Fall Arts Guide: On Stage
Here are some of Portland’s performing arts highlights for September and October (see visual arts and music highlights):
Portland’s stages are filled in September and October, often with the very best productions of the year, from the beautiful productions of Portland Center Stage to the intimate shows at the city’s neighborhood theaters.
Oct. 9-Nov. 11
Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 S.W. Morrison St.
In recent years, Portland has seen fine productions of several of the great August Wilson’s 10-play theater cycle, set in an African-American neighborhood in Pittsburgh over 100 years. This one is set in 1948 and captures Wilson at his lyrical and musical peak.
“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”
Oct. 11-Nov. 11
Portland Playhouse, 602 N.E. Prescott St.
The question is, can Andrew “Old Hickory” Jackson survive the assault of this rock musical? Portland Playhouse is a little theater with big ambitions, known for its risk-taking and sense of fun and energy. This excursion into American political history arrives just in time for the elections.
Oct. 18-Nov. 10
Coho Productions, 2257 N.W. Raleigh St.
Coho is another of Portland’s little neighborhood theaters that so frequently produce great, gripping evenings of theater. “Body Awareness,” by Annie Baker, is set in a Vermont college town where a family deals with the introduction of a visitor whose career sets him at odds with everyone, except perhaps the son. One of the city’s best directors (and actors), Gretchen Corbett, directs.
Sept. 4-Oct. 7
Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 S.W. Morrison St.
Aaron Posner has carved a stage production from Kurt Vonnegut’s collection of short stories, “Welcome to the Monkey House,” and he’ll direct a cast that includes some of Portland’s best actors, including Tim True and Valerie Stevens, to kick off Artists Rep’s 30th season.
Time-Based Art Festival: Andrew Dickson, Life Coach
Sept. 6-16
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, various venues
Known as “TBA,” this festival is dedicated to avant-garde forms of theater, dance, music, visual arts and other uncategorizable arts, bringing both emerging new performance groups and established stars, including this year, Laurie Anderson. TBA shifts the Portland art scene several degrees toward the “wild and crazy.”
“Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Sept. 18-Oct. 21
Portland Center Stage, 117 N.W. 11th Ave.
Center Stage is the largest theater company in Portland, and its most lavish production is usually the musical that kicks off each season — in this case, the company’s 25th. “Sweeney Todd” is Stephen Sondheim’s great musical thriller, based on a Christopher Bond play, and motivated by revenge. Pies and especially close shaves are involved.
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