Reviews of "Quixote Nuevo*
Audience Raves
"The most extraordinary show I’ve seen at PCS in several years!"
"Energetic and ambitious. A spectacle for the senses. Not a single dull moment."
"The costumes, the set, the puppets, the amazing actors. So much to enjoy. The show had me smiling, crying, and enthralled for the entirety of the performance!"
"This was a very involved performance — rapid costume changes, puppets, lighting, and music — it was a very rich experience. We were transfixed!"
"Thought-provoking, beautiful, imaginative, funny, profound, and deep in the implications on many levels!"
"The adaptation of the story was lovely to watch. I shed tears at the end. Thank you!"
Local Reviews
“This gorgeous show is exactly the kind of thing we need more of right now – a celebration of the indomitable human spirit and a challenge to us all to not just imagine a better world but to make that world a reality… a multisensory feast.” —BroadwayWorld
"Octavio Solis's contemporary spin on 'Don Quixote' reimagines the wise man/mad man hero in a tale that tumbles brightly and searingly across the Mexican/Texan border." —Oregon ArtsWatch
In The News
Quixote Nuevo stars Tony Sancho and Maya Malan-Gonzalez interview with local news KGW8! Check out the interview here.
Oregon playwright brings his own story to Quixote Nuevo at Portland Center Stage, The Oregonian
Octavio Solis’s Quixote Nuevo quest, Oregon ArtsWatch
Reviews of Our Co-Production
“Brilliant … it's rare that you come across a new adaptation of a classic text that feels groundbreaking and new while still retaining the heart of the original.” —BroadwayWorld
"Bursting with Tejano music and puppets of many sizes and styles, Quixote Nuevo deftly and efficiently leads viewers from reality to fantasy and into the murky borderlands that lie in between." —Seattle Times
"Brilliant yet accessible, visually stunning, and truly fun despite being emotionally complex." —DailyUW
"Quixote Nuevo commands the stage, reminding audiences what it means to be epic…Go see the play for yourself!" —Drama In The Hood
"Playwright Octavio Solis has fashioned a highly inventive meditation on old age and its sorrows—and on the gnawing desire for second chances late in life—while also mining a rich vein of comedy." —Brian Robin
“A feast for the senses…touching and tragic…intriguingly engaging…filled with creative theatrical touches.” —Broadway World
“RECOMMENDED…Staged with spectacular flair…flush with warmth and wit…a colorful storybook that can be savored.” —Stage Raw
“Insightful and modern… hilarious and captivating… a work of great art.” —The Orange Curtain Review
“Highly imaginative…full of adventure…Solis’ story is epic…as transformative as it is heartbreaking.” —Gia on the Move
National Reviews
“A brilliant reinterpretation of a classic. It's rare that you come across a new adaptation of a classic text that feels groundbreaking and new while still retaining the heart of the original.” –BroadwayWorld
“This vivid response to the persistent call of one of the great tales in literature is as densely textured as it is often entertaining and touching.” –The Denver Post
“There may be few places on Earth where hope and despair run so closely parallel to each other, and who better to illustrate it with a bit of humor than the original windmill tilter?” –OnStage Colorado
“The wistful, whimsical Quixote Nuevo casts a winning spell with a reimagined tale of Cervantes' dreamer hero.” –Metro Weekly
“No one summons the epic grandeur of the Southwest like Solis, and that’s what elevates this quest into the heart of Quixote.” –The Mercury News
“Quixote Nuevo, penned by esteemed Mexican American playwright Octavio Solis, tackles a lot of heady issues in its 150-minute run time: The stress of caring for someone with dementia, the inevitability of death, the dignity of being allowed to die on one’s own terms — even when those terms make sense to no one but you.” –DC Theater Arts
“Surrender to it all. Observe, listen from the heart, resist the urge to fight or flee what challenges. We all arrive with our biases, beliefs, and preferences; allowing space for Nuevo’s storytelling through performer’s body language, tone of voice, and authenticity opens a teachable moment.” –In Good Taste Denver
Current & Upcoming
Piano Bar with Courtney Freed and David Saffert
Join us for this monthly event with local songstress Courtney Freed and Portland-based pianist David Saffert as they host a good old-fashioned PIANO BAR.
NASSIM
From Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour (creator of the Off-Broadway smash hit White Rabbit, Red Rabbit) comes an audacious new theatrical experiment, presented in collaboration with Boom Arts. Each night, a new, unrehearsed local performer joins the playwright on stage, while the script waits, unseen, in a sealed box... Touchingly autobiographical yet powerfully universal, NASSIM is a striking theatrical demonstration of how language can both divide and unite us.
Coriolanus
Shakespeare’s tragedy about the war hero Coriolanus and the fight between the elite and the deprived masses will be fueled by a dynamic female and non-binary ensemble with a muscular, movement-focused staging.
First Annual 503 Day
Portland's first annual 503 Day. Discounts on tickets, drink specials, and more!
Pre-Show Music with Chera Chera
As part of BIPOC Affinity Night for Nassim, join us for a pre-show music performance featuring Chera Chera, blending Iranian music and Farsi lyrics for the matinee crowds.
Improvisation Classes for Beginners
Whether you're looking to get more confident in social situations, think quicker on your feet, or get in touch with your imaginative side, these "one-off" improv classes will set you on the path to success!
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
Season Superstars
Season Supporting Sponsors
Season Producing Sponsors
Guardians of the Arts
