Greetings Friends of Playback,

Ouch! Love hurts! But along with the inevitable agonies, what bliss! In honor of Valentines Day, Portland Playback Theatre once again honors stories of romantic love, even though the steam has barely evaporated from our last trist with this theme last February!

This Friday, February 4th at 7:30PM at the First Parish Church (at the intersection of Congress and Temple (just up the street from the Nickelodeon Cinema. Bring a story from your life. Experience the unique satisfaction of watching it performed! Or just come to enjoy! As always with affairs of the heart, you’ll be spellbound!

Bring a friend! Just $7 at the door.

Timepiece, a new reader’s theater company started by Portland Playback Artistic Director David LaGraffe, is putting on a production of two cherished Christmas classics–A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas and A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote.  Celebrate the holiday season with these rich, warm tales enjoyed by children and adults alike.  Just $10 at the door.

Cathedral of St. Luke, 143 State Street, Portland

Friday, December 10, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 11, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Email David for more information.

Join us for our annual honoring of your best–and worst–holiday moments.  Diving catches for Thanksgiving turkey?  Surprising Christmas gifts?  Family memories?  we’ve performed them all, and more.  Please come to add your story to the mix and see it played back on the spot.

First Friday, December 3, 7:30 p.m., First Parish Church, corner of Temple and Congress, Portland

Portland Playback will be performing at Portland’s first annual Improv Fest at the St. Lawrence Arts Center! We’ll be performing on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 5, but several other talented improv groups from Portland will be performing throughout the weekend. Don’t miss it!

$12 at the door, or $10 in advance. Go to the St. Lawrence Arts website to find out more or to buy tickets.

Our First Friday theme for this Friday, August 6, is “Close Calls.”  I remember the time my wife pulled me back just as I was about to step into London traffic (They drive the “wrong way” in England.) or when, on the same trip, I almost left my suitcase, containing my passport and clothes, on the subway. (I rushed in just in time to stop the doors from closing!) Whew!

Perhaps you have a story of a close call or near escape. Bring it in to share and see it “played back” by our improvisors. Portland Playback Theatre is now in its fifth year and has “played back” hundreds of stories. If you haven’t had your story improvisationally enacted you’re really missing something!

This Friday, August 6, 7:30 PM at the First Parish Church at the intersection of Congress and Temple.

$5 to $10 suggested donation.!

Our First Friday theme for July 2 is “Light Bulb Moments.”  Perhaps you’d like to share an “Aha!” moment – an experience that lit up your world and maybe even changed your life.
Portland Playback Theatre is just turning four years old and has “played back” hundreds of stories. If you haven’t had your story improvisationally enacted you’re really missing something!
This Friday, July 2, 7:30 PM at the First Parish Church at the intersection of Congress and Temple.
$5 to $10 suggested donation.

Greetings Friends of Playback!
Our First Friday theme for June 4 is Facing Fear. Our internal alarm system has served us well, but sometimes Fear itself is our greatest challenge. As a matter of cold fact, Fear, with a capital F, may be the most fundamental emotional background of what we are as human beings.

Do you have a story of a time when fear was front and center? We bet you do. Come and share your story – or just come to witness.
Portland Playback Theatre is just turning four years old and has “played back” hundreds of stories. If you haven’t had your story improvisationally enacted you’re really missing something!
Friday, June 4, 7:30 PM at the First Parish Church at the intersection of Congress and Temple streets in Portland. Still only 5 bucks at the door!

May’s performance “Lost and Found” was a great night thanks to the most excellent audience members who told some most excellent stories

‘Lost and Found’ apparently isn’t just an old box full of winter hats at the front desk. Friday saw that what’s lost isn’t always missed, what’s found isn’t always wanted. The stories included:

Dealing with Karma: to ditch or not to ditch the annoying traveling companion in Yugoslavia?

The Illusive Ring: when will it return?

No Mo in Jo: lost boy in Jordan mall wonders what the fuss is about.

What was your favorite story from the night?

Portland Playback is truly blessed to have some very loyal fans who come every month to listen to others’ stories or–if we’re lucky–to tell some of their own. Jennifer Lunden, one such “regular,” has sat in the teller’s chair one more than one occasion but as soon as she sat down during our April “Before and After” performance you could tell she had a story she had been waiting to tell for a long time.

She told a touching and hopeful story about learning to live, and appreciate, life despite chronic illness. She touchingly recounts her struggles and Playback’s role in reconciling them in her blog.

Here’s a passage from her story …

“I approached the troupe clustered at the front of the room to thank them again. Emily said, reaching her arms around me, “I want to give you a hug.” Marsha thanked me for the story, and said that it opened up the audience beautifully. “We’re always glad to get a Lunden story.”

Again, I was amazed. I had been reluctant to raise my hand, thinking, “They must be saying, ‘Oh, enough already. Put your hand down and let somebody else tell for once.’” I always think they must be thinking that. That I must sit down and be quiet. That I am being greedy, taking up everybody’s time to tell my stories, when other people have stories, too. It is hard to believe, still, that people want to hear what I have to say.

And this time, I told my tenderest story. My story touched people, and their compassion was a blessing to me.”

Read the entire entry here.

Have you ever been lost and afraid? Lost and happy? Lost in the city? Lost in nature? Have you ever lost your “self”? Did you “find” yourself again?

In life, we often lose our bearings–the question is how we find them again, and what direction we travel once we do.  Come and share your lost-and-found story and let Portland Playback Theatre  ”play it back” for you.

Every month Portland Playback puts five actors at your disposal to playback the stories of your life. Share your tales or just come to watch this unique community experience.

Date: Friday, May 7
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: First Parish Church at the intersection of Congress and Temple streets in Portland.
Admission: only 5 bucks at the door!