Computer Game and Real-Life Trail Collide in Bekah Brunstetter's THE OREGON TRAIL

Portland Center Stage at The Amory continues its Northwest Stories series with Bekah Brunstetter's The Oregon Trail, opening on the U.S. Bank Main Stage on November 4, with previews beginning October 29 and performances through November 20.

Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan directs a cast that includes local favorites Alex Leigh Ramirez, who will traverse the country in 1848 as Then Jane; Chris Murray who will play both pre-pubescent Billy and the general store owner, Matt; and Leif Norby who will play the omnipotent Voice of The Oregon Trail, as well as Then Jane's father, Clancy. Making their company debuts are Sarah Baskin, who will play angsty gamer Now Jane; and Emily Caitlin Yetter, who will play the obnoxiously perfect sister of both Janes.

Regular tickets start at $25. Tickets may be purchased at www.pcs.org, 503.445.3700, or in-person from the box office (128 NW Eleventh Avenue, Portland, OR). Rush tickets are $20. Students and patrons who are 30 or younger can purchase $30 tickets in all premium seating areas. Showtimes are Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (excluding November 13); Saturday and Sundaymatinees at 2 p.m. (excluding October 29, 30 and November 5); and Thursday matinees at noon (excluding November 3). Recommended for ages 16+. Contains mature content, explicit language and adult situations. Information at www.pcs.org/oregontrail.

You have died of dysentery! For those who grew up playing The Oregon Trail computer game, dysentery was serious business. In this fresh and funny retelling of our history, two Janes traverse The Oregon Trail. Now Jane is playing the computer game in 1997; Then Jane is in a covered wagon in 1848. A judgey game show narrator, a domineering sister and two oxen try to corral the two Janes. Fate maneuvers them both to a conclusion that changes their lives and sends them to the end of the trail.

The Oregon Trail was developed at Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference in 2013 and further developed at The Lark Play Development Center. In 2014, the play was included on the very first list created byThe Kilroys, a gender parity advocacy group dedicated to ending the underrepresentation of female and trans playwrights in American theater (Bekah Brunstetter is a founding member of The Kilroys). The Oregon Trail had its world premiere in 2015 at Flying V Theatre as part of the Women's Voices Theater Festival in Washington, D.C. - the first city-wide effort to address the gender gap in theater, in which more than 50 companies united to produce world premieres of plays written by females within one season. During the festival, The Washington Post called The Oregon Trail an "appropriately playful, thoughtful show," noting that "Brunstetter draws you in with puckish humor" and "uses the game frame to her wry advantage."

Bekah Brunstetter's plays include The Cake, Going to a Place where you already are, Cutie and Bear, A Long and Happy life, Be A Good Little Widow, Oohrah!, Nothing is the end of the World (except for the end of the world), House of Home and Miss Lilly Gets Boned. She is an alumni of Center Theatre Group's Writers Group, Ars Nova's Play Group, Primary Stages' Writers Group, Playwright's Realm and the Women's Project Theater Lab. She is currently a member of The Echo Theater Company's Playwright's Lab. She is based in LA, where she has written for MTV'sUnderemployed and I Just Want My Pants Back; ABC Family's Switched at Birth; and Starz's new series, American Gods, which is slated to premiere in early 2017. Brunstetter is currently a co-producer on NBC's This Is Us. She holds a B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill and an M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from the New School for Drama. For more information visitbekahbrunstetter.com.

The cast features Sarah Baskin as Now Jane (recent Off-Broadway credits include The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore and Wolves); Emily Caitlin Yetter as Mary Anne (the national tour of Peter Pan and The Exorcist at Geffen Playhouse); Alex Leigh Ramirez as Then Jane (recent local credits include Antigone Project with Profile Theatre/String House Theatre and TeatroSOLO: Deseo with Boom Arts Theatre); Chris Murray as Billy/Matt(previously at The Armory in Great Expectations, Our Town and many others), and Leif Norby as Voice of The Oregon Trail/Clancy (previously at The Armory in Our Town, Cyrano and many others).

Directing the production is Portland Center Stage at The Armory's Associate Artistic Director
Rose Riordan, who most recently directed Our Town. Joining her is Scenic Designer Misha Kachman (Stupid f-ing Bird at The Armory); Costume Designer Alison Heryer (most recently Ain't Misbehavin' and Our Town at The Armory); Lighting Designer William Kirkham (Little Shop of Horrors at The Armory); Resident Sound Designer Casi Pacilio (most recently Little Shop of Horrors and A Streetcar Named Desire at The Armory); Projection Designer Liam Kaas-Lentz (Production Manager for Portland Center Stage at The Armory); with Stage Manager Janine Vanderhoff and Production Assistant Will Bailey.

IF YOU GO:

THE OREGON TRAIL

October 29* - November 20, 2016
*Opening Night/Press Night is Friday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Preview Performances: October 29, 30 and November 1, 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m.

At On the U.S. Bank Main Stage at The Armory
128 NW Eleventh Ave., Portland, Ore., 97209

Regular tickets range from $25 to $70. Rush tickets are $20. Students and patrons who are 30 or younger may purchase premium seating areas for $30. Discounts for groups of 10+. Prices vary by date, time and seating area, and are subject to change.

Online: www.pcs.org; By Phone: 503.445.3700, 12-6 p.m.; In Person: The box office is at 128 NW Eleventh Avenue - 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on performance days; 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on non-performance days

Groups: Discounts available for groups of 10+ by calling 503.445.3794.

Showtimes: Showtimes are Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (excluding November 13); Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. (excluding October 29, 30 and November 5); and Thursdaymatinees at noon (excluding November 3).

Please Note: The Oregon Trail is recommended for ages 16+. Contains mature content, explicit language and adult situations.

Accessibility: Learn about our accessibility options at www.pcs.org/access.

More information: www.pcs.org/oregontrail.

Photo Credit: Kate Szrom