Urban Rural Theater Project

Upcoming:
Public Reading & Community Dialogue
April 25, 26 & 27 at 7:00pm
McKenzie Theater at Eastern Oregon University

ABOUT

The urban-rural divide in Oregon is painfully real. And bridging the divide is critical to the sustainability of our communities, our nonprofit service organizations, our universities, our government agencies, our businesses, and the overall health of our state. Luckily, there is more that connects us than separates us.

How can a telling a story bridge the urban/rural divide?

Our brains are hard-wired to respond to stories. The purpose of art is to unlock hidden solutions and reveal unexpected answers. It is, by nature, exploratory. By excavating real lived experiences and sharing these stories, we can give valuable context to the central issues of our time.

Story-telling is a powerful social tool that creates pathways for equitable communication, collaborative solutions, and collective growth. Sharing stories that reflect the full scope of the Oregonian experience can catalyze audiences into productive dialogue and positive action. This is as true for small-town community organizers as it is for state legislators.

Sarah Greenman is on a mission to collect and tell true verbatim stories that excavate and deepen our collective understanding of the “urban rural divide” in the state of Oregon. The goal of the project is to give voice to unheard narratives, honor the stories of those interviewed, and invite audiences into a deeper conversation about community and connection, myth and lived experience, harm and progress as it pertains to the “urban-rural divide”.

TEAM

The Urban Rural Theater Project is a collaboration between Sarah Greenman, Jack Greenman, Eastern Oregon University, the Rural Engagement and Vitality (REV) Center at EOU, Lewis & Clark College, and the Wallowa Resource Center. We are also working with Narrative 4, a global organization that connects people across difference using storytelling as it’s key tool. All internships associated with this project are paid.

CREATIVE COHORT:
Project Manager & Playwright: Sarah Greenman
Project Co-Manager: Jack Greenman
EOU Script / Interview Intern: Julia Huyg
EOU Interview Intern: Emily Mendoza
Lewis & Clark Contributors: Aliza M. King, Adrianna Deguzman, & Frances Sharp

COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
REV Center Liaison: Grace Donovan
Wallowa Resources Liaison: Nils Christoffersen
Narrative 4 Liaison: Taï Schroeder
Eastern Oregon University: Nathan Lowe
Eastern Oregon University: Tim Seydel
Lewis & Clark College: Jessica Kleiss
Fundraising Support: Jerry Norquist