Go behind the scenes of ProfileTheatre and you’ll discover a unique season structure and passionate dedication to Profile’s growing education program.

 

Profile’s Lauren Bloom Hanover, in our studios recently, agrees Profile Theatre has a unique premise and opportunity.

Portland has its share of theatre groups: Pop ups and lo-fi companies nestled among the nooks and crannies of our community, to the big houses with all the bells and whistles. Profile Theater, founded in 1997, has always had at ITS core, a dedication to and a celebration over the course of an entire season, plays from the work of one playwright and to share that vision , voice and and influence with the community.

profile theatre

Profile Theatre has become one of our most well regarded theatre companies in the city. Profile brings to the stage one playwright a season and with that, an education by default to the community. But it goes deeper than that, thanks to Profile’s founder Jane Unger who began addressing the lack of theatre and arts education in our schools.

Challenges and Adjustments

Profile Theatre’s founder Jane Unger assessed the lack of funding in schools for theatre and the arts and created the Hands On Theatre Program in 2002 and now the Hands on Theatre Fund has come to life to support education programs, an integral part of Profile’s mission.

But balancing the season’s featured playwright and the themes that are at the heart of their body of work is tricky. The goal is to remain true to the core artistic mission while offering options in the education program inside a school structure.

The other challenge of course, is funding. And that is where the newly created Jane Unger Hands On Theatre Fund comes in to play.

About Profile Theatre

Profile Theatre was founded in 1997 with the mission of celebrating the playwright’s contribution to live theatre. Since its founding by Jane Unger (2012 Special Achievement Drammy Award-winner), Profile has grown to be one of the most well-regarded theatres in Portland, with a reputation of bringing intelligence, excellence and passion to the stage.

Over the last 16 years, our featured playwrights have included Arthur Kopit, Tennesee Williams, Constance Congdon, Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee, Romulus Linney, Terrence McNally, Lanford Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, John Guare, Neil Simon, Horton Foote, Lee Blessing, Athol Fugard, and Sam Shepard.

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