May 20 - June 5, 2022
National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere
After a tornado barrels through an Alabama town causing death and destruction, only June and her pet goats live to tell the tale. Alice, a prominent photographer, visits to document June's scars—while carrying scars of her own. Both women are forced to reconcile the pain of grief and recovery with what it means to truly be seen. Alabaster is a poignant, darkly comic exploration of creativity, loss and resilience. A play about women. About art. About healing.
“A nuanced, darkly comedic play…that examines how people cope with trauma and what recovery can look and feel like.” — Chicago Tribune
Content advisory: this production uses flashing lights and other special effects. Contains strong language.
Click here to download the press release for Alabaster.
ALABASTER is produced at Oregon Contemporary Theatre as a part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Other partnering theaters are Florida Repertory Theatre (Fort Myers), Capital Stage (Sacramento), 16th Street Theater (Berwyn IL), Kitchen Dog Theater (Dallas), Shrewd Productions (Austin), Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis), Williamston Theatre (Michigan), Salt Lake Acting Company, and New Jersey Repertory Company (Long Branch). For more information please visit www.nnpn.org.
As of May 1, 2022: All OCT patrons must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or proof of negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours before your performance, along with a matching photo ID. Patrons can show either paper or electronic documentation.
Masking is required when our county is at a high-risk level. At medium and low levels, masks are encouraged but not required. You can follow the CDC's COVID-19 County Check tool to find out current levels determining when we lift our masking requirements.
Please review OCT's Health and Safety Policies, including vaccination and masking requirements, before coming to the theatre.
AUDREY CEFALY (Playwright) is a Southern writer whose work focuses on character-driven stories drawing inspiration from her home state of Alabama and the Gulf Coast region. Her plays include The Gulf (Edgerton, Lammy, Charles MacArthur Nominee), Alabaster (NNPN Record-Breaking RWP, Kilroys, Calicchio Prize and Pulitzer-Prize Nominee), Maytag Virgin, The Last Wide Open, The Story of Walter, Fin & Euba, Tell Me Something Good, The Believers, Tall Trees in Lisman and Love is a Blue Tick Hound. Cefaly is an alumna of the Playwrights' Arena cohort at Arena Stage, a recipient of the Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from the Sewanee Writers Conference and a Dramatist Guild Foundation Traveling Master. She is published by Concord Theatricals, Smith & Kraus and Applause Books. Cefaly's plays have been produced by Cincinnati Playhouse, Florida Studio, Florida Rep, City Theatre, Penobscot Theatre, Gulfshore Playhouse, Merrimack Rep, Signature Theatre, Barter Theatre, Vermont Stage, Oregon Contemporary Theatre, 16th Street Theater, Capital Stage, About Face, Kitchen Dog Theatre, Circle Theatre, Theatre Three, Aurora Theatre, Quotidian Theatre Company and University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her play Alabaster received an 11-city Rolling World Premiere, the largest in National New Play Network history.
WILLOW JADE NORTON (Director) is an Oregon-based theatre director, teacher and arts advocate focused on new work development and socially engaged art. Willow is a founding member of Moderate Woo, a feminist theatre collective. She was recently selected to be a 2022-2023 American Leadership Forum of Oregon Fellow. Willow directed The Cake and Marjorie Prime for Oregon Contemporary Theatre. Other notable projects include Madama Butterfly in the Garden (Eugene Opera); LIFE, In the Next Room or the vibrator play, Constant Revolution, Turning Red (Lane Community College); Luna Park, Rain and Zoe Save the World (Oregon Performance Lab, where she was Artistic Director); Goodbye Avis (New York Theatre Workshop); ¡Bocón!, RENT, A Thousand Cranes (The Majestic Theatre); and S.H.A.V.E.D. (HERE Arts Center). Willow has received an Oregon Arts Commission Career Opportunity Grant, a Lane Arts Council Project Grant, and the Colleen Toohey Porter Theater for Young Audiences USA Fellowship. Willow is a certified Teaching Artist for Tectonic Theater Project's Moment Work technique. She also worked as Associate Treasurer at The Shubert Theatre for Matilda The Musical on Broadway. Willow has a BFA in Theater - Original Works from Cornish College of the Arts and a Masters in Nonprofit Management & Arts Management from the University of Oregon. With great thanks to Brice, Marmar, Papa, Vivi & Ness.
JERILYN ARMSTRONG (Alice) is thrilled to return to Oregon Contemporary Theatre to help tell this powerful story with such an impressive group of people. Past OCT productions include Loss and Light (NW10), Middletown and The Big Meal. Other acting credits include theatre productions Scorched, Pride & Prejudice and Ecstasy: A Water Fable, and feature films Woe and #chadgetstheaxe (currently in post-production). After graduating from the University of Oregon, she studied at accredited acting and improv programs in Los Angeles, including The Upright Citizens Brigade, The Annie Grindlay Studio and The Imagined Life. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon, telling stories through live performance and film, and performing improv at Kickstand Comedy (#notacult).
KAMDEN FLOWERS (Weezy) is thrilled to be a part of the production of Alabaster at Oregon Contemporary Theatre. She hails originally from Dallas, Texas, and is channeling many folks from her southern past as Weezy. She was last seen as Truvy in Steel Magnolias at UACT of Roseburg in 2017. Kamden spent many years raising children and working in the psychiatric field and is now quite blessed to have the time to pursue her love of entertaining others. She also enjoys hiking her pooches (Dinky Doodlebug and Baloo) up mountains, singing at every opportunity and busting a dance move in 7-11 like no one is watching. She thanks her parents and brother for always being there to support and encourage her.
ROSE HEISING (Musician) is tickled pink to collaborate with such lovely folks on this deeply resonant piece. Though this is their first time appearing at Oregon Contemporary Theatre as a "grown-up," this stage is very familiar from childhood summer camps. An actor and musician, Rose graduated from Whitman College in 2020 with a BA in Theatre and minors in Music and Japanese. Recent favorite roles include: Revunov/Lomov/Tatyana in Chekhov's Farces, Queen Elizabeth in Cultivating the Queen and Edith Mole in Mr. Kolpert. Her current musical interests include exploring folk fiddling traditions from around the world and works by women composers. Otherwise, you can find Rose in some meadow, eating snacks and humming.
HAILEY HENDERSON (June) is delighted to return to Oregon Contemporary Theatre and Eugene’s vibrant arts community to breathe life into June and to explore the world of Alabaster with such a dynamite creative team. Henderson was last seen on this stage in the summer of 2021 during her West Coast tour of her one woman show, Blackout. Henderson currently lives in Seattle where she earned her MFA in the Professional Actor Training program at the University of Washington. Eugene-area credits include: The Revolutionists, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Doubt, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Lost in Yonkers, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Private Eyes, Babes in Arms and Much Ado About Nothing.
MARLA NORTON (Bib) is beyond grateful to be involved with this cast, crew and director in telling this beautiful story in these times. Marla has been active in the theatre community as an actor for many years and has more recently added playwriting to her skills. She proudly graduated with a bachelor’s degree from UO in Theatre Arts in 2011, and then worked administratively in the Performing Arts department at Lane. She has acted in four NW10 plays throughout the years and recently had her own 10-minute play Loss and Light produced as part of NW10, as well as her 10-minute play Faith, Grace...and Destiny produced in Lane’s Winter Shorts Festival. She has volunteered for Oregon Contemporary Theatre for years and now is pleased to be on the Board of Directors. Marla's appearances on local stages include Wonder of the World (VLT), The Wolves (LCC), Last of the Red Hot Lovers and Kimberly Akimbo (OCT). Much love to Willow and Brice. Thank you so much for supporting live theatre!
RILEY ALLEN (Properties Master/Assistant Stage Manager; Production Assistant) graduated from Central Washington University in 2019 with a Bachelors in Theatre Design and Production, specializing in everything from lighting and scenic design to stage management. Last we saw Riley, he was designing the lights for Oregon Contemporary Theatre's 2022 NW10 Festival. Riley loves the fleeting, urgent energy of the performing arts. As an artist, he aims to bring that energy to life. But, more than anything else, Riley strives to be a calming presence as a team member in a medium that is, by its very nature, often chaotic. Born in the Puget Sound area, Riley is excited to be experiencing his first Eugene spring.
EMILY BOLIVAR (Lighting Designer) is delighted to be back at Oregon Contemporary Theatre for the final show of the season! Emily earned her BS in Theatre Arts at the University of Oregon in 2020, and now works as the Assistant Technical Director at the Wildish Theater in Springfield, OR. She also keeps busy doing technical work with IATSE Local 675, Lane Community College's Performing Arts department and Ballet Fantastique. Emily most recently designed lights for A Doll's House, Part 2 and Tiny Beautiful Things (OCT).
JENNIFER CHANEY (Assistant Director) is most at home in the theatre community, as a creator, collaborator, dramaturg and storyteller. After participating in the NW10 Festival over the past three seasons, she is thrilled to be assistant directing this evocative play in real time. A recent UO Theatre Arts graduate, she currently is pursuing her MFA in theatre and playwriting through the University of Idaho. She would like to thank Willow, the cast and crew for this opportunity, along with Steve, her mother and family for their endless support. She would agree with Alice: “Art is meant to be shared.”
AMY DUNN (Scenic Designer; Production Manager/Master Carpenter) graduated from the UO with a BA in Theatre Arts and joined the staff of Oregon Contemporary Theatre shortly thereafter in August 2007 as the Master Carpenter. In 2019, Amy took on the additional role of Production Manager. Select design credits include: Stop Kiss, Mud (University Theatre); The Explorers Club (VLT); King Lear (SPA); and Hello, Dolly! (Lane Summer Musical Theatre). Amy's OCT design favorites include: Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Buried Child, Venus in Fur, A Bright New Boise, I and You, August: Osage County, boom, The Pillowman, Shipwrecked! and The Clean House. In her spare time, Amy can be found cross stitching, gaming or gushing over her adorable cats, Oskar and Jill.
GINA LOVE (Makeup Artist) is a versatile costume designer and makeup artist whose work includes theatre, dance, opera, film and television. Her last work was seen in the Eugene Opera’s production of The Magic Flute and LCC’s dance concert Collaborations '22. Her costume collaborations also include Orlando Shakes, The Hult Center, Omaha Community Playhouse Theatre and UO University Theatre. She has worked with tailors and designers in Hollywood, and her work can be found in the closets of many actresses. Her formal education includes an MFA in Theatre Arts Costume Design from UO and a degree in Fashion Design, Business Management and Marketing. Gina has been working in academia and the theatre industry since 2004. Her positions have included: costume and makeup design, costume studio and inventory manager, wardrobe crew manager, and professor. In addition to teaching costuming and makeup courses at Lane Community College, she maintains an active freelance design career.
COLLEEN ROONEY (Production Stage Manager) graduated from the UO with a BS in Theatre Arts and Anthropology, focusing in stage management and lighting design, and archaeology, respectively. Stage management credits include: NW10: Long Story Short, A Doll's House, Part 2, Buyer & Cellar, Tiny Beautiful Things, ART, NW10: Into the Cybersphere, Thom Pain (based on nothing), NW10: Oh, Boise! (Oregon Contemporary Theatre); Mother Courage and Her Children, Avenue Q, Tartuffe and the spring 2020 digital project Or Not To Be (University Theatre). Outside of OCT, they work as a student support education assistant with Churchill High School, produce with the up-and-coming production company Tall Tale Players and watch far too many cartoons with their partner and cats.
RYAN RUSBY (Media Designer) is originally from Eugene but now lives in Bend, where he provides IT support for the Oregon State University - Cascades campus while art-ing on the side. Some of his favorite previous work in sound and projection design include: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Understudy, Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea, A Bright New Boise, I and You, Fahrenheit 451 (Oregon Contemporary Theatre); bobraschenbergamerica, Burning Vision and Metamorphoses (University Theatre). He encourages you to own at least one action figure, especially if you think you're too old for action figures.
ERIN WILLS (Costume Designer) has previously designed at Oregon Contemporary Theatre for: A Doll's House, Part 2, Buyer & Cellar, ART, The Roommate, The Thanksgiving Play, Fun Home, The 39 Steps, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Lucky Me, Clybourne Park, A Bright New Boise, Tribes, Next to Normal and Fahrenheit 451. She graduated from the UO and completed MFA work in costume technology at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Additional credits include the Old Globe Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare Festival, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, New York City Center and Broadway productions.
National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere
After a tornado barrels through an Alabama town causing death and destruction, only June and her pet goats live to tell the tale. Alice, a prominent photographer, visits to document June's scars—while carrying scars of her own. Both women are forced to reconcile the pain of grief and recovery with what it means to truly be seen. Alabaster is a poignant, darkly comic exploration of creativity, loss and resilience. A play about women. About art. About healing.
“A nuanced, darkly comedic play…that examines how people cope with trauma and what recovery can look and feel like.” — Chicago Tribune
Content advisory: this production uses flashing lights and other special effects. Contains strong language.
Click here to download the press release for Alabaster.
ALABASTER is produced at Oregon Contemporary Theatre as a part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Other partnering theaters are Florida Repertory Theatre (Fort Myers), Capital Stage (Sacramento), 16th Street Theater (Berwyn IL), Kitchen Dog Theater (Dallas), Shrewd Productions (Austin), Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis), Williamston Theatre (Michigan), Salt Lake Acting Company, and New Jersey Repertory Company (Long Branch). For more information please visit www.nnpn.org.
As of May 1, 2022: All OCT patrons must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or proof of negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours before your performance, along with a matching photo ID. Patrons can show either paper or electronic documentation.
Masking is required when our county is at a high-risk level. At medium and low levels, masks are encouraged but not required. You can follow the CDC's COVID-19 County Check tool to find out current levels determining when we lift our masking requirements.
Please review OCT's Health and Safety Policies, including vaccination and masking requirements, before coming to the theatre.
Connect with Us
e-Newsletter