Portland Actors Ensemble Director Interest Questionnaire

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PAE's goal is to bring financially accessible theatre to a non-traditional environment. We also wish to find actors from all walks of life that have a passion for theatre, and the works of William Shakespeare in particular.

Whether a professional actor, teacher, student, or amateur, we wish to give everyone an opportunity to shine.

PAE's approach to bringing Shakespeare to life is through textual work and letting the words of the plays guide the story, rather than adding modern day interpretation and layers.

This year's production of As You Like It will be another year of growth for PAE, as we expand back into Portland Parks, along with our connection to East County and Gresham.

For more information about PAE, check out our website and FAQ page -

Please answer the following questions with as much detail as you can.

Email *

Name (First and Last) *

What is your artistic concept for the show? *

How does your concept line up with PAE’s mission? *

How will you, the director, create a rehearsal space that inspires text based and collaborative work? *

Portland Actors Ensemble endeavors to cast young actors with potential in our productions, as well as seasoned actors. Do you have any experience teaching young actors, or have experience as an actor that would help in that regard? *

Although Portland Actors Ensemble (PAE) has a long history, this is only the second year of its current incarnation. We are looking for a director that wants to help contribute to the community-based ensemble environment that we seek to foster. With that in mind, are you potentially also interested in helping in other regards i.e. working with the company beyond simply directing, doing outreach, teaching a workshop? *

Portland Actors Ensemble has limited resources and prefers a more "bare bones" set design. How will your directing and casting choices bring out Shakespeare's text?

Are you comfortable with dealing with possible controversial or uncomfortable themes inherent in Shakespeare's work? Is there any content in As You Like It that you are specifically not interested in having in the production? If so, why?

What is your approach to the text itself? What would be moved or compressed, or go away? Is there extra material you would be bringing in?

Tell us about your communication style.

What has your experience been in having difficult conversations with a member of an artistic team or actor?

How do you communicate with an artistic team to bring out the best from each member in order to build a strong show?

How do you like to share and receive information? We want to foster clear and transparent communication from the start.

How will your experience as a director help you navigate the challenges of putting on a show in a city park, with unpredictable weather and unforeseen circumstances?