The Portland Civic Theatre Guild proudly presented Dorothy’s Dictionary by Portland playwright E.M. Lewis, who was this year’s recipient of the 2022 Portland Civic Theatre Guild New Play Award. The online production was a part of the 2022 Fertile Ground Festival of New-Works. We had a very successful run and are sincerely grateful for everyone who donated to watch our online production.
Here is what one audience member had to say:“Tonight, I had the immense pleasure of watching a beautifully produced reading of E.M. Lewis’s DOROTHY’S DICTIONARY presented by the Portland Civic Theatre Guild for the Fertile Ground Festival of New Works. What a beautiful play—two well-developed characters for whom I developed empathy and even love, a very precise and beautiful use of language, a compelling and intimate story! For a virtual reading, this offering was very well acted and directed with excellent sound and video quality because it was carefully edited. Micki Selvitella’s clear direction also makes this reading a joy to experience. It is no wonder that it won the Portland Civic Theatre Guild’s new play award! You can watch this play on demand throughout the festival online through February 6.” -Ronni Lacroute
E.M. Lewis (Author)
E.M. Lewis is an award-winning playwright and opera librettist, and a recipient of the Steinberg Award and Primus Prize from the American Theatre Critics Association. Her work has been produced around the world, published by Samuel French. She is currently the Mellon Foundation Playwright-in-Residence at Artists Repertory Theatre and a member of the Dramatists Guild.
Micki Selvitella (Director)
Micki Selvitella is a repeat offender with PCTG having directed: Crooked Numbers, Grand Junction, Humble Boy, and Artichoke. She is a Fulbright scholar (Taiwan), a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, and holds a MFA in directing from Ohio University. She is currently composing her first musical.
Benicio Delgado (Zan)
Benicio Delgado is a fourteen year old student at Tumwater Middle School. His passion for acting began at the young age of seven. His most recent appearance was as a Wickersham Brother/Cadet in Lovegood Performing Arts Company's production of Seussical. Ben is thrilled to be part of Dorothy's Dictionary!
Lori Van Dreal (Dorothy)
Lori Van Dreal has a BA in theatre and several commercial and short film credits. Her last favorite role was Madame Volange in Bag and Baggage's Dangerous Laisons. Prior to moving to Portland, she spent many years acting in Salem while running a high school drama program. After a sabbatical from theatre, Lori is thrilled to be back!
