THE FLICK by Annie Baker Comes to Third Rail in January

Set in a run-down movie theater in central Massachusetts, home to one of the last 35 millimeter film projectors in the state, The Flick follows the hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking stories of Sam, Avery and Rose, three mismatched employees. As they sweep up popcorn, bitch about their bosses, and critique the films that play at their ill-attended cineplex, the trio's own funny and fraught dramas play out in the empty aisles. But unlike the films that flicker from the projection booth, these dramas have real-world consequences.

With Baker's finely-tuned ear for dialogue and her astute comic eye, The Flick is a laughter-filled cry for connection and authenticity.

As highlighted in The Flick, the digital technology hailed as the savior of cinema ushered the jobs of film projectionists out the door. Third Rail Company Members Scott Yarbrough and Isaac Lamb each worked for a time as a movie house projectionist, and have tales to share from their days and nights in the booth.

Third Rail is partnering with one of Portland's cinema treasures, the Hollywood Theatre, throughout the production of The Flick. We toured the iconic cinema, studied 16mm, 35mm and 70mm projectors owned by the theatre, and took video of the visit that we can share. Other events at the Hollywood and at Third Rail also are planned.

Third Rail seeks out plays with stories that encourage empathy and recognition of deeper ties. The Flick develops at a natural pace, with keenly observed and subtle portrayals reminiscent of Chekhov. The play is powerful in its ability to evoke conversations around the drama of everyday life.

The Flick explores the longing for things lost and those threatened to be left behind: the analog world, low-wage workers, people outside the dominant culture. Our production reflects discussions happening now in Portland, as the city grapples with issues of inclusion and preserving a sense of place and community under the pressure of growth.

Save the Date for The Doctors are In. On February 5, our Resident Dramaturgs Brian Myers and Ellen Walkley will host guest panelists for a discussion and Q and A on The Flick. Details to be announced.

The Playwright
Annie Baker, who The New York Times has called "one of the freshest and most talented dramatists to emerge Off Broadway in the past decade," grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her full-length plays include John (Signature Theatre); The Flick (Playwrights Horizons, 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Susan Smith Blackburn Award, Obie Award for Playwriting); Circle Mirror Transformation (Playwrights Horizons Obie Award for Best New American Play, Drama Desk nomination for Best New American Play); The Aliens (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Obie Award for Best New American Play); Body Awareness (Atlantic Theater Company, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for Best Play/Emerging Playwright), and an adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya (Soho Rep, Drama Desk nomination for Best Revival), for which she also designed the costumes.

Baker's plays have been produced at over 150 theaters throughout the U.S., and have been produced internationally in over a dozen countries. Other recent honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, Hull-Warriner Award, Steinberg Award, and the Cullman Fellowship at the New York Public Library.

A resident playwright at the Signature Theatre, Baker's new play, The Antipodes, will premiere in April 2017.

Third Rail Repertory Theatre Presents

The Flick
by Annie Baker

Directed by
Michael O'Connell

Cast: Isaac Lamb*, Rebecca Ridenour, Jonathan Thompson, and Jim Vadala

Dates: Jan 20 - Feb 11, 2017, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2pm.

Location: Third Rail Repertory Theatre, 17 SE 8th Ave., Portland, OR 97214

Tickets Available: By phone at 503-235-1101 or online at thirdrailrep.org.

Prices: Single tickets $25 - $42.50 (plus online service fees). Admission included for Third Rail Members (monthly fee of $29.33).

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