Here is my massive list of all the theater companies in Portland (and the nearby area) that I have come across! I have tried to organize these, and include the area of town, plus any discounted tickets. I'm aware this is likley an impossible task, but my brain can't resist the need for organization. I am attempting to keep things alphabetized. I have tried to find websites where possible, though sometimes I'm forced to link an Instragram or Facebook profile as the only representation.
Posting ticket discount options is a huge motivation behind making this list, as some theaters aren't interested in making that information accessible. Information about discounts is pulled from the Arts for All website, personal experience, the company's own website, and posts on the PDX Backstage forums.
If you'd like to add more that I have missed, add your own, or report a comment/concern, please email me: six-letter-notion@proton.me
This is not a direct endorsement of any of these theaters, and I have not done extensive research for all of these companies.
Featured companies I recommend checking out:
- Speculative Drama
- Shaking the Tree Student, under 30, & working artist discounts
- Portland Playhouse $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Basement Stair Collective
Puppetry & Clowning:
- Mucky Duck/Happy Accident Tickets are suggested donation, pay what you can.
- Wildland Roots Big parade puppets, free events!
- Jawbone Puppet Theater Based in Seattle, but performs in Portland on occasion. Tickets are suggested donation, no one turned away.
- String and Shadow Based in Olympia, but perform in Portland on occasion. Tickets are suggested donation.
- Puppeteers for Fears
- A Little Bit Off
Open Mics:
- Open Circle Open Mic Suggested donation, no one turned away
- Monthly Trans Open Mic Night Free
Community Spaces / Groups:
- 21Ten Theatre Free coffee and work hours in the lobby most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Very nice! Free pastries!
- CoHo Productions CoHo Resource Center, starts at $15 a month and provides access to computers, cue software, meeting rooms, recording booth, lots of useful stuff.
- Wildland Roots Holds free workshops, volunteer days, and labs
- Clown Bloc Using clown to nurture revolutionary joy, lasting unity, and radical action amongst the people in resistance of US-Led War.
- The April Fools clowns creating connected community thru counter-culture and catharsis 🌹🎪🌹 making beautiful trouble in PDX and beyond!
- Puppetry Guild of Portland
Yearly Festivals:
- Stage Fright Festival Queer Horror Theater! October
- Fertile Ground New works; April
Misc:
- Artists Repertory Theatre Pay What You Can performances; $5 tickets through Arts for All
- The Actors Conservatory $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Alberta Abbey $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Bag and Baggage Productions $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Basement Stair Collective
- Broadway Rose Theatre Company Tigard, $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Chapel Theatre Milwaukie
- CoHo Productions
- Corrib Theatre $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Eastside Theater Company Gresham, $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Echo Theater Company $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Experience Theatre Project Beaverton, $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Gallery Theater McMinnville, $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Hand 2 Mouth Theatre $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Hillsboro Artists Regional Theater (HART) Hillsboro, $5 tickets through Arts for All
- imago theatre
- Lakewood Center for the Arts Student and senior discounts; rush tickets; several free programs open to the public.
- Many Hats Collaboration
- Mask and Mirror Community Theater $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Milagro $5 tickets through Arts for All
- New Century Players Community Theater $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Opera Theater Oregon $5 tickets through Arts for All
- PassInArt: A Theatre Company $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble
- PCC Sylvania Performing Arts $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Performance Works Northwest $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Portland Center Stage Rush tickets, $5 tickets through Arts for All, free tickets to youth participating in the Stage Door program; Pay What You Will performances.
- Portland Institute for Contemporary Art Free and reduced cost tickets for students.
- Portland Opera $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Profile Theatre $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Roots and All Theatre Ensemble
- Shaking the Tree Student, under 30, & working artist discounts
- The Theatre Company $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Theatre in the Grove Forest Grove, $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Third Rail Repertory Theatre $5 tickets through Arts for All; Pay What You Will performances.
- Triangle Productions $5 tickets through Arts for All
- 21Ten Theatre $5 tickets through Arts for All
Dance:
- Northwest Dance Project $5 tickets through Arts for All and other groups; numerous free performances; half-price student/senior rush tickets.
- Oregon Ballet Theatre $5 tickets through Arts for All, free rehearsals and performances in the park.
- The Portland Ballet $5 tickets through Arts for All; Pay What You Will performances.pr
- BodyVox $5 tickets through Arts for All
- NW Dance Project $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Polaris Dance Theatre $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Prismagic Circus Pay What You Will performances
- White Bird $5 tickets through Arts for All
Youth & Teens:
- PlayWrite, Inc. Youth & teen playwriting program. Free admission to all performances.
- Bridgetown Conservatory of Musical Theatre $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Clackamas Community College $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Echo Theater Company $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Imagine Theater Clackamas, $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Oregon Children’s Theatre Free and discounted tickets for students and teachers; $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Lovegood Performing Arts Company Beaverton, $5 tickets through Arts for All
- Northwest Children's Theater and School $5 tickets through Arts for All