Today we’d like to introduce you to Bag&Baggage Productions.
Hi Bag&Baggage, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Bag&Baggage Productions began over 20 years ago as a small, nomadic theater company. We performed Shakespeare classics at vineyards, campuses, and other outdoor spaces, carrying all of our props and costumes in suitcases, and thus in true Shakespearian fashion, “Bag&Baggage” was born.
In 2008, B&B began performing at The Venetian Theater in downtown Hillsboro. This became our home for many years, seeing us through smash hits, nationally acclaimed performances, and many years of bold and provocative theater. As Hillsboro’s only professional, non-profit theater company, we quickly became an anchor of the Downtown Hillsboro’s Arts and Culture district.
In 2017, we ran a Capital Campaign, and were finally able to acquire our own space! We retrofitted a historic bank building on Main St. in Downtown Hillsboro and turned it into “The Vault Theater and Event Space.” For nearly 10 years, we have created an amazing community space, not just for our own productions that bring the magic of live theater to thousands, but also serving as a space for other artists and performance groups in the area to perform and share their art. We also host parties, concerts, speaking engagements, and offer discounts on rental space to other non-profit friends.
Bag&Baggage celebrated 20 years of theater excellence in 2025, and we hope you will join us for our 2026/2027 season of shows! Bag&Baggage Productions makes ambitious, professional theatre in, and for, Hillsboro, Oregon, using the timeless power of live performance to build connection, spark conversation, and remind audiences that great storytelling belongs to everyone. From the first fireside tales to the grandest stages, stories have always been how people understand themselves and their place in the world. Our vision is a Hillsboro that eagerly answers that same ancient impulse by joining together in the dark of The Vault to tell each other who we are, where we came from, and what we can become together.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As with all arts organizations, especially those involved with live performance, Bag&Baggage was struck by the Covid-19 Pandemic in a big way. Even after so many years since the world went “back to normal”, theaters are some of the last businesses to recover. We saw a huge decline in theater attendees, and especially as the world becomes more and more costly, the issue of butts in seats is always a struggle. We are committed, however, to providing many accessible ticket options, so that as many people as possible can enjoy live theater!
Our 25/26 season was a particular challenge, as we faced going in to the season without an Artistic Director, and were looking at a recent history of extremely low ticket sales. At this point, Bag&Baggage made some big changes. Rather than searching for a new Artistic Director, the Board of Directors brought in a new team to act as an Artistic Leadership Committee. This committee consists of: Scott Palmer, Bag&Baggage’s Founding Artistic Director; Bianca McCarthy, the B&B Board Chair; Ephriam Harnsberger, Director of Operations; and Signe Larsen, Patron Relations Manager. This team brings institutional knowledge of the company’s twenty years of success back into the fold, and these four have been acting as a team leader for the artistic decisions of the company.
We made some serious changes to the 25/26 season, cutting several shows to save on budget, and choosing more popular titles that brought in much needed audiences. We took our season down to just three shows, with smaller casts and big name draws like A Tuna Christmas, which was a sold out success! The second half of our season saw incredible partnerships and co-productions with other local companies, such as STAGES Youth Performing Arts Academy, Third Angle New Music, and the Native Performing Arts Network.
We also ran our large “Bridge The Gap” fundraising campaign from September-December of 2025, and were able to raise over $80,000 to boost our coffers and head into the next season stronger and on more sure footing. We are so excited to be able to say that we have pulled through this difficult time, and though the world of the arts is never certain, we are so excited to be able to present another three play season for the 26/27 Season. We are encouraged by this upward momentum, and we hope to grow back to our historic standard of a 5 or even a 6 show season in the years to come.
We’ve been impressed with Bag&Baggage Productions , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Bag&Baggage Productions is a Non-profit theater located on Main Street in Downtown Hillsboro, Oregon. Our mission
is to make ambitious, professional theatre in, and for, Hillsboro, Oregon, using the timeless power of live performance to build connection, spark conversation, and remind audiences that great storytelling belongs to everyone. We hold ourselves and every collaborator to the highest professional standards, in the work we choose, the artists we hire, and the design of every production. We strive for excellence on and offstage!
We believe great storytelling belongs to everyone. We work actively to ensure that we remove barriers to access to the work we produce and present and we strive to radically welcome everyone into our shared space. We are accountable to Hillsboro; not just as an economic engine, but as a neighbor. We show up, we engage, we listen, and we let our community’s life inform our artistic choices.
If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to Bag&Baggage Productions, please visit our website at www.bagnbaggage.org. Bag&Baggage is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
We are so excited to announce that Bag&Baggage’s 26/27 Season “Back To Basics” Opens September 3rd! Bag&Baggage is going BACK, baby…back to basics, that is!
There’s a reason audiences fell in love with B&B and honestly, it’s not that complicated: smart takes on great stories, super talented performers, and a warm welcome to every person who walks through our doors. It’s simple really, and B&B never needed to be anything other than that! The 2026/2027 season embodies all of the things people love most about B&B: three great shows, including a beloved American classic; the return of our hugely popular Halloween show; and a cheeky, hilarious holiday story. Plus this season we are bringing back our Season Subscriptions, giving you more BAG for your buck! (See what we did there?)
26/27 is all about doing what we do best. Join us as we go back to basics, in true B&B style.
We kick off our season with Barefoot in the park by Neil Simon, directed by Jane Unger!
Marriage can be wonderful…but, as as newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter are about to discover, it can also be disastrously hilarious.
Neil Simon’s classic comedy has been delighting audiences for more than 60 years; 1,500+ Broadway performances, countless productions worldwide, and an unmatched legacy in the American theatre. Set in a fifth-floor walk-up in New York City (with no elevator, very important), it’s a play about love, compromise, and what happens when two people realize they just might be perfect for each other in every way except the ones that matter.
Fast, funny, and genuinely joyful. And a first for B&B! Barefoot in the Park is our debut production of a Neil Simon play. (We’ve been saving him for the right moment… This is it!) Barefoot in the Park previews September 3rd, and runs September 4th-10th. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm.
Now, our audiences have been asking us to bring back the Halloween show for years…. Be careful what you wish for.
For our Halloween show, we can’t wait for The Woman In Black by Stephen Mallatratt (based on the novel by Susan Hill), Directed by Ephriam Harnsberger
Stephen Mallatratt’s The Woman in Black has been terrifying audiences since its London debut in 1987 and is one of the most successful and terrifying shows in West End history. Based on Susan Hill’s beloved novel, it’s one of the most celebrated ghost stories ever staged: atmospheric, relentless, and the kind of theatrical experience that makes you question every shadow on your way to the car. Set in a remote English village, it follows a young lawyer unraveling the secrets of a recently deceased client and the vengeful presence that doesn’t want him to. Just two actors portray all the characters, leaning into what B&B’s performers do best.
Chilling, clever, and unforgettable. Halloween is back at Bag&Baggage…and we brought something with us. The Woman in Black runs October 15-November 1, 2026. All show schedules and ticket options can be found on our website!
Finally, we round out 2026 with Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) by Michael Carleton, James Fitzgerald & John K. Alvarez. If you loved A Tuna Christmas last December, then you will love the return of Director Mandy Khoshnevisan!
Three actors. 90 minutes. Every Christmas story ever written. What could possibly go wrong?
Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez’s gloriously unhinged Christmas comedy is exactly what it sounds like; A Christmas Carol. Rudolph. It’s a Wonderful Life. The Grinch. All of it, and more, crammed into a single evening by three increasingly desperate performers who absolutely, without question have bitten off more than they can chew. Rapid-fire parody, breakneck costume changes, and a festive frenzy that is Bag&Baggage doing the holidays the only way we know how: hilariously. Whether you love the holidays, love laughing at them, or both, this one’s for you. (It’s both, really. It’s for sure both.)
Production runs December 3rd-20th.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Bag&Baggage has a unique perspective on every show we produce. While we specialize in classical works such as American Classic plays, Shakespeare, and literary productions, we always put our own unique spin on these shows. We offer new and exciting adaptations for classic and modern play lovers alike. We fill a need for live, local theater to folks west of Portland. Our staff has decades of artistic experience producing Theatre, and we bring professional quality to all our productions.
We believe everyone deserves access to live theater, and we offer many accessibility options from ticket discounts including free tickets for Middle and High schoolers in Washington county and beyond, to ASL and Audio Described shows, and more! We can’t wait to see you at the theater soon.
Pricing:
- Standard General Admission $30
- Senior Discounts $28
- Season Subscriptions Discount
- Arts-for-all $5
- Passport Student Tickets $0
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bagnbaggage.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bag_n_baggage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bagnbaggage/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BagBaggage
- Other: https://bagnbaggage.app.getcuebox.com/o/SJ0K0BCF/shows
Image Credits
Photographer: Casey Campbell Photography.
