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DramaWatch

DramaWatch: Fangs for the memories

Portland Center Stage sinks its teeth into a “Dracula” with feminist flair. Plus: It’s open (holiday) season with a musical “Wonderful Life,” a visit to Whoville, a comic Christmas tea.

Lester Purry and the road to Scrooge

Bobby Bermea: The talented actor Lester Purry, who’s created a bond with Portland Playhouse, is back in town and creating his own kind of skinflint in the Playhouse’s “A Christmas Carol.”

Triangle makes New York gorgeous

The Portland theater company leaps into the Off-Broadway spotlight with “Make Me Gorgeous!,” a bravura one-man show about trans trailblazer Kenneth Marlowe.

Lea Zawada as Monique and Alexandria Hunter as Lucy in “awe/struck.”

DramaWatch: an ‘awe/struck’ experience

Profile keeps rolling with its trio of plays by christopher oscar peña, this one about the aftermath of a spasm of violence. Plus openings, last chances, and a billboard campaign.

DramaWatch: Farewell, Portland Civic Theatre Guild

The Guild, founded in 1958 to support a legendary company that began in the 1920s, is closing and passing its assets to other theaters. Plus: This week’s openings and last chances.

DramaWatch: What’s next for Artists Rep?

After postponing its season and laying off its artistic leader, the company concentrates on getting its building open. Plus: this week’s new shows and last chances.

Piercing the veil, telling a Samhain tale

The puppeteers of Kettlehead Studios, the instrumentalists of Musica Universalis, an adventurous director and a skilled actress create a myth-driven seasonal show.

DramaWatch: Lorca’s ‘Blood Wedding’

Shaking the Tree takes on the bitter beauty of Lorca’s poetic tale. Plus: “California” returns, Milagro celebrates women warriors, Triangle heads for the Big Apple.

‘Matilda’ and the culture of joy

Portland Playhouse’s musical-theater version of the Roald Dahl children’s novel is enchanting for audiences of all ages.

A ‘Hair’ with its heart on its sleeve

Center Stage’s revival of the 1968 musical of youthful protest and rebellion reclaims the anger, joy, and love for a new era of cultural and political divisiveness and disarray.

Tim Bond starts his second Ashland act

A conversation with the new artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, who’s returned to the company he helped lead for 11 years and is eager to “carry it forward” again.

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.

Cappella Romana The 12 Days of Christmas in the East St. Mary's Cathedral Portland Oregon
Tilikum Chamber Orchestra A Musical Gift Exchange Lake Oswego High School Lake Oswego Oregon
Literary Arts The Moth Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland Oregon
CoHo Productions presents Laughing Matters Portland Oregon
Open Space Not-Cracker Newmark Theatre Portland Oregon
Portland Playhouse A Christmas Carol Portland Oregon
Oregon Repertory Singers Glory of Christmas Concert Portland Oregon
Bridgetown Conservatory Ludlow Ladd The Poor Little Orphan Boy Holiday Operetta Tiffany Center Portland Oregon
PassinArt presents Black Nativity Brunish Theatre Portland Oregon
Imago Theatre ZooZoo Portland Oregon
Northwest Dance Project Sarah Slipper New Stories Portland Oregon
Portland State University College of the Arts
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