The Fertile Ground Festival of New Works is a citywide, multi-week performing arts festival taking place in venues throughout Portland, Oregon and the surrounding areas.

This year's lineup includes site specific theatre, dance, solo shows, aerial performance, puppetry, and dozens upon dozens of brand-new scripts by some of Portland's most celebrated and prolific playwrights.

Schedule of Events:

7:30pm - unbound: a bookish musical | book & lyrics by erin rachel

This special concert reading of unbound: a bookish musical follows Jane, a recent divorcee who returns to her hometown and finds herself working at Bookish, a beloved neighborhood bookstore. There, she meets a unique group of individuals, each navigating their own personal and professional challenges. Together, they explore ways to build community, embrace creativity, and redefine their understanding of themselves and one another. With book and lyrics by erin rachel and music direction by Daniel Buchanan, unbound: a bookish musical explores themes of love and loss, grief and growth, and the profound journey of reclaiming what you thought was lost.

Rating/Recommended Age:
PG for thematic elements, but generally accessible to all

Performance Length:
65 minute show time, no intermission

Location: 21ten Theatre, 2110 SE 10th Ave, Portland , Oregon , 97214

Buy Tickets

7:30pm - Twas the Night Before by Laura Anne Harris

When Claudette comes home for Christmas she expects the typical holiday company - her passionate mother Simone, her tender father Pascal, and her polar opposite sister Gabrielle. However, when a mysterious woman named Rebecca comes to the door with a secret about Simone’s past, it sends a shock wave through the family and threatens to ruin Christmas!

Twas the Night Before is written and directed by award winning theatre artist, Laura Anne Harris. She was seen last year at Fertile Ground in her piece, "Have Fun Kids."

Starring Amy Driesler as Claudette, Maria Porter as Simone, Saren Nofs Synder as Gabrielle, Cecily Overman as Rebecca, Tim Blough as Pascal, Travis James Bilenski, and Cora Beeman as Cherry.

Rating/Recommended Age:
General Audience

Performance Length:
90, no intermission

Location: CoHo Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh St, Portland , Oregon , 97210

Buy Tickets