HILLSBORO, ORE.: Bag&Baggage Productions has announced its 2020-21 season, which will shift its typical summer opening to September in response to the current global health crisis.
“We believe that telling human stories is such an important element of our society,” said artistic director Cassie Greer in a statement. “At the same time, we want to make sure that we’re not trying to get people back inside traditional theatre spaces until it is actually safe and responsible to do so. We are so fortunate to have the support of our community and our artists throughout this time, and we are committed to emerging on the other side of this.”
The season will begin with the world premiere of Svetlana! Svetlana! (Sept. 3-20), written by Dan Kitrosser. Inspired by the voice and writings of Joseph Stalin’s only daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, this new comedy examines history, love, life, death, and the struggle to create—all performed by a cast of only two actors.
Next up will be Alias Grace (Oct. 15-31), written by Jennifer Blackmer. Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, this adaptation takes us to 1859 and into the room of one of Canada’s most notorious murderers.
For the holidays, B&B will present the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ (Dec. 3-23), adapted by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr. from Charles Dickens. This irreverent take follows the mishaps of a dramatic society staging the holiday classic.
Following will be the world premiere of Troy, USA (March 4-21, 2021), by Don Wilson Glenn and Dmae Roberts. This adaptation of Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida is set in the post-riot Detroit suburbs during the late Vietnam War era and explores war, race, class, and oppression. Troy, USA will be presented as part of the Problem Play Project, which commissions Oregon-based playwrights of color to adapt Shakespeare’s so-called “problem plays” with an equity and diversity lens.
The season will conclude with Mary Zimmerman’s seminal adaptation of Metamorphosis (April 29-May 16, 2021). Adapted from the ancient tales of Ovid, the play is an ode to the power of love and the shadows that lurk beneath it.
The 2020-21 season will also see the continuance of the Emerging Artist Program, which brings four early-career theatre professionals to work in every facet of the company for the season. The program culminates in June 2021 with a show based on Grimm’s fairy tales that is created for younger audiences.
In addition, B&B will host cabaret artist Tony Starlight, Los Angeles-based comedy troupe “Fake Radio,” No Filter Improv, Staged! Musical Theatre, and several performances,
Bag&Baggage Productions is Hillsboro’s only professional theatre company and is committed to innovative and provocative new interpretations of the classics of world literature, bringing surprising new insight to stories and writers from our past.
