We’re halfway there! ✨ Your donations help us not only create compelling theatre, but also help us support and uplift our local artistic ecosystem. In addition to funding the production of our own intimate, provocative, theatre, our lobby has been home to productions by Portland Opera, Northwest Academy, Profile Theatre, Fertile Ground Festival, Cygnet Productions, LineStorm Playwrights, The Actors Conservatory, Hand2Mouth Theatre, and more. This funding allows us to help so many other companies by providing affordable rentals. That means more art from more people! It’s exhilarating to share our home with so many talented, committed artists and their audiences. 💥 CHALLENGE MATCH! 💥 Will you help us to get to our goal by June 30th? Thanks to a generous donor, all donations made by the end of June will be matched up to $30K so your donations will count for double! Support new plays and local artists by supporting Artists Rep as generously as you can! ❤️ (fb)

This weekend! illioo Native Theatre and Artists Rep present a concert reading of BlueJay’s Canoe, a new play by Theresa May & Marta Lu Clifford (Chinook, Cree, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde). ✨ BlueJay’s Canoe explores the power of Indigenous stories in everyday life, and represents a weaving of Indigenous storytelling and contemporary drama. A tale of healing, recovery and resilience, BlueJay’s Canoe takes place in the Pacific Northwest during the uncertain times of 2020-21. Sixteen-year-old Xak lands an internship at KMAS Indigenous radio where he meets the brash Indigenous radio host, BlueJay/qisqis, and his Auntie Goldie, a storyteller. Together with Xak’s family and the mysterious Heron, we learn the key to BlueJay’s past and wittness the healing of a river and a family. Why did BlueJay abandon the canoe he was building years ago? Moving across time and space from the pandemic and Oregon wildfires into the landscape of stories and back again. Filled with humor, history and Indigenous life-ways of Oregon, BlueJay’s Canoe is a story about the power of stories, and our connection to and responsibiliy for the places we inhabit and the folks with whom we share them. Join us for a discussion led by Amber Kay Ball following Sunday’s show. Portland Indigenous community members are especially invited to attend and share their feedback about the play. Refreshments provided. (Children under 10 not recommended.) BlueJay’s Canoe will be read by an ensemble of Portland actors, some of whom are ART regulars, as well as Native elder, Marta Lu Clifford of the Grand Ronde Tribe. Tickets are free, all are welcome. $10 suggested donation. (fb)