Reviews of *Where We Belong*
Audience Raves
"I learned so much about indigenous people and their struggles, and to be honest, I thought I was already well-informed. [Jessica Ranville] was amazing. I didn't know what to expect, but I'd frame the show as a history lesson everyone needs to hear."
"Very powerful message and tremendous storytelling."
"I loved this play. It really spoke to me. Being a Shakespeare lover, it was such a profound topic of colonialism and allowing cultures to maintain their own boundaries."
"Jessica Ranville was amazing! Tour de force for the entire 80 minutes! The set was very innovative, almost like another character in the show."
"We loved this play! Everything about this experience is powerful."
"Remarkable and affecting portrayal of a Native American culture we don’t think about enough. Fascinating Shakespeare connection. Rich and beautifully performed."
"I truly enjoyed learning about Native American culture and traditions from a Native American. History has, for too long, been told from only one point of view. Too many people have suffered as a result. While true change can take generations to complete, it needs to start someplace."
"Fascinating — made us see things from another perspective that facts alone cannot fully explain."
"Incredible performance — a solo show reminiscent of Frida. I learned a lot, and it piqued my interest to learn more about Mohegan culture and history."
"One of the best performances I have seen in a long time. The set, lighting, and sound design were so incredibly waved into the story. The performer was phenomenal, and the writing deeply moving."
"Incredible. Top 5 theatre experiences in Portland — EVER. Thought-provoking, compelling, beautifully written, and masterfully performed. Gorgeous set design and staging!"
"We loved the dialogue, the single voice with so much commitment and verve. We loved this play! Everything about this experience is powerful."
Local Reviews
"I don’t think I’ve ever learned more or been as changed by eighty minutes of live theater in my life. Where We Belong somehow covers hundreds of years of culture and trauma, one modern journey of identity and purpose, and even an analysis of The Tempest, all the while making the narrative accessible to every audience member, no matter what stories were taught to us in school. And all of the heaviness is infused with so much humor and buoyancy throughout, that audience members can hold it. The show is kind in that way." –PDXParent
In the News
"I was always thinking of it as oral tradition, where it wasn’t designed to have this linear path. These are my stories, and this is how I pieced them together culturally and spiritually. I was telling parts of it, but also my ancestors were always there with me telling it." –Madeline Sayet with Portland Monthly on writing Where We Belong. View the Feature
"The play Where We Belong is Madeline Sayet’s story of going to England — to Stratford-upon-Avon, even — to pursue a Ph.D. in Shakespeare studies only to confront hard questions about colonization, ancestry, identity, belonging, and, of course, language." View the Feature
Portland Center Stage Literary Manager Kamilah Bush joined Everyday Northwest to share more about three upcoming performances all written by women. View the Feature
Seattle Times interviews Mohegan theater artist Madeline Sayet about her solo show Where We Belong. View the Feature
"In 2018, when I moved back to the United States after living in the UK for a few years, it was the first time that my feet didn't root quite right to the ground. Before that, every time I came home I could feel my roots reaching all the way down; it was evident in my body that this was the place of my ancestors." –Madeline Sayet in an interview with Theater Mania about her solo show Where We Belong. View the Feature
Critic Reviews
“An important story — thought-provoking, respectful, and alive.” –MD Theatre Guide
“Will inspire and demand your utmost attention, from beginning to end.” –Times Square Chronicles
"Where We Belong illuminate[s] a culture, in the past and in the present, that we should know more about." –New York Theater
“There are stories of her mother, her elders, her responses to Shakespeare, and the ways she believes that her culture’s insights can transform theater.” –DC Metro Theater Arts
“Witnessing that kind of passion for storytelling on stage is theater magic.” –BroadwayWorld
"Where We Belong belongs to the realms of both theatre and lecture, cultural retrospective and personal memoir." –New York Theatre Guide
“Where We Belong tells [the tale] with grace and humanity.” –Metro Weekly
National Audience Raves
"I love being challenged, educated, and exploring our world through your plays. This play will stay with me a while."
"This was a spectacular production, and I'm so, so glad I saw it."
"I love, love, loved the show. Sayet is brilliant, and this was a moving, thoughtful, sharp piece."
"Wonderful and very meaningful performance! I normally struggle with one-person shows, but this show was extremely engaging and I was riveted from start to finish."
Current & Upcoming
Summer Teen Academy 2024
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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!
JAW: Street Dance Showcase
Join us as we kick things off for the 2024 JAW weekend with this wildly popular showcase, presented by Jesus Rodales of WWJP. Featuring street, club, and urban dance styles, performed by artists from a variety of local Portland area dance crews and institutions.
JAW Play Reading: A Re-Enactment of the Imagined Trial of Daisy the Cow, who (Allegedly) Caused the Great Chicago Fire By Julia Izumi
A Re-Enactment of the Imagined Trial of Daisy the Cow, who (Allegedly) Caused the Great Chicago Fire is a re-enactment of the imagined trial of Daisy the cow, who allegedly caused the Great Chicago Fire. A deep interrogation of our criminal justice system, this fabricated trial will question what truth, justice, blame, and guilt actually mean.
JAW: Pre-show Music with Kimo Camat
Portland based performer Kimo Camat will be performing a pre-show set to the afternoon’s play filled with songs ranging from Funk, Neo Soul, and a dash of Musical Theatre. Joined by Mak Kastelic on keys and Juliet Terrill on bass, Kimo wants you to come hang for an afternoon of cool drinks and soft tunes downtown in the Pearl.
Write Like You! Finding Your Voice with Julia Izumi JAW Community Artist Lab
One of the biggest lifelong hurdles as a writer is to find your voice--and learn to love it! In this workshop, through several writing and performance exercises we'll explore all the different ways to encourage your creativity and imagination and let your own authentic voice soar, even through characters and stories that are totally, 100% fictional.
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