FOR OUR COMMUNITY

February 8, 2013

Two of Portland’s only East Side venues to be closed
Profile Theatre loses its home

Profile Theatre, currently in its 16th season, is losing its permanent home in the historic Theater! Theatre! Building in Portland’s vibrant Belmont district. The building’s landlord, owner of the Tao of Tea shop and restaurant in the same building, notified the company last week that its lease would not be renewed after June 30. Plans call for the two theaters in the building to be utilized for Tao of Tea operations.

“I learned of the landlord’s decision on closing day of The Road to Mecca, our highest selling, most successful production in over six years,” says Profile’s new Artistic Director Adriana Baer. “It’s heartbreaking that this community is losing two of its most valuable venues.”

“We have spent the last six months investing in improvements which would allow Profile to be better stewards of our venue, providing much-needed rental space for nomadic theater companies and music groups and much-needed earned income for us. We were looking forward to deepening relationships with our community,” says Matthew Jones, Profile’s Managing Director.

Theater! Theatre! Is also the permanent home to Theatre Vertigo. The theaters at 3430 SE Belmont have been producing home to: 24 Hour Plays, Action/Adventure, Theatre, Beat BangerZ, Black Tie Comedy Troupe, Classic Greek Theatre, CoToP Theatre, Curious Comedy, Dance Naked Productions, Fantastic Umbrella Factory, Fuse Theatre Ensemble, Hoofers & Co., JANE a theater company, Jewish Theatre Collaborative, La Bodega Productions, Lights Up! Productions, Miss Bee Haven, Inc., Nomadic Theatre Co., Northwest Classical Theatre Co., Playback Theater, Portland Theatre Works, PSU TASO, Public Playhouse, Pyrogen Productions, Renob Control, Sowelu, Staged!, Stumptown Stages, The Phoenix Theatre Co., Theatre Vertigo, Traveling Lantern, Twilight Repertory Theatre, PlayWrite, Inc., The Attic Institute, US Jesco, and over two dozen teachers and individual artists.

Profile Theatre is embarking on negotiations for a venue in which to produce their 2014 Sam Shepard Season, and is moving forward with plans to open that season in January, 2014. Funding to support additional capital expenditures associated with the unexpected move will be sought.