TUESDAY, MARCH 3 – PORTLAND PLAYHOUSE STAGE
LIVING THE DREAM – by LAUREN MUELLER
A bold and inquisitive new play about January 6th from the viewpoint of the idealistic young Democratic staffers trapped inside the Capitol. In a contest between loyalty and what’s right and wrong, team leader Inshata is forced to ask herself how much sacrifice a system can reasonably demand of those who often remain invisible within it. At a time of growing uncertainty about the future of our democracy, this play asks audiences to consider how collective disengagement from the realities of the congressional workplace has shaped the system we now inherit.
This play is among works under development slated for our “Festival Within the Festival” in Fertile Ground 2026.
CONTENT ADVISORY: This play contains strong language, including hate speech, violence, assault, and references to pet death.
This reading will happen at the stage (in the auditorium).
NOTE: IN-PERSON EVENT. This session is scheduled for 7 pm at Portland Playhouse, 602 NE Prescott St. Admission will not occur prior to the reading. Masks are optional. Please see https://portlandplayhouse.org/COVID19 for more information about health and safety at the facility. The reading is free for attendees, but donations to offset our expenses are always appreciated.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2026 – CHAPEL THEATRE
PDX PLAYWRIGHTS IN FERTILE GROUND FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS
Our Festival Within the Festival is back! With 11 events ranging from our ever-popular Epic Shorts to the dynamic LEAP: 48-Hour Play Fest to solo performances and a musical, and a bevy of dynamic, new staged readings, this year promises to be blast. Check out our full lineup here: PDX Playwrights in Fertile Ground 2026! There’s also a casting call in play. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Additional submissions for our regular table readings are being reviewed by our team…
We have quite a few scripts under review or in the process of being scheduled or cast for our regular readings. This process takes time. If you have submitted a script, we thank you for your patience. That said, we continue to welcome additional script submissions to consider for our readings. If you are interested in submitting a script for consideration, whether a full-length, a one-act, or a 10-minute play, check out our guidelines: https://www.pdxplaywrights.org/wp/faq-playwrights/ … and then send it (or questions) to submit@pdxplaywrights.org!
In any case, we’ll see you soon.
From time to time, we may offer online gatherings as we used to do on a regular basis. We will update you as best we can with our newsletter and website and social media postings.
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PAST EVENTS
FEBRUARY 7-8, 2026 – COHO THEATRE
SCENARIO: PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP SHOWCASE
After five days of workshops guided by Karen Polinsky, Matt Smith, Ajai Tripathi and Olga Kravtsova, the participants in the Scenario experience will conclude with two days of showcase performances 5 to 9 pm on February 7 and 8, 2026. During the weekend showcase, workshop participants will present short pieces in development. Each night features a unique banquet of innovative works, followed by a lively and deep conversation in which the audience is an essential ingredient. The showcase is at CoHo Productions, 2257 NW Raleigh St.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026 – PORTLAND PLAYHOUSE STUDIO
GOLD STAR – by BRIA KAM and MONTETRE
Gold Star follows Shay, a broke, recently heartbroken lesbian whose friends launch a viral campaign asking men to compete to be her first—turning her private life into a public spectacle and raising $50,000 overnight. As suitors line up and Shay searches for her “perfect” man, the experience forces her to question desire, identity, and how much of herself she’s willing to perform for survival. When her ex-girlfriend unexpectedly reappears, everything Shay thought she wanted is thrown into question.
Gold Star was created by Bria Kam and Montetré; Bria Kam is the songwriter and lyricist for the musical; Montetré is the playwright. This play is among works under development slated for our “Festival Within the Festival” in Fertile Ground 2026!
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 – PORTLAND PLAYHOUSE STUDIO
PDXP FERTILE GROUND PRODUCER CO-PRODUCER MEETING
We’re back with our next, all-new Festival Within the Festival as part of the Fertile Ground Festival of New Work in 2026! We’ve booked Chapel Theatre for load-in beginning April 13 and performances April 15-19, including our flagship Epic Shorts and a sample of work from Scenario. This meeting is expressly for co-producers. Playwrights who received confirmation last month about their submissions to participate with PDXP in the Fertile Ground Festival of New Works 2026 are required to attend this presentation designed to answer questions and set the stage for collaboration ahead of the events in April at Chapel Theatre.
The call for submissions to work with PDXP this year as co-producers is now closed, but stay tuned to our website and newsletter for more about our amazing lineup and for actor and director casting calls!
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 6 – PORTLAND PLAYHOUSE STUDIO
PANGLOSSIAN – by SHAWN HUDSON
A cautionary tale about the dangers young adults face living up to Christian, family, and societal expectations. A young couple, Seth and Kodi, find their way back to church after years away. In order to stay in good standing with their church they hastily get married to avoid living in sin. Unprepared for the challenges ahead, the couple struggles to communicate their needs and conform to their roles.
CONTENT ADVISORY: This play contains scenes which include self-harm.
This play is among works under development slated for our “Festival Within the Festival” in Fertile Ground 2026!
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2 – PORTLAND PLAYHOUSE STUDIO
LITTLE GUN – by SARAH OVERMAN
Little Gun is based on the true story of Mary Leonard, a Swiss immigrant in 19th-century Oregon who is accused of murdering her husband and dares to study the law to defend herself. Her fight for survival thrusts her into the brutal world of frontier Portland, where poverty, prejudice, and betrayal press in from all sides. Against all odds, Mary becomes Oregon’s first female lawyer before the women of Oregon even have the right to vote—but her resilience and self-determination cannot bury the very burdens that have shaped her, and as the fractured parts of herself rise up in revolt, she is faced with the cost of ambition and the price of justice. Playful online exchange becomes the gateway to a dangerous cycle of compulsion and self-doubt for otherwise upstanding Ben. Can he pull himself back before he loses everything that matters?
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See also Events 2025
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MORE ABOUT US
PDX Playwrights is a group for playwrights who want to meet, hear their scripts read aloud, and share feedback.
Typically we have 15-20 people — and sometimes more — at each meeting: playwrights, actors, and friends. Plays are usually read aloud by actors selected in advance, but sometimes rounded out by whomever is at the table that night.
Regular meetings:
First Tuesdays of the month
7 to 9 p.m.
When a meeting approaches, check our site (pdxplaywrights.org) for updated information.
Free – a hat will be passed virtually for optional donations to cover expenses: (Contributions via PayPal are conducted through our site at https://www.pdxplaywrights.org/wp/donate/ ). Thank you. We look forward to seeing you\