The Santa Cruz and Monterey Branch
and Camphill California

Laurie Portocarrero

The Soul’s Probation: Engaging with the Second Mystery Drama

A Workshop Preview

Thursday, April 3, 7:00 PM

Paloma Hall
4096 Fairway Drive, Soquel

Ever wanted to plumb the mysteries of the forces that pull us back and forth between soul poles, between inflated self-importance and cold hardness, between hate and fear, self-pride and self-doubt? Felt a yearning toward that elusive place of balance between the extremes, a feeling of deep strength and Beingness that meets us there in the middle?

Ever wonder about our relationship to karma and to reincarnation?

Love the dramatic arts? Devoted to the study of Anthroposophy?

All of these and much more come together in the four unique ‘mystery’ dramas written by Rudolf Steiner These plays have been performed, studied, and lectured about since he wrote them in the early 1900’s, again and again shedding light on our lives and relationships and paths of self-developments now. Since 2020 actress Laurie Portocarrero, who played Maria in all four mystery dramas, has been leading experiential weekend workshops in Sacramento, LA, and Upstate New York, exploring and moving with the participants through an entire play with the tools of the dramatic arts.

The weekend of April 4, she will lead such a mystery drama workshop here, open to participants of all backgrounds and experience. (For details on the workshop, see here.) Thursday evening (April 3) Laurie will give a picture of the upcoming workshop, and speak a little bit about these remarkable plays. This evening event is open to all, including those wanting to learn more about the weekend, or those unable to attend but still wishing to make contact with this work or just interested in the Mystery Dramas.

Laurie Portocarrero is an actor, storyteller, drama teacher and director living in upstate New York. She has trainings in the Chekhov method of acting, Spacial Dynamics, and speech formation, having studied and taught movement, drama and speech in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. A long-time associate member of The Actors’ Ensemble, Walking the Dog Theater, and Threefold Mystery Drama Group, she has been seen in many productions ranging from Shakespeare to Thornton Wilder to Kahlil Gibran, as well as playing Maria in Rudolf Steiner’s four mystery dramas. Laurie tours widely with colleague Glen Williamson in their two-person pieces, including the original script, Fire in the Temple, and played Marie Steiner in the September 2023 full production of Fire in the Temple.

Open to all, donations are welcome.