We often partner with theatre artists whose work we respect and admire to help them develop new plays. Here are some of the commissions we have in the works right now:
In partnership with Todd Jefferson Moore In 1999 stocks of Puget Sound Chinook and Coho salmon were listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. In the Skagit Valley, the listing galvanized efforts by federal, state and tribal agencies to restore the fish’s freshwater habitat on the Skagit River, and ignited a heated debate with local farmers and environmental groups. While we worry about declining fish runs and dwindling farmland, do we truly understand how we are all connected? Sara Jo Breslow—a young anthropologist from the University of Washington inadvertently becomes mired in this community of competing forces as she attempts to figure it out. Verbatim interviews taken from Ms. Breslow’s anthropological study form the text of The Last Best Place; a new documentary theater piece created by acclaimed Seattle actor, Todd Jefferson Moore.
In partnership with Cheryl L. West Nationally acclaimed Seattle playwright Cheryl West is at work on a new chamber musical about the Pullman porters—a pioneering group of African Americans who worked on the Pullman Company railroad cars during the first half of the 20th century. The Pullman porters endured grueling hours and humiliating racial discrimination on the job, and yet they persevered to become the first organized black labor union in the country. They were revered in their own community not only for their tailored dignity, but also for their willingness to be cultural conduits for blacks all over the country. Pullman Porter Blues will explore the courage, tenacity and love of three generations of men who followed in their fathers’ footsteps to ride the rails for a living—their collective experience spanning more than half a century.
