Reviews of "Our Town"
Our Town has critics raving and audiences gasping!
"Intimacy and universality blend to move us deeply in Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Our Town. ... Simply put, the production is a glowing triumph for the company
"PCS’s classic opening is surprisingly fresh ... [the production] soars in the caliber of its performance. ... When the curtain rose on Act 3, the audience gasped." -Willamette Week
"There are a handful of works of art I would put on my "must see or hear" list, works that move me to the point of understanding; Beethoven's Symphony No. 9; Jamie Wyeth's The Red House
"Theaters always have a big choice to make as far as whether to produce a classic exactly as written or to give it some twist to make it their own. The twist Portland Center Stage employs is equal parts subtle and bold and is very effective. ... While the actors give us subtlety and realness, Rose Riordan's staging gives us beautiful theatricality. ... And then there's the moment when the curtain goes up on act three. I'm not going to give it away, but what I saw was stunning. The staging in this final leg of the show is beautifully haunting and worth the price of admission. -Ut Omnia Bene
"There is nothing like a great stage production of Our Town to make a person a believer. Portland Center Stage will make you one with its stunning production of the Pulitzer Prize winner ... So what makes this a great play in 2015? Let’s start with great directing. Rose Riordan nails it. Timing. Humor. The perfect innocence and honesty of the characters. She and the cast not only capture some of life’s sweetest moments, but also make them ours." - Judy Nedry
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).
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