The Small Particulars

Joellen is a theatre artist, writer and teacher from Portland, Oregon. Her creative research focuses on environment; whether through whimsical, heartfelt writings, immersive and site-specific performance, or lush multi-layered vocal music, Joellen loves to create and support experiences that build connectedness between people and the natural world.

Recent theatre credits include work with Artists Repertory Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Shaking the Tree Theatre, Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble, Northwest Children's Theatre and Renegade Opera, with whom she is a Creative Company Member. She is also a co-founder of Bedrock Theatre, a performance collective that combines storytelling, live music and hiking in parks and wilderness areas, and an Advisory Board Member at The Verdancy Project.

Taking after her grandfather, Ben Sweeney, (who wrote a poem everyday) Joellen writes essays and poetry when she’s supposed to be doing other work. Her first poetry collection, The Small Particulars, will be published by Verdant Publishing in Fall of 2025.

Joellen earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Washington’s Professional Actor Training Program. She is also a proud alumna of Willamette University, the Third Rail Repertory Theatre Mentorship Program and the Shakespeare & Company Month-Long Intensive. When she is not at the theatre, Joellen enjoys singing, studying ocean science and hiking with her husband, Alec.