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

Theater

PETE’s A Seagull Caps Its Decade with Chekhov’s Major Plays

The series helped the Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble define itself. Its final and wildest adaptation asks what’s next.

07/08/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Theater

'Where We Belong' at Portland Center Stage Grapples with Identity, Colonialism, and Shakespeare

Native theatermaker Madeline Sayet’s play runs through March 26.

03/02/2023 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Theater

Review: ‘Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson–Apt. 2B’ at Portland Center Stage

Playwright Kate Hamill’s witty, relevant, gender-flipped, pandemic-set adaptation of Sherlock Holmes runs through February 12.

02/01/2023 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Theater

A New Play at Portland Center Stage Examines the Link Between Segregation and Swimming

PCS and ART are tackling the second-ever production of Tony-nominated playwright Christina Anderson’s ‘the ripple, the wave that carried me home.’

10/14/2022 By Matthew Trueherz

Theater Review

tick, tick ... BOOM! at Portland Center Stage Plays Plenty of Grace Notes

At its best, this production of Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical convinces us there really is no day but today.

09/02/2022 By Conner Reed

Theater

How Portland Center Stage Is Refreshing Rent

The iconic rock musical is stubbornly of its time. In a new production, Portland's largest theater company hopes to locate its contemporary resonances.

05/27/2022 By Conner Reed

Arts News

Portland’s Arts Scene Is Undergoing a Massive Changing of the Guard

In the past year, a stunning number of Portland’s arts organizations have shuffled leadership at the highest levels. What now?

03/17/2022 By Conner Reed Illustrations by Álvaro Bernis

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

Theater Review

Frida ... A Self Portrait Asks Why We Look in the Mirror

Vanessa Severo’s intriguing one-woman show starts Portland Center Stage's comeback season off on a reflexive note.

11/01/2021 By Conner Reed

Pomo Picks

Top Things to Do in Portland This Week: Oct 29–Nov 3

Musings on the future of Chinatown, Scooby Doo improv, A Nightmare on Elm Street onstage, the return of the Opera, and more

10/29/2021 By Conner Reed

Live Event

Pennie Lane and Rolling Stone Editor Ben Fong-Torres Talk 20 Years of Almost Famous

The two join up for a one-night-only conversation to raise funds for Portland Center Stage.

10/26/2020 By Eden Dawn

Pomo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Jan 16–19

Chadwick Stokes and King Princess come to town, Profile opens a Pulitzer-winner, and a pair of photo exhibits stay on at Blue Sky.

01/15/2020 By Conner Reed and Olivia Wolf

Theater

A New Play Draws a Line Between Sacagawea and Standing Rock

Mary Kathryn Nagle’s Crossing Mnisose, in its world premiere at Portland Center Stage, aims to shatter stereotypes through storytelling.

04/17/2019 By Shayla Norris-York

Theater

Portland Center Stage's New Artistic Director Wants Theater for Everyone

Freshly arrived from Kansas City, Marissa Wolf takes the reins at the city's largest theater company.

10/09/2018 By Rebecca Jacobson

Theater News

Portland Center Stage Announces New Artistic Director

Marissa Wolf will head up the city's largest theater company, taking over from longtime leader Chris Coleman.

08/22/2018 By Rebecca Jacobson

The Essentials

From a New Shins Album to a Blitzen Trapper Musical, March's Pop Culture Hot List

The album, book, musical event, and poetry collection to know this month

02/20/2017 By Fiona McCann

Festival

6 Shows to See at the 2017 Fertile Ground Festival

Need some help navigating the annual bonanza of new, locally produced performance? Here are three solid bets and three wild cards.

01/19/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Theater

Little Shop of Horrors Is a Bloody Good Time

Doo-wop girls to man-eating plants, Portland Center Stage’s cult musical revival is totally killer.

09/27/2016 By Kelly Clarke

THEATER

Grimm Stars Get Ready to Take Over Portland Theater

Captain Renard and Monroe mix it up for Portland audiences when they bring Three Days of Rain to Portland Center Stage this month. Even if it does mean they're stuck in Stumptown for their Grimm vacation...

05/12/2015 By Rachel Sandstrom