Community theater meets public broadcasting in an evolving variety/sketch format.

We are creating a venue to articulate and define regional narrative and character, with a welcoming, participatory process including voices from throughout the community.

Introduction

As residents of the Pacific Northwest, how do we tell our collective stories? Much of our common narrative has shifted to walled off venues, professionalized opportunties, or platforms mediated by commercial interests. This has mixed effects and great work is done in all these spaces. But telling stories together in a trust-based community is essential to the human experience. Modern forms of storytelling should be open to full participation by all, not just for production by professionals and consumption by everyone else.

The format

We are building a creative community centered around the format of a regularly-produced, locally focused variety/comedy show.

Not everything has to be laugh-out-loud funny, but we believe in the power of comedy to welcome all, heal wounds, process trauma, speak truth, prompt change, and express joy.

With this format, we want to build a flexible structure where people can find a creative home working on individual elements of a cohesive show with goals of:

Openness of participation: Welcoming to all in the community, intentionally lowering barriers to entry (including barriers of available time)
Openness of format: By embracing and evolving a comedy/variety show format, we want to encourage flexible participation and experimentation within a cohesive whole
Openness to voices: An intentionally eclectic mix of segments that encourages including many voices and modes of expression

Vision

A creative community consistently and joyfully telling stories of, for, and by the whole region.

Values

Community
Curiosity
Respect
Joy

FAQ

Does this pay?

No. We appreciate and support professional artists and all who make their living in artistic or media fields. However, this particular endeavor is focused on community rather than professional employment. Think community theater coexisting with professional regional theaters, or building community garden plots while also supporting fair wages and conditions for agricultural workers.

We envision a complement to professional creative opportunities, open to community members to tell stories together. As part of that, we want to keep this a space for community involvement rather than employment, that is more open than a job and that does not demand a professional level of commitment to fully participate.

I don’t have any experience in TV, media, performance, etc. Can I participate?

Yes! We welcome anyone who is interested in respectfully and joyfully working with others in the community to play, grow, and tell stories together. We invite you to learn from others and flex your creative and collaborative muscles in this endeavor.

I’m a professional in a media, performance, or related field. Can I participate?

Double yes! All are welcome to participate. If you have professional experience in the capacity you’ll be involved, we invite you to consider this a way to teach, mentor, or explore new areas. Our primary goal is involving the community and evolving the regional narrative over high production values or polished end results.