CompassWorks Presents displaced | detained | discovered

CompassWorks presents displaced | detained | discovered, a thoughtful, musical, multimedia performance.

How do you navigate in a world where you have to keep your eyes shut to stay sane? And what is the power of listening?

From January 25th to February 2nd, 2019, West Linn's Robinwood Station will host it's first collaboration with Portland's Fertile Ground Theater Festival, premiering new works by local playwrights. CompassWorks, a Portland theater company whose mission is to develop and premiere vibrant, socially relevant new plays, will co-produce DISPLACED/DETAINED/DISCOVERED, a new play by West Linn playwright and performer, Eliza Jane Schneider. During the run of the show (6 performances total), the West Linn community will come together for music and entertainment to raise awareness and funding for local organizations focused on neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Playwright and performer Eliza Jane Schneider (South Park, Beakman's World) is a Hollywood refugee who moved with her young son and husband to West Linn 3 years ago so her son could begin his education at Cedar Oak Park Primary. Described by Bruce Weber of the New York Times as "capable of astonishing transformations," Eliza Jane is an award-winning actress, playwright, dialect coach, producer, musician, and activist. Her solo play, Freedom of Speech, won the Best Solo Show Award at the NYC International Fringe Festival.

During her 20-year journey traveling the world as a street musician and dialect researcher, her role evolved into that of an independent grass-roots journalist. She shared space with, broke bread with and, ultimately, tape-recorded the unique and powerful stories of abandoned, mistreated and, often, triumphant human beings living in the streets of our planet's wealthiest and poorest cities.

This year, settled at home in West Linn, after 25 years, 13 countries, and 7,000 interviews, just 20 feet from where she enters the freeway every Thursday, she discovers the powerful silent voices of immigrant mothers and brings their words to the stage.

Bruce Hostetler has been a working director/playwright/producer for over 30 years. His play Feral, created from interviews with over 600 people living homeless in Portland, sold out its Portland run. Bruce is the Artistic Director of CompassWorks, a Portland theatre company focused on illuminating untold stories through work based on interviews. CompassWorks seeks to increase understanding, deepen audience empathy, and by doing so, move a little closer to a community based on mutual respect.

Several local businesses have donated food and gift certificates to support this undertaking. Opening night (January 25th) will be catered by Fiesta, and closing night by Thai Lemon (February 2nd). There will be a special wine tasting on Thursday evening, January 31st.

Some material not suitable for younger audiences Made possible by a grant from the SAMUEL LAWRENCE FOUNDATION.