Pop Culture Deep Dive

Mid-Year Pop Culture Report

From Big Thief to Marcel the Shell to a kinetic new take on Chekhov, these are the 2022 cultural nuggets that have spoken to us most directly.

07/08/2022 By Conner Reed

Theater

Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble Is Transporting Chekhov to the Arctic

For the latest installment in its Chekhov project, the Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble heads north.

06/16/2022 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

Theater

A New Musical Brings a Lost History to the Portland Stage

Vanport the Musical opens at Northwest Children's Theater.

05/20/2022 By Shannon Daehnke

Theater Review

Profile Theatre's Appropriate Sees the Forest, the Trees, and a Whole Lot More

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' sharp, lacerating family drama shines in the hands of director Jerry Ruiz and a game cast.

05/11/2022 By Conner Reed

Theater Review

History Has Its Eyes on Hamilton (and It Isn't Looking Great)

The national tour of the smash-hit musical runs at Portland’s Keller Auditorium through May 1.

04/15/2022 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

Theater Review

Shaking the Tree’s Chick Fight Is a Thrilling Live Wire

The Southeast Portland company returns with a devised play that's funny, fierce, and memorable.

03/17/2022 By Conner Reed

Events

10 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Portland

Film festivals, art shows, a Black Panthers retrospective, and more fill the Rose City's calendar this year. Here's what we have our eyes on.

02/08/2022 By Karly Quadros, Conner Reed, and Shannon Daehnke

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

Arts News

Will Omicron Set Portland’s Arts Venues Back to Spring 2020?

Canceled performances, postponed productions, ever-evolving protocols: how live events are weathering the latest COVID surge.

01/12/2022 By Conner Reed

Year in Review

The Best Oregon-Made Movies, Books, Music & Art of 2021

From Shrill’s finale to Third Angle's Sanctuaries to Nicolas Cage's Pig, it was quite a year.

12/08/2021 By Conner Reed, Julia Silverman, and Fiona McCann

Theater

Tickets for Hamilton in Portland to Go on Sale This Week

Get on it.

12/07/2021 With Portland Monthly Arts Team

Theater

‘An Assembly’ Builds a Play with 12 Strangers and a Stack of Notecards

The final piece in 600 Highwaymen's A Thousand Ways series forges tender bonds between total strangers.

11/18/2021 By Rebecca Jacobson

Pomo Picks

Top Things to Do in Portland This Week: Nov 11–17

Hasan Minhaj hits the Schnitz, a Kurosawa film festival rolls on at the Clinton, the in-person Book Festival returns, and more

11/11/2021 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

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

Theater Review

The Chinese Lady at Artists Rep Is a Mostly Compelling Tale of Squashed Hope

ART’s season opener uses a real-life story to lay bare the emptiness of American optimism.

10/26/2021 By Conner Reed