Shaking The Tree Theatre

Low ticket alert! No Gay Deceivers needed here, as our houses are getting as full as Amanda wished Laura’s bosom was! Don’t hesitate to purchase.

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We are hiring!

Shaking the Tree is looking for a skilled technical director to lead a build team for each show, as well as other building/organizational needs in the theatre. Hours are more concentrated during show builds, but can be spread out to fit your schedule.

Email your resumes over to samvan @ shaking-the-tree.com

“Tom, oh Tom where do you go to all these nights?”

“To the theatre, Mother. To the theatre…to see The Glass Menagerie.”

We are approaching the halfway point of our run. This coming week is almost entirely sold out (some seats available for Sunday) and the rest of our performances are filling up quickly. This is your sign to buy those tickets!

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Shaking the Tree will be holding general auditions on May 21st and 22nd from 1-6pm at our office space: 2136 SE 8th Ave, Portland OR 97214. To sign-up for a slot, please fill out our form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelTgo5HworSjhByVmCeXln3XS_1ldzBGIhLHo3jC9BxtBITA/viewform

We are particularly interested in artists who are collaborative, physically expressive, and excited by ensemble-driven work.

Actors of all ethnicities, gender identities, ages, and abilities are encouraged to audition.

Actors will be hired under a variety of contracts depending on the production. Equity SPT 1 contracts available.

Please prepare one contemporary monologue (1–2 minutes). In addition, performers may present a brief (1 minute) movement-based piece. This is completely optional.

Season Includes (subject to change):
-Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp. by Caryl Churchill (Fall 2026)
-The Maids by Jean Genet (Spring 2027)
- Additional original and devised workshops

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Soldan High alumna, did you hear about our wonderful write-up in The Torch?!

“A graceful gift of a show that’s so quietly beautiful, watching it is like sitting in a rose garden where the individual blossoms slowly unfold as you breathe in their subtle scent.” -Linda Ferguson, Oregon Artswatch

“The current production, directed by Samantha Van De Merwe, asks us to look that sadness square in the eye, own it, and perhaps even defy it. It succeeds beautifully.” - Krista Garvey, BroadwayWorld

Full reviews can be found online. Thank you for opening yourselves up to our world of beauty and tragedy.

Photos by Rick Liu

Can’t get enough of Tennessee? Neither can we!

As a special event accompanying our run of The Glass Menagerie, join us for an evening of staged readings of Tennessee Williams’ short plays. We’ll be presenting:

▪️The Lady of Larkspur Lotion, directed by Olivia Mathews
▫️Auto-Da-Fé, directed by Annabel Cantor
▪️Hello From Bertha, directed by Sammy Rat Rios
▫️This Property is Condemned, directed by Dani Baldwin
▪️Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen, directed by Olivia Mathews
▫️Something Unspoken, directed by Samantha Van Der Merwe

Tickets available on our website 🚬

Ella Cartwright, I see in my little red book that you haven’t bought tickets yet to The Glass Menagerie. It’s all about the lengths this woman of virtue will go for her—Oh Ella, you simply must—yes, yes it’s true, these shows tend to sell out. That’s why I’m urging you, as a concerned friend of course, to—what? You’ve already scene a production? Well Ella, you haven’t seen THIS one, that’s the beauty of Tennessee Williams’s words, oh the interpretations, the timelessness, that saintly mother—Ella, you always seem to be fixing something up in the kitchen…no go on, go on. God forbid those biscuits burn. But I’ll see you there, yes? Ella? …Ella?

📸:

Thank you for a dazzling, sold out opening weekend. We have the next three days to prepare for our Gentleman Caller, but we’ll see you for supper and dandelion wine on Thursday. 💎

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Fundamentals of Directing Class
Sundays: April 26th, May 3rd, May 10th from 10am-1pm

Level: Intermediate (Students should have prior theatre performance or classes. Please contact dani @ shaking-the-tree.com with any questions.)

Cost: $125 for three classes*

Explore the craft of directing for the stage. Learn tools and techniques of directing through analysis, storytelling, creating dynamic stage images, and working hands-on with actors. While focused on directing, these skills also enhance acting, writing, and devising for theatre. Class culminates in a short presentation during the final class.

*Attendance of all three classes is required.

Our instructor is Matthew B. Zrebski! Matthew B. Zrebski is a multi-award winning director, playwright, composer, script consultant, teaching artist, and producer whose career has been defined by new play development and innovative productions.

Production photo of Jessica Tidd by Gary Norman

Mark your calendars! Shaking the Tree is hosting two very special events during the run of The Glass Menagerie. We are partnering with Call to Safety to host a writing workshop for survivors of domestic abuse, as well as a speak out night providing an opportunity for survivors to take up space, share their stories, and find community and resilience together. Both events are free and more info can be found on our ticketing page.