Space Basics: With non-traditional seating, including couches and side tables, this small black box theatre situated behind the Common Grounds Coffee Shop off Hawthorne Blvd is chic and intimate. The stage itself is a fairly true square, and is typically set up as a 3/4 thrust, with shared couch seating in the front and on the sides. 

Shows that will shine here: This is a great venue for a staged reading or workshop production that is ready to start playing around with lighting, sound, and/or projections. While the limited real estate both onstage and backstage make it less than ideal for large ensemble pieces (although they CAN work) or elaborate sets, its high quality projector and robust LED lighting inventory *do* allow Producers to present a fairly splashy and immersive audience experience.

This venue has street parking in the neighborhood and is wheelchair accessible. There are 2 all-gender restrooms in the coffee shop which are available for audience use. 

Additional Details:

• Audience capacity – 40
• Rental cost:
  • Shows up to 60 min – $150 per performance
  • Shows 61-90 min – $175 per performance
  • Shows 91-120 min – $200 per performance
  • Shows 121-150 min – $250 per performance
• Included in rental:
  • 1 hour of Venue & tech orientation + 2 hours of tech time time with The Back Door’s Technical Director, who will program cues for your show and provide a tutorial of how to operate lighting, sound, and projection equipment
  • Concessions sales (Producers do not receive any portion of the concessions revenue)
  • Limited storage space for set pieces/props
  • A backstage dressing room area that can accommodate approximately 8-10 people
  • Access to Fuse’s HD projector and screen
  • House plot with color-changing LEDs
  • Playback system which can connect to a laptop or phone
  • 2 music stands (the Festival can help you source more, though!)
• NOT included in rental:
  • Box Office Staff
  • Board Operators

Additional tech time may available to add on for $40/hr; additional tech must be scheduled by January 31, 2027 and will be billed with the balance of Venue payment.

More details about the space available on Fuse’s Rental page.

Space Basics: A cozy black box known for its rectangular shape, deep and narrow, earning it the previous moniker “the Shoebox.” This space has had a glow-up since its Shoebox days, with a comfortable (if small) lobby space, and comfortable stadium style seating in a proscenium configuration. The lighting inventory is less robust than the other Partner Venues, but more than adequate for full coverage of the small stage, and a few distinct looks.

Shows that will shine here: This is a fantastic space for projects that are light and lean – solo shows, small-cast workshops productions with fewer technical needs, and staged readings. This tends to be one of our more tightly programmed venues with minimal storage space, so it’s important that Producers who select this space have minimal set-up/breakdown needs. 

This venue has street parking in the neighborhood and is wheelchair accessible, though their wheelchair ramp is technically not ADA compliant. There are 2 all-gender restrooms in the lobby. 

Additional Details:

• Audience capacity – 40
• Total venue capacity – 49*
  *A Note on Building Capacity: 49 is the total capacity of the building, including actors, front of house, board op, etc. If your cast + production team totals more than 7 people, you will need to cap the audience at less than 40 so that there are never more than 49 people in the building at one time.
  
  
• Rental cost:
  • Shows up to 60 min – $150 per performance
  • Shows 61-90 min – $175 per performance
  • Shows 91-120 min – $200 per performance
  • Shows 121-150 min – $250 per performance
• Included in rental:
  • 1 hour of Venue & tech orientation + 2 hours of tech time with 21ten’s Technical Director, who will program cues for your show and provide a tutorial of how to operate lighting, sound, and projection equipment 
  • House manager
  • Concessions sales (Producers do not receive any portion of the concessions revenue)
  • Limited storage space for set pieces/props
  • 2 small dressing rooms that can accommodate 4-5 people total
  • Access to a projector and projection screen
  • House plot with limited number of color-changing LEDs
  • Playback system which can connect to a laptop or phone
  • 5 music stands (the Festival can help you source more, though!)
• NOT included in rental:
  • Box Office Staff
  • Board Operators

Additional tech time may available to add on for $40/hr; additional tech must be scheduled by January 31, 2027 and will be billed with the balance of Venue payment.

More details about the space available on 21ten’s Rental Page.

Space Basics: This mid-sized black box nestled in Portland State University’s Lincoln Hall building feels industrial and spacious, despite its medium-sized audience capacity. With those sweet, sweet university resources, the Boiler Room has a decent amount of storage space, ample dressing rooms, a tricked out lighting grid, projector, and an exceptional sound system. 

Shows that will shine here: This space will be mostly run by PSU student interns, which means a little less scheduling flexibility, but lots of great amenities. This space is designed for projects in an advanced workshop phase, ready to make use of the lighting and sound playground this venue has to offer. Producers applying for this venue should be prepared to commit to a minimum number of 4 performances. As our Partner Venue with the largest stage and greatest audience capacity, the Boiler Room will be a fantastic venue for larger casts, musicals, and shows of any size that are eager to incorporate more robust design elements.

This venue has paid street parking and nearby paid parking garages, and is wheelchair accessible. There are restrooms available in the lobby. 

Additional Details:

• Audience capacity – 64
• Total venue capacity – 86
• Stage dimensions: 34’ deep, 36’ wide
• Rental cost*
  *current PSU students and recent alum receive 10% off venue rent and priority venue placement in the Boiler Room
  • Shows up to 60 min – $200 per performance
  • Shows 61-90min – $250 per performance
  • Shows 91-120 min – $300 per performance
  • Shows 121-150min – $350 per performance

• Included in rental:
  • 1 hour of Venue & tech orientation + 2 hours of tech time with Boiler Room’s Technical Director who will program cues for your show and provide a tutorial of how to operate lighting, sound, and projection equipment 
  • Board Operator
  • House manager
  • Concessions sales (Producers do not receive any portion of the concessions revenue)
  • Limited storage space for set pieces/props
  • Large dressing room are that that can accommodate 12-15 people
  • Access to a large-scale projector
  • House plot with color-changing LEDs and moving light capabilities
  • Playback system connected to the house computer – audio files must be provided to Sound Board Operator to load into QLab program.
  • 5 music stands (the Festival can help you source more, though!)
• NOT included in rental:
  • Box Office Staff

Additional tech time may available to add on for $40/hr; additional tech must be scheduled by January 31, 2027 and will be billed with the balance of Venue payment.

The Boiler Room will be set up in a thrust stage configuration – see the groundplan here. For more details, check out the Boiler Room Equipment Inventory and the Boiler Room Tech Info Sheet (note – not all information on the Tech Info Sheet will apply to Fertile Ground rentals). Please do not contact PSU staff with questions about the space – reach out to FertileGround@portlandtheatre.com