In 2008, the trio moved to Portland, filed paperwork to create “The Portland Playhouse”, posted audition notices for a play (with no venue secured), planned a wedding (with a venue), and moved in together. During the wedding speeches Michael said, “Now I know all of you are here because you love Brian and Nikki, and that’s really great. And you traveled all this way. But I’m the only one who plans to LIVE with them!”
Soon the trio were off and running. They built the scenery themselves, begged and borrowed everything else. The audiences sat on sofas scrounged from Craigslist and the street. The first night two people came. The second night… no one. But on closing night, 122 people crowded around the makeshift “stage,” sitting on cushions, speakers, and four people on a piano.