Nestled in the heart of the Applegate Valley, just outside of Ruch, Oregon, the happy, little winery of LongSword rests and it is there where Southern Oregon's newest, burgeoning theatre company holds its productions. The theatre is Wanderlust Theatre Company and was founded by Jessica "Jae" Unker, Nathan Green, and Kate Vangeloff. Still in their infancy as a production company, however, these three are no stranger to the professional theatre world, having been in and out of the realm across the country in a variety of means, from acting, marketing, to directing.
In 2019, they launched their first production with "Neverland", an original adaptation of the classic story of Peter Pan. Wanderlust asserts its difference in Southern Oregon from other theatres because not only is it held in the natural, rural environment but the actor and audience voyage together through the landscape, touching in a very real way the story. Together, the actor and the audience are joined in the immediacy of the story unfolding, in a fashion that is truly up close and personal, dynamic and alive, leaving no room for complacency.
This summer 2021 they will birth their second production with an original adaptation of "Dracula", starring Kate Vangeloff as Dracula and directed by Nathan Green and Madeline DeCourcey. A delightfully talented, passionately committed, and ethically minded cast rounds out the story with equally passionate and dedicated crew. Three different sets will help to birth the story as audiences travel between as the story unfolds. Look for such rising and upcoming Southern Oregon talent as Jessica "Jae" Unker, Kate Southern, Nathan Green, Abby Brown, Amelia Rose, RuRu Painter, Raven J. Slayton, Brandon Kinsey, Andrew McGill, Tim Coatney, Tiffany Schechter, Elle Schechter, and Tasia Simon.
Wanderlust Theatre Company prides itself on being a company resting between community theatre and professional theatre, perhaps, "professional community" is an apt description. The heart of the founders is to inspire and educate amateur actors on what it means to truly be professional, working actors while staying true to the core of creativity and art. Thus, the artistic creation and helping to inspire connection within the community is vastly more important than notoriety and fame.
As I sat down with Jae Unker at the Dracula auditions, she told me that what they look for in an actor are those willing to play, to give of themselves freely and with full commitment, and to come alongside the rest of the cast in a true familial ensemble.
To reflect on the idea of the thriving artist, Jae believes that to thrive is to be fully alive and to abide constantly within your art, no matter the circumstance, to be truly exploring, sharing, and helping to inspire growth and change through creativity in their community and the greater reality.
Wanderlust Theatre Company's Dracula opens June 11, 2021 and runs through July 18, 2021. For more information on WTC, head over to:
https://www.facebook.com/wanderlusttheatreOR
The Dracula Production team, (l to r), Kate Southern, Madeline DeCourcey, Sharif Abdulrahman, Kate Vangeloff, and Nathan Green.
