February 17–19 | Alberta House
Storytelling. Comedy. Community.
As a recollection of shared experiences passed across generations or an illuminating narrative that sparks empathy, our stories carry the strength to make less strangers within our world.
The Turnout will celebrate our Portland Black community while making connections across the diaspora—sharing, learning, and growing together through the power of story. February 17-19, 2023, in the heart of the Historic Alberta neighborhood, Broke Gravy and Alberta House will bring four nights of storytelling, improv comedy, and community—buoyed by intimate gatherings and workshops. Let’s all come together.
schedule
Friday, Feb 17 - Front Porch Sessions
This is not your typical storytelling show. We’ll feature three amazing storytellers talking about AUTHENTICITY—then in-between stories the audience gets a chance to share and discuss their truth. Our featured storytellers are Canada Taylor, Monique Johnson, and Rakeem Washington. Hosted by storytellers Marshall Goss and Chris Williams.
8pm (doors at 7:30pm)
Saturday, Feb 18 - Broke Gravy & Friends featuring The Big Team
We’re beyond excited to feature LA-based supergroup The Big Team (f/k/a White Women) back to PDX, after several sold out performances at the Stumptown Improv Festival. And yes, their members have starred and written for shows such as “New Girl”, “Loot”, “Grand Cru”, “A.P. Bio” and more. Nationally lauded, Portland-based comedy crew Broke Gravy (Portland Geniuses of Comedy, TEDxPortland) opens this night of hilarity. Hosted by comedians Leon Anderson and Eric Simons.
8pm (doors at 7:30pm)
Sunday, Feb 19 - Day of Learning + Workshops
Join us at the Historic Alberta House for a day of workshops. Please fill out the registration form of the workshop(s) you’re interested in by Saturday, Feb 18th at noon. Upon selection, you will be asked to pay the balance on your workshop fee, or your spot may be passed to an individual on the waitlist. Thank you for your interest, please check out our offerings below!
Exploring the Elements: Improv Workshop
Workshop Instructor: Ronnie Adrian (The Big Team)
There are so many elements that make up a good scene. As a workshop, we’re gonna pick 3. So come with an idea of something you want to work on (i.e. wanting to be a better voice of reason, a better gift giver, a better game player, etc.) and we’ll decide as a group. Come loose and ready to explore and learn.
This workshop will give preference to intermediate improvisers.
Sunday, February 19th at 11am
Sliding Scale: $30 - $40
workshops
FREE BIPOC Intro to Improv
Workshop Instructor: Eric Simons
This intro to improv comedy workshop is exclusive to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students! No experience necessary! Come as you are! This class will be a fun introduction to the Kickstand style of improv comedy. Learn how to be a better listener, how to “yes and'' your classmates, and how to hone your comedic voice—all in a fun and nonjudgmental space. Meet new people, stretch yourself creatively, and learn a new skill!
Sunday, February 19th at 11am
FREE
Collective Grief, Collective Resilience: Exploring Transformational Healing & Resisting Dominant Culture Narratives
Workshop Instructor: Canada Taylor
This session will explore collective and individual grief and its community impacts—while exploring ways to hold space for healing that are grounded in our experiences and community. We will share supportive tools to help us carry our grief, however it presents itself. Together we will examine ways to resist dominant cultural narratives about who gets to grieve, what we can grieve, how, and why and elevate our voices to change the narrative. This session will be interactive with individual and group activities to help participants leave the session with concrete ways to continue their own exploration and transformation.
Sunday, February 19 at 3pm
Sliding Scale: $20 - $40
Improv to Concept: From Suggestion to Conception and Beyond
Workshop Instructor: Steve Dukes
This workshop is for inventive, story-minded individuals. Actors, directors, writers, public speakers, and performers this course is for you. What better way to spend time together is there than playing improv? A better question: What better way to spend time together is there than developing characters, story building and examining scenes? We begin with scene initiation. I coach you through the steps I take to turn a simple suggestion into a brilliant scene with characters that we all fall in love with. Then we began creating character arcs following the natural evolution of the stories we create. By the end of the workshop most will leave with a fundamental understanding of how to create characters and stories using improv; how to continue exploring the depths of their creations indefinitely and how to develop organic content. From improv to sketch. From suggestion to conception, to wherever you want to take it.
Sunday, February 19 at 3pm
Sliding Scale: $20 - $40
The Turnout Improv Jam
Hosted by Ronnie Adrian
Calling all Portland improvisers! Come on down to the Historic Alberta House for The Turnout Improv Jam. This event is open to improvisers of all experience levels—and it’s a fantastic way to cap off a weekend of fun, laughter, and community. No need to register, just come on down!
Sunday, February 19 at 1:15pm
Free (Suggested Donation $5)
about
Historic Alberta House
As a Portland-based 501c3 nonprofit, we are committed to reaching and engaging voices from our community that have been disproportionately impacted by Oregon’s social, economic, and racial injustices. Surrounded by and intertwined with the reminders of a complex history marked by vibrancy, resiliency, and ingenuity, as well as racism, exclusion, and trauma, we open the doors of this historic building for the community to explore. While Alberta House is an event space intended for all, we focus on elevating voices that have struggled for many years to be heard.
Broke Gravy
We use improv comedy and storytelling to discover truth between the blurry lines of the daily grind. As three Black Americans, we utilize our unique voices to spark thoughtful conversations on and off comedy stages.
Through a candid dialogue, we exchange our experiences with those of our audience—exploring deeper perspectives on comedy, relationships, and humanity.
Also, we're funny AF.
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Thank you to our sponsors for The Turnout:
Portland Mercury + EverOut | Inn @ Northrup Station | KEX | Kickstand Comedy
