Hillsboro’s Bag&Baggage looking for new artistic director, as Nik Whitcomb resigns
Published 10:16 pm Friday, May 30, 2025
One of the more impactful artistic directors in the Portland area has moved on from his job.
Nik Whitcomb has resigned as artistic director at Hillsboro’s Bag&Baggage theater company.
Whitcomb is leaving to pursue a graduate degree in urban planning and to work in community engagement with TriMet, 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 transformative leadership.
“He championed daring repertory, forged new partnerships, and reintroduced downtown Hillsboro audiences to the joy of gathering for live performance. His warmth and vision strengthened our connection to the community, and we are profoundly grateful for everything he contributed onstage and off,” McCarthy said.
During his 2 1/2 years at the helm, Whitcomb curated seasons that blended classics with bold new voices, including the regional premiere of “Red Velvet,” the exuberant 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, deepened relationships with schools and civic groups, and showcased the company’s commitment to equity and inclusion.
Bag&Baggage 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. There are no plans to alter the 2025/2026 Season at this time.
