Benjamin Tissell News

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.

October 2, Tuesday, the Portland Civic Theatre Guild kicks off its 60th Anniversary season with  Foxfire by Susan Cooper and Hume Cronyn at The Sanctuary, home of triangle productions!

The world premiere of Astoria: Part Two the conclusion of a two-part stage adaptation of Peter Stark's best-selling bookASTORIA: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire; A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival adapted and directed by Chris Coleman begins preview performances at The Armory on January 20, opens January 26 and closes February 18.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a delightful family story about the true meaning of Christmas, will open at the Lakewood Theatre Company today, December 14 at 7:30 PM. Performances continue on December 15, 16, 17 and 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 PM. There will also be matinee performances at 2:00 PM on Saturday Dec. 16, Sunday Dec. 17 and Saturday, Dec. 23. After the opening night performance on December 14th, there will be a hot cocoa and cookie reception. The show sponsor is Nicoletta's Table & Marketplace.

The world premiere of Astoria: Part Two the conclusion of a two-part stage adaptation of Peter Stark's best-selling book ASTORIA: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire; A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival adapted and directed by Chris Coleman begins preview performances at The Armory on January 20, opens January 26 and closes February 18.

Portland Playhouse's fun, festive, family favorite A CHRISTMAS CAROL transforms the Hampton Opera Center into Dickensian England, directed by Brian Weaver and Cristi Miles for a run through December 30. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a delightful family story about the true meaning of Christmas, will open at the Lakewood Theatre Company on Thursday, December 14 at 7:30 PM. Performances continue on December 15, 16, 17 and 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 PM. There will also be matinee performances at 2:00 PM on Saturday Dec. 16, Sunday Dec. 17 and Saturday, Dec. 23. After the opening night performance on December 14th, there will be a hot cocoa and cookie reception. The show sponsor is Nicoletta's Table & Marketplace.

Lakewood Theatre Company will open on Friday April 28, 2017 with the landmark musical, Godspell with music and lyrics by Steve Schwartz and book by John-Michael Tebelak. The production sponsor for Godspell is Nicoletta's Table & Marketplace.

Peter Stark's best-selling book ASTORIA: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire; A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival comes to life on stage at The Armory in a world premiere production directed and adapted by Chris Coleman.

Peter Stark's best-selling bookASTORIA: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire; A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival comes to life on stage at The Armory in a world premiere production directed and adapted by Chris Coleman. Astoria: Part One is the first world premiere to debut as part of the company's new Northwest Stories series. This monumental piece of American history will be told in two parts over the course of two seasons. Astoria: Part One opens on the U.S. Bank Main Stage on January 20, with preview performances beginning January 14, and regular performances running through February 12. Select dates will be presented as part of Fertile Ground, a city-wide festival of new works held every January in Portland. Astoria: Part Two will be presented during the 2017-2018 season. 

Christmas shows usually come with a moral -- some 'true message of Christmas' about generosity or acceptance that we're supposed to carry in our hearts throughout the year to come. Broadway Rose's A VERY MERRY PDX-MAS has none of that. Your heart won't grow three sizes. There isn't even an overarching story you'll spend hours or days getting to the bottom of. What you will have is a smile on your face that will help you get through what is widely recognized as the most stressful time of year.

If you're looking for that next musical to fall in love with, or you wonder what the big deal is about musical theatre, I very highly recommend you make your way out to Tigard to see FLY BY NIGHT at Broadway Rose. (Protip: Take a date. And tissues.)

Emerging Portland-based Singer-Songwriter KELSEY NORENE releases her debut EP titled 'Find Me' on August 16.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, a delightful family story about the true meaning of Christmas, will open at the Lakewood Theatre Company tonight, December 17 at 7:30 PM.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, a delightful family story about the true meaning of Christmas, will open at the Lakewood Theatre Company on Thursday, December 17 at 7:30 PM. Performances continue on December 18,19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 PM. There will also be matinee performances at 2:00 PM on Saturday Dec. 19 and Sunday Dec. 20. After the opening night performance on December 17th, there will be a hot cocoa and cookie reception.