Reviews of The Brothers Size
National Reviews
“Combines urgently rhythmic dialogue with the lingering strangeness of a dream.” - The Standard “The greatest piece of writing by an American playwright under 30 in a generation or more.” - The Chicago Tribune
“intimate, powerful” - The Berkshire Edge
“Context truly is everything, and as poignant as The Brothers Size still is, at its core it’s good art.” - Arts ATL “a thoughtful, compelling tale of family and heritage mixing themes that will resonate with anyone who has known the burdens and challenges of siblinghood.” - Theater Mania
“magical and bracing portrait of southern masculinity” - The Guardian
Audience Raves
"The show was incredible! I couldn't stop thinking about it!"
"Moving story. Incredible acting. Both my husband and I shed tears. Would go again in a heartbeat."
"When you're talking about the play all the way home, into the house and then again as soon as you awaken the next day, you know the experience has had an impact."
Local Reviews
"This challenging but rich play, offered up by dedicated artists, affords an opportunity to absorb what we may not fully understand, stirring empathy and connecting us with deeper knowing." - Darleen Ortega, Oregon ArtsWatch
"The production's greatest strength lies in its exceptional cast." - Krista Garver, Broadway World
"Every actor is excellent. The singing is beautiful. The costumes and choreography are exactly right for the story unspooling before us. All production values are as one expects from Portland Center Stage." - Sandra de Helen, Shoutout
More about The Brothers Size:
A Synopsis of The Brothers Size
A brief scene by scene description of the play, with gratitude to The Steppenwolf Theatre Company for use of their material.
Yoruba Cosmology Behind the Story
Yoruba is an ethnic group composed of over 40 million people who reside in present day Benin, Togo and Southwestern Nigeria, and share a common language and culture. The forced migration of Yoruba people to the Americas through the Transatlantic Slave Trade led to a blending of multipole religions and cultures. The Brothers Size draws on elements, icons and stories from the Yoruba cosmology, most notably through the names and traits of characters.
Ogun’s Brother is Missing: The Impact of Mass Incarceration
Mass incarceration affects millions of Americans and their families, and it's no secret that the majority of those incarcerated are Black and Brown and serve longer and harsher sentences than their white counterparts. This is particularly true in Louisiana, where The Brothers Size is set. Playwright Tarrell Alvin McCraney cites his own experience of having a brother who had experienced incarceration and the impact it had on their family.
The Brothers Size Reading List
Calling all readers! Multnomah County Library put together a reading list inspired by our production of The Brothers Size.
Current & Upcoming
July First Thursday with Pablo Rivarola
July First Thursday will feature live music by the Pablo Rivarola Trio, along with art installations by Krystal Perez and Orlando Almanza, and complimentary beer from our partners at Deschutes Brewery!
JAW Play Reading: The Sugar Hole
By Virginia Baeta and Amy Driesler
A rent increase for a legendary lesbian bar threatens its existence, and Darcy has a plan to save it. Is the 90's-themed Lesbian Pageant she dreams up as a fundraiser the answer? Or do the lesbians around her have different ideas about what needs to be saved? The Sugar Hole skips through time and space - real and imagined - exploring what it means to be a lesbian in a lesbian community, the importance of spaces for queer people, and what makes someone feel they belong.
JAW Play Reading: Teen Playwrights Showcase
Don’t miss this chance to experience some of the newest voices in theater! Four young playwrights have been commissioned by PCS to write short scripts for JAW. This showcase will feature the dynamic short scripts they’ve developed, performed by professional actors.
JAW Play Reading: Out There
Created by William Carlos Angulo, Isaac Gómez & Michelle J. Rodriguez
Music & Lyrics by Michelle J Rodriguez
Book by Isaac Gómez
When MJ, a once-great musician turned recluse, summons his best friends to his beach house with a "code red," old tensions and buried secrets resurface as the characters confront their shared pasts and uncertain futures. A PCS Commission, Out There is a richly layered story about family, love, and redemption told through the intersecting lives of three lifelong best friends—MJ, David, and Lars—and the people bound to them: Marcus, Feli, Joe, Dayana, and Kahliah. Set against storm-lashed coastlines, intimate hotel rooms, and bustling cityscapes, Out There invites audiences into a surreal world, portraying an unprecedented portrait of a modern family that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.
JAW Play Reading: Say Gay Plays
Conceived in response to the 2022 passage of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Voyage Theater Company Founding Artistic Director Wayne Maugans’ SAY GAY PLAYS offers royalty-free short plays by queer playwrights to not-for-profit theatre companies, arts organizations, and educational institutions for local activism and fundraising for LGBTQ+ communities across America. In a collaboration between Say Gay Plays, Fuse Theatre Ensemble and Portland Center Stage, JAW will feature an evening of these short plays, sharing work from playwrights across the country and a brand new commission by Portland playwright Carlos-Zenen Trujillo.
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).
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