The Armory is one of my favorite buildings in Portland. Not only is it beautiful but it also houses Portland Center Stage which does some of the best productions around. I always know that I'm in for a great time. They are not just supportive of us folks who have mobility challenges with some of the better ADA seating but they also support Arts for All. Many places make it a challenge to get tickets even though they support it. That can be very difficult since ADA seats are many times the first taken. I could really go on and on about how amazing their customer service is too. But they treat me just as well as I'm on a fixed income versus when I was easily able to be a season ticket holder for quite a few years. I also, really appreciate that they have easily accessible restrooms for all of us that are clean with ample stalls. Be certain when attending that you have extra time to explore because they always have interesting art exhibits. They also have a pretty great bar with loads of snacks and a nice selection of beverages and wine that are all very reasonably priced. read more

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First of all, this was our first time going to a play at this venue and was pleasantly impressed by the interior design and decor! Our seats were great, and it seemed like all the seats had a nice view of the stage! Bar staff was very polite and quick to serve, nice selection of both alcohol drinks and nonalcoholic beverages. The ladies bathroom was large and the line moved quickly. There was a nonbinary/family restroom off to the side and I didn't see it, but I think the men's room was nearby. Outside parking on the street or a cozy parking garage across from one of our local breweries next door- easy in and easy out. I will be coming back soon! read more

My wife has always wanted to see Sweeny Todd. And this was a life goal for her the show was amazing, so much better than we both expected. But it's important to give a huge shout out to the young lady working the ticket booth, she got us upgrades to amazing seats and my wife has not stopped talking about how wonderful the whole experience was. Tickets were really not that expensive either. great date night. I just wish we could have gotten one of those Sweeny Todd posters, I would have paid anything to give my wife that as her anniversary gift. read more

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Wow! This is a Five Star theater! Seeing a musical or play in this venue is a treat, a wonderful experience beginning to end. The venue as designed for this purpose so the sound quality is fabulous; you can hear every word. Seats are stacked so you have a clear view. They are wide and have lots of leg room, so much that when people need to walk past you to get to their seat, you can remain seated. Whoever designed this venue thought of everything! The lobby has a rustic yet industrial vibe with an open ceiling, lots of wood, iron and dozens of modern pendent lights. When we walked in, I had to pause and take it all in. There is a bar on the first and second floor where you can buy wine, beer and drinks and $1 cookies. Water, coffee and tea are provided free at several stations around the perimeter. Nice touch! We attended a performance of In The Heights and from the moment the show started, we were transported. That's why I love the theatre. It takes you to a different place, consumes your focus, exposes you to new stories and experiences, allows you to find relatable moments and also to learn something new. Shout out to the entire cast - every single performer was exceptional! Located in the heart of the Pearl, options for HH or a pre-show dinner are plentiful. If you arrive early to enjoy HH, there is plenty of street parking and you only pay until 7:00. There are also garages nearby and the Streetcar drops you a block away. The Armory is one of the venues that helps make Portland a wonderful City to live in. Highly recommend seeing a performance here!!! I've already purchased tickets to another play. read more

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Course having just reviewed Deschutes, must mention the Armory!!!! An historic armory that is now the venue for Portland's Center Stage theater, it opened oh.... i'd say 2007? as the next best venue for the city and fine arts. I recently was in Providence, RI visiting its own armory (very very memorable too.. in a wholly different way) hanging on the west side of Brown U's campus (close to RISD), and that memory jogs this one. Same kind of deal===the storage closet for all of that munition has now found great usage in the 21st century. Much like why i admire McMenamins, history preserved and honored, and a useful and appreciative use of space. Came when they opened their first week----back when the queues were so long, they had to pass out staggered tour tickets in order to view the facility. Small, but very awesome design and feeling of depth, height..even a bit macabre. Smack dab in the Pearl! read more

Now playing--Little Shop of Horrors Musical! Saw it! Sizzling and stunning performance! Five star performance in a five star theater! It's a comedy musical that'll make your funny bone's shake, rattle and roll. Horror has never been so so thrillingly ghastly yet so funny! One star of among many stars is a blood thirsty, people eating, green plant the size of a Toyota tundra pick up truck--watch the plant grow as the performance moves along. The people eater plant is the most ginormous puppet, believe me, the largest puppet you've ever seen sing & rock n roll! Really! The play, set, props, costume changes and lots of strong singing performances by an over-the-top talented cast. It's a lively Motown, get-down, beat with rocking and rolling all over the stage. So captivating every second. Don't miss this play. Not anything I expected, it exceeded expectations! We are glad we have season tickets to great plays at the Gerding Armory theatre. read more

Beautiful shows put on by true professionals. I have loved nearly every show I've seen at this theater Highly recommended! read more

This is my favorite place to see a show in Portland. The whole venue is so pretty. Outside the actually theatre there is a bar and a restaurant, andplenty of room to hang out in before the show starts. I've never actually ordered a drink or eaten the food (aside from the $1 cookies, which are great for soaking up some of the pre-show happy hour booze), but I'd definitely be interested. The actual theatre itself is perfect. Everything is super modern and sheek. The stage is always put together in really unique ways. The chairs are super comfortable, and really, there's not a bad seat in the house. The acoustics are also fantastic. Best of all, the shows are typically affordable! Portland Center Stage, I love thee. read more

Originally this was an annex of the Oregon National Guards Portland Armory. Over the years it has been the site of all kinds of events, I remember watching Portland Wrestling "live from the Portland Armory" or something like that, anyway I watched on TV we lived to far to get my parents to take me. According to Wiki three presidents have made speeches here,Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson, Over the years events moved elsewhere. By the time I moved to Portland it seemed mostly to be used to park cars. Then it became part of the Brewery Blocks development. Developers wanted to save its history. Eventually it was converted into a Theater and is now home to the Gerding Theater. It is a great place to watch a play. Or to sit next to in in the small thin park and listen to water in the fountain, read more

The Armory - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The First Regiment Armory Annex, commonly known as the Portland Armory, was built in 1891 by Multnomah County to house the Oregon National Guard. While soldiers mustered at the Armory in 1898 for the Spanish American War, no urban unrest has ever been quelled here. In 1968, after years as an event space, it became a beer warehouse, owned by Blitz Weinhard Brewery. In 1999, the building was purchased by Gerding Edlen as part of the redevelopment of the Brewery Blocks. In 2000, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Following a renovation project that lasted from 2002 to 2006, the building now houses Gerding Theater, used primarily by the Theater group Portland Center Stage. The Armory is a stunning facility both inside and out. I walked around the block to see it at various angles, after earlier watching a Portland Center Stage Production in the Gerdling Theater. What I enjoyed most was the cavernous space accented by the the steps of the Joanne Lilley Grand Staircase, which are cantilevered off a second floor balcony. And perfect for a special event. read more

A GORGEOUS, historic building, and home to Portland's own top-notch theater company, "Portland Center Stage"-- an institution that holds it own amidst the very, very best! Tip: If your plans are ever open and you're low on funds, come to the theater prior to a performance and wait for some "Pay What You Will/Can" tickets and enjoy a truly fabulous production! read more

The Armory - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

What a pretty little old modern building! Came here for a Black Friday Market that was set up inside with local vendors pushing their food and drink products on two floors. Think of lots of artisan Vodka, Bitters, chocolates, peanut butters, coffees, teas, whiskey etc, etc. The second floor is a bit of a rotunda where you could walk around the perimeter of the room while looking down below. There's really not much more I can say about the building but I do believe it houses a lot of different events and serves as a rental space. They did a really good job at the remodel of the inside as it's totally modern, but they did it right by exposing the existing brick and mortar in all the right places. Nice! read more

The Armory - 2nd Floor during the 2016 Black Friday Market. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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What I consumed: I recently went to the Atmory to see a play. Food Quality: The drinks were good and they had Cookies. It would be nice if they had a more complete food menu and made more of an experience out of going to the show. Environment: Gets an A! Service: Better than adequate Overall: I was impressed and will be back. The show was great and the environment was near perfect. read more

Perfect venue for Oregon Active's NYE party! Not only is the place beautiful, but there is a ton of space to mull about. Who knew there were 2 floors below street level?? I also loved that they have an vendor who sells delicious deli food and sandwiches. I'd been here for a fashion show, but didn't realize the extent of it's size. Upstairs you only had 2 stalls in the ladies bathroom, but the other floors had quite a few more. The wood floors are great for dancing and the wrap around balcony is fantastic for people watching. The only downside is parking, or lack thereof. While street parking is optimal, it isn't always possible to find any spots close by (a few blocks walk can feel especially long in the winter). read more

I saw my first play here recently.....yes, that's right, I'm 30 something and just saw my first play! gasp!! I love to eat was awesome! I learned a few things about the culinary man Mr Beard that I had not know! The set was done really nice, and the seating was very comfortable. Not a bad seat in the house, this theatre is nicely done with friendly staff too. The sound was great, all in all a great show with not one complaint... I don't have to much to compare on being this was my first play to see, but this theatre is beautiful. I would definitely see another play here in the future. read more

The Armory - The set of I love to eat, a James Beard story - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We went to see Kodachrome last night. Funny, for were were in the farthest back corner possible, yet still had a great time. I've been in this building before but it must have been a long time ago. Beautiful building. The play was on the lower level. Awesome venue though for a play. Highly recommend! read more

The Gerding Theater at Armory Building is a very nice theater. It's intimate (as far as theaters go), modern and green. A solid place to attend an event in the lobby or see a presentation or similar in the actual theater. Most of my visits have focused on the lobby area, but I've had the opportunity to sit in on a theater session or two. This renovated historic building is now LEED certified and boasts all sorts of cool design features. From the outside it resembles an old stone castle, but one look at the interior and it could be any next-generation building. Home to events ranging from conferences to wine tastings, it's super versatile. Definitely a solid part of Portland's performing arts scene. read more

The theater is gorgeous, the seats are comfy, and the plays I've attended exceeded my expectations. In fact, (neighborhood parking issues aside) the only unpleasant feature of the Gerding was the gentleman to my left who passed gas the entire night. I'm sure he's not there for every show, so you're probably safe to risk it. If he is there, however, give him the stank eye for me. read more

Well we were pleasantly surprised with the Armory. Saw Fun Home (a fantastic musical) and was super pleased with the performance. Besides the fact that the show itself was a top notch production, I really loved the theater. Seats were nice, sound quality was good. Overall a big plus in Portland. Definitely plan to return for more shows. Parking is a bit tough, as its in a busy part of the Pearl, but there are parking garages around if you get tired of circling around the neighborhood. Plenty of dining options around as well to grab a bite to eat. read more

While I haven't yet seen any shows at Portland Center Stage, I can safely say that the building's venue is absolutely breathtaking. I was there this weekend for the first time with a company party (yes, they reserve the upstairs/balcony area overlooking the main lobby!), and it was pure ambiance with hundreds of small lightbulbs hanging in circular tracks from the super-high ceiling to the oversized artsy theatre posters adorning the walls. Although I'm not a huge fan of paying to park, I did like the fact that it was located in the Pearl. I could stay for the party, then walk across the block and peruse Powell's before they closed. read more

Just saw "In the Heights" here last weekend. It's an amazing theater in a very rustic Portland building. They provide coffee, tea, and some cookies while you wait to get in and at intermission. There is also a bar where you can order drinks. Already planning my next visit. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE This place is right up this little princess' alley!!!! Amazing customer service. Maybe one snooty Red haired fella! ;) My GF had an extra ticket to see Sweeney Todd!!! I jumped at it. It's in the Pearl. The place was packed. You are able to order drinks and snacks to enjoy while you watch this amazing show. All drinks must have a lid. I gladly drank my Syrah with a Straw!! So much fun. You can pre-order your intermission drinks before the show!!! They have them waiting for you with your name written in Calligraphy. The lobby architecture is beautiful. Looks like an airplane hanger. The interior theater is super nice as well. The actual show was exceptional. The performers were amazing actors and singers. The costumes were amazing. I really can't recommend this place more!!!!!! Super amazing. read more

I went to a wedding here recently. It was absolutely lovely. Its a beautiful space for any type of event. When I go back to Portland I will definitely try and see a show or production here. Kudos to the architects that redesigned the Armory. I don't think they could have done a better job. read more

I came here for a conference last week. It's a gorgeous theater, with comfortable seating, great lighting, and decent acoustics. I sat near the front, in the center. Bathrooms are down a staircase and were clean and well lit. The lobby was big, open, and had plenty of couches and tables. I enjoyed this theater and would come back here for performances or other events! read more

The theater is a 5, The plays are of the quality similar to OSF(Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland) so also a 5. Must see A Christmas Carol at Christmas time! I loved the Receptionist it was in the smaller theater on the lower level. I enjoy the smaller theater only because of the proximity to the stage, much more cozy. If you want to just show up to see a play at a discount price, You can wait in line til they open up remaining seats and get in a little cheaper! No guarantees though, just have to take a chance! I have done it a couple of times and been able to get in! Downside-parking is a headache. So I park in the parking garage next to Powells and Art Institute. Also, eat before you go unless you want to pay a little more for restaurants, they are always expensive in the Pearl and the food in the theater is not cheap. read more

The show was great and the theater was packed. We've been waiting since we moved here 3 years ago to come see this place. Last time we looked to sneak a peek there was a wedding going on, and we didn't want to intrude. So when a david sedaris "one man" play was in town and on yipit, we knew we should finally go. What a great way to close out the holiday season. My wife has read all his books and is a huge fan. Well the show didn't disappoint. 70 min was just enough, and I wish it would of kept going. Great fun. read more

so I'll be honest - on the yardstick of "good ideas," spending my birthday at an all day conference at the Armory didn't seem like it would rank very high. Don't get me wrong - I embody all of those geeky English major "reader" stereotypes that you could throw my way... I think that reading Shakespeare and Milton are like indulging in the richest of fudge, linguistic abnormalities are a form of aphrodisiac, and I do fantasize over librarians (watch-yo-self Brandon B!)... But I was not swept here by Mr. Right to enjoy a show at the rep - I was working as a rep. So yeah. Again, not something that was really firing me up. Ummm, and then I walked in. Have you SEEN this place? An absolute gorgeous use of space, from the furnishings and lighting, to the exposed brick and stone walls. The theater, while intimate, has incredible sound - speaking on stage I did not even need to use a mic (granted...I've never had much of a problem with projecting...) Super fast internet, which turns me on almost as much as saucy librarians (Thanks Yelp!), and really friendly employees! This is not even including how awesome the actual event was. I may just hang here when I have some time to kill in the Pearl! But maybe I'll pick any day but March 10th in the future... :) read more

Okay ... I can't say much for the theater itself yet, because I haven't been in it. That said, the lobby is fabulous. I was there for a company dinner (did you know they rent the loft level of the lobby out for things like that?) and loved it. As someone else mentioned, the location isn't the greatest, but everything else ... wow. Plenty of space, unique renovations, intriguing lighting, efficient staff ... and after reading the other reviews I think I need to go back for a show! read more

I can echo what everyone else has said. A really nice facility. I mean to go from what the armory looked like before to this is just amazing. I saw a show in the downstairs theater. It is much smaller than the main theater, but of course also much more intimate. It is 3/4 in the round. and the front rows are almost on the stage with the actors. The main theater I look forward to seeing soon! As others have said the design on the interior is just terrific and fun. This is an example of the city taking a chance on a development project and it coming out right. Please support it! read more

Not too shabby Portland. Be prepared to be greeted by lofty ceilings and beautiful modern lines. This place is a delightful surprise in the Pearl. The seats are comfortable and the facilities feel like brand new. Only the exterior shell of the Armory building hints you at its previous life. read more

The Gerding Theater is located in the completely renovated Armory Building in the Pearl. Since the list is short, lets get out of the way the things I don't like: The location. Pearl. Ick. But, its close enough to max. So plan on hooffing it and skip the driving around the block looking for parking bit. Ummmm. Yeah, that's about it for the negative. The remodel received a Platinum rating for sustainability and effiency. If you're from here, you know that is very important to us. We're proud of it and we're gonna brag about it. A LOT. The space is beautiful. It may not look like much from the outside, but its a large and very open space. The main entrance has a small bar, coat check and of course the box office. Upstairs is a smaller loft like space over looking the entrance. There is another level above that for maintenance and lighting crews. Below the main level, there are two more sub levels. Its such an excellent use of space! There is another bar on one of the sublevels in addition to the one on the main level. The actual theater itself is kept very cold, but its worth toughing it out. The stage is small, but there is a surprising amount of seating. I happened to be in the front row, so I don't know how the view was from anywhere else. The ticket pricing and packages they have make it possible for everyone to attend a couple of shows. The offer 8 show packages, 5 show packages, flex passes for those of you who are too busy to predict your schedule. Its a beautiful building and a great theater - you have to go at least once! read more

The Armory - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Probably one of the most attractive theaters I have ever been in. The lobby area is a work of art. Just amazing. I saw a play in the smaller theater that happens to be underground, and can't imagine a single seat in there being bad. It's small and they set it up so that no matter what side of the stage you sit on, there is a good view. The standby seating seemed to work out well on the night I went, the show was sold out, but there were enough tickets so that everyone in line got one. read more

What a beautiful building. Also, the seats are comfortable and well laid out. I don't think there was a bad seat in the house.

We recently had my daughters wedding here! The staff was perfection at it's finest, the venue was breathtaking! Could have not asked for better! Jessica Metteer and her staff - LOVE read more

We had our wedding at the Armory and it was better than we could have ever imagined. The event staff went out of their way to make it the smoothest and best day ever. All of the guests had an amazing time and commented on the beauty of the venue. Jessica was an amazing event coordinator. We can't praise or thank the armory enough for making our big day amazing!!! read more

My review is just based on aesthetics as I didn't buy or really DO anything here other than escape the heat and enjoy the FREE WIFI. It was very spacious inside, there was a cafe but I didn't purchase anything. It was nice and cool, and dead quiet. I Think the 3 times I visited this cool looking building I saw less than a dozen people enter or exit its doors. read more

Great, modern place. Not many seats appear to be bad. Perfect to watch the arts! Get unsold rush tickets for a steal on adults! $20!!!

Saw a show here recently. The show itself was top of the line and fantastic. I would happily go to that show again. However I wasn't a fan of the theater. The whole place had a wine bar feel. It was a bit too fancy for my taste, with the blue lit ceiling with dangling light bulbs and bored and not very helpful/friendly staff. Do show posters really need to be interactive touch screens? Couldn't they have used the money for that somewhere else? Also wasn't thrilled that they sat patrons (money donators) first, which wouldn't have bothered me if they had assigned seating but without assigned seating it didn't seem very fair to me. I mean I shelled out a good amount of money for these tickets and why a bunch of toasted 50 to 60 year olds in a higher tax bracket should get better seats is beyond me. I know it's in the Pearl district so luxury is part of the neighborhood vibe. So I enjoyed the show but I prefer the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall as a better venue. read more