HILLSBORO, ORE.: Bag&Baggage Productions has announced that producing artistic director Nik Whitcomb will conclude his tenure with the company in June. Whitcomb is leaving to pursue a graduate degree in urban planning and to work in community engagement with Trimet, Portland, Ore’s public transit agency, deepening his lifelong commitment to public service.
“Leaving Bag&Baggage was not an easy decision, but it is the right one for my personal and professional growth and for the long-term health of the organization,” Whitcomb wrote in his resignation letter. “Bag&Baggage welcomed me exactly as I am, honored my ideas, and helped me discover the best version of myself. I walk away grateful, inspired, and confident in the company’s future.”
Board president Bianca McCarthy thanked Whitcomb for his leadership, saying in a statement, “He joined us in the wake of the pandemic and reignited our artistic spirit. He championed daring repertory, forged new partnerships, and reintroduced downtown Hillsboro audiences to the joy of gathering for live performance.”
During his two-and-a-half years at the helm, Whitcomb curated seasons blending classics with bold new voices, including the regional premiere of Red Velvet, an outdoor staging of Tartuffe on the Civic Center Plaza, and the launch of the Native Theater Project with the original work Diné Nishłį (I am a Sacred Being). He also established the Hillsboro Youth Performance Ensemble, a paid training program that gives local teens hands-on experience in every facet of production. These initiatives broadened Bag&Baggage’s audience and deepened relationships with schools and civic groups.
The board of directors is meeting to determine next steps, including exploring a range of artistic leadership models, and will share additional information about the company’s artistic future soon.
Bag&Baggage is Hillsboro’s professional theatre company and a cornerstone of the city’s Cultural Arts District. For two decades, the company has aimed to produce bold, thought-provoking work that reflects the vitality and diversity of Washington County. As of 2024, its budget was around $708,000.
