Portland Center Stage

Gerding Theater at the Armory

128 NW Eleventh Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97209 | 503-445-3700

It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues

May 22 — June 24
On the Main Stage

By Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor and Dan Wheetman
Based on an original idea by Ron Taylor
Directed by Randal Myler
“A master class on the birth of the blues” —NJ Star Ledger

“Looking for a sure cure to the blues? Latch on to a ticket for It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues. More than a musical feast… it is a potent blend of visual eloquence and historical sweep that engages the eye and touches the heart, while its songs soothe the ear, occasionally work mischief on the funny bone and always raise the spirits.” —The New York Times

From African chants and Delta spirituals to the urban electricity of a Chicago nightclub, from dusty backroads bluegrass to the twang of a country juke joint, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues is a stirring retrospective of blues classics that summons the soul of American music. Over two dozen musical numbers are included, among them “I’m Your Hoochie-Coochie Man,” “Goodnight, Irene,” “Fever,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “The Thrill Is Gone” and “Let the Good Times Roll.” It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical, and has played to rave reviews all over the country. Through the music that is cherished as an original American art form, the standout group of musicians and singers on stage share a moving American story of troubles and triumph.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are purchasing tickets with an American Express Card, our credit card server may decline the card. If so, please use a different card, or call our box office to purchase with your AMEX. The service provider is working on repairing the problem with online AMEX processing; we apologize for any inconvenience.

Performance times:
Tuesday - Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Thursday matinees at noon

A full list of performances and dates will appear when you enter the ticketing section of the website.

It Ain’t Nothin But the Blues runs approximately two hours and 15 minutes with one intermission.

View the cast and creative team bios

Learn more about accessibility options at PCS

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Media

Art for It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues View on Flickr »

Tweets (#pcs_blues)

@mampdx: RT @pcsghost: Get 'em while you can! RT @PoMoMagazine Today's hot culture deal! Tix to #pcs_Blues staged by PCS only $30. Oh, baby. http://t.co/J086HMMe

@pcsghost: Get 'em while you can! RT @PoMoMagazine Today's hot culture deal! Tix to #pcs_Blues staged by PCS only $30. Oh, baby. http://t.co/J086HMMe

@pcsghost: Psst! ONE DAY SALE today! All May performances of "It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues" are only $30 with the code word GUITAR. #pcs_Blues

@pcsghost: RT @buchino: ★ ONE DAY SALE http://t.co/C3eovftk #pcs_blues

@buchino: ★ ONE DAY SALE http://t.co/C3eovftk #pcs_blues

@pcsghost: The only known footage of Lead Belly, as he performs "Pick a Bale of Cotton" http://t.co/qNNoinhv #pcs_BlackPearl #pcs_Blues

@pcsghost: Meet the cast and creative team of "It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues" http://t.co/nhWhC8sZ Who are you excited to see? #pcs_Blues

@pcsghost: It's going to be a bluesy few months at PCS! Here's a brief history of a true American music genre, the #pcs_Blues: http://t.co/EHicSJhS

@mampdx: Came back from lunch to hear Dan Wheetman fiddling away in the canteen. #cool #pcs_Blues

@pcsghost: In honor of #pcs_Blues, we'll be featuring the work of master graphic designer/illustrator/screen printer Gary Houston! http://t.co/CZKkWKk3

Production blog

Take the Blues Home with You

Take the Blues Home with You

16 May 2012 & Posted by Natalie Gilmore

Have you ever come to a show at PCS and wished you could bottle up that energy and take a piece home with you? We know that once you get baptized in the Great River of Blues, as Director Randal Mylar calls it, you’ll want to keep to keep the music flowing. So for each performance of It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues, we’ll have a table in the lobby selling the music of various artists in the show. We’ll be open during intermission and after the show. All cds will be $20; payable by cash or check.

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Wednesday, May 16 Only! One Day Sale for “It Ain’t Nothin But the Blues”

15 May 2012 & Posted by Natalie Gilmore

We’re having a one day sale on tickets for “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues.” Tickets are just $30! Offer good for any available seat for performances in May. But hurry, you must purchase on May 16! 

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Singin’ the Blues: The History of an American Genre

08 May 2012 & Posted by Kinsley Suer

It’s going to be a bluesy couple of months here at PCS. In Black Pearl Sings!, much of what Pearl sings throughout the show can be defined as blues; her music carries on the legacy of her family’s struggles while simultaneously drawing on the folk tradition of her African heritage. And, of course, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues, which will explore the history and transformation of blues music, opens in just a few weeks. Luckily, our moods are anything but blue. We’re about to have two fantastic shows filled with catchy blues classics spilling out of the doors and windows of the Armory!

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Ticketing

It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues
 

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