A Christmas Carol matinee today, December 21, is scheduled to go on as planned.  We have a number of patrons who live within walking distance or easy public transport ride of the theater, and our cast all stayed downtown this weekend in order to avoid dangerous travel. So for those folks, even if the audience is small, we will perform this afternoon.

If you have tickets to the matinee or evening shows today and you cannot safely make it to the theater, please hold on to those tickets. We will do everything we can to accommodate you at another performance of the production later this week, or make other arrangements if needed.

You may call the box office at 503.445.3700, but please note we have limited staff today so it may be difficult to get through. Rest assured, we’ll help you with your ticket issues from today at anytime this coming week.

Enjoy the beautiful snow, and please stay safe.

{photo: Julianna Jaffe as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Photo by Owen Carey.}

With the predictions of rough weather this weekend, we wanted to update you about performances at Portland Center Stage.

We do adhere to “the show must go on!” philosophy. So you can plan on our performances taking place this weekend. If an extreme weather situation alters that, we will post it on our website and our phone messaging, so if you have any doubts, please do check this website for updates.

If you live in a location where getting to the theater is a challenge in this weather, and you need to exchange your tickets for another performance, please call the box office as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to accommodate you. The box office can be reached at 503.445.3700.

Give yourself extra time for traveling to the theater in bad weather, be it heavy rain or a little snow. And if you arrive early, rest assured you’ll find warm drinks, festive lights and welcoming staff to help you enjoy your pre-show experience.

Best wishes for a safe holiday season!

Joe Smith from KGW joined us in the lobby last night before A Christmas Carol for a live broadcast as part of their 7 pm news broadcast. After showcasing some members of the Portland Symphonic Choir who were here to provide a little pre-show caroling entertainment, he chatted with our Literary Director Mead Hunter about his adapation of A Christmas Carol.

We were delighted to host them!

Watch the clip here.

The Symphonic Choirwill be joining us for another free pre-show concert on December 16th. Learn more about the Symphonic Choir and get the complete list of our invited Community choirs right here.

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I’ve worked in professional theater for (gulp) 28 years now, and this is the first time I’ve been part of presenting a production of Dickens’ holiday classic.  Seriously, that is a lot like someone who’s been a waiter for 28 years and never poured a cup of coffee. It’s just plain unlikely. But in this case, it’s true.

I’ve had a few near misses. There was brief discussion back in the early 80s, when I worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, about launching a holiday show (we closed our season in early November, didn’t open again until February). But after our eight month season, we all decided we just needed a break, so that conversation didn’t last long. And of course, the very first Portland Center Stage version of A Christmas Carol was presented at Christmas 1998–and I had just left the company in July of 1998, after ten years. So I just missed that one! And in Seattle, I worked at Seattle Repertory Theatre, and ACT had the Dickens franchise all wrapped up. So our holiday fare leaned toward, well, nothing holiday-ish.

When I re-joined the staff at Portland Center Stage last June, I realized I’d reached the end of my personal Tiny Tim drought. Huzzah!

With an office next to the rehearsal room, I’ve been hearing beautifully sung carols for weeks. I’ve also noticed for the first time how many popular references there are to Dickens’ classic tale around this time of year, in both political satire and even in a daily comic strip, like this series for the past week in “Grand Avenue.” And our very creative multi media guy, along with some of our talented marketing team, are in the midst of creating this week a very special holiday treat for our audiences that is filling all of us with more mirth than should be allowed (stay tuned, we should be launching this gem later this week).

The capper for me? On Friday night, at the official opening, many young people from area alternative schools and programs joined us as our guests. I was talking to two of them after the performance, and they told me it was their first real live theater experience, ever. And the young man completed the full warm up of my holiday heart by telling us “this was way better than TV!” 

Yeah. Best theater holiday season ever! Now, what’s next on my list? Hmmmm…I’ve never worked at a theater that has produced Jean Genet…

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Have tickets for tonight’s performance of A Christmas Carol?

You may want to come on down a bit early to enjoy a Christmas Present from the Armory bar and some holiday caroling from the Portland Symphonic Choir.

Starting at 6:45 pm on the Armory mezzanine, a contingent from the Symphonic Choir will regale you with gorgeous holiday choral music- just the thing to get you in the mood for this classic tale of generosity and redemption that the Oregonian just called,”a show that reminds us brightly once again that Christmas is a time for giving and for thankfulness, especially in these frightful times.”

Can’t make this evening’s performance? You can enjoy the Portland Symphonic Choir before the December 16th performance of A Christmas Carol as well. Or enjoy one of these other community and school choirs that will grace our lobby for free concerts throughout the holiday season:

St. Mary’s School Marians (Dec. 11th),

Vancouver Madrigal Singers (Dec 14th)

Flash Choir (Dec. 17th, 19th, and 20th).

more posts about A Christmas Carol || get the details about the show || buy tickets