The Search For The Signs Of Intelligent Life In The Universe
by Jane Wagner
March 14th - March 30th, 2025
Thursday - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
​The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe is a thought-provoking and wildly comic one-woman play that masterfully blends sharp character-driven humor with deep philosophical questions.
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A dynamic mix of satire, social commentary, and heartfelt reflection, the play introduces us to a dozen unforgettable characters, each brimming with idiosyncrasies. Among them: Trudy, a bag lady tapped into humanity’s collective consciousness; Paul, an iron-pumping gym rat and wistful sperm donor; and a trio of women whose lives have diverged in unexpected ways since their early days in the feminist movement.
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More than just a time capsule reflecting the social and political reverberations of past decades, Jane Wagner’s award-winning play explores a grander, more intricate narrative—one of profound interconnectedness. It asks the big question: What exactly holds our peculiar, captivating species together?
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Starring: Brooke Totman in this acting tour de force
Directed by: Samantha Van Der Merwe (Artistic Director, Shaking the Tree Theatre)
TRAILER
CAST & CREW
Starring Brooke Totman
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Samantha Van Der Merwe | Director
Tyler Buswell | Set Designer
Mojo McCoy | Stage Manager
Jane Wagner | Playwright
Ted Rooney | Producer
Brooke Totman | Costumes
Luc Allison | Lighting Designer​​
SAMANTHA VAN DER MERWE | Director
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Samantha Van Der Merwe has lived in the United States for 28 years, and is the founding Artistic Director of Shaking the Tree Theatre in Portland, OR. Founded in 2003, Shaking the Tree Theatre is known for melding the boundaries of theatre and visual art by presenting thrilling and unconventional theatrical experiences. Samantha is a proud member of SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society). Directing projects include: The Antipodes (Annie Baker), The Brother and the Bird (Alissa Nutting/Brothers Grimm), Blood Wedding (Federico García Lorca), Forbidden Fruit (Conceived by Samantha Van Der Merwe), Fucking A (Suzan-Lori Parks) Chick Fight (Devised/words by Sara Jean Accuardi), Family (Celine Song), REFUGE (Art Installation/Devised), BAKKHAI (Euripides/Anne Carson), Escaped Alone (Caryl Churchill), _____ the wolf (devised), SALT (devised), Macbeth (William Shakespeare), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Bertolt Brecht), Miss Julie (August Strindberg, adapted by Craig Lucas), Head. Hands. Feet. (Devised & Edna O’Brien), A Doll's House (Henrik Ibsen, adapted by Frank McGuinness), Passion Play (Sarah Ruhl), Suddenly Last Summer (Tennessee Williams), Masque of the Red Death (Featuring Playwrights West), One Flea Spare (Naomi Wallace), Wilde Tales (Oscar wilde, adapted by Karin Magaldi), Far Away (Caryl Churchill), The Tripping Point (Featuring Playwrights West).
Tyler Buswell | Set Designer
TYLER BUSWELL (Set Designer) is a proud drag queen (IG: @donatellanobodyplease), actor, scenic designer and educator based in Portland. Over the last decade, he has designed for Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland Opera, Theatre Vertigo, Bag&Baggage, 21Ten, Corrib, Pride Northwest, Renegade Opera and many more. He has 13 BroadwayWorld Award nominations for Outstanding Scenic Design, including several here in the old Shoebox! He was also featured recently in American Theatre Magazine’s “People to Watch” in the PNW. Upcoming projects include Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at Portland Playhouse and Chris Grace as Scarlett Johannsen at PCS. He currently teaches technical theatre at Northwest Academy and would like to thank his incredible students for inspiring him daily and his amazing husband, David Saffert!
Brooke Totman | Performer
Brooke Totman is happy to be back at the 21ten Theatre, where she was last seen in Laughing Wild. Brooke holds a degree in Theatre from the University of Oregon and was a member of The Groundlings Sunday Company in Los Angeles. During her time in L.A, Brooke was a featured cast member on the television show, MadTV. Other selected film and stage credits include: King of Queens (CBS), Less Than Perfect (ABC), Documentary Now! (IFC), Judging Amy (CBS), Life After First Failure (The CW), Portlandia (IFC), Detroit (Portland Playhouse), Almost Maine (Coho Theatre) On The Verge (Main Stage Theatre) Lion in the Streets (Arena Theatre) Seascape with Sharks and Dancer (Lord Leebrick Theatre) and Matt & Ben (21ten). Brooke is also an acting teacher and coach, and founder of the Brooke Totman Acting Studio.
brooketotman.com
Patrick Nims | Sounds & Projections
Patrick Nims has directed and designed projections for over 75 productions and currently splits his time between Portland and the SF Bay. Most recently Pat directed KINKY BOOTS, CABARET, TINDERELLA (BWWORLD Best Director and Best Musical), WEST SIDE STORY and URINETOWN for Stumptown Stages, LIZZIE, KINKY BOOTS, SWEENEY TODD and OLIVER for 6th Street Playhouse, THE HUMANS for Novato Theatre Company and CRIMES OF THE HEART for Ross Valley Players (both TBA recommended). Favorites include COMPANY (TBA Best Production), DROOD, PETER & THE STARCATCHER, THIS IS OUR YOUTH, HEATHERS (BWWORLD Best Director and Best Musical), SPRING AWAKENING, IN THE HEIGHTS, CYRANO DE BERGERAC, and INTO THE WOODS (NYA Best Director). Pat thanks Marina for her incredible love, patience and inspiration.
