Reviews of Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Play
Local Reviews
"[Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really is] a lively and entertaining horror production that feels unexpectedly perfect for the dark days of our holiday season." —Portland Mercury
"Dracula is full of insights about power—how to use it, and how to fight it. It’s not typical holiday fare, but maybe it should be." —Oregon ArtsWatch
"Few Portland theater companies merge the epic and the arty like Portland Center Stage, whose productions often earn the right to be called blockbusters." —Willamette Week
"Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really delivers funny, bloody holiday counterprogramming. —The Oregonian
“(Hamill’s) adaptation of Bram Stoker’s beloved novel Dracula offers a meditation on toxic masculinity present in those fear-inducing predators who are so often labeled as sexy, interesting and captivating protagonists.” —Portland Tribune
Critic Reviews
"Both terrifying and riotous, Kate Hamill’s imaginative, gender-bending “feminist revenge fantasy” is like no Dracula you’ve ever seen—exploring the nature of predators and reinventing the story as a smart, disquieting, darkly comic drama." –Actors’ Theater of Columbus
"Delivers the feminist revenge fantasy it promises with a witty, relentless, and bloody satisfying attack on the patriarchy. Loosely based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, playwright Kate Hamill turns the tables on the classic tale’s unquestioned male dominance and female victimhood with an uncompromising commitment to exposing the absurdity of gender stereotyping." –MD Theater Guide
"It outwardly ridicules the so-called “alpha male” ideology and traditional, misogynistic gender roles. It’s a chauvinist’s fever dream and the liberation movement’s wet one." –New England Theatre Geek
"Both terrifying and riotous, Kate Hamill's imaginative, gender-bending "feminist revenge fantasy" is like no Dracula you've ever seen-exploring the nature of predators and reinventing the story as a smart, disquieting, darkly comic drama." –BroadwayWorld
"Biting in every sense of the word, a powerful tale of the overpowering." –New York Theater Guide
“This is the kind of horror I could watch all day.” –Vulture
“Playwright Kate Hamill has rewritten the show as ‘a full-throated battle cry against toxic masculinity. No damsels in distress, no romanticized villains — just a gleeful stake through the heart of the patriarchy.’” –LEO Weekly
“Her adaptations shift the emphasis,” says Aguillon, “allowing the women’s voices to be heard.” –Boston Globe
Current & Upcoming
Improvisation Classes for Beginners
Whether you're looking to get more confident in social situations, think quicker on your feet, or get in touch with your imaginative side, these "one-off" improv classes will set you on the path to success!
Adult Class : TWELFTH NIGHT, Before & After
Join veteran actor Joe Costa for a unique opportunity to take a “deep dive” into both Shakespeare’s text of Twelfth Night, and the PCS Production. Participants will read the play out loud as a group, with “intermissions” provided for lively discussion of themes and content. Interested participants will have a chance to act in selected scenes, guided by the instructor.
Improv Comedy: Love, Shakespeare
Witness the Magic of unscripted Elizabethan comedy! Step into the offbeat world of Love, Shakespeare, where seasoned Portland comedians attempt something audacious: performing a fully improvised Elizabethan play based on your suggestions!
Albina Music Trust presents A Brown Branch Christmas
Celebrate this holiday season with A Brown Branch Christmas at Portland Center Stage. Now in its fourth season, this two-night big band celebration features directors Domo Branch and Charlie Brown III guiding a heavy 15-piece lineup of regional and national musicians.
BIPOC Affinity Night DJ Party with ALoSo
Join us for a double feature BIPOC Affinity Night, featuring a live DJ set by ALoSo, plus holiday craft market vendor tables, art exhibits by Albina Music Trust Wall to Wall Sound and Jason Hill's Favorite Things, with complimentary select drinks provided by Multnomah Whiskey Library and Deschutes Brewery while supplies last.
Winter Teen Academy: Scene Work
Calling all teens! Are you looking to expand your acting skills and be the best scene partner you can be for your fellow actors? In this class, we will dig deep into scene study, character motivation, and active listening, while learning the necessary questions to ask in every rehearsal situation. You'll develop fuller characters and deeper relationships on stage by partnering in scene work — and have lots of fun too!
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
Season Superstars
Season Supporting Sponsors
