Friday, April 11, 2025

A farewell to James Edmondson, longtime star at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival by Jim Flint

A farewell to James Edmondson, longtime star at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Jim FlintEdmondson, who began his long OSF career in 1972 by playing Petruchio in "Taming of the Shrew," died …

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 02:50PM
Wednesday, April 9, 2025

‘Life of Pi:’ A shipwreck and a tiger’s tale by Linda Ferguson

‘Life of Pi:’ A shipwreck and a tiger’s tale Linda FergusonThe Broadway in Portland show at Keller Auditorium sates our hunger for spectacle by offering a sumptuous feast of projection…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 08:24PM

Spark Plug: Taking risks, building trust by Brett Campbell

Spark Plug: Taking risks, building trust Brett CampbellLoading its sets in and out of a coffee shop via U-Haul with each performance, the intimate theater company brings new and homegrown th…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 11:44AM
Sunday, April 6, 2025

Drew Pisarra: How (and why) I updated Oscar Wilde’s ‘Salome’ for Imago Theatre by Drew Pisarra

Drew Pisarra: How (and why) I updated Oscar Wilde’s ‘Salome’ for Imago Theatre Drew PisarraWilde's wildly witty 1890s play, a scandal in its time, is rooted in 19th century melodrama. …

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:30AM
Thursday, April 3, 2025

High times, low comedy: Theatre in the Grove’s ‘Reefer Madness: The Musical’ spoofs drug war hysteria by Brett Campbell

High times, low comedy: Theatre in the Grove’s ‘Reefer Madness: The Musical’ spoofs drug war hysteria Brett CampbellCampy modern musical adaptation of the notorious 1936 film brings il…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:12PM
Tuesday, April 1, 2025

DramaWatch: Rain, shine, & Fertile Ground by Linda Ferguson

DramaWatch: Rain, shine, & Fertile Ground Linda FergusonOregon theaters will flourish under an invigorating shower of shows this month, with big attractions like Oscar Wilde’s “Salom…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 05:59PM
Saturday, March 29, 2025

Oregon theater giant Denis Arndt, 1939-2025 by Jim Flint

Oregon theater giant Denis Arndt, 1939-2025 Jim FlintThe Northwest actor, who spent 15 seasons as a star at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and co-founded Seattle's Intiman Theatre, leaves a…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 12:18PM

‘Julius Caesar’ & ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’: Ashland reinvents the classics by Darleen Ortega

‘Julius Caesar’ & ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’: Ashland reinvents the classics Darleen OrtegaWith a women and nonbinary cast for "Caesar" and an "Earnest" transported to the…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:30AM
Friday, March 28, 2025

Stage & Studio: Exploring personal diasporas at Fertile Ground by Dmae Lo Roberts

Stage & Studio: Exploring personal diasporas at Fertile Ground Dmae Lo RobertsDmae Lo Roberts talks in this podcast with Laotian-American theatermaker Samson Syharath and Indo-American w…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 02:00PM

Oregon Shakespeare Festival strikes gold with a pair of plays about Black life by Darleen Ortega

Oregon Shakespeare Festival strikes gold with a pair of plays about Black life Darleen OrtegaJames Ijames' "Fat Ham" and August Wilson's "Jitney" kick off the Ashland festival's 90th season …

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:30AM
Thursday, March 27, 2025

Fertile Ground: An early look at three new plays in this year’s festival by Linda Ferguson

Fertile Ground: An early look at three new plays in this year’s festival Linda FergusonIn Portland's festival of dozens of new works April 4-19, "Conciliation" reckons with the continuing …

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 02:18PM
Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Oregon Children’s Theatre to pause all shows and activities by Linda Ferguson

Oregon Children’s Theatre to pause all shows and activities Linda FergusonDue to financial troubles, the nationally recognized company will suspend its productions and educational programs…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 08:08PM

Stumptown’s ‘Tootsie’: Naughty and nice by Linda Ferguson

Stumptown’s ‘Tootsie’: Naughty and nice Linda FergusonTheater review: Stumptown Stages presents a salty, witty, and musical update of the comic 1982 movie.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 02:54PM
Tuesday, March 18, 2025

DramaWatch: A bevy of absorbing and socially significant shows by Linda Ferguson

DramaWatch: A bevy of absorbing and socially significant shows Linda FergusonPortland Center Stage presents a stirring production of "The Light." Fuse prepares "Great White Goes Down" for Fe…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 04:38PM
Friday, March 14, 2025

August Wilson & Kevin Kenerly help kick off Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 90th season by Jim Flint

August Wilson & Kevin Kenerly help kick off Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 90th season Jim FlintKenerly, a 26-year veteran of the Ashland festival who has starred in other works by the …

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:00AM
Thursday, March 13, 2025

Center Stage’s searing ‘Virginia Woolf’: Why now? by Darleen Ortega

Center Stage’s searing ‘Virginia Woolf’: Why now? Darleen OrtegaEdward Albee's 1960s masterwork of two toxic marriages gets a bold and skillful new performance. Sixty years later, does…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 12:59PM
Tuesday, March 11, 2025

‘Hamilton’ roars back into Portand by James Bash

‘Hamilton’ roars back into Portand James BashThe latest Broadway tour of Lin-Manuel's historical hit musical, back in town through March 23, thrillingly tells its early American tale in …

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 11:20AM
Monday, March 10, 2025

As Ashland’s theater season kicks in, an actor does double duty without a doubt by Jim Flint

As Ashland’s theater season kicks in, an actor does double duty without a doubt Jim FlintDaniel Molina, who will be in "Shane" at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this summer, gets an early…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:00AM
Saturday, March 8, 2025

Unexpected connections, onstage and off by Brett Campbell

Unexpected connections, onstage and off Brett CampbellBringing authenticity to neurodiversity: PHAME Academy and Artists Rep collaborate on Diana Burbano’s "Sapience," a play that deals in…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 11:00AM
Thursday, March 6, 2025

Review: Third Rail’s potent ‘A Case for the Existence of God’ by Darleen Ortega

Review: Third Rail’s potent ‘A Case for the Existence of God’ Darleen OrtegaActors Isaac Lamb and Charles Grant shine in Samuel D. Butler's empathetic drama about two men struggling to…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 06:35PM
Wednesday, March 5, 2025

‘Sapience’: A loving look at diverse abilities by Bob Hicks

‘Sapience’: A loving look at diverse abilities Bob HicksArtists Repertory Theatre’s warm and colorful premiere of Diana Burbano’s play embraces its array of characters.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 11:28AM
Tuesday, March 4, 2025

DramaWatch: A whole new fairy tale world by Linda Ferguson

DramaWatch: A whole new fairy tale world Linda FergusonSpeculative Drama’s immersive show “Bitter Herb: A Play in Movement” invites audiences to explore the realm of fairy tales. Plus:…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 12:47PM
Friday, February 28, 2025

Shakespeare, minimalist and feminist by Brett Campbell

Shakespeare, minimalist and feminist Brett CampbellBag&Baggage Productions’ snappy "Beginnings & Endings" presents a stripped-down "Richard III" and a modern look at the Bard’s w…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 07:25PM
Wednesday, February 26, 2025

‘Notes from the Field’: A play for today by Darleen Ortega

‘Notes from the Field’: A play for today Darleen OrtegaPortland Playhouse's sterling production of Anna Deavere Smith's play about the school-to-prison pipeline meets the nation's politi…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 03:07PM

A satirical and entrancing ‘Antipodes’ at Shaking the Tree by Linda Ferguson

A satirical and entrancing ‘Antipodes’ at Shaking the Tree Linda FergusonReview: Samantha Van Der Merwe’s production of Annie Baker’s play is a beguiling blend of realistic dialogue …

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 10:30AM
Tuesday, February 25, 2025

21ten’s broadly comic ‘Chekhov: 3 Farces’ offers some rowdy and welcome laughs by Linda Ferguson

21ten’s broadly comic ‘Chekhov: 3 Farces’ offers some rowdy and welcome laughs Linda FergusonReview: New translations and superb performances (plus a little Looney Tunes) bring "The Be…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 03:45PM

The future of Portland theater? Seven young artists who are making a difference by Bobby Bermea

The future of Portland theater? Seven young artists who are making a difference Bobby BermeaDespite tough times, theater is NOT dead, Bobby Bermea declares, and talks with seven up-and-comin…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:30AM
Tuesday, February 18, 2025

DramaWatch: Only connect, all over town by Linda Ferguson

DramaWatch: Only connect, all over town Linda FergusonWith a multitude of shows opening in the next few weeks, the artistic teams read like a who’s who of Portland theater favorites. Plus:…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 03:01PM

Stage & Studio: A conversation with the star and director of ‘Notes From The Field’ by Dmae Lo Roberts

Stage & Studio: A conversation with the star and director of ‘Notes From The Field’ Dmae Lo RobertsIn Anna Deavere Smith's solo play opening at Portland Playhouse, there are "heavy i…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:00AM
Sunday, February 16, 2025

A farewell to theater critic Misha Berson by Bob Hicks

A farewell to theater critic Misha Berson Bob HicksThe longtime Seattle theater and culture writer, who also contributed often to Oregon ArtsWatch, embraced life and art with passion and a c…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 08:02PM
Friday, February 14, 2025

Vin Shambry: Peeling the ‘Pass Over’ onion by Bobby Bermea

Vin Shambry: Peeling the ‘Pass Over’ onion Bobby BermeaAntoinette Nwandu's play, a co-production of Corrib Theatre and Historic Alberta House, holds a fascinating conversation between Bl…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 12:02PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre