Theatre Symposia

Experience Reed Theatre

The Reed Special Programs office makes available to area high school students and teachers complimentary tickets on designated dates for the fall faculty-directed Theatre Department productions at the Reed Studio Theatre in our Performing Arts Building.

Directly following the production, the department offers a “talk back” of the play to the high school students and faculty in attendance. The discussion lasts between 15 and 20 minutes and includes the faculty director, as well as members of the cast and technical crew.

We strongly encourage teachers to accompany their students and ask that teachers make all reservations. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and should be made only for the number of students and teachers who are certain to attend.

For information on how to make online reservations for complimentary tickets, please email the special programs office: special-programs@reed.edu.

Directions to the Reed theatre building.

Fall 2023

Machinal

by Sophie Treadwell

Sophie Treadwell's 1928 Expressionist Drama, Machinal, gives us a glimpse of the emotional interiority of a trapped young woman. As the broken cog in a capitalist and patriarchal machine, she searches desperately for meaning, love, and space to breathe. What lengths will she go to break free from the machine?

Content Warning: sexism, racism, abusive relationships, postpartum depression, murder.

Portland area high school teachers who want information on how to make online reservations for complimentary tickets for their students should email special-programs@reed.edu. We have 15 complimentary tickets to offer for the November 17th show with a talkback with the actors and director following the performance. High school theatre teachers who are interested in bringing a small group of students should contact us.

Spring 2023

The Last Croissant

by Veronica Tjioe

A clown tragedy about bears, fire, paper cranes, and that time when you were saving something, and you didn’t enjoy it soon enough.

Portland area high school teachers who want information on how to make online reservations for complimentary tickets for their students should email special-programs@reed.edu. We have 10 complimentary tickets to offer for the April 21, 2023 performance and post-show discussion with the playwright. High school theatre teachers who are interested in bringing a small group of students should contact us.

Fall 2022

Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play

By Anne Washburn

Score by Michael Friedman
Lyrics by Anne Washburn
Directed by Catherine Ming T’ien Duffly
Run time, estimated: 2.5 hrs with an intermission
Performing Arts Building, Diver Studio Theatre 

The play explores myth making and popular culture and is structured around how a single Simpsons episode is remembered, mis-remembered, and becomes a foundational myth for a future culture that grows up in the aftermath of some calamity that shuts down all the power plants.

Portland area high school teachers who want information on how to make online reservations for complimentary tickets for their students should email the special programs office: special_programs@reed.edu. We have 25 complimentary tickets to offer you and your students for the November 17, 2022 performance and talk-back session.

Fall 2021

The People’s Republic of Valerie

by Kristen Kosmas

We cordially invite the general public to enjoy the performance this fall by tuning into the livestream on performance days. Livestream information will be posted on the event's page in advance of the performances. We regret that we will not be able to open up the performance to the general public during the pandemic.

Spring 2021

Open House

Reed Theatre’s Junior Production invites you to play some games, meet the neighbors, and explore what could be your new dream home—as well as the meaning of home, community, and belonging in the face of increasing home insecurity. Hosted live on Zoom from Friday, March 26 to Sunday March 28 at 7:30 PM PST, tickets are free—and the house is open!

Content Warning: This performance touches on issues of housing instability, including homelessness, eviction, and discrimination.

Please visit the event's page to register.

Lucy Allison - lighting designer
Aaron Berlau - room operator
Robert Brigham -Conference and Events Planning
Jimmy Caponera - stage manager, performer
Caitlin Cisek - Production Manager
Jules Dubel - performer
Kate Duffly -Co-producer, Junior Production faculty
Alice Irvin - dramaturg, playwright, assistant director, performer
Ara Manoogian - scenic designer, props designer, audience care
Zoe Massey - stage manager
Justine Nakase - director
Trevor Sargent - Digital Designer
Lily Simon - performer
Rusty Tennant -Technical Director
Alissa Warren - Costumes Director
Zoe Watch - costume designer, assistant director, performer
Charlie Wilcox -Faculty Admin. Coordinator
T. S. Wolff - dramaturg, playwright, digital designer, performer

Fall 2020

Rhinoceros

by Eugène Ionesco

Translated by Martin Crimp
Produced by Kate Bredeson (director)
and Caitlin Cisek (scenographer)
Reed College Theatre ONLINE

Reed Theatre’s Fall 2020 production of Rhinoceros was presented as a serial, with each of the three acts released over three weeks in November 2020.