Ripe for the Plowing

There’s all kindsa stuff going on at the Fertile Ground theater
festival, including parties, workshops, and late-night,
cocktail-fueled, adults-only entertainment. See fertilegroundpdx.org for complete
listings—here’s a few highlights.

Foreplay at the Someday

Someone in the theater scene finally got the memo that “sex
sells”—so the Someday Lounge should be accordingly packed for
tonight’s four wonderfully named short plays, listed here in descending
order of awesomeness: “I Have Herpes”; “Erectile Dysfunction, The
Musical”; “Fourplay” (but only if it’s about an orgy); and “Kama Sutra
Wednesdays.”

Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th, Sun Jan 25, 4 pm, Mon Jan 26, 8 pm,
$10

Inviting Desire

Speaking of sex, Inviting Desire literally aims to do just
that, by building a collaborative piece based on the sexual fantasies
of real women. (While developing the show, Dance Naked Productions sent
a message to its female Facebook friends asking them to submit their
deepest, darkest fantasies for possible use—resulting in one very
hilarious misuse of the “reply all” button. Whoops!)

Dance Naked Productions at 602 N Prescott, Fri Jan 23-Sat Jan 24,
8 pm, Sun Jan 25, 7 pm, Thurs Jan 29-Sat Jan 31, 8 pm, Sun Feb 1, 7 pm,
$20

The Adventures of Jojopatamus and His Best Friend Ralphred

Gosh, it’s just sex, sex, sex with you people! Just kidding. This
show is for ages three and up, so bring the kiddos and leave those
dirty thoughts at home.

Ohana SE PDX Children’s Theater at the Back Door Theater, 4319 SE
Hawthorne, Fri Jan 23 & 30, 6 pm, Sat Jan 24 & 31, 2 & 6
pm, Sun Jan 25 & Feb 1, 2 pm, $10 kids, $15 adults

Craft/Craeft/Kraft

The Fuse Theatre Ensemble’s Craft/Craeft/Kraft is an
investigation of the various definitions of craft. The play will be
staged at the Museum of Contemporary Craft, an institution that is
itself dedicated to exploring and expanding the meaning of the word.
Just guessing that homemade armwarmers will be nowhere in sight.

Fuse Theater Ensemble at Museum of Contemporary Craft, 724 NW
Davis, Thurs Jan 29, 7 pm, Sun Feb 1, 2 pm, free

Kick/Ball/Change

One of the few unscripted shows in the festival,
Kick/Ball/Change showcases a slew of local dance
acts—there’s hiphop from All of the Above, you-know-what from
Beefcake Burlesque, and, the words I’ve been waiting my entire LIFE to
write in reference to a dance performance, “cat-based art” from
Cattitude.

Pants-Off Productions at the Someday Lounge. 125 NW 5th, Sun Jan
25, 9 pm, $10-15

Gracie and the Atom

It’s just a workshopped version of the script, not a fully staged
production, but this play by McKinley (of Dirty Martini fame) is a
musical about “life, death, faith, physics, and Catholic school.”

Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison, Fri Jan 23, 7:30 pm,
Sat Jan 31, 2 pm, $12

Vitriol and Violets

See the theater listing on this page for more info, but this is one
of the most promising shows in Fertile Ground, so we felt it deserved
another plug. Plug! Plug!

Rainy Day Productions and Artists Repertory Theatre at the Blue
Room at the Scottish Rite Temple, 1525 SW Yamhill, Fri Jan 23, 8 pm,
Sat Jan 24, 2 & 8 pm, Sun Jan 25, 2 pm, Fri Jan 30, 8 pm, Sat Jan
31, 2 & 8 pm, Sun Feb 1, 2 pm, $25-40