Project Highlight: Dr. Lezlie Cross’s “Where is Home?”

Faculty fellow Dr. Lezlie Cross will soon kick off her PRF project, titled “Where Is Home?” The project, inspired by the living newspapers of the depression-era Federal Theatre Project, addresses and exposes historic and current housing inequity in Portland. After the unjust deaths of Breonna Tayler and George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Cross wanted to connect her work at UP with the important events unfolding across the nation and in our local community. Cross, who teaches theater history, dramaturgy, and playwriting, decided to use what she knew—theater—to help spread awareness about the issue of systemic racism in America and its specific manifestations in Portland’s housing crisis (read more about the issue here). She created “Where is Home?” in response. A collaboration with student actors, researchers, stage managers, and designers, the documentary production guides audiences through issues of displacement and possible action in their own communities.

“Where is Home?” will be performed live via Zoom on Friday, November 13th and Saturday, November 14th, 7:30-9:30 PST.

Attend the performance on Facebook Live.