World Premiere Musical CATCH ME WHEN I FALL Opens in Hillsboro

Stages Performing Arts Academy has announced the world premiere of Catch Me When I Fall, an original, Broadway-style musical inspired by the lived experiences of Washington County residents facing economic hardship.

Written and directed by Jodi Walder, with music and lyrics by Off-Broadway composer Noel Katz, the production combines powerful storytelling with a dynamic theatrical score. This ensemble-driven work features a cast of 14 performers, ages 16 to 75, offering a sweeping and deeply human portrait of the community.

The musical is rooted in an extensive interview process that began in December 2024 at GG's House. Walder trained a team of eight volunteers to conduct and record conversations with local residents, resulting in interviews with 50 individuals and more than 70 hours of recorded material. Walder then collaborated with Violeta Basenko, Alyssa Hicks, and Jessie Walder-Biesanz to shape these real-life accounts into a series of themed monologues and dialogues. Composer Noel Katz joined the project in January 2025, creating original music and lyrics that deepen the emotional resonance and authenticity of the stories.

Catch Me When I Fall is a social justice docudrama—a form of theater that draws directly from real events while incorporating dramatic structure to create a cohesive and compelling narrative. Every story in the production is based on true experiences shared by community members, thoughtfully woven together to highlight resilience, struggle, and hope.

This groundbreaking new work offers audiences an intimate and moving look at the realities faced by many in Washington County, while celebrating the power of storytelling to foster empathy and connection.

Catch Me When I Fall opens on May 29th and runs through June 7th at the Masonic Hall in Hillsboro, Oregon.