We are kvelling to invite lovers of theatre to EJC to connect with the dynamic present and rich tradition of Jewish stories on stage. Our first season of three staged readings, presented in partnership with two of Portland’s leading theatre companies — Cygnet Productions and Third Rail Repertory Theatre — and featuring a work by one of Oregon’s most lauded contemporary playwrights will transport audiences through space and time to Venice, San Francisco, Germany, and even Antarctica. We can’t wait to go on those journeys together with you.

EJC’s evolution into a space for theatre fills a gap in the region’s theatrical landscape, which since the closure of the Jewish Theatre Collaborative nearly a decade ago has been without a culturally specific platform for Jewish plays, playwrights, and theatre-makers. This staged reading series represents a passing of that torch, as wind-down funds from the Jewish Theatre Collaborative helped to fund this new EJC initiative, which was also made possible by generous funding from the Community Endowment Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation.

What is a Staged Reading?

A staged reading is a form of theater where actors read from scripts while performing on stage with minimal or no sets, costumes, or props. It is a rehearsed, intermediate step between a table read and a full production, often featuring basic movement (blocking) and acting.