Oregon Cultural Trust donate
Theater

For stories published before 2018, visit our archive site.

Theater Subcategories
DramaWatch

Remembering August Wilson

As a new biography hits the book stands, Seattle theater critic Misha Berson recalls her own interactions with the late, great American playwright.

DramaWatch: Our Town, the new Utopia

Bag & Baggage’s “Our Utopia” riffs on themes from Thornton Wilder’s classic. Plus openings, closings, and Bill Rauch’s debut with the new Perelman Center in New York.

DramaWatch: 52 ways to meet your lover

The heady shuffle of “52 Pick-Up” extends its winning hand. Plus: Good news/bad news in Oregon theater, CoHo Clown Festival, a little Sondheim music, openings and closings.

DramaWatch: Ted Rooney’s deck of cards

In a tiny Southeast Portland space, a lean and lively actors’ theater is emerging. Up next, “52 Pick-up.” Also: openings and last chances.

DramaWatch: Where have all the audiences gone?

“The fundamentals of the economy are getting stronger, but people are still skittish” – and theater companies are suffering for it. Plus: Anonymous Theatre plays Pirate.

Artists Rep suspends its ’23-24 season

Financial problems stemming in part from the pandemic, an expensive construction project, lack of expected state funding and a national slump in theater attendance force a drastic step.

Cinderella story: Once more, with spirit

Broadway Rose’s production of the Rodgers + Hammerstein musical adds a light touch of depth to some scintillating singing and knockout costumes.

At OSU, a little laughter and romance

In Corvallis, the traditional summer Bard in the Quad opens outdoors with Shakespeare’s sharp-witted “Much Ado About Nothing” – and a slightly altered location.

Letter from Seattle: A theatrical shakeup

New faces in key places, final chapter for the lamented Book-It Rep, a little Jeeves and Wilde, and some Wagner at the opera keep the summer unsettled but hopping.

Nik Whitcomb, Hillsboro’s new bag man

As Bag & Baggage performs “Red Velvet,” his first directing show as the theater’s artistic director, the Omaha and New York transplant creates a tight bond with his new home town.

DramaWatch: Six sassy singing wives

Henry VIII’s wives take the stage in Portland in the musical “Six”; Bag&Baggage’s “Red Velvet,” Box of Clowns, stinky cheese, Shakespeare in Elgin, time out for kids’ shows, more.

DramaWatch: Send in the Clown Cohort

CoHo’s clowns tie a twister by the tail. Plus: a jukebox musical at Lakewood, a sketch comedy festival, Astoria’s “performathon,” seasons’ greetings, throwing the dice on “Six.”

Whirling divas at The Reser

Life is a cabaret: Poison Waters and a bevy of drag stars dress up, feel their Pride, light the lights, and put on a show.

DramaWatch: Comedy from the Gods

Clackamas Rep brings the ancients romping into the present. Plus: Broadway Rose’s “Dreamcoat,” new leader at Artists Rep, farewell to Book-It Rep and Sheldon Harnick, more.

DramaWatch: The (true) magic of theater

A little razzle-dazzle from “Shazam!,” PlayWrite’s 24-hour play fest, circus for Cutie, Cheryl Strayed in Astoria, Bill Rauch’s big adventure, last chance for a fistful of good shows.

A ‘Midsummer’ to dream about

Review: Portland Center Stage’s fresh take on Shakespeare’s comedy is a nimble, playful, genderfluid, and not at all didactic delight.

DramaWatch: Son of the American Dream

Profile’s “How to Make an American Son” tells a generational family tale. Plus: Duffy Epstein & friends head for “California,” openings, closings.

A dance critic goes to the theater

Tom Stoppard’s Tony-nominated family tale “Leopoldstadt” steps deftly through trauma and time and the toll of the Holocaust.

DramaWatch: At PSU, a Kabuki farewell

The premiere of a fresh Kabuki adaptation of a 1685 Japanese puppet play is Laurence Kominz’ swan song. Plus “Afropolitical Movement,” openings, closings.

DramaWatch: Beyond grit in ‘Mary Jane’

Endurance, warmth and strength in Amy Herzog’s play; clawing the walls at Shaking the Tree; the casting controversy; is “who wrote Shakespeare” the wrong question?

Nataki Garrett and OSF part ways

The artistic director of the embattled Oregon Shakespeare Festival departs as the company is in the midst of an emergency fund drive to keep its season going.

DramaWatch: Profile and the playwrights

At Profile, a gathering of contemporary voices. Plus: Clowning around at Milagro, Corrib’s gritty solo show, last days for “Come From Away,” Portland Playhouse’s new season and more.

Luisa and Rene talk theater and life

Actor Luisa Sermol and novelist Rene Denfeld sit down for a chat about drama, stories, sexism, making the invisible seen, and working together on the play “Myra’s Story.”   

Hell is auditioning at a certain age

Sharon Maroney’s new musical “Audition From Hell” at Broadway Rose takes a breezy but pointed trip into the perils and pitfalls of backstage life.

City of Hillsboro Community Mural Dedication M&M Marketplace Hillsboro Oregon
Local 14 Art Show and Sale World Forestry Center Portland Oregon
Oregon Repertory Singers All-Night Vigil Portland Oregon
Chamber Music Northwest Orion Quartet The Old Church Portland Oregon
Kalakendra An Evening of Indian Classical Music First Baptist Church Portland Oregon
Portland Center Stage presents Hair at the Armory Portland Oregon
Seattle Opera, Alcina, Handel's Story of Sorcery, McCaw Hall, Seattle Washington
Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts Biennial, Willamette University, Salem Oregon
Hallie Ford Museum of Art at 25, Highlights from the permanent collection, Willamette University, Salem Oregon
Portland Playhouse Roald Dahl Matilda the Musical Portland Oregon
Literary Arts Presents the Portland Book Festival Portland Oregon
NW Dance Project Sharing Stories Newmark Theatre Portland Oregon
Maryhill Museum of Art Columbia Gorge Washington
Portland State University College of the Arts
Lincoln County Historical Society Pacific Maritime Heritage Center The Curious World of Seaweed Newport Oregon
Oregon Cultural Trust tax credit donate
Arts Education series
We do this work for you.

Give to our GROW FUND.