Krista Garver - Page 13

Adam Bock's A LIFE, which was commissioned by Portland Center Stage, starts out with a lot of promise -- Nate, a man in his 50s, recently single and lonely, is contemplating what it's all about. But ultimately the show fails to land.

______ THE WOLF, a new devised piece now running at Shaking the Tree, draws on Little Red Riding Hood to explores how easy it is to become trapped in these familiar narratives, to be defined by your given role until you lose track of your own voice.

'Is it now? I thought I had more time.' That's Guy's first line in Will Eno's quietly profound play WAKEY, WAKEY, now on stage at Portland Playhouse. It gets straight to the core of many people's (me included) fear of death -- the fear that it may come before we're ready.

If a musical can heal the world, that musical is THE COLOR PURPLE -- specifically, the production now playing at Portland Center Stage. This star-studded production, headed by the luminous Felicia Boswell in the role of Celie, tells a story of empowerment that has probably never been more needed than it is right now.

ORDINARY DAYS is a small musical -- four people, not much dialogue, a single piano, a sparse set -- but it's precisely this simplicity that allows the big picture to emerge. And that picture is extraordinary.

Did you miss WINTER SONG at Portland Center Stage last holiday season? Not to worry -- Merideth Kaye Clark and Brandon Woolley, the show's creators have recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the concept album.

David Lindsay-Abaire's RIPCORD, now playing at Clackamas Repertory Theatre, is a madcap comedy with a dark side.

SKELETON CREW is a hard-hitting and deeply-moving play about people who are simply trying to survive in a world where the deck is stacked against them.

UXOs are failed weapons of war. But could they also be solutions to our greatest problems? That's the question that UNEXPLODED ORDNANCES, a genre-defying, thought-provoking piece by Split Britches (i.e., performance duo Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw) seeks to answer.

RENEE'S QUEER CABARET, a "resistance variety show" hosted by local singer-songwriter Renee Muzquiz made its debut last week at Artists Rep as part of the Risk/Reward Festival. Submissions are now being accepted for the next installment of the new monthly series, which takes place on October 20.

'What's playing at Broadway Rose? I'll tell you what's playing at Broadway Rose. A GUYS AND DOLLS so good that it gets a standing ovation from everyone who goes. That's what's playing at Broadway Rose.'

MAMMA MIA! is a silly musical, but it's perfect fun for a carefree summer day.

Clackamas Rep's SENSE & SENSIBILITY features creative direction and a great cast for a delightfully fun time.

Remember the movie 9 to 5? Now picture it with chainsaws. Add in a very heavy dose of internalized sexism, and you'll come close to having THE SECRETARIES, written by the comedy troupe Five Lesbian Brothers, aka Maureen Angelos, Babs Davy, Dominique Dibbell, Peg Healey, and Lisa Kron.

If you're up for something experimental and would like to see a new take on storytelling and performance from a group of up-and-coming theatre artists, check it VERY POORLY INDEED by the Institute of Contemporary Performance.

The national tour of Cameron MacKintosh's revamped LES MIS hits it out of the park.

BROKEN BONE BATHTUB is based on Siobhan O'Loughlin's experience of breaking her hand in a bike accident. Whatever you may be feeling about the state of the world, or even your day, this award-winning solo piece will give you hope and you'll walk out a happier and more compassionate person than you walked in.

Packed with great music and featuring an incredible performance by Deidrie Henry as Billie Holiday, LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL is an absolute must-see.

Lauren Gunderson's I AND YOU is a beautiful meditation on the universality of human experience and connection.

Rich Rubin's LEFT HOOK is a powerful play about the displacement of Portland's African American community from Albina in the 1970s.