About the Artists
Between them, these artists have spent decades on Portland's stages, from Artists Repertory Theatre and Portland Center Stage to the Edinburgh Fringe. Now they've come together to bring a brand-new story to life for you. Get to know the people you'll be sharing the room with.
Val Landrum
Playwright / Co-Producer / Emily
Val is a theatre artist committed to the theory of Ensemble and inspired by the diverse community that live theatre brings. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she benefited from training at such renowned institutions as Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Second City. Val has called Portland home for 20 years and has worked at Portland Center Stage, Profile Theatre, Portland Playhouse, Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Oregon Children’s Theatre and CoHo Productions. She was Resident Artist Company Member at Artists Repertory Theatre for over a decade, appearing in more than 20 productions and workshopped her play Trubador as part of their Mercury Company.
Her most recent credits include the Fig in Forbidden Fruit at Shaking the Tree and Amy in Stefan Feuerherdt’s 21 New Messages, which ran at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025. She occasionally does TV and film, directs, teaches and dialect coaches. Val lives on a floating home with Chris, Darby, Ginsby and Bugger the Dumpster Kitty. She is continually grateful for live theatre audience members and the artists who create stories for them to witness.
Chris Harder
Co-Producer / George
Chris is an actor, director and producer with more than 25 years of experience in Portland and beyond, and a deep commitment to developing new plays. He grew up in Wisconsin, earned a degree in Dramatic Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and trained in Meisner technique with Barry Hunt, as an ensemble member at Sowelu Theater, and studied at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA. A seven season Resident Artist with Artists Repertory Theatre, he has also worked at Portland Center Stage, Portland Playhouse, Profile Theatre, CoHo Productions and Third Rail Repertory Theatre.
A frequent participant in new play development, he received awards for outstanding performance and toured his work to the Edmonton and Boulder Fringe festivals. In 2025 he directed 21 New Messages for the Edinburgh Fringe. His film and TV credits include Restless, Grimm and Leverage. He taught Meisner technique and directed graduation showcases at The Actors Conservatory, and he continues to teach and coach actors in Portland.
Adam John Roper
S.M. Simeon
Adam (He/Him) holds a BFA in Theatre from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, having trained at the Stella Adler Studio and the Experimental Theatre Wing. Most recently, Adam was seen onstage in Marsha Blovotnik and the Marvelous Magical Chicken Soup at Artists Repertory Theatre. Other recent regional stage credits include Mr. Sowerberry in Oliver!, Cocky in The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, Jasper in The Inheritance, Chiron in The Lightning Thief, Bradley in Five Golden Rings, and Florizel in The Winter’s Tale.
Offstage, Adam stays active with CrossFit, teaches yoga, and works as a licensed Realtor with Knipe Realty. He extends heartfelt gratitude to the creative team for this wonderful collaboration, and to his loved ones for their constant support.
Connect on Instagram @adam.john.roper82 or visit www.adamjohnroper.com.
Dani Baldwin
Director
Dani is the Education Director at Shaking the Tree Theatre, as well as a director, actor, costume and prop designer, and improviser. For many years she was a central artist at Oregon Children’s Theatre, where she served as Artistic Director of the Young Professionals Company, a nationally recognized, college-level training program for teen artists.
Her production of A Year with Frog and Toad won multiple awards, including Outstanding Production of a Musical. Recent directing credits include This Property Is Condemned at Shaking the Tree and The K of D: An Urban Legend at OCT. She is grateful to Val for the chance to direct Up the Hill and honored to work with its remarkable cast.
Stefan Feuerherdt
Foley Artist / Tech Director
Stefan is a writer, actor and producer based in Portland. His plays include 21 New Messages, which premiered at Fertile Ground Festival and played the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025, and Tethered (2026).
His theatre work includes Spark Plug Theatre Collective, Mask & Mirror Theatre, The Bar(d) Party and Post5 Theatre, and he has held leadership roles with the Willamette Writers Conference and Oregon Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. He is thrilled to renew his collaboration with Val and to join this talented team.
Come See What We've Created Together
Live theatre is made for you, the audience. Join us for Up the Hill and be among the first to witness this brand-new story.
Tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, Sowelu Dramatic.
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