The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
- Based on the novel by Mark Haddon
- Adapted by Simon Stephens
- Directed by Marissa Wolf
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Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Play!
This Broadway smash hit takes you inside the mind of Christopher, an exceptionally intelligent 15-year-old boy on the autism spectrum. Now, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion of killing his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, with a garden fork. Determined to find the true culprit, Christopher carefully records each fact of the crime. Ultimately, his detective work takes him on a deeply personal quest that upturns his world.
“Dazzling, pulse-pounding and remarkable.”
- Time Out New York
Sensory-friendly Performance
March 31, 2020, 7:30 p.m. – We are pleased to offer a special reduced-price sensory-friendly performance, designed to be enjoyable by all, but with some changes for those who are on the autism spectrum or have sensory issues. We will alter the theater environment to provide a safe, friendly, and comfortable zone, where patrons are invited to make sounds, enter and exit as needed, and enjoy the show with their family and community.Learn More
Curious Incident Plot Synopsis
Please note, this synopsis contains spoilers.
Christopher Boone is 15 years old and lives in the English town of Swindon, located about 100 miles west of London. He is extremely curious, an excellent mathematics student, and has an extraordinary ability to observe and retain highly detailed information about any situation he finds himself in. Christopher lives with his father, Ed, and shares a close bond with his teacher, Siobhan, who encourages him to keep a written journal of his thoughts and activities, which they read aloud together as the play progresses. As a young person on the autism spectrum, certain social situations can be challenging or confusing for Christopher to navigate, and his work with Siobhan helps him express and process his unique perspective on the world around him.
Our story begins when Christopher discovers his neighbor Mrs. Shears’ dog Wellington has been stabbed to death with a garden fork. Mrs. Shears assumes Christopher is the killer and calls the police. Christopher explains he did not kill Wellington, but the interaction becomes contentious and Christopher ends up arrested for hitting the policeman. Ed comes to the police station to retrieve Christopher. It is sorted out that the teen definitely did not kill the dog, but the incident puts more stress on the already touchy relationship between Ed and Christopher. Christopher resolves to make it his personal mission to solve the case of who killed Wellington. Meanwhile, in sessions with Siobhan, we learn that Christopher’s mother Judy developed heart disease and died in the hospital; Ed relayed the news but never allowed Christopher to visit Judy during her illness.
While Ed works with Christopher’s teachers to get him placed in advanced mathematics classes, Christopher sets out on his investigation. He goes around to the various people of his neighborhood looking for clues. As he gathers information about Wellington’s death, he stumbles into secrets about his own family history. Eventually, Christopher discovers that his mother had an affair with their neighbor, Roger Shears. When Ed learns of his son’s discovery, he unleashes a flood of repressed emotion upon his son, which culminates in a moment of violence. In the aftermath, Christopher discovers that his father has lied to him — Christopher’s mother is alive and well and living in London. She left Christopher and Ed behind, but she has since mailed dozens of letters to Christopher that Ed has kept hidden for years. Ed is forced to tell Christopher the truth about his parents’ relationship, and Ed also confesses to murdering the dog Wellington in a fit of despairing rage.
Ed’s confession throws Christopher’s world into chaos. Christopher is convinced that since his father killed the dog he might kill him too, so he decides to leave home and find his mother. This journey will be the first Christopher has undertaken alone, and his way to London (via train) leads to a number of exciting but potentially hazardous interactions. Ed ends up catching the determined Christopher at the train station. He tries to stop Christopher, but ultimately watches him set out on his own to find Judy.
When Christopher finally makes it to Judy and Roger’s house unannounced, they are shocked to see him. Judy is happy to reconnect with her child, but Roger is not particularly pleased. Judy discovers that Ed told Christopher she was dead. It’s not easy news to process. Ed soon arrives at the house in pursuit of Christopher, and the boy’s parents argue. Christopher indicates he wants to stay with Judy, not Ed, at least until his advanced maths exams come up the following week. As Judy readjusts to life taking care of Christopher, a life which was always challenging for her, her familiar patterns return and she upsets Christopher by canceling his advanced classes without telling him. Roger does not want Christopher in their lives and becomes violent with him; Judy knows they have to return to Swindon.
Judy faces the fact that she must place Christopher’s needs in front of her own, and with help from Ed and Siobhan, Christopher’s classes are reinstated and he takes his exams. In the end, the family begins a slow road to reconciliation. Christopher chooses to live with Judy, and his parents will share custody between London and Swindon. Ed gets a puppy, and the dog helps Christopher move toward forgiving his father. In a final moment with Siobhan, Christopher expresses pride at his bravery in solving Wellington’s murder and finding out the truth about his family. He is left wondering about the full extent of his potential and has the sense, perhaps for the first time, that he can accomplish anything.
More About This Production
Reviews of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
“Curious is hilarious, intense, bittersweet, and triumphantly successful at bringing the world of one character to the hearts of his audience, and offering us the chance to invoke empathy for all who are differently-abled." - PerformInk
Virtual Exhibit: Artists on the Autism Spectrum
In support of our production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, we partnered with North Pole Studio to create a gallery show featuring the work of visual artists, including students, who are on the Autism spectrum or living with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Enjoy this virtual gallery — or better yet, come see it in person!
An Interview with Jamie Sanders
Actor Jamie Sanders, who plays Curious Incident’s protagonist Christopher, reprises the role after collaborating with Portland Center Stage Artistic Director Marissa Wolf when she directed the play at Kansas City Repertory Theatre in 2018. Prior to his debut at KCRep, dramaturgs Mary Allison Joseph and Bethany Sulecki sat down with Jamie to discuss Christopher’s journey and why this play resonates with him personally. We’re pleased to share excerpts of that conversation with Portland audiences as we welcome Jamie back to Christopher’s world.
The Armory Bar Takes Teatime to a Boozy Level
Read about what parts of Curious Incident and 9 Parts Desire influenced our specialty cocktails and mocktail, including a few tea-based ones. We also include a recipe for one of the drinks to make at home!
Meet the Cast & Creative Team
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
A play by Simon Stephens
Based on the novel by Mark Haddon
Directed by Marissa Wolf
| Ayanna Berkshire* | Judy |
| Walter Coppage* | Voice Four, Rev. Peters |
| Delphon “DJ” Curtis Jr. | Voice Three, Policeman |
| Bree Elrod* | Siobhan |
| Nicole Marie Green* | Voice One, Mrs. Shears |
| Karl Hanover* | Voice Two, Roger Shears |
| Treasure Lunan | Voice Five, No. 40 |
| Leif Norby* | Ed |
| Jamie Sanders* | Christopher |
| Ithica Tell* | Voice Six, Mrs. Alexander |
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
| Erika Chong Shuch | Choreographer |
| Arnulfo Maldonado | Scenic Designer |
| Alison Heryer | Costume Designer |
| Robert J. Aguilar | Lighting Designer |
| Brendan Aanes | Original Sound Designer & Composer |
| Sharath Patel | Sound Designer |
| Natalie Greene | Associate Choreographer |
| Mark Tynan* | Stage Manager |
| Danny Rosales | Production Assistant |
| Claire F. Martin | Assistant Director |
| Chrissy McNair | Neurodiversity Consultant |
| Troy Sawyer | Autism Consultant |
| Scott Stackhouse | Dialect Coach |
| Nicole Marie Green | Dance Captain & Fight Captain |
| Chip Miller & Will Cotter | Casting |
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Meet the Cast
Ayanna (she/her) is thrilled to make her Portland Center Stage at The Armory debut. Ayanna is a resident artist of Artists Repertory Theatre and splits her work between stage and screen. Her theater credits include: The Revolutionists, Wolf Play (world premiere), Teenage Dick, Small Mouth Sounds, Between Riverside and Crazy, An Octoroon, The Importance of Being Earnest (Artists Repertory Theatre); The Scottsboro Boys (Ahmenson Theatre); Back Bog Beast Bait, Bang. Curtain. End of Show, The Investigation of the Murder in El Salvador (Defunkt Theatre); and The Tales of Canterbury (Ensemble Loupan). Film/TV: Twilight, Chicago P.D., Curb Your Enthusiasm, Parenthood, Portlandia, Documentary Now, Grimm, Extraordinary Measures, The Shasta Triangle, The Record Keeper, and more. Proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. Ayanna would like to thank you for actively supporting the arts!
Walter has performed at Steppenwolf Theatre, Studio Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Black Rep, The Coterie, Unicorn Theatre, Spinning Tree Theatre, Kansas City Actors Theatre. Past roles include: Charlotte/Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice; Sam in “Master Harold”… and the boys; Gabriel in Fences, Martin Luther King Jr. in The Mountaintop; Dr. Copeland in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter; Stage Manager in Our Town; Rat in Welcome To Fear City, Polonius in Hamlet; Harmond Wilks in Radio Golf; Chutes & Ladders in Water By The Spoonful; Charles in The Clean House; Narrator/Marley/Cratchit/Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol. Film credits include: All Creatures Here Below, Goodland, Jayhawkers, Destination: Planet Negro!, In The Wake Of Ire, The Only Good Indian. TV credits include: Detroiters (Comedy Central), Chicago Med (NBC), Gone in the Night (CBS), All Roads Lead Home (Showtime).
DJ is ecstatic to return to Portland Center Stage at The Armory, having recently appeared as the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He graduated from William Peace University with a B.F.A. in musical theater. Favorite credits include: David Lee’s adaptation of Lerner and Lowe’s Camelot with The Old Creamery Theatre and Great Plains Theatre, The Wiz with Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, and Ruined at Burning Coal Theatre Company. Local credits: Ghosted with Oregon Children's Theatre, A Christmas Carol and Crowns at Portland Playhouse, and Sides: The Musical at Portland Playhouse and Lakewood Theatre Company for the Fertile Ground Festival. He would like to thank his loved ones for their distant, and close, love and support. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.
Off-Broadway: Coriolanus (The Public Theater), My Name is Rachel Corrie (Minetta Lane Theatre), Sehnsucht (JACK Theatre), Jump!/Realism (Kirk Theatre). Regional: Fire in Dreamland, Constellations, Pride and Prejudice, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Kansas City Repertory Theatre), A Streetcar Named Desire (KC Actors Theatre), Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice (Heart of America Shakespeare Festival), Rock ‘n’ Roll (ACT/Huntington Theatre), Angels in America (Boston TheatreWorks), The Two Noble Kinsmen (The Old Globe, San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award). Film: Shutter Island, dir. Martin Scorsese. Bree is a member of The Actors Center and AEA. M.F.A. from Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting.
Pride and Prejudice, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, The Diary of Anne Frank, A Christmas Carol, Our Town (Kansas City Repertory Theatre); Tribes (Unicorn Theatre); The Wizard of Oz (Mesner Puppet Theatre); The Dixie Swim Club (New Theatre); ThisThatThen (The Living Room), Turn of the Screw (Spinning Tree Theatre); The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Afflicted: Daughters of Salem (The Coterie Theatre); The Winter’s Tale (Heart of America Shakespeare Festival); The Liar, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Big Love! (UMKC Theatre); Enchanted April (Elmwood Playhouse); The Sword and the Stone, A Christmas Carol (Traveling Lantern Theatre Company); The Odd Couple (Antrim Playhouse). Education: B.A., Flagler College; M.F.A., UMKC. Proud AEA member. nicolemariegreen.com
Originally from Ireland, Karl has been involved in theater in various capacities for the last 25 years. He received his M.F.A. in acting from the National Theater Conservatory in Denver and has performed in numerous productions at theaters around the country, including Cal Shakes, DCPA Theatre Company, Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Palm Beach Dramaworks, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Profile Theatre, and Magic Theater for the world premiere of Expedition 6, an original work devised and directed by Bill Pullman. In addition to his time on stage, he has also done voice work for the gaming industry, including the characters of Atlas and Fontaine in BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea.
Treasure (they/them) is overjoyed to be returning to Portland Center stage at The Armory for Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Recent credits include The Most Massive Woman Wins (Deep End Theater), Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (The Armory), and School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (The Armory). They are extremely grateful to be a part of this groundbreaking and heartwarming show and would like to extend an enthusiastic thank you to the audience for supporting the arts!
Leif was last seen at Porland Center Stage at The Armory in Tiny Beautiful Things. Other appearances at The Armory include: A Christmas Memory/Winter Song, Astoria: Part One and Two, Wild and Reckless, The Oregon Trail, Our Town, Cyrano, Othello, Anna Karenina, Sunset Boulevard, The 39 Steps, Ragtime, and Guys and Dolls. Other recent appearances include A Doll’s House, A Doll’s House, Part 2 (DCPA Theater Company); Man of La Mancha (Lakewood Theater Company); In the Next Room (Profile Theater); The God Game (Brandon Woolley prod.); Mr. Kolpert and Mystery of Irma Vep (Third Rail Repertory Theater), And So It Goes … and Red Herring (Artists Repertory Theater); and Beauty and the Beast (Pixie Dust). Television credits include Portlandia and Leverage. Leif is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.
Jamie (he/him) is extremely excited to return to Curious Incident under the direction of Marissa Wolf, having last played Christopher in her Kansas City production. Prior credits include Treplev in The Seagull (Hunter Theater Project), Cloten in Cymbeline (Emerson Shakespeare Society), Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (The Little Flower Theater), Gage in Rancich (Storyhorse Theater). He is a long time member of the ensemble of Theater of War, a touring program dedicated to using theater as a conduit for healing discussions about addiction and PTSD. He makes YouTube videos about living with Tourette’s syndrome on his channel "Jamie Sanders."
PAMTA winner Ithica Tell is ecstatic to return to Portland Center Stage at The Armory, where she was most recently seen as Yitzhak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Ithica’s vast Portland resume includes: Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (StreetScenes), Wanda in Crowns (Portland Playhouse), Othello in Othello (Post5 Theatre), Frances in Melancholy Play (Third Rail Repertory Theatre), Mitch Mahoney in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Anonymous Theatre), and Ursula in Bon Temps Roulette at the Shakespeare Café (Bremer Shakespeare Company, Germany). Ithica has appeared on Grimm (NBC), The Librarians (TNT), The Benefits of Gusbandry (web series), and Life After First Failure (CW Seed). Ithica would like to give big love to her sister Isha for “the acting bug” and to Ethan, for bringing the perfect balance to her life with his love.
Meet the Creative Team
Simon Stephens, Playwright
Simon is an award-winning playwright whose plays have been translated into more than 30 languages and produced all over the world. He is a professor of playwriting at Manchester Metropolitan University, an associate playwright at the Royal Court Theatre, the artistic associate at the Lyric Hammersmith in London, and the Steep Associate Playwright at Steep Theatre in Chicago. His work includes Bluebird, Herons, Port, Christmas, Country Music, On the Shore of the Wide World, Motortown, Harper Regan, Sea Wall, Pornography, Punk Rock, The Trial of Ubu, A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky, Marine Parade, Wastwater, I am the Wind, and Three Kingdoms. TV credits include an adaptation of Pornography for Coming Up (Channel 4) and Dive (Granada/BBC).
Mark Haddon, Author
Mark is a British novelist and poet. He was educated at Uppingham School and Merton College, Oxford, where he studied English. Haddon won the 2003 Whitbread Book of the Year Award and the 2004 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Overall Best First Book for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. His second adult novel, A Spot of Bother, was published in 2006. Haddon is known for his series of Agent Z books, one of which, Agent Z and the Penguin from Mars, was made into a 1996 Children’s BBC sitcom. He also wrote the screenplay for the 2004 BBC television adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ story Fungus the Bogeyman and the 2007 BBC television drama Coming Down the Mountain. Haddon lives in Oxford with his wife Dr. Sos Eltis, a fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford, and their two young sons.
Marissa Wolf, Director
Marissa (she/her) is currently in her second season as artistic director of Portland Center Stage at The Armory, where she recently directed Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. Marissa previously served as associate artistic director/new works director at Kansas City Repertory Theatre and artistic director of Crowded Fire Theater in San Francisco. Select directing credits include Fire in Dreamland by Rinne Groff (The Public Theater; world premiere at KCRep); Man in Love by Christina Anderson and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Simon Stephens (KCRep); 77% by Rinne Groff (San Francisco Playhouse); Precious Little by Madeleine George (Shotgun Players); The Lily’s Revenge (Act II) by Taylor Mac (Magic Theatre); and The Late Wedding by Christopher Chen (Crowded Fire). She’s been nominated for Best Director by Broadway World San Francisco and the Bay Area Critics Circle. Marissa held the Bret C. Harte Directing Fellowship at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and has a degree in drama from Vassar College, with additional training from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Erika Chong Shuch, Choreographer
Erika is a performance maker, choreographer, and director interested in expanding ideas around how performance is created and shared. For You is an ongoing performance making practice that brings diverse strangers together for intimate encounters (foryou.productions). Recent projects also include TheaterTheater, a participatory morality play exploring the hidden forces underlying everyday ethical choices. Her original work has been commissioned and supported by New England Foundation for the Arts/National Theater Project, Creative Capital, Creative Work Fund, Gerbode Foundation, Daejeon Metropolitan Dance Theater (Korea), and The Ground Floor: Berkeley Repertory Theater’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work. Erika choreographs nationally for companies such as Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Folger Theatre, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, The Kennedy Center, American Conservatory Theater, Playmakers Repertory Company, Cal Shakes, Arena Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, Court Theatre, The Old Globe, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Magic Theatre. erikachongshuch.org
Arnulfo Maldonado, Scenic Designer
Off-Broadway credits include Paris, Fireflies (Atlantic Theater Company); Power Strip, The Rolling Stone (Lincoln Center Theater); Sugar in Our Wounds (Manhattan Theatre Club, Lucille Lortel Award); School Girls, Charm (Manhattan Theatre Club); one in two (The New Group); A Strange Loop, Dance Nation (Playwrights Horizons); Usual Girls (Roundabout Theatre Company); The Underlying Chris (Second Stage); Fires in the Mirror (Signature Theatre). Regional: Alley Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Dallas Theater Center, Guthrie Theater, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Old Globe, Steppenwolf Theater Company, Woolly Mammoth. Tour: The Magnetic Fields: 50 Song Memoir (BAM, International). Arnulfo is a Clubbed Thumb affiliated artist, a recipient of a Princess Grace Fabergé Theatre Award, and a multiple Henry Hewes Design nominee. Training: NYU Tisch School of the Arts. arnulfomaldonado.com @arnulfo.maldonado.design
Alison Heryer, Costume Designer
Alison is a costume designer for live performance, film, and print media. Her design credits include productions at Steppenwolf Theatre, 59E59 Theaters, The New Victory Theater, Gertrude Opera, Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage at The Armory, Portland Opera, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, ZACH Theatre, Artists Repertory Theatre, The Hypocrites, Redmoon Theater, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, and the SXSW Film Festival. She has exhibited work at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, the Prague Quadrennial of Design and Space, and World Stage Design Exhibition. Alison is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 and the associate professor of costume and textiles in the School of Art + Design at Portland State University.
Robert J. Aguilar, Lighting Designer
Portland Center Stage at The Armory designs include In the Heights. Other NW credits: In the Heights, MAC BETH, A Raisin in the Sun, I Am My Own Wife, Lizard Boy (Seattle Rep); Hir, Barbeque, Angels in America (Intiman Theatre); The Year of Magical Thinking, The Wolves (ACT); Urinetown (ACT/The 5th Avenue Theatre); The Pajama Game, How to Succeed ..., Jasper in Deadland (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Spelling Bee, String, Trails, Afterwords (Village Theatre); Uncle Vanya, The Cherry Orchard, The Three Sisters (The Seagull Project). Regional credits: Little Shop of Horrors, Marjorie Prime (Pittsburgh Public); Susan (Public Theater UTR); Full Gallop (The Old Globe); In the Heights, Seven Spots on the Sun (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park). Robert is the lighting director for Seattle Repertory Theatre. robertjaguilar.com @fake_robert
Brendan Aanes, Original Sound Designer & Composer
Brendan (he/him) is a Brooklyn-based sound designer and composer whose work includes design for plays, musicals, and interactive installations, scores for theater and dance, live foley, and design for concert performances. Recent credits include Fire in Dreamland at The Public Theater, Balls with One Year Lease Theater Company (Drama Desk nomination), {my lingerie play} at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Cowboy Bob at Ars Nova, The Unfortunates, John, The Hard Problem and Chester Bailey at American Conservatory Theater, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Glass Menagerie and Othello at Cal Shakes, and The Music Man at Sharon Playhouse. Brendan received his M.F.A. in music from Mills College. aanes.org
Sharath Patel, Sound Designer
Sharath works nationally and internationally, focusing on experimental, commercial, academic, political, and socially conscious theater. Recent work: In the Heights, Macbeth, The Color Purple (Portland Center Stage at The Armory); The Mystery of Irma Vep (The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); Snow White (Seattle Children’s Theatre); Pass Over (A Contemporary Theatre); Amadeus (Folger Theatre); Ibsen in Chicago (Seattle Rep); Wolf Play (Artists Repertory Theatre); Nina Simone: Four Women (Alabama Shakespeare Festival); The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (Marin Theatre Company); As You Like It (Cal Shakes); Free Outgoing (East West Players); WIG OUT! (American Repertory Theater/Company One Theatre). He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, IATSE, and the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association, an Arts Envoy for the U.S. Department of State, and a resident artist at Artist Rep. M.F.A.: Yale School of Drama. sharathpatel.com
Natalie Greene, Associate Choreographer
Natalie (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist based in San Francisco. She is the artistic director of the award-winning devised theater ensemble Mugwumpin, having directed In Event of Moon Disaster (Z Space, TBA Award), choreographed Blockbuster Season (Intersection for the Arts), and co-created/performed in multiple productions for the company. Natalie teaches dance and theater in the Department of Performing Arts & Social Justice at the University of San Francisco. Recent choreography: The Good Person of Szechwan (Cal Shakes), The Looking Glass Self 1.0 (Mugwumpin at CounterPulse), Cabaret (Stanford University), and Vinegar Tom (Shotgun Players). Choreography and intimacy direction: The Children (Aurora Theater Company), Passion (Custom Made Theater), Woman Laughing Alone with Salad and Elevada (Shotgun Players). Big thanks to Erika and Marissa. mugwumpin.org
Mark Tynan, Stage Manager
Imagine being in a room full of artists, watching the birth of an idea, a movement given purpose, a sentence, phrase, scene, act given life. Then imagine that room translating to the stage with lighting, sound, costumes, scenery, and props; then you can imagine what Mark’s (he/him) job is like. Special thanks to the stage management apprentices, Dana Petersen and Macarena Subiabre. Prior to Portland Center Stage at The Armory, Mark toured nationally and internationally with musicals including Dreamgirls, The King and I with Rudolf Nureyev, How to Succeed …, Grand Hotel, The Phantom of the Opera, Rent, and Jersey Boys. Other Portland credits include several summers with Broadway Rose Theatre Company in Tigard. Regional credits include Alley Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, and Casa Mañana Theatre.
Danny Rosales, Production Assistant
Danny is ecstatic to start 2020 back at Portland Center Stage at The Armory. His previous credits at The Amory include The Magic Play and Every Brilliant Thing. Some of his favorite stage management credits include The Brothers Paranormal (CoHo Productions/MediaRites’ Theatre Diaspora); Here on This Bridge: The -Ism Project (MediaRites’ Theatre Diaspora); and A Map of Virtue (Theatre Vertigo). When he’s not busy working on shows, you can usually find him playing with trash or eating too much ice cream. But silliness set aside, Danny is grateful to be working on this fantastic show with such amazing people. Lastly, he would like to thank his friends, family, and doggos for all their love and support.
Chrissy McNair, Neurodiversity Consultant
Chrissy is a neurodiversity consultant specializing in the areas of inclusion, strategic planning, and public policy advocacy for individuals, small businesses, and non-profits. She is the mother to three boys, one who is a young adult on the Autism Spectrum. Chrissy is dedicated to supporting organizations in their quest to provide a more inclusive and accepting environment for neurodiverse employees and customers. She is also passionate about supporting parents and caregivers of loved ones with special needs, is a public speaker, and is the author of the book Special, Too — A Guide to Nurturing the Special Needs of the Caregiver. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, sons, two loyal dogs, and feisty rescue kitten.
Scott Stackhouse, Dialect Coach
Scott teaches vocal production, text, and dialects for the M.F.A. program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. A graduate of UCLA, Scott has worked nationally as an actor, director, vocal coach, and fight choreographer. Most recently, he served as voice coach on productions of Pride and Prejudice, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and A Christmas Carol at Kansas City Repertory Theatre; Rise Up at The Coterie Theatre; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Unicorn; and The Mousetrap at Tent Theatre. Scott holds a certificate in Louis Colaianni’s Phonetic pedagogy and is an editor-at-large for the International Dialects of English Archive.
What People Are Saying
What Critics are Saying
“It’s a gripping mystery, populated by great characters ... But the center of the story is Christopher and how he relates to the world around him ... Sanders soars in this play. It is a memorable performance, and one that has the ability to make us all more human.” - Judy Nedry
What Audiences are Saying
“Loved it. It was emotional, intense, poignant, real and humorous all at the same time.”
“Excellent staging, excellent acting and a wonderful storyline.”
“I was truly in awe of this performance.”
“One of the best plays I have ever seen.”
“Amazing show and amazing cast. Go see it!”
“Heart breaking, heart-warming, heart healing. It's what we need right now.”
“Excellent! Superb acting, marvelous, unique staging. Very creative! Highly recommend!!!”
Acclaim for the Kansas City Repertory Theatre production
(directed by Marissa Wolf)
“Curious is hilarious, intense, bittersweet, and triumphantly successful at bringing the world of one character to the hearts of his audience, and offering us the chance to invoke empathy for all who are differently-abled.” - PerformInk
“An impressive piece of work from director Marissa Wolf and a potent design team. … Played by Jamie Sanders, a young New York actor, Christopher is variously endearing, sympathetic, exasperating and awe-inspiring.” - KCStudio
“Sanders is an ideal Christopher, capturing the character’s literal thinking patterns and social anxieties without making his speeches stilted or overly earnest. More crucially, his performance is mature. Curious Incident has the structure of a coming-of-age tale, and Sanders has a firm grasp on how the general challenges of adolescence might become particular for someone like Christopher. …Wolf and Sanders keep the action big-hearted and unprecious.” - The Pitch
“Outstanding acting, beautiful light schemes, a stunning set on a carousel, set pieces elevating from trap doors–all contribute to the effect of the play. Add to that great sound, costumes and movement and the play creates a modernistic texture that holds the piece tightly together.” - KC Applauds
“A brilliant gem of many facets … Marissa Wolf’s direction brings poignant compassion to playwright Stephens’ slightly cockeyed – in the best sense – plot and storyline … Sanders’ Christopher is by turns unnerving, brilliant, naive and savvy.” - FrankieSez
National & International Acclaim
“A beautiful, eloquent, dazzlingly inventive show about the wonders of life.” – Evening Standard
“This adaptation by the acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens is intensely, innately theatrical; it is also funny and extremely moving … resonates with quality.” – Telegraph
“Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Play, Curious Incident risked being overhyped but instead is every bit as good as its acclaim indicates. Smart, original and brimming with humanity.” - Hollywood Reporter
In Performance: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Selected highlights from our 2019-2020 production.
Meet Curious Incident Star Jamie Sanders
Jamie Sanders chatted with Write Field Features about starring in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, seeing the show for the first time as a teenager, and how having Tourette Syndrome informs his portrayal of Christopher, the 15-year-old boy whose quest to solve the mystery of who killed his neighbor's dog is at the heart of this Tony Award-winning play.
Jamie Sanders Thinks You Should See The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Jamie Sanders sat down with Write Field Features to chat about starring in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Full interview coming next week, but for now... here's why Jamie thinks YOU should see this Tony Award-winning play about Christopher, a 15-year-old boy on the autism spectrum, trying to solve a mystery that will change his life forever.
The Curious Case of the Puppy in the Box
Our props team built this adorable animatronic puppy, who will make his heartwarming debut in Act 2 of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time as Sandy.
The "Curious" Pet Rat
First look at the animatronic rat our awesome props department built for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Everyone, meet Christopher's pet rat Toby!
Teaser: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
A quick introduction to the world of The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Night-Time.
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
2019-2020 Season Superstars
2019-2020 Season Supporting Sponsors
