We recently connected with Jen Rowe and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. undefined

Yes

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi there! I’m Jen Rowe—actor, director, producer, and the Founding Executive Director of The Theatre Company (TTC) in Portland, Oregon. My journey into the world of performance began in the countryside just outside of Fresno, California, where I was raised by two educators amidst orange trees and rolling hills. At the age of seven, I wrote, directed, and starred in my first play, casting my cousins as the ensemble and charging tickets to family members. Making plays and films with my siblings set an early spark which ignited a lifelong passion for storytelling and theater.

Over the years, I’ve worn many hats in the performing arts, from acting and directing to producing. My work spans stage and screen, with a focus on creating thought-provoking experiences that resonate with audiences. I believe in the power of storytelling to transform spaces and communities, which led me to establish The Theatre Company in 2019. But more importantly I believe that the spaces that exist in our communities have everything we need to tell a good story. Which let me to establishing the unique model of The Theatre Company.

At TTC, our mission is to enliven our community by transforming found spaces with bold, theatrical endeavors. We partner with local businesses across Portland to serve as venues for our productions, strengthening our ties to the community and supporting fellow local enterprises. Our past productions include Capax Infiniti at The Center For Native Arts and Cultures, The Broken Heart Spread at Psychic Sister, The Moors and Vinegar Tom at The Hallowed Halls, California at ADX, among others. Each project is a collaborative effort that blends story, space, and spectacle to create unique theatrical experiences.

What sets me apart is my commitment to creating work that is both artistically compelling and community-driven while also being the leader in the labor of making the projects happen. I serve my community of artists by being the first one in and last one out of every project. Because I have experienced a history of harm in the local theater community in Portland, which has been a tough education, I now have a set of values that are clearly defined when it comes to collaborating with others.

I take pride in developing intimate productions that challenge conventions of form and invite audiences to engage with the more universal questions in life that transcend societal constructs. Whether it’s a solo performance or a large-scale production, or a film, my goal is to craft experiences that leave a lasting impact while educating audience members of spaces and businesses they may never have encountered otherwise.

One of my proudest achievements is the continued development of Ground Stability, a project I have been working on for almost a decade which gathers its content from numerous conversations I have facilitated with women in regards to their shared and differing experiences with women’s health and legislation in America.

If you’re interested in collaborating, attending a performance, or simply want to learn more about my work, feel free to reach out via hellojenrowe@gmail.com or explore more at hellojenrowe.com and thetheatreco.org. Let’s create something extraordinary together!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think what’s helped me build a reputation in my market is a mix of consistency, collaboration, and a deep respect for both the craft and the community I work in. I’ve always been someone who says yes to the work—especially when it’s meaningful, challenging, or a little scary. That willingness to show up fully, whether as an actor, director, or producer, has opened a lot of doors and built a lot of trust.

I also think people respond to integrity. I care about how a thing gets made just as much as what it becomes. That means creating rehearsal rooms that are kind, productions that are thoughtful, and partnerships that feel mutual. Whether it’s directing a site-specific show with The Theatre Company or performing in a high-stakes scene on set, I bring a level of rigor, curiosity, directness and care that people remember.

And honestly? Word of mouth. In Portland and beyond, I’ve been lucky to work with some really generous, talented folks who’ve vouched for me, invited me into rooms, and said, “You should call Jen.” That kind of reputation—the one that’s built person to person, project to project—is the kind I value most.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One of the most defining moments in my journey—and one that tested my resilience in ways I hadn’t expected—came just days before filming Capax Infiniti, the first film I was set to direct. I had co-founded The Theatre Company with someone I deeply trusted, someone I had just supported through the creation of his first film. But three days before we rolled cameras, he quit the company.

It was soul-crushing. I wasn’t just losing a collaborator—I was losing a partner, a co-dreamer, someone I had built this entire foundation with. Suddenly, I wasn’t leaping into this major milestone with a trusted creative beside me. I was going it alone.

And still, I did it.

We filmed over four days and it went seamlessly. But once the adrenaline wore off, I had to really ask myself if I wanted to keep going. I had never set out to run a company solo. I had always leaned on collaboration to help bring visions to life. Carrying the full creative and administrative weight myself was draining, and I thought about quitting—honestly—all the time.

But I also knew what a privilege it was to have a platform like an established nonprofit arts organization. I knew there was more I wanted to say, more I could give. So I dug in. White-knuckled it at times. And I kept going.

That was four years ago. Since then, I’ve produced ten more short films, staged two live shows—both of which had sold-out runs and remounts—and I’m now touring my one-woman show. Through it all, I’ve learned how critical it is to choose collaborators who are the right fit, not just talented but aligned in values and vision. And I’ve also learned that while working in community is beautiful and essential, sometimes you have to walk through the fire alone to become the version of yourself who can lead, create, and thrive on the other side.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thetheatreco.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetheatreco/
• Other: www.hellojenrowe.com
  @hellojenrowe