BROADWAY ROSE AND BAG&BAGGAGE PRODUCTIONS COLLABORATION: IS YOU IS

Theatre is all about collaboration, which is why Broadway Rose is proud to partner with Bag&Baggage Productions to help bring the original, jazz-inspired, workshop musical production, IS YOU IS, to the New Stage.

Washington County is home to a vibrant arts scene, as well as professional theatre. Bag&Baggage Productions is located in Hillsboro, with a mission to “unpack the stories we carry with us–from anecdotal to epic; from original to classic–using these as groundwork to create transformative theatrical experiences that explore our shared humanity.” IS YOU IS is an example of a transformative theatrical experience, and we are excited to help share this story with the community. Audiences can expect an intimate performance that looks at new ways forces and institutions shape our lives, and begs the question: “Who’s the teacher here, and who gets taught?”

IS YOU IS centers around the infamous Races of Mankind exhibit, which was on display in the Chicago Field Museum for decades, spreading false racial science to millions. Featuring a jazz-meets-musical theatre score, the play follows two sets of characters in two different eras whose stories connect through their relationship to the exhibit, and through it, to each other as they struggle to triumph over ideas they’ve inherited and to reshape the institutions that shape their lives. IS YOU IS is created by Chicago-based playwright and lyricist L.C. Bernadine, Seattle-based jazz musician Erik Olsen, and producing Artistic Director of B&B, Nik Whitcomb.

“L.C., Erik, and I never could have imagined this is where this story would land us after six years,” said producing artistic director and book co-writer Nik Whitcomb. “And it means the world to me that this project will also allow us to venture deeper into our mission of telling bold stories about the past in new ways here at B&B.”

Broadway Rose is grateful to be a part of this partnership, in addition to bringing this story to Washington County communities and beyond. “I am delighted to partner with Nik and Bag&Baggage on IS YOU IS,” said Broadway Rose Artistic Director Sharon Maroney. “I love history, I love jazz, and I love musical theatre. This is going to be a blast and it’s a great opportunity for a new creative partnership in Washington County.”

The 1930s jazz-inspired musical has been in development since 2017, and comes to the West Coast fresh off of a sold-out reading presentation at the Chicago Cultural Center as a part of the winter 2023 Studio Theater Residency Program pilot sponsored by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events (DCASE).

Performances will be presented on October 19, 20, 26, and 27, with Saturday’s performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. This concert workshop production will be presented at the Broadway Rose New Stage located at 12850 SW Grant Avenue in Tigard.

Tickets are $15.00 and are available to purchase online or through the Broadway Rose box office at 503.620.5262.

Learn more about our reading of IS YOU IS.