If you are visiting Portland OR or you are thinking about buying a home and moving to Portland, you may not be aware of the thriving theater scene.
Are you looking to catch a play or two? Portland is home to a wide range of theater companies and venues. There’s also a vibrant and varied small theater scene. The big theaters in downtown offer world-class performances; smaller independent theaters take risks and seek out new talent.
Some collectives cater their seasons to specific ethnicities or niches like comedy, mime, or puppetry. There is something for everyone. Continue reading to find out more about the Portland theater scene.
Major Theaters
Portland’5 Centers for the Arts is a great place to start when exploring theater. This umbrella organization handles bookings and promotion for many of Portland’s most important venues. You can find Broadway performances, opera, ballet, and major solo appearances by comedians and actors on Portland’s 5 online calendar.
The main halls include Antoinette Hatfield Hall (Portland’s 5 headquarters) and three theater spaces within it, Dolores Winningstad Theatre and Newmark Theatre. The Keller Auditorium and Lincoln Hall are also available.
Portland Center Stage is the city’s biggest theater company. It puts on large-scale musicals on its main stage, and smaller avant-garde plays on its basement space, The Ellyn Bye Studio. Both are located in The Armory which is a historic building in Pearl District.
Two stages are located just west of downtown. Artists Repertory Theatre hosts tense dramas by contemporary playwrights and Profile Theatre, which is a company that dedicates every season to one playwright.
Third Rail Repertory Theatre is a theatre that loves dark comedy and takes no prisoners. It splits its season between Portland’5, and CoHo Theatre.