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
Monday, June 9, 2025

Cole Escola wins a Tony for ‘Oh, Mary!’ by Bob Hicks

Escola, from Clatskanie, Oregon, won for best leading actor in a play and was also nominated for writing the much-praised farce about Mary Todd Lincoln. Four others with Northwest roots were…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 03:38PM
Saturday, June 7, 2025

Watching the Tonys Sunday? Keep an eye out for Northwest nominees by Bob Hicks

Actors Brooks Ashmanskas and Megan Hilty, producers Corey Brunish and Brian Rooney, and actor/playwright Cole Escola are up for awards in Sunday's Tonys ceremony.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:15AM
Thursday, June 5, 2025

‘That’s No Lady’: Remembering Walter Cole by Dmae Lo Roberts

Stage & Studio: Dmae Lo Roberts talks in her new podcast with writer/director Don Horn and actor Kevin Loomis about Triangle's revival of the show celebrating Cole/Darcelle.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 06:30PM
Wednesday, June 4, 2025

With her own theater company and a dream role, Meghan Daaboul’s a ‘Fool for Love’ by Bobby Bermea

Daaboul, founder of Tour de Force Productions, finally steps into the shoes of May in Sam Shepard's American classic of ill-fated love on the edge of the Mojave Desert.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 03:26PM
Tuesday, June 3, 2025

DramaWatch: A confluence of talent by Linda Ferguson

illioo Native Theatre’s workshop performance of ‘BlueJay’s Canoe’; Profile Theatre’s upcoming ‘Mother Russia’ and its scenic designer Alex Meyer. Plus other openings, an extend…

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 05:54PM
Sunday, June 1, 2025

‘Assassins’: Packing heat, lighting a Fuse by Linda Ferguson

Fuse Theatre Ensemble lights up Reed College’s Black Box Theatre with a sizzling production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical about presidential assassins.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 01:22PM
Friday, May 30, 2025

‘Nostalgia Is So Yesterday’: David Hume Kennerly and Charles Jennings talk politics and their collaboration of photos and poetry in advance of Jun by Amy Leona Havin

Cygnet Salon presents a one-night performance by Bruce Burkhartsmeier, David Meyers, Vana O’Brien, and Kathleen Worley on the work and friendship of the two men.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 08:41PM

Oregon Shakespeare Festival unveils its 10-show 2026 season by Jim Flint

While the current season continues through October, the Ashland festival announces a sweeping 2026 lineup of magic, music, and the messiness of being human.

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 09:00AM
Thursday, May 29, 2025

Transformations: Talking story and life with the stars of two new Mikki Gillette plays by Bobby Bermea

Trans actors Juliet Mylan and Ethan Feider talk about the risks and rewards of queer theater and their roles for Salt & Sage in Gillette's "Tears and Glitter" and "Mimetic Desire."

SOURCE: Oregon ArtsWatch at 11:29AM