I have fallen in love with the Clinton. I discovered this is the theater I need to sit up front at…read more The back row tends to have the d-bags who cannot pretend they are in a dark movie theater with other people (yes, I am glaring at YOU)... Up front is perfect since there is a stage. They show some great things and their location truly demands you continue the friend talk about the film at a bar or over some fries next door. A lot of shows have raffles. I have won several things like a gorgeous local artist print of John Waters and a still from Cat People. This is a super safe space for LGBTQ+ and all us local weirdos too. As long as you are not a hateful Nazi, you are welcome and I always have great encounters with so many lovely people. I have attended a lot of concerts, shows, burlesque, drag... all sorts of fun here. Their website is great to check out what is coming up but they are down to show you a good time. Did I mention snacks?? They know what EPIC BUTTER means and their popcorn is delicious! Also, check out their other snacks. I got some Missionary Chocolate covered nuts that were next level.

Portland seems to love preserving the past and the weirdness, and the Clinton Street Theater is…read moredefinitely one of those iconic places that proves it. Just east of the river, in the middle of a residential part of Portland lies this little theater. Something I was not expecting to see when I was invited to watch a friend's movie that he filmed. Let me share some information on what to expect before coming here: * Parking * Once you spot the place and drive past it, you won't find a garage anywhere. Street parking only. So be cognizant of street parking signs as well. * The Theater * A classic type of theater reminiscent of days passed with a marquee above the entrance. Upon entering, there isn't much of a lobby, but a concession stand selling everything from candy, popcorn, and drinks. They even sell beer and wine, and local canned ciders. I also heard, they're cool with you bringing in food from outside. Just not alcohol, which is understandable. Although the lobby is narrow, i still loved looking up at the movie poster decor that lined the walls. There's only one movie screen as far as I know of, so don't expect a huge building with 20 screens. I mean it is an old building with old wooden doors, brass doorknobs, heavy curtains, and tiny restrooms with exposed pipes. Inside there is a small stage in front of the main screen, available for performers and events. Yes, you can even rent out the venue as well to hold an event. As for seating, the chairs are pretty wide and fairly comfortable. There may have been only about 200 seats, so expect the closeness of audience interactions and the quiet whispers to be heard loud and clear. In short, this old school theater is definitely a historical icon of Portland, with its marquee board changed by hand and little box office up front selling tickets. Come here for homemade movies, B rated films, as well as weird random classics. Just check their website for what's showing. I enjoyed my friend's event and I wouldn't mind seeing another crazy movie here like The Toxic Avenger!

I got tickets from DoPDX for a one night only performance of CHURCH: Seven Deadly Sins - Wrath, and…read morewas intrigued - not quite sure what to expect. The theater is a classic adult film house (if walls could talk!) that has seen many changes over the years. It's evident that the community cherishes and fully supports this art establishment and vice versa. It's sponsored by PAM CUT, Portland Art Museum - Center for an Untold Tomorrow, that not only celebrates cinematic storytelling, but embraces both local and national artists' creative vision. The experiences can be immersive and interactive, adding to the fun! I was cheerfully greeted upon my early arrival and told that I could sit in any 'Reserved' seats. The theater seemed more spacious than most and, while not recliners, the chairs were very comfortable and had a flip up table for snacks, etc. (it took me a while to figure that out) and cup holders on the seats in front of us. Their schedule was a thoughtfully planned event calendar, featuring holiday (pre-Xmas), independent, and classic films, hosted by drag entertainment emcees, local organizations, as well as film directors. The concession stand was a treat; with typical fare with a twist. Cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, soda, candy, fresh baked cookies to nibble, and if you have an appetite, pizza & popcorn. Don't miss the snack station, complete with napkins and popcorn seasonings! I appreciate the diversity and warmth of expression and hope to make their viewing of Sugarcane, hosted by the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, with a Q&A following the film, the end of this month. Oh, and the show we saw was awesome, complete with a choir, band, sing-along 'hymnal' programs, and a talented flute / acoustic artist. It was unlike anything I'd experienced. I can't wait for the next of the Seven Deadly Sins series: Lust - one night only - coming in April.

We went to see an independent documentary here just last week. I'd been dying to see it and this is…read morethe only showing they had scheduled in Portland! Thanks for choosing to show it. The energy was great and there was a great turnout. The seat numbering is a little confusing at first, all the numbers are on the back of the chairs. I noticed a few people struggling to figure it out. You can look to the row in front of yours to find your seat number

My first time at a Mask and Mirror show. This is one of their regular locations, at a church in…read moreTigard. Buying tickets and check in was a breeze. They had water and cookies as a snack. The seats looked like classroom seats but they elevated the experience by providing a very thick seat cushion for everyone. You can tell the staff and crew loves performing. The set design for the show I went to was had so much detail and the performers really played their part. I'm bummed sometimes to see empty seats for a great performance, so please check out some local theater like Mask and Mirror!

Today I went to the opening weekend of the final 2014 seasons production by the Mask & Mirror…read moreCommunity Theatre. Each play has been very nicely produced and, sadly, the audiences sparse. This is a real shame as there is al great deal of talent in this group of actors, directors, producers and the VOLUNTEERS! This is real community theatre at it's best and I applaud the production of "Over The River and Through The Woods" as being as high as last years "Sylvia" and the very nice adaption of "The Importance of Being Earnest". Mask & Mirror company is a community theatre secret-but I'm letting the secret out!! This is a wonderful production company. Well established, nicely produced plays are being held and you don't even know about it! Mask and Mirror isn't new in town- its been in the Tigard area for 9 years, but, for some reason, it hasn't garnered the cache of the Broadway Rose productions. They deserve the communities support. The final play of this years schedule, "Over the River," is playing Friday, Saturday and Sunday thru May 19th, 2014. This play is a very funny dialogue between a 29 year old marketing executive grandson and his 4 Italian-American grandparents. He wants to leave New Jersey for the West Coast and a promotion. They want him to stay in their area. The actors are great in these roles, especially Grand Fathers Nuncio and Frank. There are so many funny lines that the actors are stepping on themselves while the audience laughs..remember guys-pause for your kudos, laughter from the audience in the same as a standing O. Thats the only negative I have to say about this production. Otherwise it is a delightful, if stereotypic,l take on Italian grandparents and their very American grandson. As with 'Earnest", last year, the play has been slightly altered to make some local interest. There are snackies available. Even lemon pie was available today. Yum. Plus coffee, water, candy and whatever else you might want to munch on! Kids are welcome for Friday and Saturday evening performances as well as Sunday afternoons. Looking for something inexpensive and local you west siders? Check out Mask & Mirror Community Theatre's website and Go See Live Theatre! The 2014 season closes 5/14/2014 and fall season opens sometime around the middle of October. They hold open auditions if you're a secret actor and want a chance to audition, and they are always looking for volunteers. Free parking and close to King City, Tualatin, Beaverton, Tigard and West Portland. It's well worth your time!

I think I've found my happy place! I attended my first Northwest Children's Theater production…read moretoday, and I loved everything about the experience. The bright and cheery environment, the excellent customer service, and the outstanding production left me feeling elated for hours after leaving the theater. I watched a brilliant jazz musical version of Alice in Wonderland today. What stood out to me most is the production didn't begin and end with a traditional raised and lowered curtain. Patrons experience the magic of theater from the moment they step foot in the building. Actors hand out stickers and welcome folks into the building. There are costumed characters in the lobby, and today, the Mad Hatter did crowd work in the audience for a full 15-20 minutes before the production began. By the time he walked up to the stage, the audience consisting of adults and children alike, were smiling and laughing and fully swept up into a joyous experience. I don't remember the last time I was this happy. The production was everything I'd hoped it would be. The costumes and set design well first-rate, the live music was exceptional, and the performers sold me on the fact that I, too, had found myself in Wonderland. It was truly heartwarming to see the actors mingling with the crowd in the lobby after the performance. To be six years old again, and have a chance to meet the Mad Hatter or Alice in person? It's just too precious! Northwest Children's Theater... I am a fan!

Daughter attended 2 weeks of summer camp here with a couple of friends and absolutely loved it. It…read morewas very well organized. The teachers were very good with the kids. And they put up a wonderful production at the end. I was worried that parking would be hard at rush hour in downtown. But you can park in the structure attached to their building and they'll validate the parking for you. We'll be returning next year for sure.

Just had one of those Portland moments... when you go to some old Portland place and it... kinda…read moreblows your mind! This Moreland Theatre is really cool... opened back in 1926. Back in the day, the Moreland presented vaudeville acts along with silent pictures! This place has a really nice vibe, it's huge, great sound and picture quality... great popcorn! We went during the afternoon, tickets were just $5.50.... popcorn $4.... Super cool people working there, locally owned. Worth checkin' out

I love older-style local theaters, especially the ones with classic neon signs and marquees, and…read morethis place definitely fits that vibe. It feels nostalgic in the best way. They have a full concession stand with popcorn, candy, soda, and even beer, plus a popcorn and soda combo at pretty reasonable theater prices. I came on a Tuesday when tickets are only $5, which is such a great deal. I was pleasantly surprised by how big the theater was, along with how comfy and plush the seats are. The seating is staggered, which is nice in theory, though unfortunately I had a tall guy sitting in front of me and still had to lean to the side to see around his head. The screen is plenty large and the sound quality is solid. Parking can be tricky since the theater is on a busy street with lots of nearby restaurants, but we were able to find street parking about a block away. Doors open around 20 minutes before showtime, and they play a few previews without dragging it out before the main movie starts. Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience, and now that I know about their $5 Tuesday deal, I'll definitely be back.

We've just seen "Girl in the red corner," which was a great experience, I highly recommend to visit…read moreDefunkt Theatre! My husband found an ad in a newspaper, so we decided to give it a shot. We are very pleased with this show! The whole production was simply amazing. At the beginning, we were unsure what to expect. Once the show started though, it was great to see actors so invested in the play. Believable emotions, character transformation, an inspirational story that has many view points on the contemporary society and its problems made this play to stand out. Elizabeth Jackson, who plays the main character-Halo, a young woman who starts to learn professional fighting. However, she manages to find something bigger than her with Gina's, Mamie Colombero, help. Page Rogers, Diane Kondrat, Nathan Dunkin help to add depth to the play, showing the intertwined relationships in a messy life that we often fear of. Directed by Paul Angelo, who was honored with a PAMTA for special achievement in direction for his body of work, as a director, on Portland 05-17. Paul is a proud member of The Stage Director an Choreography Society (SDC). Defunkt Theatre has a "pay what you can" policy because they believe theater should be accessible to everyone at all times. With help of sponsors, donors, and volunteers this beautiful idea is possible. I highly recommend Defunkt Theatre for their tireless work at a simple drama that will make you laugh and cry. P.S. Special thanks for Light Design by Ian Anderson-Priddy and Sound Design by Gordon Romei.

A friend and I saw "Insignificance" at Defunkt last night and we loved it. If you like local…read moretheater come see a show! It's in the back of a coffee shop and the whole experience is fun and unique.

Wow... Light Opera of Portland is doing a performance of The Gondoliers. I am severely disabled and…read morehave a pretty limited income. I try hard to stay going out, being supportive best I can of the arts. Light Opera of Portland is listed as offering Arts for All and to contact them for ticket arrangement. I emailed and received an email back they were passing my information on to someone so they could arrange a ticket. After 2 weeks, the event was getting closer. I emailed again stating that I had heard anything... crickets... I was going to the symphony next door at Arlene Schnitzer. I figured I would just go to the box office... however, they informed me that Arts for All tickets were not available, per Light Opera of Portland until 2 hours before the show. She also said she just turned away another disabled person for the same things. She said LOOP what's aware that the only seats remaining for the shows were ADA, that those exact seats were $27 versus $5 and that they realize those of us with disabilities are not able to jump through the gauntlet of crowded will call lines or get to a show 2 hours ahead to sit around very unfriendly seats, praying we can get a seat to a show... maybe or if the trek of trying to find parking downtown or walking blocks from public transportation just to get into the venue. Those of us with disorders like MS, Lupus and a long list of varying tissue disorders swell and suffer from pain when stresssed. The arts are healing but not when we are made to feel this unwelcome. If you are not going to actually offer Arts for All tickets, please don't. Do not sign up stating that you are welcoming to people with disabilities, including income when it is clear, very clear that you are not welcoming.

We saw A Christmas Carol here on December 21st 2017 and it was a cute little play. A Christmas…read moreCarol is one of my favorite holiday movies and plays to see during the holiday season and my family and I have made it a tradition. Let me start off by saying if you have kids or don't like sitting through a long show this is PERFECT! There was only one act and there really isn't a bad seat in the theater. The people who volunteer or work here are very pleasant and greeted us with big smiles. The seating is ok. I would not be comfortable in these seats for very long. Take into account I also have Chronic Illnesses so I get more uncomfortable than most, HOWEVER they actually were not that bad, there was plenty of room in front of you which I LOVE! And even though the theater is small they don't pack you in there, so you definitely don't feel cramped in. Again if you are on the fence about bringing your kids to a play here this is something that is a plus. Also they do have WONDERFUL accommodations for the disabled. This is something I take notice of because of my illness, so when I notice these things I always try to include them. One thing to keep in mind is that because the theater is small some of the "effects" can be more overwhelming such as the smoke, or laser lights. The smoke used in some of the scenes definitely bothered me and some of the others I was with. But not a big deal. The sound is INCREDIBLE! Dont worry about not hearing, again because it is a smaller space you are really right there, but they do have a good sound system that really makes you feel as if you are right in with them. I thought that was pretty cool! Now as for the actual play, I personally thought it was about a C+. It was definitely a cute, and the acting and singing was fun! However being such a big fan I noticed a lot of stuff that was off, Ebenezer Scrooge was definitely different. No top hat! Lol but that totally ok! New and different are always good! The actor who played him did a great job! Same with Bob Cratchet. The ghost of Christmas past had a really good voice, and the ghost of Christmas present was cool, but I wish they would have spent more time with Christmas present as he is the most fun! Marly was extraordinarily talented! In fact probably one of the more of the bunch. Someone made a comment that they felt that the parts didn't necessarily fit the characters, that the people choose their parts. I could see that. Even though they were all very talented some of them just didnt seem to fit that part. But I suppose that isnt something you would notice unless you are a theater geek, or professional (like the person in our group who made that comment) All in all I would recommend this if you are looking for something cool to do with kids during the Holidays. I'm not sure if I would go back to see this again, but I am definitely glad I went to see it. I would recommend seeing it at least once! Its a CHRISTMAS CAROL! with that said Merry Christmas, to one and all!!

What is more Portland than a theater in the back of a coffee shop?! Great venue for intimate plays…read more Really enjoyed myself. Definitely recommend folks support this great theater. Actors were super talented. Stage manager was funny and informative.

The Backdoor Theatre is located, as it sounds, in the backdoor to a coffee shop on Hawthorne. And…read moreof course, it's tiny, with bench seating and fold out chairs. But somehow it manages to have some of the best theatre in Portland. Shows have minimal props and focus largely on the acting and the script. It's refreshing to see a bare bones play that hits you just right, and it puts some of the larger theatre companies in town, with light tricks and major props and scenes, to shame.