PlayWrite’s Showcase of Outstanding Student Plays Sat., Nov 22
November Quote: Art is a sort of experimental station in which one tries out living. —John Cage
Theatre created by “youth at the edge” illustrates art’s ability to act as a catalyst for understanding and action—for the young playwrights, and the rest of us, too.
In PlayWrite workshops, theatre professionals coach at-risk youth to create and direct their own one-act plays.
The results are threefold:
***The young writers discover and exercise their inner voices and agency as they develop characters, dialogue and plot, and learn that art is a form of truth that can help them figure out how to live…
***Coaches get to share their knowledge and watch reluctant kids discover the power of writing and discover who they are beyond their fears…
***Audiences get to see powerful, intimate theatre delivering the satisfaction of transformative experience.
THE SHOWCASE
Saturday, November 22, 7 pm, at the Brunish—Poison Waters emcees. Come join us!
Jane Unger directs six actors: Claire Aldridge, Victoria Alvarez-Chacon, Luke Massengill, Mila Ortiz, John San Nicolas, and Brave Sohacki. Costumes by Marcella Robin.
We promise an evening of fierce, thought-provoking, visceral short takes performed by fine actors.
THE FUNDRAISER
Artist Patty Coble’s 83" x 85" hand-crafted sampler quilt
Our Showcase goal is to celebrate our young writers. Our fundraising goal is to support our upcoming student workshops. Please contribute to support our life-changing work reaching more “youth at the edge.”
PlayWrite board member Patty Coble, lifelong fabric artist who just retired from a staff position at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center, has donated a gorgeous 83" x 85" hand-crafted sampler quilt that will be raffled off. You don’t need to be present at the Showcase to win the sampler quilt; just buy raffle tickets. Click here: Get Raffle Tickets, or click on the photo of the quilt, above. Good luck!
Does PlayWrite succeed in helping kids? Yes.
We do our workshops with kids who aren’t succeeding in the mainline school system. Our partners include Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center, Mt. Scott Learning Center, and Morrison Child and Family Services/Portland Public Schools SAGE program for survivors of sex trafficking. Most of our students have experienced trauma. A 2012 study showed remarkable improvements in Emotion Symptoms, Hyperactivity, Mood Symptoms, Anhedonia, and Anger Dysregulation among PlayWrite participants.
The staff in these alternative locations see the results
“The kids I work with have stuff so deep-seated that we never get to deal with it. But PlayWrite allows them to deal with deep trauma without necessarily knowing that they’re dealing with it, in a safe environment that’s non-judgmental. Out of the 14 kids I’ve had complete PlayWrite, I’ve seen only one return to the facility (we usually have about a 50% recidivism rate).”
“PlayWrite is a way for kids to sit with their stories, and talk about their stories, without feeling too exposed. You can see the traumas float away enough for them to move through it.”
“I look and see that they’ve made a breakthrough with a stranger in two weeks that I haven’t been able to make with them in two years. You talk about value—that’s huge. “That’s healing.”
Dr. Poison Waters
The Mistress of Ceremonies—Poison Waters
Dr. Poison Waters is not just a personality. Poison is an experience!! Whether dressed as Dr. Poison Waters or her alter ego Dr. Kevin Cook, they are both captivating and one of a kind! Poison’s worked with benefits, revues and shows for local, regional and national non-profits and for-profit organizations. She has been recognized for her community service, raising awareness, and providing entertainment to dozens of charities including Cascade AIDS Project, Make a Wish Foundation, the American Heart Association. Highlights include appearances with Pink Martini and opening for Storm Large at her Holiday Ordeal. In 2025, Poison will celebrate her 16th anniversary recurring role in Oregon Ballet Theater’s The Nutcracker. She’s in her 5th year teaching an online course on Portland’s Drag History with Portland Community College.
When she is not enjoying her time hosting events and fundraisers or traveling the globe, she is the co-hostess at the legendary Darcelle XV Showplace where she has been wildly popular for 35 years. In July 2023, Poison was a co producer of Drag-a-Thon, the Guinness World Record breaking longest running drag show at 48 hours, 11 minutes and 30 seconds, raising over $300,000.00 for The Trevor Project! Featured in the best selling book, Legends of Drag, Poison was also listed in the Oregonian as one of the 25 most inspiring people of 2023.
2025 marks her 25th year volunteering with summer camps for children whose lives have been affected by HIV. Poison, as Kevin, is the Camp Director for Cascade AIDS Projects’ Camp KC (Kids Connection).
Also in 2025: Poison was honored to have been invited to act as the Grand Marshal for the Portland Mardi Gras Parade by the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus; was Knighted by the Portland Rose Festival’s Royal Rosarians; Sainted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; received an Honorary Doctorate degree from Portland State University; and came in first place in Willamette Week’s Best of Portland Readers’ Poll category for Best Drag Queen! Poison will always remain “the smile on the face of Portland.”
The Director—Jane Unger
Jane Unger: Board president of PlayWrite, Inc.
Jane Unger is the founding Artistic Director Emerita of Profile Theatre Project, where she produced and worked with Constance Congdon, Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee, Romulus Linney, Terrence McNally, Lanford Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, Neil Simon, John Guare, Horton Foote, Lee Blessing and Athol Fugard, often on new play development.
Regional work: Actor’s Theatre of Indiana, Triad Stage, The Inge Festival, Great Plains Theatre Conference, Creede Repertory Theatre, Idaho Theatre for Youth, JAW at Portland Center Stage, New Rose Theatre, and Artists Rep. Jane adapted and directed Carver Country for Portland Literary Arts and worked as a consultant with Book-It Rep, Seattle. She is currently working with Book-It co-founder Myra Platt on the stage adaptation of Brian Doyle’s Mink River and just directed The Jury Experience showing in Portland at Alberta Abbey.
As an actress, Jane worked in the New York area at theatres including Manhattan Theatre Club, Manhattan Punch Line and Hartford Stage. Among the awards Jane has received, she is especially proud of Portland’s Drammy Award for Best Director for Profile’s inaugural production Wings by Arthur Kopit and the Drammy Lifetime Achievement Award. www.janeeunger.com
The Players
Claire Aldridge
Claire Elizabeth Aldridge is a movement-driven performance artist, and on any given midnight, you can find her at the crossroads of dance and theater. She has graduated from various training schools including the Institute for Contemporary Performance, American Repertory Theater, and DellArte International after beginning her performance career as a wee little fairy here in Portland where she completed the Young Professionals program and graduated from the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy in 2014. You may have seen her on stage around town with companies such as NWCT, OCT, Shaking The Tree, Corrib Theatre, 21ten, or with her company, the co-founded @basementstaircollective
Victoria Alvarez-Chacon
Victoria Alvarez-Chacon has been working on and around professional stages for 22 years. During Her time in Chicago, Victoria worked for Halcyon, Jackalope, Red Theater and Chicago Danz. She relocated to Portland to work with Oregon Adventure Theatre. Some of Victoria’s favorite roles so far include Officer BJ Steele from A Piece of My Heart, Bessie Coleman from Before Amelia and Prospero from The Tempest. Recent work includes The Storyteller with Artist Repertory Theatre and Graves with Stomping Ground. You can catch Her in Portland Playhouse's upcoming production of Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous in February 2026.
Luke Massingill
Luke Massengill began his professional career in Rome, Italy where he spent four years working as an actor, writer, producer and tour guide. Since returning to America, Luke has worked with numerous theater companies across the U.S. and abroad including Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Montana Shakes, Pennsylvania Shakespeare and The English Theater of Rome.
Mila Ortiz
Mila Ortiz is a Puerto Rican born actor, mezzo-soprano and model. A recent transplant to the Portland area, Mila has joined the renowned JCT Music Studio and most recently performed with Stumptown Stages in Kiss of the Spiderwoman. Notable recent experiences include originating (and reprising) the role of "Philipa" in the original musical Rella and creating musical group Aurea Vox in the Portland Metro Area. She is represented for TV/Film by The Option Agency.
John San Nicolas
John San Nicolas is an actor, playwright, director and theatre educator from San Diego, California. He moved to Portland in 2005, and has worked with PlayWrite as a coach and actor since 2010. John is a resident artist at Artists Repertory Theatre where he’s appeared in more than 15 shows including The Motherf&*ker With the Hat, Jack Goes Boating, Trevor, The Humans, Everybody, An Octoroon, Magellanica and Grand Concourse. He has worked with most major Portland theatres including Portland Center Stage, Third Rail Rep., Miracle Theatre, Oregon Children's Theatre, Imago Theatre, Portland Playhouse and Shaking the Tree Theatre. He has appeared in several films as well as the TV shows Portlandia and Leverage. He is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (NYC) and a proud member of Actors Equity Association And SAG-AFTRA.
Brave Sohacki
Brave Sohacki is a local performer and lunch lady. Performing on Portland stages since 2018 with a number of companies; most recently seen as Bassanio in Portland Shakespeare Project’s production of The Merchant of Venice and Third Rail Repertory’s Sanctuary City by Martyna Mojak. Accustomed to playing straight theatre with a preference to what we’ll call ‘princess roles’, Brave is always ready to play the jerk with a lotta heart, and hopes to see you soon from the stage or sit next to you at some local performances. Ciao XOXO
· Showcase tickets: GET TICKETS
· Raffle tickets: GET RAFFLE TICKETS
· Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/playwrite
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playwriteinc/#
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playwriteinc/