a musical duel

New Music Video: Menomena’s “Plumage”

Assault rifles, smoking jackets, Evel Knievel suits, snifters, and rocket launchers. An outrageous musical one-upmanship that’s the best thing we’ve seen all week.

10/03/2012 By Aaron Scott

silhouette on fire

Artist Talk: Kara Walker

The controversial art star talks at Reed College on October 2 about her work exploring racism, sexuality, and violence. Her solo exhibit runs through November 18.

09/27/2012 By Randy Gragg Edited by Aaron Scott

Article

Slide Show Preview: White Bird's Le Grand Continental

This Sunday, over 150 people will fill Pioneer Square with the biggest choreographed dance the city's ever seen. Check out our photo preview.

09/26/2012 By Aaron Scott

impeccably shaved

Review: PCS's Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Portland Center Stage's production of Sondheim's macabre masterpiece is a delicious feast both grisly and divine. Playing through Oct 21.

09/25/2012 By Aaron Scott

swing your razor high, sweeney

PCS's Sweeney Todd Preview + Slide Show

Portland Center Stage tackles Sondheim's macabre masterpiece about a barber on a murderous rampage. We talk with the director and scenic designer.

09/20/2012 By Aaron Scott

festival plotlines

TBA:12 in Retrospect

In its first year under the curation of artistic director Angela Mattox, the PICA fest got more thematically unified—and just plain better—as it progressed. Here's what worked (and didn't).

09/20/2012 By Aaron Scott

dogs playing piano

TBA: Laurie Anderson Review

The matron saint of performance art ends the festival with not so much of a bang as a plunk.

09/19/2012 By Aaron Scott

revenge of the moms

Menomena's New Album, Moms, out today

Read our profile of the band and stream the album.

09/18/2012 By Aaron Scott

Article

TBA Day 11: Are Portland Audiences Boring?

As we say goodbye to the fine conversation of the Works, we have to ask: have we all grown just a little too bland?

09/16/2012 By Aaron Scott

Article

TBA Day 10: Faustin Linyekula's Le Cargo Review

The Congolese choreographer takes us on a journey with little but the beauty of his story and dance. Final show tonight at 6:30.

09/15/2012 By Aaron Scott

hot in the kitchen

TBA Day 9: Gob Squad's Kitchen Review

The theater collective offers a witty and charming multimedia riff on Andy Warhol that makes it the best of the fest. Playing Fri & Sat at 8:30.

09/14/2012 By Aaron Scott

best of the fest

TBA: Week 1 Wrap Up + Fest Finale Preview

8 days in, with some of the best yet to come, we offer our picks for the final weekend, and recap what we've seen.

09/13/2012 By Aaron Scott

political theater at its best

TBA Day 7: Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol Double Review

The Mexican theater collective tackles ambitious political topics with their two shows. Final performance tonight at 6:30.

09/12/2012 By Aaron Scott

they all fall down

TBA Day 7: Review of Keith Hennessy's Turbulence

A glorious mess that's shot through with enough rigor, humor, and heart to entertain and incite. World premiere plays Tues thru Fri at 8:30.

09/12/2012 By Aaron Scott

helio goes dark

New Helio Sequence Album + Video Out Today

The band's long-anticipated fifth album, Negotiations, is out today, along with a dark new video.

09/12/2012 By Aaron Scott

too much of a not great thing

TBA Day 6: Perforations Review

A series of site specific performances by Serbian and Croatian artists contain moments of beauty that are overshadowed by moments of boredom. Final performance on Tuesday at 8:30.

09/11/2012 By Aaron Scott

tiny dancers writ large

TBA Day 5: Ten Tiny Dances Slideshow

The perennial favorite delighted with goats, cyborgs, all new performers, gunshots, group slow dances, and a new record for the maximum number of people on stage.

09/10/2012 By Aaron Scott

darkness and light

TBA Day 4: Contrasting Review of Miguel Gutierrez + Nora Chipaumire

The two artists give performances from opposite sides of the artistic spectrum: from light to darkness and self-revelation to self-obfuscation. Gutierrez performs again tonight at 6:30.

09/09/2012 By Aaron Scott

eyes on the black body

TBA Day 3: Christeene Recap + Nora Chipaumire Talk

Christeene sings "African Mayonnaise," and Zimbabwean-born dancer Chipaumire talks about being an African artist, dealing with the black body, and her performance, Miriam, which will have its final showing tonight.

09/08/2012 By Aaron Scott

an epic of ingenuity

TBA Day 2: Big Art Group's The People—Portland Review

Big Art Group transforms Washington High School, inside and out, into a modern retelling of a Greek tragedy that's epic both in scope and imagination. Playing tonight and tomorrow at Washington High School.

09/07/2012 By Aaron Scott