A playwright’s celebrated performance about Ferguson
Dael Orlandersmith explores the social unrest in Ferguson, Mo. following the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, in ‘Until the Flood,’ her Pulitzer Prize finalist play. PHOTO BY CHRIS BENNION/COURTESY THE ARMORY
Pulitzer Prize finalist and celebrated performer Dael Orlandersmith comes to Portland Center Stage at The Armory to perform her compassionate, timely play Until the Flood, exploring the social unrest in Ferguson, Mo., following the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager.
Originally commissioned by Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Until the Flood is drawn from Orlandersmith’s extensive interviews with residents across the greater St. Louis area to create composite characters that reflect a wide range of perspectives and experiences of race in Missouri.
Orlandersmith crafts a stunning theatrical experience that must be seen. Variety called Until the Flood “both eye-opening and quietly moving,” while the Chicago Tribune called it “palpably compassionate,” writing that it “achieves a great beauty by bringing us together rather than driving us apart.
The Armory will host several free community events surrounding the play, including a screening of Whose Streets?, a documentary about the Ferguson uprising, and a series of moderated post-show discussions with community leaders that will explore the themes of the play through local perspectives.
Preview performances of “Until the Flood’ begin Saturday, March 16 and continue through Thursday, March 22; opening night is Friday, March 22; and shows will run through April 21 in the Ellyn Bye Studio at The Armory.
Regular tickets range from $25 to $57. Visit.pcs.org, call 503-445-3700 or stop by the box office at 128 N.W. 11th Ave.