The Fertile Ground Festival of New Works is a citywide, multi-week performing arts festival taking place in venues throughout Portland, Oregon and the surrounding areas.

This year's lineup includes site specific theatre, dance, solo shows, aerial performance, puppetry, and dozens upon dozens of brand-new scripts by some of Portland's most celebrated and prolific playwrights.

Schedule of Events:

7:00pm - Everybody's Eyes are on The First! by Teague Shattuck & Naama Friedman

It's the world premier staged reading of "Everybody's Eyes are on The First"! A full-length, dark comedy musical about the first transgender infomercial host by trans writing duo Teague Shattuck and Naama Friedman. Perfect for fans of Rent, How to Succeed in Business, Hairspray, and more!

Pride kitty litter (with plenty of glitter), rainbow pasta makers, and lounge chairs with built-in speakers that only play “Born This Way”: These are some of the quality products you can find on the R&R Productions Shopping Channel!

After a series of problematic infomercials lead to a social-media spurred boycott, Rudy and Rhonda, seasoned hosts of R&R Productions, hire a struggling actor named Rafi to market as the First Transgender Infomercial Host! Drama, sex, hilarity, and moral conundrums ensue on a set that simultaneously declares “Hate Has No Place in Our Studio” and “There’s Nothing Trendier than a Transgender”. Amidst clashing opinions from his girlfriend, Mag, and PR exec fling, Sloane, Rafi must decide for himself how much he is willing to compromise his values for his dreams. Be swept away by catchy tunes, scathing satire, and late-stage capitalism in this disarmingly heartfelt dark comedy!

Rating/Recommended Age:
16+. Harsh language and sexual content. Email accessibility contact with any questions.

Performance Length:
2 hours, one intermission

Location: The Back Door Theater, 4319 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland , Oregon , 97215

Buy Tickets

7:30pm - A Window into Tennessee by Sandra de Helen

The play is a portrayal of Tennessee Williams as a man in his prime, after he's had success, and after he's suffered the loss of the great love of his life. Tennessee laughs too loud, drinks too much, takes too many pills. He appears extroverted in order to compensate for the introverted, painfully shy Tom inside. Michael shows us the real man, the self-destructive, fearful poet who loves too much, and makes us love him in the process. Louanne Moldovan directs.

Rating/Recommended Age:
14+

Performance Length:
60 minutes, no intermission

Location: 21ten Theatre, 2110 SE 10th Ave, Portland , Oregon , 97214

Buy Tickets