Performing Arts

DANCE

Review: Cloud Gate Dance Theatre

The preeminent Asian contemporary dance company’s meditative work left some in a trance and the rest catatonic.

03/05/2014 By Salish Davis

THEATER REVIEW

PCS’s “Bo-Nita” Is a One-Woman Cavalcade of Gumption

A black comedy about a precocious girl, a floozy of a mom, and trying to hang together. Thru Mar 16

02/20/2014 By Aaron Scott

THEATER

Review: Corrib Theatre's "A Night In November"

The new Irish theater company's one man show examines Ireland's history of sectarian violence through the lens of soccer fans. Thru Mar 5

02/19/2014 By Nathan Tucker

Theater

Review: ART's "The Monster-Builder"

The world premiere's overblown parody provides some unexpectedly adventurous comedy, but fails to satisfyingly address its themes. Thru Mar 2

02/05/2014 By Nathan Tucker

THEATER REVIEW

Hand2Mouth’s “Pep Talk” Will Get You Off the Bench

The experimental theater elevates our spirits and our funny bones with its parody of that American hallmark: the motivational speech. Thru Feb 16

01/30/2014 By Aaron Scott

THEATER

Review: PCS's "Chinglish"

Portland Center Stage's comedy about cultural and linguistic miscommunication is a one-joke pony. It entertains, but underwhelms. Thru Feb 9

01/23/2014 By Nathan Tucker

PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL

Fertile Ground Field Guide 2014

Portland’s theater and dance stages erupt in a rambunctious cornucopia of new works. Jan 23–Feb 2

01/23/2014 By Portland Monthly Staff and Ally Bordas

SPOTLIGHT

Race to the Stage

Portland theaters and the August Wilson Red Door Project turns the spotlight on race and the legendary African American playwright.

01/21/2014 By Jonathan Frochtzwajg

THEATER

Q&A: "The Monster-Builder" Playwright Amy Freed

The Pulitzer-finalist talks about why she's debuting her new play at ART as part of Fertile Ground and how the comedy is a protest against bad architecture. Jan 28–Mar 2

01/20/2014 By Jonathan Frochtzwajg

CULTUREPHILE

Profile Theater's Next Stage

After a tumultuous year, Profile’s artistic director Adriana Baer confronts the future.

01/02/2014 By Aaron Scott

THEATER

Review: Pixie Dust’s Beauty and the Beast

A local sing along of talking clocks and beastly love affairs makes for real holiday magic. Thru Dec 29.

12/15/2013 By Kelly Clarke

THEATER

Review: Portland Playhouse’s ‘A Christmas Carol’

By adding singing and instrument-playing actors, the theater dives gloriously into the Christmas spirit for a show that's anything but trite. Thru Dec 29.

12/12/2013 By Cari Johnson

Theater

Review: Bag&Baggage's "It's A (Somewhat) Wonderful Life"

Bag&Baggage’s reworking of the beloved film doesn't exactly break new ground, but it's plenty entertaining for fans of the original. Thru Dec. 22

12/09/2013 By Nathan Tucker

THEATER

Review: ART’s ‘Xmas Unplugged’

Two one acts skewer the dark reality that Christmas is often more about spending money on presents than spending time with each other. Who knew Santa fight scenes could go on too long? Thru Dec. 28

12/05/2013 By Haley Martin

THEATER

Taking On Michael Frayn's 'Noises Off'

Mapping 20 seconds of craziness from a famous farce

12/02/2013 By Zach Dundas

THEATER

Review: PCS’s ‘Twist Your Dickens’

We review PCS’s new spin on the Christmas classic from the viewpoints of both Tiny Tim and Scrooge. Thru Dec 22

11/27/2013 By Cari Johnson and Haley Martin

THEATER

Review: Liminal’s “Our Town”

The avant-garde theater transforms the American classic into something searingly modern in one of the most thought-provoking shows of the season. Thru Dec 1

11/21/2013 By Aaron Scott

CULTUREPHILE

Wreck the Halls

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as theater companies everywhere serve up warmed-over seasonal standards to bolster their bottom lines. But hark! This holiday season, four local companies are taking risks to cut through the treacle.

11/21/2013 By Jonathan Frochtzwajg

THEATER

Review: Theatre Vertigo's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

In Jeffrey Hatcher's retelling of the ego-versus-id tale, six different actors play the role of Mr. Hyde. Thru Nov 23

10/28/2013 By Ally Bordas

DANCE

Review: NW Dance Project's "New Now Wow!"

NWDP's triple-world-premiere season opener showed the rewards experimentation can bring.

10/28/2013 By Haley Martin