Portland Debuts 'Lauren Weedman Doesn't Live Here Anymore'

Lauren Weedman, who took the city by storm with�"The People's Republic of Portland" is back once again for the world premiere of her first music-based production,�"Lauren Weedman Doesn't Live Here Anymore." The Armory's Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan will direct the production.

Tim Sonnefeld will provide music direction and join Weedman on stage to play guitar, along with Ji Tanzer on drums. The production will mark Weedman's debut on The Armory's U.S. Bank Main Stage.�"Lauren Weedman Doesn't Live Here Anymore"�begins preview performances on March 16; the opening night/press night is March 24; and regular performances run through April 30.

Weedman returns to The Armory to make her U.S. Bank Main Stage debut after hit runs in the Ellyn Bye Studio with�"The People's Republic of Portland"�(2015 and 2013) and�"Bust"�(2011). Weedman's current obsessions: love and heartbreak; big hair and tight jeans; Loretta Lynn and John Prine; or songs she thinks make her look skinny and appropriately tragic. The hilarious and versatile Weedman knows a thing or two about love gone wrong. She's ready to sing her heart out about it (Yes! She sings!) and tell you a few tall tales, too.�

"Lauren Weedman Doesn't Live Here Anymore"�was commissioned by Portland Center Stage at The Armory, and workshopped at the company's annual festival of new works, JAW: A Playwrights Festival. The production will run on the U.S. Bank Main Stage in conjunction with another music-based world premiere,�"Wild and Reckless" written and performed by Blitzen Trapper.�

Weedman is an award-winning comedic actress, playwright and author. Her first show,�"Homecoming," began as a 15-minute performance art piece at Seattle's On the Boards and went on to an acclaimed Off-Broadway run.�"Bust," about her work in the Los Angeles county jail, received a MacDowell Fellowship for playwriting from the Alpert Awards, as well as winning several "best of the arts" awards across the nation.�

Weedman has written and performed more than 10 solo plays, including�"Homecoming,"�"Amsterdam,"�"If Ornaments Had Lips,"�"Huu,"�"Rash,"�"Wreckage�and�"No ... You Shut Up." Weedman's television credits include�"The�Daily Show,"�Horny Patty on HBO's�"Hung," and Doris on HBO's�"Looking." Her most recent films, due for release this fall, are�"The Little Hours," starring John C. Reilly, and�"Wilson," with Woody Harrelson. Weedman is the author of two books of comedic essays,�"A Woman Trapped in a Woman's Body: (Tales from a Life of Cringe)"�and�"Miss Fortune:�Fresh Perspectives on Having it All From Someone Who is Not Okay."�

"Lauren Weedman Doesn't Live Here Anymore"�will be directed by The Armory's Associate Artistic Director�Rose Riordan�(who is also co-directing�"Wild and Reckless"�and recently directed�"The Oregon Trail"�at The Armory); joined by Scenic Designer�Sibyl Wickersheimer�(recent scenic design credits include�"Richard II"�for Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Costume Designer�Alison Heryer�(most recently designed costumes for�"His Eye is on the Sparrow"�at The Armory); Lighting Designer�Daniel Meeker�(most recently designed lighting for�"I Love to Eat"�at The Armory); Sound Designer�Casi Pacilio�(The Armory's resident sound designer; most recently designed sound for�"His Eye is on the Sparrow"�at The Armory); stage managers�Janine Vanderhoff�and�Alyssa Escalante; and production assistants�Kristina Mast�and�Iris Gonzalez.

Portland Center Stage at The Armory�is the largest theater company in Portland and among the top 20 regional theaters in the country. Established in 1988 as a branch of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the company became independent in 1994 and has been under the leadership of Artistic Director Chris Coleman since May, 2000. Around 160,000 visitors attend The Armory annually to enjoy a mix of classical, contemporary and world premiere productions, along with a variety of high quality education and community programs.

Eleven productions are offered each season, in addition to roughly 400 community events created -- in partnership with 170+ local organizations and individuals -- to serve the diverse populations in the city. As part of its dedication to new play development, the company has produced 21 world premieres and presents an annual new works festival, JAW: A Playwrights Festival. Home to two theaters, The Armory was the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, and the first performing arts venue, to achieve a LEED Platinum rating.

The�2016-2017 season�is funded in part by Season Superstars Tim and Mary Boyle, and Lead Corporate Champion Umpqua Bank. Further support comes from the Season Sponsors: Regional Arts and Culture Council, The Wallace Foundation and Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded by the state of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts. Support for�"Lauren Weedman Doesn't Live Here Anymore"�comes from Curtis Thompson, M.D., and Associates, LLC, and Tasca and Paul Gulick. Mark Spencer Hotel is the official hotel partner.

Portland Center Stage at The Armory was selected as a participant of the Wallace Foundation's�Building Audiences for Sustainability Initiative, a four-year effort with a nationwide cohort of 26 performing arts organizations.

Tickets start at $25. Rush tickets are $20. Students and patrons who are 30 or younger can purchase $30 tickets in premium seating areas. $5 tickets are available for Oregon Trail Card holders through the Arts for All program. "Lauren Weedman Doesn't Live Here Anymore"�is recommended for ages 17 and up; contains mature content, explicit language and adult situations.�

"Lauren Weedman Doesn't Live Here Anymore"�runs from March 16-April 30 on the U.S. Bank Main Stage at The Armory, 128 NW Eleventh Ave., Portland, OR. For information or tickets, call 503-445-3700 or visit https://www.pcs.org/laurenweedman.