My pick for the weekend is a new show from the PICA-approved dance troupe tEEth, whose Grub has a limited run in Portland before its official premiere at Seattle’s On the Boards festival in the spring. Read all the nice things I had to say about it here. Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate, Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, $15
There’s a new comedy venue in town called Curious Comedy, and tonight improv scene stalwarts the Liberators return from a five-month hiatus to try out the new room. w/musical guests from the School of Rock; Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE MLK, 9:30 pm, $10
ScratchPDX‘s popular monthly open stage event is tomorrow, wherein local performers showcasing their ongoing efforts in dance, theater, improv, puppetry, and so on. Hipbone Studios, 1847 E Burnside St. #104, 9 pm, $8
Our freelance theater writer, Temple Lentz, is generally even grumpier about the state of local theater than I am (I know, it hardly seems possible)–so when she asserts that a show is “remarkable,” well, I’m inclined to listen. Lunacy Stageworks is a brand new company operating out of Sellwood’s Masonic Lodge, and their production of Jane Martin’s Jack and Jill runs for two more weekends. Sellwood Masonic Lodge, 7126 SE Milwaukie, 971-275-3568, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, $15 ($12 students and seniors, Thurs pay what you will, Sun two-for-one tickets)
Another new company takes the stage this weekend: Portland Playhouse is launching a production of Gina Gionfriddo’s After Ashley; there’s a preview show tonight, and it officially opens tomorrow. They’re operating out of a former church in Northeast, located at 602 NE Prescott; runs Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 5 pm, $15 ($10 students and seniors)
Tonight and tomorrow at the Blackfish Gallery, Reader’s Theater Repertory presents the trial scene from Merchant of Venice–you know, the one where the Jewish moneylender Shylock tries to extract his pound of flesh. It’s not anti-Semitic, it’s a statement about anti-Semitism, dig? 420 NW 9th, 8 pm, $8
Action/Adventure Theatre presents the 3rd installment of hipster soap opera (should I stop calling it that? Is it a turnoff?) Fall of the House. I caught the show last weekend, and was impressed with the size and enthusiasm of the crowd–this is clearly turning into something of a cult hit. I have to say, though, having not seen the first episode, I did find it difficult to understand some of the relationships in episode two.
More listings here. Go out and see some theater. OR, you can just watch my new favorite wacky animal YouTube over and over while eating pot truffles. Whatevs. You’re an adult. You can make up your own mind.