Sex with Strangers
- Previews are Oct. 10-15 | Opening night Oct. 16
- By Laura Eason
- Directed by Brandon Woolley
JUMP TO: Dates, Run Time, Playbill, & More
“Sexually and intellectually provocative … A HELL OF A LOT OF FUN!” —The Hollywood Reporter
A raging snowstorm traps strangers Olivia, an unsuccessful yet gifted 39-year-old writer, and Ethan, a tech- addicted and wildly successful young blogger, in a secluded cabin. Opposites instantly attract, and undeniable chemistry ignites. As the dawn rises, however, what could have just been a one-night-stand transforms into something more complicated when online exploits interfere with their real-life connection.
General Performance Times:
Evenings: Tuesday - Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Matinees: Saturday and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Thursdays at noon
View the season calendar.
Run Time:
Approximately 2 hours; including one intermission.
Who’s Who:
View the cast and creative team.
Playbill:
Explore the playbill.
Note:
Sex with Strangers is recommended for ages 16+; contains mature language, brief nudity and adult situations. Sex is imminent. Children under 6 are not permitted at any PCS production. There is no late seating or re-entry in the Ellyn Bye Studio.
Resource Guide:
Download resource guide (PDF)
More About This Production
A Practical Guide to "Sex with Strangers"
This is your guide to the hot new play that The Hollywood Reporter calls, “sexually and intellectually provocative,” and “A HELL OF A LOT OF FUN!”
“Sex with Strangers” Cast and Creative Team
Sex with StrangersBy Laura EasonDirected by Brandon Woolley
Cast
Danielle Slavick…………………………………Olivia
Christopher M. Smith…………………………Ethan
Creative Team
Laura Eason………….....................Playwright
Brandon Woolley……………….......Director
Tony Cisek……………………...........Scenic Designer
Christine Meyers.........................Costume Designer
Kristeen Willis Crosser...............Lighting Designer
Scott Thorson..............................Sound Designer
Kelsey Daye Lutz.........................Stage Manager
Bailey Anne Maxwell...................Production Assistant
Brandon Woolley.........................Casting
*The Actors and Stage Manager employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity ...
What People Are Saying
A titillating treat for grown-ups on date nights
"Friday, Sex with Strangers opened for a fall run. The show, a steamy, two-character take on lust and love in the tech era by Laura Eason, is particularly interesting counter-programming after family-friendly Our Town ... Eason weaves in quips and comments about social media, online anonymity and escaping your digital past, and touches on texting, Twitter and tech addiction. ... Both actors are in command of their characters' needs, vulnerabilities, changes and libidos. And Smith and Slavick bring the most important thing to this play: bubbling, believable sexual chemistry. ... Danielle Slavick and Christopher M. Smith are two highly charged sexual magnets that pull you right into the fun." -The Oregonian
Sex in the Digital Age
It's hard to imagine two characters more different than Olivia and Ethan. She's a neurotic intellectual who's always cleaning; he talks with his mouth full and pees with the bathroom door open. But it doesn't take long for these polar personalities to wind up doing the nasty in Sex With Strangers, playwright Laura Eason's ode to romance in the age of Wi-Fi. ... with its sharp dialogue and nuanced performances, the play is satisfying in the way that whipped cream is: a light treat before bedtime—the perfect nightcap and maybe even better than sex." -Willamette Week
An engaging, and of course, sexy show.
"Laura Eason’s script has a lot more going on in it than intimacy between strangers. The current state of the publishing industry and how writers navigate it are central to the show. ... The dialogue is snappy and Eason really allows the audience to get to know the characters. They feel like real people and we find ourselves admiring and despising them at different times. ... It raises some interesting questions about the nature of relationships and publishing but doesn’t go on to answer these issues. It’s not meant to. This is a story about two people, dealing with these questions in their own way." -PQ Monthly
A fast-moving, highly entertaining play
"If you’re like me, wondering whether you should attend Portland Center Stage’s most recent production, the Laura Eason play Sex with Strangers, you can relax. The play is much tamer than many with less suggestive titles. It’s the psychological blood and guts of having a relationship that makes this work so interesting. ... With the snappy dialog and insights into the world of writing, publishing, and digital media it’s a fast-moving, highly entertaining play. " -Judy Nedry
Absolutely amazing
"The first production of the 2015-2016 season in the intimate Ellen Bye Studio is absolutely amazing. As the name indicates, this two-person production is about sex. Hot, hot, blush-worthy sex. And technology, social media, careers, ambition, history and rumors. ... Written by House of Card's Laura Eason, the screenplay is sharp, funny, fast and insightful." -Martha Chartreuse
Photo by Patrick Weishampel/blankeye.tv.
Current & Upcoming
Improvisation Classes for Beginners
Whether you're looking to get more confident in social situations, think quicker on your feet, or get in touch with your imaginative side, these "one-off" improv classes will set you on the path to success!
Adult Class : TWELFTH NIGHT, Before & After
Join veteran actor Joe Costa for a unique opportunity to take a “deep dive” into both Shakespeare’s text of Twelfth Night, and the PCS Production. Participants will read the play out loud as a group, with “intermissions” provided for lively discussion of themes and content. Interested participants will have a chance to act in selected scenes, guided by the instructor.
Improv Comedy: Love, Shakespeare
Witness the Magic of unscripted Elizabethan comedy! Step into the offbeat world of Love, Shakespeare, where seasoned Portland comedians attempt something audacious: performing a fully improvised Elizabethan play based on your suggestions!
Albina Music Trust presents A Brown Branch Christmas
Celebrate this holiday season with A Brown Branch Christmas at Portland Center Stage. Now in its fourth season, this two-night big band celebration features directors Domo Branch and Charlie Brown III guiding a heavy 15-piece lineup of regional and national musicians.
BIPOC Affinity Night DJ Party with ALoSo
Join us for a double feature BIPOC Affinity Night, featuring a live DJ set by ALoSo, plus holiday craft market vendor tables, art exhibits by Albina Music Trust Wall to Wall Sound and Jason Hill's Favorite Things, with complimentary select drinks provided by Multnomah Whiskey Library and Deschutes Brewery while supplies last.
Winter Teen Academy: Scene Work
Calling all teens! Are you looking to expand your acting skills and be the best scene partner you can be for your fellow actors? In this class, we will dig deep into scene study, character motivation, and active listening, while learning the necessary questions to ask in every rehearsal situation. You'll develop fuller characters and deeper relationships on stage by partnering in scene work — and have lots of fun too!
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
Production Sponsors
2015–2016 Season Supporting Sponsors
