Saturday, August 16, 2025

Remembering Mandy Andersen by Caitlin Nolan

The comic and dramatic actor, part of an acting family and a welcome figure on stages from Portland to Ashland, gathered a host of friends in her 35 years of life.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 07:56PM
Sunday, August 10, 2025

Shakespeare Fest’s interim executive director takes his seat behind the curtain of a world-class theater by Holly Dillemuth

Javier "Javi" Dubon, in his new role at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival less than two months, is leading with a collaborative approach, bent toward understanding audiences — "what makes th…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 11:55AM
Wednesday, August 6, 2025

‘Anything Goes’: So easy to love by Linda Ferguson

Review: With sparkly costumes and snazzy performances, Broadway Rose stages a de-lovely production of the classic Cole Porter musical.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 08:15PM
Tuesday, August 5, 2025

DramaWatch: Portand’s loss, Astoria’s gain by Linda Ferguson

Danyelle Tinker, a co-founder of North Portland’s Twilight Theater Company, is bringing innovative and accessible shows to Oregon’s North Coast. Plus: Fresh openings, holdover shows.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 06:17PM

‘Damn Yankees’: The Devil made ’em do it by Bob Hicks

Who's on first? Clackamas Rep's bright and sassy revival of the 1950s musical-comedy hit about a phenom who comes out of nowhere beats the Devil at his own nefarious game.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 02:31PM
Sunday, August 3, 2025

Shaking up Shakespeare: A happy ending for ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by Jason Vondersmith

The pop-filled, frisky touring musical "& Juliet," which gives Juliet a new lease on life, plays Portland Aug. 5-10. Plus: Broadway in Portland's 2025-26 season.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 02:30PM
Tuesday, July 29, 2025

21ten Theatre’s 2025 Summer Residency Program: Brand new stories, boldly told by Linda Ferguson

This year’s shows have been a tapestry of storytelling forms, including Andrea Parson’s “The One,” Sofia Leonila Marks and Isabel Strongheart McTighe’s “La Mariposa,” erin rach…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 03:51PM
Monday, July 28, 2025

‘Voiceless’ finds its voice onstage in Bend by Tiffany Lee Brown

Theater companies in Bend and Sisters combine to stage the world premiere of "Voiceless: A Musical," centered on the story of a woman who loses her voice.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 11:46AM
Tuesday, July 22, 2025

DramaWatch: A Palestinian playwright’s ‘Them’ brings the refugee crisis home by Linda Ferguson

Also onstage: The Devil, a Greek muse,  and an Elvis-like character make appearances in musicals. Plus other openings, continuing shows, and theater news.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 06:59PM
Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Just like home: A ‘Merchant of Venice’ that feels like here and now by Linda Ferguson

Portland Shakespeare Project’s "Merchant" uses a new modern-verse translation by Elise Thoron to mirror contemporary American othering.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 02:23PM

In Ashland, the voice of Hulk and Thor revels in ‘Disaster!’ by Jim Flint

"It’s always fun to play the amoral baddie": Veteran stage, TV, and voiceover actor Rick Wasserman relishes playing the villain in Oregon Cabaret Theatre's campy summer musical.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:30AM
Monday, July 14, 2025

Jordan Markus moon walks into Portland by Jason Vondersmith

Humanizing "this untouchable figure": Markus steps into the giant shoes of pop star Michael Jackson in the touring Broadway musical "MJ," playing in Portland July 15-20.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 08:33PM
Sunday, July 13, 2025

Never stop exploring: Stephanie Mulligan reminisces about her long career as a director and stage manager while looking forward to new theatrical adve by Linda Ferguson

Clackamas Rep's "Sherlock Holmes" is her last turn as a sought-after stage manager for more than 30 years, Mulligan says. But she'll still be busy in the director's chair.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:30AM
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Salem’s Theatre 33 finds a bigger stage by Brett Campbell

The Willamette University-based theater development program expands its offerings, and brings them to Portland this weekend.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 01:34PM

Katherine Murphy Lewis’s ‘From the Ground UP’ plans for the future by Amy Leona Havin

Lewis's nonprofit is a home for developing adventurous new performance ranging from dance to physical theater, femme storytelling, clowning, and more.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 12:00PM
Sunday, July 6, 2025

At Florence children’s theater group C.R.O.W., family is a big part of the fun by Lori Tobias

Children’s Repertory of Oregon Workshops — C.R.O.W. — offers low-cost classes in dance, musical theater, and performance — not to mention The Tutu Dads.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 06:21PM

Mark Bedard pulls a theatrical hat trick in Rogue Theater Company’s ‘Ripcord’ by Jim Flint

The veteran actor, a longtime favorite at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, returns to Ashland to star in three roles in David Lindsay-Adaire's stage comedy.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:30AM
Tuesday, July 1, 2025

DramaWatch: A Bard-a-licious summer of Shakespeare by Linda Ferguson

The Bard’s work is on outdoor and indoor stages all over, with the return of Portland Actors Ensemble, shows by Original Practice Shakespeare Festival, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in A…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:34PM
Monday, June 30, 2025

‘Waitress’: A fresh recipe for a musical by Linda Ferguson

Broadway Rose’s "Waitress" successfully blends music and magical realism with a strong message about female empowerment.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 03:19PM
Friday, June 27, 2025

‘Aw, Hell’: PETE puts a free-flowing comic contemporary spin on Dante’s ‘Inferno’ by Caitlin Nolan

A visit to the horrors of tech week in the Underworld, which despite the hellishness of the play's plot seems to be settling in quite comfortably, thank you very much.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:30AM
Thursday, June 26, 2025

Stage & Studio: Olga Kravtsova’s ‘Harvest of Woman’ by Dmae Lo Roberts

Dmae Lo Roberts talks in her podcast with the Russian-born performer about her immigrant experience and her show about "women’s unseen labor, endurance, and survival.”

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 06:00PM

Ashland treats: Shakespeare Fest’s ‘As You Like It,’ ‘Merry Wives’ and ‘Into the Woods’ by Darleen Ortega

In review: The festival romps into summer with three fine and funny productions, topped by the musical fairy-tale fantasy of a glorious journey "Into the Woods."

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 03:36PM
Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Profile Theatre Playwright Festival: Making new plays in troubled times by Bobby Bermea

Playwrights Jen Silverman and Mike Lew come to town to work on tales of Houdini and a fatal hazing, and the festival goes on despite the abrupt loss of NEA funding.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 01:24PM
Friday, June 20, 2025

Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Bag&Baggage name interim leaders, Center Stage emergency fund grows by Bob Hicks

OSF names Javier Dubon as its interim executive director; B&B announces a four-person artistic leadership team; Center Stage needs $1 million more by Aug. 31.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 07:48PM
Tuesday, June 17, 2025

OSF announces abrupt departure of executive director by Holly Dillemuth

Citing ‘personally requested leave,’ Calicchio leaves after less than seven months leading the business side of Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Announcement on succession planning expected …

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 08:16PM

DramaWatch: Beyond Bozo & other clowns by Linda Ferguson

Integrating clown performance with PETE’s "Aw, Hell"; Anthony Hudson (Drag Clown Carla Rossi) is co-producing the third annual drag workshop, part of the Risk/Reward festival of new perfor…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 07:05PM

Gathering in memory of playwright Steve Patterson by Bob Hicks

A wake will be held June 17 for Patterson, co-founder of Playwrights West and the prolific author of 50-plus plays, including "Waiting on Sean Flynn" and "Ghostlighting."

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 12:09PM
Friday, June 13, 2025

Earnest’s Wilde, Wilde Oregon days by Darleen Ortega

With "The Importance of Being Earnest" already playing at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Kamilah Bush's fresh adaptation for Portland Center Stage unveils Oscar Wilde's queer coding and gi…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 08:10PM
Thursday, June 12, 2025

Lauren Yee’s ‘Mother Russia’ at Profile: Comedy, culture, questions for U.S., too by Darleen Ortega

Yee's undercurrent of humor cushions deeper questions about communism, capitalism, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the ways we live our lives.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 03:37PM
Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Remembering Darcelle: Sweet, cheeky fun by Linda Ferguson

Review: Triangle’s encore production of "That’s No Lady" pays tribute to Darcelle/Walter Cole, as well as his love for Roxy Neuhardt and drag performance.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 02:45PM

Taking a wild ride with ‘Fool for Love’ by Linda Ferguson

Review: Tour de Force Productions turns the trainwrecked relationship at the center of Sam Shepard’s desert drama into thrilling theater.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 01:28PM

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