In 1999, members of New York Theater Workshop came to Portland to work in concert with Portland Center Stage staff to launch a new play development effort called Just Add Water/West, named after NYTW's own festival back East. Since then, JAW has created a space for 92 playwrights to develop 95 plays. Of these new scripts, 80 have gone on to receive professional productions across the country, with many having their world premieres at PCS.
2024
A Re-Enactment of the Imagined Trial of Daisy the Cow🐄, Who (Allegedly) Caused the Great Chicago Fire by Julia Izumi
Good Person (A One-Woman Bouffon Show) by Brett Ashley Robinson
Fires, Ohio by Beth Hyland
Teen Playwrights Showcase
The Sunnyview Elementary Art Show by Rob Smith
2023
Best Available by Jonathan Spector
In the Basement by Bailey Williams
Safe Ride by Dorcas Sowunmi
Live Music Concert with Lo Steele Band
Young Playwrights Showcase
2022
Without A Formal Declaration of War by Anya Pearson
Even Faster Than a Blink by Tyler Andrew Jones
Untitled Project by Larry Owens
The Brightest Thing in the World by Leah Nanako Winkler (in association with Yale Repertory Theatre)
Four local teen playwrights were also commissioned to develop short scripts that were read as part of the festival: Miya Allen, Sean Fields, Ceph Tronco, and Nevaeh Warren.
2021
a hit dog will holler by Inda Craig-Galván
Trans World by Ty Defoe
The Red Beads by Rinne B. Groff (based on The Singer of His Sorrows by Osip Dymov)
Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B by Kate Hamill (produced at PCS, 2023)
2019
What Are You Worth? by Kara Lee Korthron
Howards End adapted by Caroline Hewitt
Otto Frank by Roger Guenveur Smith
2018
The Tasters by Meghan Brown
The Birds of Empathy by Clarence Coo
Pick a Color by Emily Feldman
three girls never learnt the way home by Matthew Paul Olmos
2017
Testmatch by Kate Attwell
Small Steps by Briandaniel Oglesby
In Old Age by Mfoniso Udofia
Tiny Houses by Stefanie Zadravec
2016
The Forcings by Kevin Artigue
Catch as Catch Can by Mia Chung
The Saints by Nathan Dame
Wild and Reckless by Eric Earley and Blitzen Trapper (world premiere, 2017)
Lauren Weedman Doesn’t Live Here Anymore by Lauren Weedman (world premiere, 2017)
2015
Miller, Mississippi by Boo Killebrew
Wink by Jen Silverman
Colchester by Adam Szymkowicz (world premiere under new title, Kodachrome, 2018)
Long Division by James Presson
2014
Keys of the Kingdom by Penny Penniston
db by Tommy Smith
The Royal Society of Antarctica by Mat Smart
A Life by Adam Bock (produced at PCS, 2018)
2013
Threesome by Yussef El Guindi (world premiere, 2015)
complex by Dominic Finocchiaro
Mai Dang Lao by David Jacobi
The Ocean All Around Us by David Lavine
2012
San Diego by Adam Bock
Bo-Nita by Elizabeth Heffron (produced at PCS, 2014)
The Few by Sam Hunter
Broken Stones by Fin Kennedy
The Bachelors by Caroline V. McGraw
The People's Republic of Portland by Lauren Weedman (world premiere, 2013)
2011
Tales From Red Vienna by David Grimm
The Huntsmen by Quincy Long
The Body of An American by Dan O'Brien (world premiere, 2012)
Anna Karenina by Kevin McKeon (world premiere, 2012)
2010
Gnit by Will Eno
Necessity by William S Gregory
A Maze by Rob Handel
The North Plan by Jason Wells (world premiere, 2012)
2009
Birds of a Feather by Marc Acito
Middletown by Will Eno
Futura by Jordan Harrison (world premiere, 2011)
Concerning Strange Devices.... by Naomi Iizuka
99 Ways to Fuck a Swan by Kimberly Rosenstock
On the Nature of Dust by Stephanie Timm
2008
Paradise Street by Constance Congdon
Enchantment by Carson Kreitzer
Crazy Enough by Storm Large (world premiere, 2009)
Pony by Sylvan Oswald
A Brief Narrative of an Extraordinary Birth of Rabbits by C. Denby Swanson
2007
Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi
Box Americana (A Wal-Mart Fantasia) by Jason Grote
Bruise Easy by Dan LeFranc
A Story About a Girl by Jacquelyn Reingold
2006
The Listener by Liz Duffy Adams
Telethon by Kristin Newbom
Lost Wavelengths by Steve Patterson
A Feminine Ending by Sarah Treem (world premiere, 2008)
2005
The Thugs by Adam Bock (West Coast premiere, 2007)
Act a Lady by Jordan Harrison (world premiere, 2007)
Celebrity Row by Itamar Moses (world premiere, 2006)
Number Three by Ebbe Roe Smith
2004
Bulrusher by Eisa Davis
BFE by Julia Cho
Hazard County by Allison Moore
Mimesophobia by Carlos Murillo
2003
O Lovely Glowworm, or Scenes of Great Beauty by Glen Berger (world premiere, 2005)
Thunderbird by Joseph Fisher
Tallgrass Gothic by Melanie Marnich
Anon by Kate Robin
2002
Another Fine Mess by Steven Drukman (world premiere, 2003)
Auto Delete by Honour Kane
Manna by Steve Murray
Two Birds and a Stone by Amy Wheeler
2001
Tundra by Joseph Fisher
Parts They Call Deep by Lauren Gunderson
Outrage by Itamar Moses (world premiere, 2003)
This Thing of Darkness by Craig Lucas & David Schulner
2000
Flesh and Blood by Peter Gaitens (world premiere, 2001)
Places Names by Linda Stephens & Jeff Lunden
Throw Pitchfork by Alex Thomas
Five Minute Wars by Sharon Whitney
1999
Back to Baka by Judith Alexa Jackson
Fighting Words by Sunil Kuruvilla
The Shadow Testament by Susan Mach
Lobster Alice by Kira Obelensky
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
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