Portland, March 2, 2013. Artists Rep and Profile Theatre announced that Profile will make Artists Repertory Theatre their new home. Profile will produce and rehearse their next season at Artists Rep, beginning in January with their 2014 Sam Shepard Season. This June, Profile will move their business office from their current location at the Theater! Theatre! Building in SE Portland, to offices on the east side of the Artists Rep campus.
This partnership offers a phenomenal opportunity for collaboration between these two longstanding Portland theatre companies. This agreement quickly fell into place shortly after Profile learned, less than a month ago, that their lease at Theater! Theatre! would not be renewed in June. Talks began immediately between management at both theatre companies.
With Profile’s urgent need to find a home and both organizations embracing a time of transition with new artistic leadership, administrators believe that despite the unexpected circumstances, the timing and organizational evolution is nearly perfect for both companies.
“Profile’s residency at Artists Rep is a major step toward meeting two of our long-standing company goals: turning our phenomenal facility into a constantly buzzing hive of production and performance, and serving a supportive role in Portland’s artistic community,” said Dámaso Rodriguez, incoming Artistic Director at Artists Rep. “Profile has an undeniably distinct mission and excellent reputation within the Portland theatre community, which I believe both contrasts and complements the work we do. I expect this residency will inspire collaboration that will greatly benefit each of our companies and will yield artistic rewards for our audiences.”
“I am so thrilled for Profile, and for our artists and audience, that we have found a new artistic home at Artists Rep,” said Adriana Baer, Artistic Director at Profile Theatre. “While our missions are very different, Artists Rep and Profile share a deep commitment to creating thought-provoking productions, diverse educational outreach and to fostering a strong arts community in Portland.” She continues, “As another new Artistic Director in town, I am especially excited to be coming to Artists Rep at the beginning of Dámaso’s tenure. I know this move will broaden Profile’s programming opportunities and prove energizing for all involved.”
Profile Theatre
Profile Theatre’s mission is to celebrate the playwright’s contribution to theater by focusing on the work of a single writer per season. Profile believes that text is the generating seed for all creativity in the theater and that by focusing on the body of work of a single writer each year, we provide our audiences a unique opportunity to explore, in-depth, that writer’s vision, talent, artistic oeuvre, and influence on theater and the world at large.
Profile Theatre celebrates its 16th season with Adriana Baer as the new Artistic Director. Baer’s appointment followed the retirement of founding Artist Director Jane Unger in 2012.
Profile’s 2012/13 Season featuring the works of Athol Fugard is supported in part by The Collins Foundation, The Kinsman Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, The Fred W. Fields Fund of Oregon Community Foundation, Regional Arts Culture Council, and Work for Art. Profile’s unique mission is supported by a strong education program that includes adult and student programming and Inside Out: Profile’s Community and School Tour.
Artists Repertory Theatre
Now celebrating its 30th season, Artists Repertory Theatre is the longest-running professional theatre company in Portland. Artists Rep strives to challenge artists and audiences with plays of depth and vibrancy in an intimate setting. Artists Rep explores the strengths, frailties, and diversity of the human condition primarily through regional premieres, commissioned works and selected classics appropriate to contemporary issues.
Artists Rep’s Artistic Director is Allen Nause, who is retiring at the end of the 2012/13 season after 25 years as Artistic Director. The Incoming Artistic Director is Dámaso Rodriguez.
The 2012/13 Artists Repertory Theatre season is presented by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Premiere season sponsors are Ronni Lacroute/WillaKenzie Estate and The Oregonian. Season hotel sponsors are Mark Spencer Hotel and Hotel deLuxe. The 2012/13 radio sponsor is KINK.FM. Other support comes from Regional Arts Culture Council, Work for Art, Oregon Arts Commission, Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, All Classical, Maletis Beverage and Poster Garden.
