Top Things to Do This Weekend: June 19–22
Film
Image: Henson/Labyrinth Enterprises
Lessons Learned by Toby Froud, the baby from Labryinth
Saturday, Hollywood Theatre
“The babe with the power” grew up to work at Laika and make his own goblin movie in collaboration with Jim Henson's daughter, Heather. We talk with him about growing up surrounded by faeries, deciding to follow in his parents' footsteps (they designed Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal), and his new film. Plus, you'll never guess the first thing he did to David Bowie upon meeting him...
Portland Monthly 'Clueless' Screening
Thursday, Hollywood Theatre
For the second Portland Monthly/Hollywood Theatre Fashion in Film series, we revisit 1995, when a film came into the world that would forever change the way we talk about fashion victims, the ensembly challenged, and the full on Monets.
Dance
Ira Glass backed by Monica Bill Barnes (left) and Anna Bass
Image: David Bazemore
Ira Glass: Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host
Saturday, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Most of us know This American Life host Ira Glass by his voice and his glasses. But it’s unlikely you have any idea how he soft shoes or pirouettes. That’s about to change. On Saturday, Glass will grace the Schnitz with his new live show, Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host. Read our full interview with Glass, where he dishes on killing it at Carnegie Hall, dancing for Yoko Ono, why he won’t pander to Portland audiences, and the only radio host he’d fear in a dance-off (hint: it's a Portland native-son).
Special Events
XRAY.fm: Holding a Boom Mic to the Best of Portland
Saturday, Alberta Rose Theater
Inspired by the the legendary all-ages ’90s venue X-Ray Café, XRAY.fm is a new radio station that mixes local music and DJs with progressive talk radio, and, apparently, likes to throw parties like this one. Hosted by progressive radio vet Carl Wolfson, the entertainment includes author and master storyteller Arthur Bradford, Back Fence PDX main lady B Frayn Masters, top local comedians Shane Torres and Kristine Levine, and Lifesavas member Vursatyl. Read our interview with the station's founders.
Portland Monthly's Country Brunch is Back!
Sunday, Castaway
Don your shitkickers and join us at Portland Monthly's Country Brunch, our annual hoedown featuring breakfast fare from six top Portland restaurants (including Smallwares, Ataula, and Lardo) and six of the city's best bloody marys (from Irving Street Kitchen, Broder, Doug Fir, and more).
Theater—too much theater!
Review in Short Badass Theater: Invasion!
Thursday–Sunday, Milagro Theatre
This debut by Badass topped several critics lists for the best shows in 2013. The stellar original cast returns for a magnetic and mercurial production that dishes up stereotypes, emotions, facial ticks, beat downs, extraordinary humor, and a breathless monologue that gave us goosebumps. It's rare to find a work that both cracks you up and cracks open the way you think. If you missed Invasion the first time, don't make the same mistake again. —Aaron Scott
Chris Murray and Amy Newman square off in The Playboy of the Western World, egged on by a cast of excellent actors.
Image: Owen Carey
Closing The Playboy of the Western World
Friday–Sunday, Artists Repertory Theatre
This Irish car bomb of a comedy caused nationalist riots after its 1907 premiere and has since become one of the most significant plays of the 20th century, leading the export of Irish theater to the world. It’s rarely staged, and Artists Rep is pulling out all the stops in a production that seems to feature half of Portland’s best actors. "This production is a true theatrical treat...You would be foolish not to see this show before it, too, goes by." Read our full review.
Closing Third Rail: Beauty Queen of Leeane
Friday–Sunday, Dolores Winningstad Theatre
The now indispensable Third Rail made its name with the first part of Martin McDonagh’s darkly hilarious Leenane trilogy, The Lonesome West, in 2006. Now the company stages the finale, about a daughter trying to escape her manipulative mother, "and their fluency with the material is evident in this confident production." Read our full review.
Image: PETE
Risk/Reward
Friday–Sunday, Artists Respertory Theatre
Risk/Reward Festival offers Portland a firework display of some of the brightest, loudest, and wildest offerings for the stage, cutting across theater, dance, performance art, and music. Artists this year include PETE (Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble) with a 20-minute excerpt of a new work titled (after thought), the Neutral Fembot Project with a performance exploration of the work of Cindy Sherman, Seattle performer Erin Pike, who's one-woman performance That’swhatshesaid was created using only female dialogue from the most-produced plays in America, and more.
Shakespeare in the Park
The summer Shakespeare season kicks off this weekend in a big way, with local companies filling our parks with all nature of princes, lovers, faeries, and hucksters. Don't miss Oregon Practice Shakespeare Festival's fourth annual Midsommer's Night's Dreame on Saturday at Mount Tabor Park, where Shakespeare's absurd humor gets a dirty twist, as OPS Fest warns patrons that this is one to find a sitter for. Also on the docket, OPSF does Twelfe Night at Kenton Park and Portland Actors Ensembles stages Antony and Cleopatra at Laurelhurst. See our full schedule.
Concerts
Friday, Doug Fir Lounge
Indie-punk-folk PDX group Sassparilla has been cookin' up not just one but two new albums. They're breaking open Pasajero and Hullabaloo: one a more thoughtful concept album, the other slap-dash raucous Americana. Watch out, the ol' devil features heavily in their albums with songs like "When You're the Devil," "What the Devil Don't Know," and "The Wicked Take Care of Their Own."
Sarah McLachlan
Sunday, McMenamins Edgefield
Between her own music and the massively successful Lilith Fair Festival, Sarah McLachlan was one of the defining musical artists of the 90s. And now she’s back on the charts with a vengeance. Her newest, Shine On, recently debuted at No. 4 on Billboard. Read our Q&A with McLachlan.
Books & Talks
Polly Dugan
Thursday, Powell's Books
The debut book by this Portland author links together 10 stories about two women with similar names and intertwining lives. Published by Little, Brown, Duggan is a name to watch.Read our interview with Dugan.
