Associate Artists
So much of the work we do at From the Ground UP is in collaboration with our rich team of associate artists. This stunning group of artists works directly with our Artists in Residents as the imagine and create their emerging new works!
“If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.”
Emily Newton
Emily June Newton is an international comedic performer originally from Australia, now based in Portland, Oregon. Known for her eccentric, fully embodied characters and dynamic audience interaction, Emily’s work pushes the boundaries between performer and spectator. Her signature creations include Frank (the world’s most entertaining entertainer), Pat McKensie (Australia’s self-appointed Cultural Ambassador), The Rat King, and The Bard (Mike Bennett Studios).
Emily has performed nationally and internationally with acclaimed companies such as Terrapin Puppet Theatre (AUS), Oregon Children’s Theatre (USA), CoHo Productions (USA), The Children’s Art Theatre of China (CHN), and Dell’Arte International (USA).
Described as “comedic gold” by Broadway World and a “standout clown” by The Mercury PDX, Emily holds an MFA in Ensemble-Based Physical Theater from Dell’Arte International. She is the co-artistic director of the CoHo Clown Cohort, faculty at the Institute of Contemporary Performance (PETE), and a proud member of the Portland chapter of Fou Fou Ha, San Francisco’s premier burlesque clown troupe.
To Learn More about Emily’s work CLICK HERE
Asteria Howard
Asteria got her dance start at the age of 3 in a small rural one room dance studio in Northern Michigan. As she grew, she started commuting one hour each way to study at Dance Arts Academy in Traverse City Michigan, where she also started teaching at the age of 17. Asteria obtained her dance degree from Northwestern Michigan College in a modern dance concentration, then took her skills around the globe where she worked in performing arts schools and dinner theaters across Australia and New Zealand. She has been a movement educator for 18 years now and has made it her mission to make dance accessible for all bodies.
When Asteria came back to the states, she landed in Portland on a one way ticket that was supposed to last 3 months. 6 years later, she continues to coach dance and aerial in the Portland Metro Area. Asteria can also be seen performing around venues from coast to coast as a burlesque and pole artist. She is currently the General Manager of the Dance Center at BodyVox where she manages, educates, and cultivates a community for dancers of all levels and abilities to access the joy of dance. You can stay up to date on Asteria’s whereabouts on Instagram at @asteriaatombomb or on her website www.asteriaatombomb.com.
Megan Wilkerson
Megan Wilkerson is a professional Scenic Designer & Educator. Her Design work has been recognized by The Chicago Tribune, The Oregonian, The Austin Critics Circle, and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Regionally Megan has worked with The Seattle Rep, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Orpheus PDX, The Skylight Opera, First Stage Children's Theatre, The Michigan Opera Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Portland Center Stage and the Portland Opera.
Megan has taught a range of design and theatre courses in Portland and around the country including the Michigan State, The University of Wisconsin, Lewis & Clark and Portland State.
Megan is also an Art Director for advertising and film as well as an Educator. She and her husband own and run Pairings Portland Wine Shop & Bar where Megan exercises her sense of humor and fun on marketing natural wine to folks who would never try it otherwise.
Megan is a resident artist at Artists Repertory Theatre and a proud member of United Scenic Artists, the union of professional designers for live entertainment. To see more of Megan’s work visit meganwilkerson.com
Carlos-zener Trujillo
Carlos-Zenen Trujillo is a Latine theatre artist from Bejucal, Cuba. Carlos’ written work includes: The Island in Winter and Our Utopia (Bag&Baggage Productions); Sirena (Portland Center's JAW Festival); Christmas, Contigo (Oregon Cabaret Theatre; Teatro de las Americas; TheatreWorks Tampa); Conchita (a play about a dog) and WILD/CAUGHT (Artist Repertory Theatre); The Image of the Black Madonna and Abundancia (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); The Long White Line (LimeArts Productions) and Queen of Deseret (FUSE's OUTWright Festival). They have worked as a Dramaturg for several local theatres including Bag&Baggage, Advance Gender Equity in the Arts, Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre and others. They are an ordained babalocha in Regla de Ocha and served as a Lucumi Religious Consultant for Dear Dead Drug Lord (Washington Ensemble Theatre; CRAVE Theatre) and The Brothers Size (Portland Center Stage). They were a 2019 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) ASPIRE Leadership Fellow, a member of ART’s 2022-2024 PATHWAYS Cohort, a 2020 KCACTF Directing Fellow, a cohort member at 2021 Ashland New Plays Festival New Voices Retreat and a participant in the 2021 Maria Irene Fornés Playwriting Workshop. They received the 2019 John Cauble Award for Artistic Leadership and the KCACTF Certificate of Merit in Dramaturgy for their work on The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Carlos-Zenen holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Southern Oregon University with specializations in Performance, Direction and Dramaturgy. They hold a degree in Culinary Arts from the Northwest Culinary Institute and are a certified home care worker with the state of Oregon.
"Art is not a mirror to reflect the world, but a hammer with which to shape it." -Bertolt Brecht
To Learn More about Carlos and their work CLICK HERE