Performing Arts

Portland Spring and Summer Plays and Dance Performances

Twists on Shakespeare, The Lion King on Broadway, classics updated with pop stars, and more fill out the season.

04/29/2025 By Matthew Trueherz

Long Story Short

At Oregon Ballet Theatre, Dani Rowe Takes on Marilyn Monroe

Rowe, the first woman to serve as the company's artistic director, has wanted to tell Monroe's story since Kim Kardashian wore the actor’s dress to the Met Gala.

03/24/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson Photography by Jason Hill

Performing Arts

Portland Theater and Dance Shows to Catch This Fall and Winter

On and off Broadway, the upcoming season promises holiday camp, cupcakes, election dramaturgy, and a Harlem braid shop.

10/04/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

TBA

The Time-Based Art Festival Is 21. How’s It Looking?

Our editors recap PICA’s beloved festival, with all its glistening torsos, humor and rage, and lightsabers and tassels.

10/04/2024 By Matthew Trueherz and Rebecca Jacobson

Theater

Pandora's Box Meets Alice in Wonderland at Shaking the Tree Theatre

Audiences are invited to embrace their curiosity at this installation performance, which runs through April 1.

02/24/2023 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Dance

This Contemporary Dance Festival Is Ready to Broaden Portland’s Horizons

Now in its fifth year, Union PDX concentrates global talent in Southeast Portland.

11/07/2022 By Fiona McCann

Dance

Northwest Dance Project's Latest Brings Little Women to Life

The company's summer premieres will include a Greta Gerwig-inspired ode to the Louisa May Alcott tale.

06/09/2022 By Conner Reed

Nightlife

Portland Is Dancing Again

A combination of roving dance nights, new venues, and pandemic fever has pushed Portlanders back out to the clubs.

05/16/2022 By Conner Reed

Dance

Oregon Ballet Theatre Prepares to Draw Blood with Dracula

The Portland dance company’s latest effort is its grandest undertaking since COVID hit.

02/17/2022 By Conner Reed

Performance

Heart of Stone Mines Uyghur History for Universal Truths

The piece, which premiered in part at the 2022 Fertile Ground festival, blends dance and theater and takes inspiration from director/choreographer Alisher Khasanov's own life.

02/07/2022 By Shannon Daehnke

Festivals

5 Things to Check Out at the 2022 Fertile Ground Festival

This year’s virtual performance fest will bring 38 new works to our screens. Here’s what we’re looking forward to.

01/27/2022 By Conner Reed

Pomo Picks

Top Things to Do in Portland This Week: Nov 4–10

Frida closes, the Cranberries head to the dance studio, Nas heads the Oregon Symphony, and more.

11/04/2021 By Conner Reed

Dance

James Joyce, Dorothy Parker, and the Cranberries Walk Into a Dance Studio

NW Dance Project’s fall premieres celebrate teenage nostalgia, dinner parties, and fresh faces.

11/03/2021 By Conner Reed

Culture

Prominent Portland Artists Name Their Favorite Local Creators

We asked some of the Rose City's brightest which Portlanders have helped them through the pandemic.

10/11/2021 By Conner Reed

TBA

A Public Procession High-Steps Through Boise-Eliot

In Let ’im Move You: Intervention, jumatatu m. poe and Jermone ‘Donte’ Beacham bring Black queer performance to the parks and sidewalks of historically Black neighborhoods.

10/01/2021 By Rebecca Jacobson

Pomo Picks

Top Things to Do in Portland This Week: Aug 19–25

Outdoor comedy, porcine cinema, a rumination on public monuments, and more.

08/19/2021 By Conner Reed

Performance

Old Moody Stages Brings the Performing Arts to Portland's South Waterfront

A new collaboration between Portland dance, music, and theater orgs will feature a month of programming on the grounds where Zidell Companies used to construct ships.

07/27/2021 By Conner Reed