By American Theatre Magazine Staff
American Theatre Magazine
September 9, 2008

Portland, ORE.: Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland's longest-running professional theatre company, began in 1982 as a cooperative ensemble: a group of actors, directors and designers who created shows together.  In the late 1980s, says artistic director Allen Nause, the company lost its way: "It became more difficult to maintain a cooperative, and the core company of actors took on other projects."

This season, Artists Rep goes back to its resident-actor roots. When the rep debuts its Sept. 3 – Oct. 12 production of David Harrower's Blackbird, there will be a familiar face center stage: Amaya Villazan, a Portland-based actor who is one of four new resident thespians the company has engaged during the 2008-09 season.  Michael Mendelson, Vana O'Brien and Todd Van Voris will premiere Holidazed by Oregon Book Award-winner Marc Acito and C.S. Whitcomb, then take on other roles.

Instead of hiring actors on a per-contract basis, Nause says he hopes to increase Artists Rep's acting company to eight actors within the next several years: "I've been feeling that actors are at the core of what we do. What happens in an intimate environment between actors and audiences is key. How can we have a resident company of actors that can participate in the company's future and make it their artistic home?"

Nause hopes the new resident actors will help define what the company will become. "I'm looking for a core company that is not exclusive," he says. "It is important we don't become a closed shop, but the goal is to fairly rapidly build a team of actors who will be seen in a number of roles through each season and participate in season selection, outreach and post-show events."