WHO WE ARE
Rose City Stage Company is a nonprofit performing arts organization formed by local artists and entrepreneurs to serve the greater Portland metro area. Founded on the belief that professional theatre should be accessible, collaborative, and locally inspired, our company exists to uplift both the artists who create and the audiences who share in the experience.
We believe in cultivating theatre that grows out of the city itself — its creativity, its communities, and its generous spirit of collaboration.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Great theatre does not happen by accident—it takes honoring the stories we tell, trusting the artists who bring them to life, and welcoming audiences with openness and respect. We believe in creating excellent work by treating collaborators fairly, fostering genuine collaboration, and ensuring that professional theatre remains accessible to all who wish to share in it.
Our mission, vision, and values reflect the standards we strive to uphold in every rehearsal room, in every performance, and in every community collaboration and partnership.
-
All the world’s our stage…
Rose City Stage Company is a Portland-based ensemble dedicated to telling timeless stories that transcend generations, genres, and geography. We believe in story first—content over concept—and in creating theatre that connects, moves, and serves the communities where it lives.
While rooted in the classics, we are not limited by them. We embrace stories that speak across time and culture, gathering artists and audiences in shared spaces of imagination to make the familiar feel new and to remind us of our shared humanity. -
We aspire to become a trusted creative asset for the region—known for artistic excellence, meaningful education, audience engagement, and community partnership.
Our vision is to build a company that:
Produces professional, high-quality work that showcases Portland’s creative community
Expands affordable access to quality live arts experiences
Educates and empowers emerging artists through internships, workshops, and collaborations with local colleges and universities
Supports artists’ passion projects, fostering both classical and original works that reflect the heart of our region
Serves as a cultural home for artists, audiences, and educators—a place where story, creativity, and community flourish
-
Our values shape how we create, collaborate, and serve—guiding our creative process, our partnerships, and our responsibility to artists and audiences.
In all our work, we choose to value:
Artists - As a company created by actors and directors, we believe in the fair treatment and equitable pay of local artists. Our collaborators are not just performers and employees but creative partners, shaping the heart of every production with their insight, dedication, and talent.
Community - Being a nonprofit organization, we exist to serve our community. We see it as our responsibility to ensure accessibility, inclusion, and open dialogue in all we do. We collaborate with local organizations to develop projects that reflect the interests and needs of the communities we serve. From accessible performances and affordable ticketing to talk-backs and audience engagement, we strive to make every guest feel welcome and valued as an essential part of our creative endeavors.
Collaboration - Collaboration is our soil — everything we create grows from it. We believe in a process where all voices are heard, creativity is shared, discovery happens together, and the art itself benefits, becoming more meaningful and vital.
Education - Theatre is a living and evolving classroom. Through workshops, talk-backs, mentorship, and collaboration, we strive to help artists, emerging creators, students, and audiences grow in empathy, knowledge, and skill. The stories we share invite us all to learn — about craft, about history, about one another, and about ourselves.
Integrity - We choose to operate with integrity as a core value in both our administrative and creative endeavors. Our funding and operations are rooted in honesty and care. Every donation, grant, or sponsorship directly supports the essentials: the story, the artists, and the audience.
Quality - We believe theatre is a craft—one that is practiced, studied, and continually refined. Through research, thoughtful collaboration, and informed artistic choices, we strive to create work of the highest quality. The stories we tell deserve our very best, creating experiences that resonate not only in the moment, but long after the performance ends.