Books & Talks

Marlon James

7:30 p.m. Thu, Powell's City of Books, FREE
Black Leopard, Red Wolf, the first installment of the Dark Star trilogy by Jamaican-born, Man Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James, follows a tracker-mercenary who’s been hired to find a missing child. Embedded with African history and folklore, the novel has been deemed the African Game of Thrones. According to Neil Gaiman, James builds "a fantasy world as well-realized as anything Tolkien made.”

Sharma Shields

7:30 p.m. Fri, Powell's City of Books, FREE
Set on a research compound during World War II, The Cassandra follows a secretary who has prophetic dreams of the first atomic bomb. Spokane-based author Sharma Shields combines careful research with Greek mythology to tell a story about power, privilege, and militant patriarchy.

Comedy

Maz Jobrani

8 p.m. Fri, Aladdin Theatre, $39.50–100
The Iran-born actor and comedian returns to the Portland stage as part of his “Still Touring Tour.” Jobrani, who emigrated to the U.S. at age 6, is known for riffing on prejudice, racial stereotypes, and the misunderstandings that come along with being Middle Eastern in America.

Dance

Cinderella

2 and 7:30 p.m. Sat, 2 p.m. Sun, Keller Auditorium, $29+
The story of Cinderella comes to life in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production of Ben Stevenson’s ballet (set to a score by Sergei Prokofiev) about a young girl eager to break free from the life she leads.

Music

The Last Artful, Dodgr

9 p.m. Sat, Doug Fir Lounge, $12–15
The Portland hip-hop phenom, known for her squeaky voice and woozy vocals, hits the Doug Fir. And it’s a super-solid opening lineup, too, including Chicago-born rapper Karma Rivera and the incomparable, unclassifiable Maarquii.

A Bowie Celebration: The David Bowie Alumni Tour

8 p.m. Sun, Revolution Hall, $45–199
When Ziggy Stardust left us for a new life on Mars, many thought the world would never be the same. But you’re in luck: for one night only, eight surviving members of David Bowie’s bands from over the years reunite in celebration of his legacy.

Sama Dams

9 p.m. Sun, Doug Fir Lounge, $10–12
Proggy Portland rock trio Sama Dams’s latest album, last spring’s Say It, comprises 10 tracks of twisty grooves, howling guitar solos, and haunting vocals by singer-keyboardist Lisa Adams.

Theater

CLOSING (Un)Conditional

7:30 p.m. Fri–Sat, 2 p.m. Sun, Artists Repertory Theatre, pay-what-you-will, $5–25 suggested
For the past year, Profile Theatre has gathered a 40-strong group of Portlanders affected by chronic illness. Their stories help fuel this world-premiere production, created in collaboration with New York theater artist Ping Chong and his company.

The Delays

7:30 p.m. Thu–Sat, 2 p.m. Sun, Theatre Vertigo, $10–20
Portlander Sara Jean Accuardi’s brand-new play, presented by Theatre Vertigo, is set at an airport—but the characters aren’t going anywhere. As time travels backwards, their past lives come into focus.

OPENING Made to Dance in Burning Buildings

7:30 p.m. Thu–Sat, 2 p.m. Sun, Shaking the Tree, $10–30
Playwright and actor Anya Pearson's Made to Dance in Burning Buildings is a vivid choreopoem that combines biting and lyrical spoken word with visceral, almost brutal contemporary dance. It’s the story of a young girl, raped by her boyfriend’s friends, who fractures into five women representing different facets of her personality to cope with posttraumatic stress. For more, check out our story on Pearson and this world-premiere performance.

Visual Art

Lilian Martinez

Noon–6 p.m. Thu–Sun, Nationale, FREE
The Observer called Lilian Martinez “Matisse of the Instagram era,” which is frankly underselling the Los Angeles artist’s luscious, colorful figures. Soft Shades, her first solo show at Nationale, features paintings with soft pastels and curvy lines showing bodies at rest.

Rebecca Reeve

11 a.m.–6 p.m. Thu–Sat, Upfor Gallery, FREE
In Sun Breathing, the New York-based British artist showcases new landscape photos, taken over the course of a single summer in upstate New York. Some feature Venetian blinds, which add a strict grid to the image, while in others Reeve paints new features—like fuchsia ferns—in the landscape.

Special Events

Listen Up Festival

Various times Fri–Sun, various locations, $10–199
This brand-new festival brings live podcast tapings to locations across the city. Notable on the lineup: The Sporkful (Dan Pashman's James Beard Award-winning podcast about food), Side Hustle School (about earning extra cash alongside your day job), and NPR’s Bullseye (Jesse Thorn's wide-ranging culture show).