The Red Door Project

OUR HISTORY
Founded in 2011, The Red Door Project is an award-winning nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to using storytelling to bridge divides. Our work explores the complexities of social issues fostering dialogue that leads to meaningful change.

In 2016, we brought Hands Up: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments to Portland. This collection of autobiographical monologues, written in response to police shootings of unarmed Black men, was expected to run for just six performances. Instead, community and funder support turned it into a multi-year project, with nearly 70 performances across the Pacific Northwest.

To expand the conversation, we developed Cop Out: Beyond Black, White & Blue, based on interviews with police officers from diverse backgrounds. These monologues depict officers navigating the realities of their profession, their identities, and the communities they serve.

Building on this foundation, The Evolve Experience is now our core program. It presents filmed first-person narratives from police officers, judges, and community members, offering multiple perspectives on the justice system. Written, directed, and performed by professional artists, these stories provide a platform for deep reflection and meaningful discourse.