The Headwaters theater is a small black box theater with a modest reception area and cafe by railroad tracks. If you want to rent a less than 100 seat theater as a presenter, or see some experimental performances as an audience participant, this is a good spot to explore. They are also home to workshops at the space and in the St Johns area. As others have mentioned, the theater fronts a broad gravel yard entering behind the building address. You can drive, bike or walk easily around the front of the building on NE Farragutt to the right facing it, traveling behind to the East to the area below by train tracks. You might bring a flashlight to avoid puddles when it is raining between car-bike and theater. I have seen quite a few very unique performances here. The comradery, community and discussions are unbeatable. If you are a cultural explorer in the area, suggest to bookmark the site for upcoming events and then sample them as you desire. They are Portland central for performances and workshops in the modern dance butoh dance form. Headwaters Theater has a rare schedule of performances and workshops, but if you learn about them through Yelp, and it sounds interesting to you, go, see do! read more

The Headwaters Theatre seems to be located the No-Fo-O-Fo bridge neighborhood... Over the bridge, North of Lombard, so far north that you're almost in the Columbia slough. I guess that's why it's called the Headwaters! But it really only took 10 minutes to get there from the Rose Quarter. We were warned that the theater was a little tricky to find, especially in the dark. This was good advice, as the theater is located in the bottom of a building, which you can only approach from around the corner near some sketchy looking railroad tracks. Once inside, the place is actually quite nice, with comfortable seats and good sound and lighting. They seem to present a lot of experimental theater and dance; check their website for current listings! read more

Great props for the fact the owners were able to turn this very dilapidated looking building literally adjacent to the railroad tracks into a very respectable small theater. Restrooms are clean, was easy to get booze, and seating arrangement was great and stadium style towards the back. Went there on a Saturday night to a stand up comedy show and the lighting and sound systems were pretty good. 4 stars because it was hard and a little scary to find the place. Call me trapped in the suburbs but it was a bit out of my element. Parked on Farragut street because that's where the address was and down going and around the place to nearly walking across the railroad tracks. Very interesting for sure! Also would be nice to know that parking is available that allows one to avoid the sketchiness. Kudos to them for all the hard work they do! read more

Don't RENT this theatre! We rented it and experienced nothing but problems. I have never experienced more mis-management of a theatre. The owner, MIZU gave us no information or communication. She made meetings that she no showed to. We experienced nothing but sound and lighting problems. The lighting only works every now and then. The speakers make a loud buzzing sound. Trains pass by and disrupt performances. Rain can be heard on the roof when it rains. Owner was belittling and rude and charged our card without our knowledge. She made up false things that were untrue. Please be careful! It is so sad since we need more spaces like this, just not ones that claim to be operational but are instead false. RUN far far AWAY from this nut job! read more

I saw the Missing Link production of The Shape of Things and as of intermission it is amazing. I expect it to continue as such. Edit: Turns out I was right. At the conclusion of the performance, I can say I am nothing but pleased. When looking in to attending this event I discovered that the play they were performing was turned into a film. I spent most of the play comparing the performances to the actors who are billed in the roles in the film version. I can safely say now that in the event I ever see the film version it will be the performances of these fine actors in the Missing Link rendition, that will be the gold standard that I will judge it upon. read more

I attended a show here (Threads) as part of the Fertile Ground festival (great show,btw). A small, black box theater, perfect for intimate theater and dance productions. It's north, up near the end of N. Vancouver next to the railroad tracks. A little bit out of the way but worth the drive. Great sound system too. Get out there and see some shows. Beats the hell out of DVDs! read more

I've known and worked on various productions with Mizu since 2003. Recently, we've been running a filmmaker's meet up at the Headwaters Theater every other month. It's a perfect space to host this event and we are thankful to have her graciously offer us a spot on the calendar. Her vision and creative integrity is of the highest order. She is an asset to the Portland creative community and I would willingly work with her any day. As for the Headwaters Theater, I can't think of a more delightful space to host intimate productions. Two thumbs way up! read more

As a participant working at this theatre, and an audience member of its works, The Headwaters offers some of the most innovative, community driven performance art in Portland. The staff are some of the hardest working people in the business, who truly love and understand their loyal audience. Mizu is kind and smart, and any renters would be blessed to work in the space, as she takes care of it above and beyond any other rental performance space in town. Go see a show or attend a workshop here, and you'll be so happy you did! read more

One of the best independent theater spaces in Portland. The space is spacious, well lit, & very clean & professional. The work produced here is generally very high quality & pushes artistic boundaries, & the owner, Mizu, is generous & easy to work with. Highly recommended. read more

I have rented the Headwaters several times and I have always been very impressed with both the venue and the staff. My audiences have appreciated the unique character of the place as well as extensive parking and great sight-lines in the theater. Everything I've ever asked to have taken care of has been dealt with promptly. I would rent there again in a heartbeat! read more

Great Theater! Portland needs more places like this! It is out of the way, and has been home to many performances and workshops that you would not find in a more mainstream theater. I have been to several performances there and have always had a great experience! read more

I have rented The Headwaters Theatre for a full scale independent production as well as having my work produced by Mizu in one of her curated festivals. I have also attended several of her productions and performed on the same bill with her in a variety of venues. She is an outstanding artist, host, and producer, always professional, charming, and wonderful to work with. Her work is visionary and she is one of the most generous supporters and enthusiastic developers of performance I have ever met. The Headwaters is well maintained, fully equipped, flexible, and has made its mark as a premier space for cutting edge performance in Portland. I hope to return to this venerable venue and work with Mizu again soon! read more

I am very disenchanted with this theater. What could be an incredible space is vastly overrated and completely miss ran. I work in the space on the show called Little women put on by the Metropolitan community theater project. Having worked appointment Center for the performing arts and various other venues throughout Portland area I consider myself very well-versed in basic to intermediate lighting. I cannot believe the amount of disrespect the owner showed to the producer Noah Scott whom rented this space and said so many great things about the space. I think it is absolutely terrible if this woman didn't show up for meetings that we were all supposed to be at and then condemned this poor guy who really only wanted to put on the show. The lighting was terrible not because we didn't know what we were doing but because the equipment self is not really up to par. Her blatant disrespect for the production and the people involved in metropolitan community theater project was undeniable. Her staff has absolutely no idea what they're doing and honestly she was a complete and total biatch. I don't like saying bad things about people but I definitely don't like hearing from other people that she's going around saying bad things about Noah scott. The owner misrepresented herself and I fully agree with the previous comments about it really only being a space for student recitals. I think Noah Scott had the best intentions and it's just really sad that some people like the owner would make basic promises like that she would show up for a meeting and then never show up. Noah is one of the hardest working man I know and the fact that this woman had the audacity to go around town saying bad things about him is beyond me when she is the one that I heard making promises that she did not come through on. She ruined his production of Little women she owes me a huge apology. Seems to me that any positive feedback that was given by friends of hers that she asked to do this. These reviews are pathetic just like her attempt to tarnish the reputation of a really great man. I hope that you guys will stay far away from this place and definitely stay far away from Mitzu! read more

This has been one of the most hospitable and professional theaters in my experience in Portland, and really around the world. So warm, so accommodating, and with so much humble support to challenge myself as an artist. And it's also run by risk taking artists!!! I wish and hope for more places like this everywhere. In my Portland experience, Conduit and Performance Works NorthWest provided many years of similar and crucial support. Headwaters is now in this crucial performance lineage. I don't know how we can survive without each other in these ways. I'm grateful. We need each other. read more

This is a wonderful, creative theater company that works hard for the community and offers so much. I have taken several workshops and attended many outstanding performances here all were outstanding. We are so lucky to have them in Portland. I love Mizu and the work she does for Portland artists of all abilities. read more

This is one great local theater. I saw "an interpretation of prehistoric pan-america in dance" which was fabulous and one-of-a-kind, extremely rewarding; several very well done presentations; and one to which I gave an "A" for effort and showmanship but a "D" for forethought, in which she shot down some 'math' as a routine humorous shredding exercise or relief for people drained by it, but instead of constructing a 'math' to shoot down, she appeared to be shredding/confounding/confusing an approach that students actually use, imo, in Portland, generally a 'no no' and extremely difficult to pull off, and she did not succeed in it: "better luck next time" and "no damage done". It's not much price for truly innovative theater. For the novice or sophisticate, this place is an experience. read more

My dance company PDX Dance Collective has rented The Headwaters for 3 of our shows, and has performed there as part of "The 1 Festival". It is our favorite theatre to perform in! It's a great intimate theatre (seats 66) which is perfect for a small performing arts group. Mizu, the owner, is wonderful to work with and is always available to answer questions or help provide information if you need any special accommodations. There's a lobby area with refreshments available for audience members - all run by Headwaters staff - which is super helpful (at other places we've rented we've had to manage refreshments as well). It is a little hard to find - be sure to provide directions for your show-goers - but, overall, we truly feel at home there, and would rent the Headwaters again for our next performance! read more