 1, 2018.

Save the date for our shows at Lincoln Recital Hall, February 2-3!

Additional shows and venue TBA, stay tuned for ticket information!

This piece is generously supported by a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

Photos: Beth Thompson, JoAnn Johnson, Northwest Piano Trio (credit John Green). L-R Heather Mastel-Lipson, Hannah Hillebrand, Susan McDaniel.

Many Hats Collaboration is in the midst of creating a new performance work - The Undertaking - and we need your help. An important part of our mission at Many Hats is to create space for voices that are underrepresented in our community. As a companion piece to The Undertaking, we are excited to be creating a second piece of theatre currently called The Art of Aging Project. This piece will be presented alongside The Undertaking, weaving together essays and interviews of those 65 and older about their own personal journey of aging.

To create this piece, we are reaching out to you, the elders in our community, to share your experiences of aging and caregiving with us. Our goal is to use these submissions to create an original script for a theater piece which amplifies the voices of elders, collecting and collaging responses of multiple authors into a short play to be performed by professional actors.

Would you like to to contribute?

You can send us your contribution by:

1) Filling out a few questions through this online form.

Or:

2) Submit your audio, video or written submission via email to: artofaging[at]manyhatscollaboration[dot]org.

Any way you choose to contribute, we appreciate it!

Essay guidelines:
--- Respondents should be over 65
--- Audio and video recordings must be submitted digitally and be a maximum of 5 minutes in length
--- Email a written response to our questions in essay format with a 1,500 word count

Contributor responses must be received by November 1, 2018.

Know someone who should contribute, but would prefer a paper form? Please print this Call for Contributions and pass it along!

Rules and Guidelines
All submissions must be original work, prepared for this submission process and not previously published. The ownership of any submission remains the property of the contributor, but submitting an entry constitutes the contributor's permission and consent, without monetary compensation, for Many Hats Collaboration to use, reproduce, post, adapt, and edit the contributor’s writing in scripted and spoken format within the context of an original theatrical production.

In the event that a contributor’s submission is chosen in whole or in part for use in the theater production, Many Hats Collaboration will credit contributor’s name in the theatrical program. Many Hats Collaboration agrees to share any selected material with the contributor in advance of the first performance, providing contextual information about the overall scripted drama in which the contributor's contribution will be used. Contributions will be selected based on subjective artistic criteria of the agents of Many Hats Collaboration. Contributors whose contributions are selected for inclusion in the performance will receive a complimentary ticket to one of the performances.

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

---

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

---

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

Many Hats is in the midst of creating a new performance work - and we need your help. An important part of our mission at Many Hats is to create space for voices that are underrepresented in our community. We are excited to be creating a new piece of theatre currently called The Art of Aging Project. This piece will weave together essays and interviews of those 65 and older about their own personal journey of aging.

To create this piece, we are reaching out to you, the elders in our community, to share your experiences of aging and caregiving with us. Our goal is to use these submissions to create an original script for a theater piece which amplifies the voices of elders, collecting and collaging responses of multiple authors into a short play to be performed by professional actors.

Would you like to to contribute? You can send us your contribution by:

1) Filling out a few questions through this online form.

Or:

2) Submit your audio, video or written submission via email to: artofaging@manyhatscollaboration.org.

Any way you choose to contribute, we appreciate it!

Essay guidelines:

--- Respondents should be over 65

--- Audio and video recordings must be submitted digitally and be a maximum of 5 minutes in length

--- Email a written response in essay format with a 1,500 word count

Contributor responses must be received by November 1, 2018

Rules and Guidelines

All submissions must be original work, prepared for this submission process and not previously published. The ownership of any submission remains the property of the contributor, but submitting an entry constitutes the contributor's permission and consent, without monetary compensation, for Many Hats Collaboration to use, reproduce, post, adapt, and edit the contributor’s writing in scripted and spoken format within the context of an original theatrical production.

In the event that a contributor’s submission is chosen in whole or in part for use in the theater production, Many Hats Collaboration will credit contributor’s name in the theatrical program. Many Hats Collaboration agrees to share any selected material with the contributor in advance of the first performance, providing contextual information about the overall scripted drama in which the contributor's contribution will be used. Contributions will be selected based on subjective artistic criteria of the agents of Many Hats Collaboration. Contributors whose contributions are selected for inclusion in the performance will receive a complimentary ticket to one of the performances.

If you plan to submit a contribution via this online form, please start by entering your email address below.