Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl
In collaboration with Profile Theatre
Directed by Samantha Van Der Merwe

Sept 25th - Oct 24th 2015

Shaking The Tree continues our collaboration with Profile Theatre by presenting Passion Play (Part 3) by Sarah Ruhl, at Shaking the Tree Theatre, opening September 25th, and running through October 24th 2015.

After playing to full houses at Profile Theatre, the actors who performed parts 1 & 2, will now move over to Shaking the Tree to continue with Sarah Ruhl’s triptych about a troupe of actors performing the Passion of the Christ during three different politically charged times in history.

Written 10 years after the first two parts of Passion Play, part 3 stands alone as a complete play, and can be fully enjoyed without viewing parts 1 & 2. Its incarnation (within the triptych) takes us to Spearfish South Dakota, during the years 1969-1984, as the playwright continues to examine (sometimes quite magically) the intersection between identity, religion, politics, and war.

For those theatre goers who were not able to catch parts 1 & 2 during Profile Theatre’s Festival Weekend, you’re in luck! We will have four extra performances of parts 1 & 2 of Passion Play at Shaking the Tree Theatre, two of which will be Sunday matinees, which means that audience members can see all three parts of Passion Play in one day, and enjoy a meal in between, at one of SE Division’s many bustling restaurants.

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Passion Play Part 3

Photo Credit: : Lava Alapai

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REVIEWS
"awe-inspiring performances from a strong ensemble who clearly enjoy performing together. And Shaking the Tree's small space draws audiences right in, making them feel a part of it" ~ DeAnn Welker of the Oregonian
Read the full review here

"The play holds up a microscope to the things we as a society hold most dear -- religion, politics, even baseball -- and asks us to consider the idea that they're all just theatre after all. It's profound, moving, and, in classic Sarah Ruhl style, often very funny." ~Krista Garver, Broadway World
Read the full review here

"What a ride! Funny, touching, insightful, devastating, full of beautiful imagery. Congrats to Shaking the Tree and Profile Theatre Get to this show if you can." ~ Patron

"Truly brilliant, exciting and moving. Beautifully acted, a great experience." ~Patron

"If you love great writing, brilliant acting, artistic direction and plays with meaning, go see the terrific production of "Passion Play" by Sarah Ruhl at Shaking the Tree. Congratulations to the entire crew on an absolutely fabulous performance last night." ~Patron

"What a fantastic production, fabulous performances, play, direction, music, set. I cannot say enough good things about this show and everyone connected with it. " ~Patron

"Saw Passion Play Part 3 last night at Shaking the Tree. Our first time there. The performance was extraordinary. The company consisted of extremely talented actors both individually and as an ensemble. The breadth of emotion was broad throughout the show. I don't cry often but I was moved to tears several times and found myself literally stunned and breathless at the ending." ~Patron

"I saw Part 3 last night. You and Sarah Ruhl were a magical combo. Your visionary presentation of the Passion Play was one of my all time favorites." ~Patron

Passion Play Parts 1 & 2

Photo Credit: David Kinder

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REVIEWS
"The entire 10-person cast shows tremendous range in the huge shifts of character (and characters within the plays within the play), setting and time period that Ruhl's work requires. The set design also is stunning, showcasing the visual art that often features in Shaking the Tree productions. A painted sun, and especially a moon, almost become characters in part one." ~ DeeAnn Welker of the Oregonian
Read the full review here

"It's undeniably fun and wonderfully strange; if these first two installments are any indication, the final part in the trilogy should be too. And where else can you see faked immaculate conceptions, dead fish parades, a gay Jesus, and tyrannical ruler walk-ons on one stage in a single night?" ~Joshua Jame Amberson, Portland Mercury
Read full review here

"It was mind blowing! I immediately recommended it to my friend who is accompanying me to Part 3" ~Patron

"The performances on Sunday were just tremendous.  The set, fish, costumes -- wonderful.  I look forward to Pt III.  I hope all the participants from both theater companies are awfully proud of their accomplishments!" ~Patron

"last night I witnessed what I thought to be one of the most beautiful shows that I have seen in Portland. That show was Passion Play Part I and II, as produced by Shaking The Tree Theatre & Studio and Profile Theatre. To Samantha Van Der Merwe and the rest of the cast and crew: Thank you for an unforgettable experience!" ~Patron

"This Sarah Ruhl play, every act, has been so well directed and produced, so moving and thought provoking, that last night I looked for the director to express my gratitude and appreciation. For some reason, perhaps because I lived through those Reagan times and because "Pilate's" experiences are so similar to the countless veterans of our endless wars, I found myself in tears repeatedly last night. Garland Lyons and Diane Kondrat have given extraordinary performances in each iteration. Thank you so much for memorable theater!" ~Patron

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What it Passion Play about?

Hailed by the New Yorker's John Lahr as "extraordinary", "bold", and "inventive", Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play  takes us behind the scenes of three communities attempting to stage the death and resurrection of Christ. From Queen Elizabeth's England to Hitler's Germany to Reagan's America, Ruhl's exploration of devotion takes us on a humorous yet unsettling journey filled with lust, whimsy, and a lot of fish.
This intimate epic occurs at the timely intersection of politics and religion. Ruhl dramatizes a community of players rehearsing their annual staging of the Easter Passion in three different eras: 1575 northern England, just before Queen Elizabeth outlaws the ritual; 1934 Oberammergau, Bavaria, as Hitler is rising to power; and Spearfish, South Dakota, from the time of Vietnam through Reagan's presidency. In each period, the players grapple in different ways with the transformative nature of art, and politics are never far in the background, as Queen Elizabeth, Hitler, and Reagan each appear, played by a single commanding actor.

Starring:
Foss Curtis, Sam Dinkowitz, Shawna Holt, Michael C. Jordan, Colin Kane, Matthew Kerrigan+, Diane Kondrat, Garland Lyons, Alex Ramirez, and Paul Susi

Creative Team:
Ted Gold, Sara Ludeman, Connery Macrae, Natasha Stockem, Jake Turner, Samantha Van Der Merwe, D Westerholm*, Annalise Albright Woods and Jeff Woods.

*Member of Actors Equity Association
+Member of Shaking The Tree Performance Group