Theater

Just like home: A ‘Merchant of Venice’ that feels like here and now

Portland Shakespeare Project’s "Merchant" uses a new modern-verse translation by Elise Thoron to mirror contemporary American othering.

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Portland Shakepeare Project William Shakepeares The Merchant of Venice Portland Playhouse Portland Oregon

In Ashland, the voice of Hulk and Thor revels in ‘Disaster!’

"It’s always fun to play the amoral baddie": Veteran stage, TV, and voiceover actor Rick Wasserman relishes playing the villain in Oregon Cabaret Theatre's campy summer musical.

Jordan Markus moon walks into Portland

Humanizing "this untouchable figure": Markus steps into the giant shoes of pop star Michael Jackson in the touring Broadway musical "MJ," playing in Portland July 15-20.

Never stop exploring: Stephanie Mulligan reminisces about her long career as a director and stage manager while looking forward to new theatrical adventures

Clackamas Rep's "Sherlock Holmes" is her last turn as a sought-after stage manager for more than 30 years, Mulligan says. But she'll still be busy in the director's chair.

Salem’s Theatre 33 finds a bigger stage

The Willamette University-based theater development program expands its offerings, and brings them to Portland this weekend.

Katherine Murphy Lewis’s ‘From the Ground UP’ plans for the future

Lewis's nonprofit is a home for developing adventurous new performance ranging from dance to physical theater, femme storytelling, clowning, and more.

At Florence children’s theater group C.R.O.W., family is a big part of the fun

Children’s Repertory of Oregon Workshops — C.R.O.W. — offers low-cost classes in dance, musical theater, and performance — not to mention The Tutu Dads.

Mark Bedard pulls a theatrical hat trick in Rogue Theater Company’s ‘Ripcord’

The veteran actor, a longtime favorite at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, returns to Ashland to star in three roles in David Lindsay-Adaire's stage comedy.

DramaWatch: A Bard-a-licious summer of Shakespeare

The Bard’s work is on outdoor and indoor stages all over, with the return of Portland Actors Ensemble, shows by Original Practice Shakespeare Festival, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland and more. Plus: Other openings, continuing shows, upcoming season news.

‘Waitress’: A fresh recipe for a musical

Broadway Rose’s "Waitress" successfully blends music and magical realism with a strong message about female empowerment.

‘Aw, Hell’: PETE puts a free-flowing comic contemporary spin on Dante’s ‘Inferno’

A visit to the horrors of tech week in the Underworld, which despite the hellishness of the play's plot seems to be settling in quite comfortably, thank you very much.

Stage & Studio: Olga Kravtsova’s ‘Harvest of Woman’

Dmae Lo Roberts talks in her podcast with the Russian-born performer about her immigrant experience and her show about "women’s unseen labor, endurance, and survival.”

Ashland treats: Shakespeare Fest’s ‘As You Like It,’ ‘Merry Wives’ and ‘Into the Woods’

In review: The festival romps into summer with three fine and funny productions, topped by the musical fairy-tale fantasy of a glorious journey "Into the Woods."

Profile Theatre Playwright Festival: Making new plays in troubled times

Playwrights Jen Silverman and Mike Lew come to town to work on tales of Houdini and a fatal hazing, and the festival goes on despite the abrupt loss of NEA funding.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Bag&Baggage name interim leaders, Center Stage emergency fund grows

OSF names Javier Dubon as its interim executive director; B&B announces a four-person artistic leadership team; Center Stage needs $1 million more by Aug. 31.

OSF announces abrupt departure of executive director

Citing ‘personally requested leave,’ Calicchio leaves after less than seven months leading the business side of Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Announcement on succession planning expected next week.

DramaWatch: Beyond Bozo & other clowns

Integrating clown performance with PETE’s "Aw, Hell"; Anthony Hudson (Drag Clown Carla Rossi) is co-producing the third annual drag workshop, part of the Risk/Reward festival of new performances. Plus: other opening shows, summer festivals, season announcements.

Gathering in memory of playwright Steve Patterson

A wake will be held June 17 for Patterson, co-founder of Playwrights West and the prolific author of 50-plus plays, including "Waiting on Sean Flynn" and "Ghostlighting."

Earnest’s Wilde, Wilde Oregon days

With "The Importance of Being Earnest" already playing at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Kamilah Bush's fresh adaptation for Portland Center Stage unveils Oscar Wilde's queer coding and gives the comedy some delightful bite.

Lauren Yee’s ‘Mother Russia’ at Profile: Comedy, culture, questions for U.S., too

Yee's undercurrent of humor cushions deeper questions about communism, capitalism, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the ways we live our lives.

Remembering Darcelle: Sweet, cheeky fun

Review: Triangle’s encore production of "That’s No Lady" pays tribute to Darcelle/Walter Cole, as well as his love for Roxy Neuhardt and drag performance.

Taking a wild ride with ‘Fool for Love’

Review: Tour de Force Productions turns the trainwrecked relationship at the center of Sam Shepard’s desert drama into thrilling theater.

Cole Escola wins a Tony for ‘Oh, Mary!’

Escola, from Clatskanie, Oregon, won for best leading actor in a play and was also nominated for writing the much-praised farce about Mary Todd Lincoln. Four others with Northwest roots were also Tony nominees.

Watching the Tonys Sunday? Keep an eye out for Northwest nominees

Actors Brooks Ashmanskas and Megan Hilty, producers Corey Brunish and Brian Rooney, and actor/playwright Cole Escola are up for awards in Sunday's Tonys ceremony.

‘That’s No Lady’: Remembering Walter Cole

Stage & Studio: Dmae Lo Roberts talks in her new podcast with writer/director Don Horn and actor Kevin Loomis about Triangle's revival of the show celebrating Cole/Darcelle.

With her own theater company and a dream role, Meghan Daaboul’s a ‘Fool for Love’

Daaboul, founder of Tour de Force Productions, finally steps into the shoes of May in Sam Shepard's American classic of ill-fated love on the edge of the Mojave Desert.

DramaWatch: A confluence of talent

illioo Native Theatre’s workshop performance of ‘BlueJay’s Canoe’; Profile Theatre’s upcoming ‘Mother Russia’ and its scenic designer Alex Meyer. Plus other openings, an extended run for Portland Playhouse’s ‘Joe Turner,’ new season announcements, and Nik Whitcomb’s departure from Bag&Baggage Productions.

‘Assassins’: Packing heat, lighting a Fuse

Fuse Theatre Ensemble lights up Reed College’s Black Box Theatre with a sizzling production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical about presidential assassins.

‘Nostalgia Is So Yesterday’: David Hume Kennerly and Charles Jennings talk politics and their collaboration of photos and poetry

Cygnet Salon presents a one-night performance by Bruce Burkhartsmeier, David Meyers, Vana O’Brien, and Kathleen Worley on the work and friendship of the two men.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival unveils its 10-show 2026 season

While the current season continues through October, the Ashland festival announces a sweeping 2026 lineup of magic, music, and the messiness of being human.