In order to love somebody else, you have to love yourself first. That’s what her mother once told her when she was 8 years old. Thirty years later, Andrea wonders, was she right? The self help gurus affirm it too! In order to find The One, you not only have to love yourself, but fall madly in love with yourself! Oh God…. In The One, multidisciplinary performer Andrea Parson grapples with the notion of self love in an effort to find that special and elusive someone. A romantic partner, herself, something of the spiritual and unseen world, or maybe The One is sitting right in front of her! Or maybe it’s a mangy cat who goes by the name of Couts.

Through evocative movement, storytelling, and a clown sensibility, Andrea juxtaposes her modern day search for love with images of a 14th century medieval anchoress. Who? You know, those radical women who lived enclosed inside a small cell attached to a church as a bride of Christ. For real! Based on feedback and reflection from its initial performance in Portland this past summer, Andrea has used the Surel's Place residency to reimagine how she can tell her own autobiographical story through the further development of the Anchoress (whom she's named Anna).

Andrea invites the audience to join her as she weaves through a new revision of her show- in and out of a sacred, comedic and personal reflection about love and loving.

Andrea is also leading a workshop on Solo Embodied Storytelling at Surel's Place on Saturday, Feb 21st.

BIOGRAPHY

Andrea Parson (OR) is a multidisciplinary theater artist born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Andrea pursued dance training at the Joffrey Ballet School, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a BA in Dance in 2009. Following graduation, she joined Northwest Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, where she was awarded the Princess Grace Dance Fellowship in 2010. Over 11 years with the company, she performed nationally and internationally, garnering acclaim for her portrayal of dramatic characters such as Hedda Gabler and Carmen.

Now based in Portland, Andrea creates and performs original solo and ensemble work that merges contemporary dance, physical theater, storytelling, and humor. Her recent award -winning solo, You Can’t Be Serious, was presented at BodyVox Dance Center (2023), Oregon Fringe Festival (2024), and Hollywood Fringe Festival (2024). Andrea presented You Can’t Be Serious at the Fall United Solo Festival 2024 in New York City where she received an award for best physical theater.