The festival’s just-announced 2024 season suggests a return to the kind of lineup that’s excited audiences in the past. Plus: Fats Waller and the joint are jumpin’ at Broadway Rose.
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.
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.
Why everyone’s flocking to an old Victoria’s Secret to see a Beckett play. Plus: “Tina” on tour, the joys of a kids’ backyard theater camp, and a question: Must the show go on?
In a tiny Southeast Portland space, a lean and lively actors’ theater is emerging. Up next, “52 Pick-up.” Also: openings and last chances.
“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.
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.
With fresh productions opening of The Scottish Play and the lost-slipper musical, we’re one leg off a tantalizing theatrical trifecta.
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.
The former Artists Rep artistic leader is the new artistic director of Seattle’s much larger flagship theater, and JAW keeps faith with the theatrical tradition of the new.
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.
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.”
The troubled festival calls on a favored prince to be its new artistic director. Plus: A new Josie Seid play, 76 trombones in Eugene, last call for gothic cabaret, and more.
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.
From the Cocteau Twins to the Cure, a splashy cabaret celebrates goth culture with playful spookiness. Plus: Last call for some good shows, a shutdown in L.A.
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.
Profile’s “How to Make an American Son” tells a generational family tale. Plus: Duffy Epstein & friends head for “California,” openings, closings.
Lee Blessing life-and-death drama, Shakespeare’s Puck & the gang, “Full Monty,” and last chance for the fine “Mary Jane” and “True Story.”
The premiere of a fresh Kabuki adaptation of a 1685 Japanese puppet play is Laurence Kominz’ swan song. Plus “Afropolitical Movement,” openings, closings.
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?
Premieres from E.M. Lewis and Carol Triffle top the theater week. Plus: Trying to break down the breakdown at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
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.
A busy stage week also brings a pair of promising kids’ shows, the opening of “The Judy,” a Shakespeare parody, and the Broadway opening of the born-in-Portland “Thanksgiving Play.”
The world premiere of “Great Wide Open” holds court as a big, sweet, charmingly clumsy, passionate kiss of a show.
Long-delayed remodel is moving ahead at the home of Portland’s second-biggest theater company. Doors are expected to open for audiences in 10 months.
The venerable Ashland festival’s effort to save the 2023 season follows years of wildfires, pandemic shutdowns, and staff turnover. Plus, openings, closings, and this weekend’s shows.
Matthew Lopez’ two-part drama reimagines “Howards End” as a gay New York saga. Plus openings, closings, a big theater bash, and a new leader for Oregon Children’s Theatre.
With a fine production of John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” at Lakewood Theatre, director Antonio Sonera says he’s calling it a career. Plus: Last chance for a few good shows.
Shaking the Tree adds a bright new expansion, Le Salon Rouge takes a bow, cheerleader werewolves land on Earth, “Hairspray” hits town, and more.
PassinArt dives into the musicality of the great American playwright. Also: Black & blue, Borges & Neruda, Bill Wadhams’ musical memoir, Red Door’s “Evolve.”
The devil gets his due in Conor McPherson’s gripping play “The Seafarer.” Plus: openings, closings, Center Stage’s new season.
A busy theater week also features a Hand2Mouth devised show, Milagro’s “Ardiente Paciencia,” and a few more performances of “My Fair Lady.”
Fuse’s “Ronald Reagan Murdered My Mentors” explores the loss of a gay generation; Corrib’s “Trade” tells a sensitive personal queer tale; Henry Higgins hits the road.
Lauren Yee’s “Young Americans” at Center Stage takes on the issues of immigration and belonging. Plus: Corrib’s Irish “Trade,” openings and closings.
The Portland new-works festival is at a crossroads, seeking to ensure its future. Plus: a new/old face at Center Stage, hip-hop from Profile, “Mad” teens and more.
PETE’s “The Americans” is as contradictory as the nation itself. Plus Pearl Cleage, the Temptations, Tammy Wynette, giant beavers, Ronald Reagan and AIDS, Lava Alapai and more.
Generations and cultures clash on court and off at Artists Rep, plus Broadway Rose’s Steven Schwartz hybrid revue/musical and The Theatre Company’s video theater stream
Kate Hamill’s updated detective tale opens at Center Stage; plus “The Americans,” an all-too-pertinent “Cabaret,” and taco-loving dragons.
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, beset by pandemic and environmental troubles, slashes leadership and other jobs – and Artistic Director Nataki Garrett adds more duties.
Artists Rep’s premiere of Kareem Fahmy’s “American Fast” does a fast break on sport, faith, and culture. Plus: Sondheim for a new generation.
Kristina Wong’s “Sweatshop Overlord” is a sharp and heartwarming look behind the politics of Covid. Plus: The Shakespeare Festival’s big gift.
Profile’s “King of the Yees” takes an imaginative trip through split cultural identities. Plus “Jagged Little Pill,” openings, closings.
“King of the Yees” and “Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord” headline a week that also includes black comedy, a “Blink,” and a “Zooman.”
In a season of shows about Black life in America, the captivating “the ripple, the wave” carries the conversation home.
Shades of time and meaning in the Broadway “Mockingbird” tour; Dav Pilkey’s musical dogs; Milagro’s Day of the Dead dance; Chad Deity’s smashing slamdown and more.
Darius Pierce and Brooke Totman dive brilliantly into the nervous laughter of Christopher Durang’s dyspeptic comedy at 21ten Theatre.
Scott Palmer returns to Bag & Baggage with the “Hamlet” riff “The Last White Man”; ripples & waves from Artists Rep and Center Stage; Richard Thomas in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
In a busy theater week, Artists Rep’s “Hombres” nears the end of a sparkling run and promising productions pop up all over town.
Portland Playhouse opens a comedy set at a funeral in a Black church. But does the play move beyond sitcom platitudes?
As dance presenters Walter Jaffe and Paul King move into their 25th season of running White Bird, the elite company they founded, they prepare to pass the torch.
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