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**Jaja’s African Hair Braiding at Portland Center Stage** **Dates:** January 19 - February 16, 2025 **Location:** U.S. Bank Main Stage, 128 NW Eleventh Ave, Portland, OR 97209 **Tickets:** [Buy Season Tickets](www.pcs.org) **Contact:** 503-445-3700 | [boxoffice@pcs.org](mailto:boxoffice@pcs.org) **Box Office Hours:** Noon to 6 p.m., Wed-Sun (Open for walk-ups until curtain on show nights) **About the Show:** Fresh off a celebrated Broadway run, playwright Jocelyn Bioh, known for "School Girls: Or the African Mean Girls Play," brings to life the vibrant world of a Harlem braiding shop in "Jaja’s African Hair Braiding." This heartwarming and hilarious play centers around a group of West African stylists in Jaja’s shop, weaving together stories of culture, politics, love, and beauty. Directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene, the play is a universal story that explores the essence of home and community through laughter and the magic of hair styling. **Critical Acclaim:** Described as a "hot and hilarious workplace sitcom" by The New York Times, the play has been celebrated for its engaging storytelling and dynamic characters. **Accessibility:** - **Audio Described Performance:** February 2, 2 p.m. - **Sign Interpreted Performance:** February 6, 7:30 p.m. - **Open Captioned Performance:** February 15, 2 p.m. Assistive listening devices are available for all performances, ensuring an inclusive experience for all patrons. **Why You Should See It:** If you enjoyed "School Girls Or, The African Mean Girls Play," "Steel Magnolias," "Beauty Shop," "BAPS," or the "Bronner Bros Hair Show," you'll find "Jaja’s African Hair Braiding" to be a delightful and meaningful experience. It's a celebration of community, culture, and the art of hair braiding that promises laughter, insight, and a touch of Harlem in Portland. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a slice of life from Jaja’s shop, where every hairstyle tells a story, and every laugh brings us closer. Secure your tickets today and be part of a story that transcends geography and unites hearts.

Join us at Portland Center Stage for an unforgettable production of Edward Albee's dark comedy, "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf." Directed by Marissa Wolf, this Tony Award-winning play takes you into the tumultuous lives of George and Martha, who invite a young couple, Nick and Honey, over for a nightcap. What unfolds is a night of revelations, where marriage's complexities are laid bare in a manner both hilarious and harrowing. This beloved classic, celebrated for its sharp wit and poisonously funny dialogue, remains as fresh and impactful as it was at its premiere over 60 years ago. Critics hail it as a "twisted living room comedy" that brilliantly explores the human condition (Entertainment Weekly). **Event Details:** - **Dates:** March 2 - March 30, 2025 - **Location:** On the U.S. Bank Main Stage, Portland Center Stage, 128 NW Eleventh Ave, Portland, OR 97209 - **Accessibility:** Audio Described (March 16, 2 p.m.), Sign Interpreted (March 20, 7:30 p.m.), Open Captioned (March 29, 2 p.m.). Assistive listening devices available for all performances. - **For Tickets and More Information:** Visit www.pcs.org or call 503-445-3700. Box Office hours are Noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday, and open for walk-ups until curtain on show nights. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a masterpiece that explores the depths of marriage, friendship, and the facades we construct. Whether you're a fan of Albee's work, or classics like "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Long Day’s Journey into Night," "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf" promises an evening of theatre you won't soon forget.

**Event: The Light at Portland Center Stage** **Location:** Ellyn Bye Studio, Portland Center Stage, 128 NW Eleventh Ave, Portland, OR 97209 **Dates:** March 9 - April 20, 2025 **Tickets:** Available for purchase. Current subscribers can renew their tickets. [Buy Season Tickets](www.pcs.org) **About the Play:** "The Light" is a gripping and intimate play that unfolds the story of Rashad and Genesis on what should be the happiest day of their lives. Rashad has everything planned for the perfect proposal before their favorite artist's concert. However, as life often goes, things don't proceed as planned. Old secrets emerge, putting their relationship and commitment to each other and to justice on the line. Set against the backdrop of the Kavanaugh hearings, this play makes the political deeply personal, offering a real-time rollercoaster of romance and reckoning. **Accolades:** - Nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play, 2018. - Praised for its exploration of truth, pain, and the power of love by Playbill. - Hailed as "the full package" by the New York Theatre Guide for its great writing, superb acting, sensitive direction, and timely, relevant subject matter. **Creative Team:** - Written by Loy A. Webb - Directed by Chip Miller **Accessibility:** - Sign Interpreted Performance: April 3, 7:30 p.m. - Open Captioned Performance: April 5, 2 p.m. - Audio Described Performance: April 13, 2 p.m. - Assistive listening devices available for all performances. **Portland Center Stage Commitment:** Committed to making performances and facilities accessible to all patrons. **For More Information:** Visit [Portland Center Stage](www.pcs.org) or contact the box office at 503-445-3700. Box office hours are Noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday, and open for walk-ups until curtain on show nights. **Note:** This event is part of a vibrant season at Portland Center Stage, which is dedicated to identifying and interrupting instances of racism and all forms of oppression, adhering to the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA).

**The Brothers Size at Portland Center Stage** **Dates:** April 20 - May 18, 2025 **Location:** U.S. Bank Main Stage, Portland Center Stage, 128 NW Eleventh Ave, Portland, OR 97209 **Tickets:** Available for purchase at www.pcs.org or by calling 503-445-3700 From the brilliant mind of Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney, known for his works like *Moonlight* and *Choir Boy*, comes *The Brothers Size*. This compelling narrative unfolds in the heart of the Louisiana Bayou, where the mundane intertwines with the mystic. The story delves into the lives of two brothers: Ogun Size, steadfast and responsible, and his younger sibling, Oshoosi, who finds himself directionless after being released from prison. Together, they navigate the complex waters of freedom, family, and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood, against a backdrop rich in poetry, African mythology, and music. This production has been lauded as a "fresh and contemporary tale of belonging" and has received numerous accolades, including the New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award (2009) and the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award (2007). Critics have praised it for its "urgently rhythmic dialogue" and hailed it as "the greatest piece of writing by an American playwright under 30 in a generation or more" (The Chicago Tribune). **Directed & Choreographed by:** Chip Miller **Special Access Performances:** - Audio Described: May 4, 2 p.m. - Sign Interpreted: May 8, 7:30 p.m. - Open Captioned: May 17, 2 p.m. Assistive listening devices are available for all performances, ensuring an accessible and enjoyable experience for all patrons. Don't miss this powerful and evocative production that promises to be a highlight of the Portland Center Stage season. Secure your tickets today and be part of a mesmerizing journey that explores the essence of human connection and the indomitable spirit of brotherhood.

Portland Center Stage proudly presents "Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson," a captivating one-person show that delves into the complexities of artist identity through humor and insightful commentary. This production, a co-production with Boom Arts, is set to take the stage from May 11 to June 22, 2025, in the intimate Ellyn Bye Studio. In this tour-de-force performance, Asian American actor and comedian Chris Grace embarks on a mind-bending exploration of identity, celebrity, and representation. With a dynamic array of wigs and boundless talent, Grace navigates the controversial casting decisions in Hollywood, particularly highlighting the uproar surrounding Scarlett Johansson's role in "Ghost in the Shell." This show not only celebrates two of Hollywood's most discussed Asian actors but also challenges audiences to reflect on the industry's casting practices. Directed by Eric Michaud, "Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson" has already garnered acclaim, winning the Hollywood Encore Producer’s Award in 2023. Critics praise it as "consistently hilarious" and "an insightful hour of comedy that is also deeply funny," according to BroadwayWorld. To ensure accessibility for all patrons, Portland Center Stage offers audio-described, sign-interpreted, and open-captioned performances on select dates. Assistive listening devices are available for all performances, underscoring the theater's commitment to accessibility. For those interested in exploring themes of identity, celebrity culture, and the art of performance, "Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson" promises an unforgettable theater experience. Tickets are available for purchase, with current subscribers encouraged to renew their seats for this must-see production. Don't miss your chance to witness this critically acclaimed show that challenges, entertains, and inspires.

**Event: The Importance of Being Earnest** **Location:** Portland Center Stage, 128 NW Eleventh Ave, Portland, OR 97209 **Dates:** June 1 - June 29, 2025 **Venue:** U.S. Bank Main Stage **Adaptation by:** Kamilah Bush **Directed by:** Josiah Davis **Overview:** Dive into a world-premiere adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s timeless satire, "The Importance of Being Earnest," brilliantly reimagined by Kamilah Bush and directed by Josiah Davis. This adaptation sparkles with wit and whimsy, offering a fresh spin on the classic tale. Jack and Algernon’s quest to live up to their own ideals of gentlemanliness leads them into a hilarious whirlwind of double lives, mixing country and city sensibilities in a comedy that promises to enchant from the start. **Special Access Performances:** - **Audio Described:** June 15, 2 p.m. - **Sign Interpreted:** June 26, 7:30 p.m. - **Open Captioned:** June 28, 2 p.m. Assistive listening devices are available for all performances, ensuring an inclusive experience for all patrons. **For Tickets and More Information:** Visit www.pcs.org or contact the box office at 503-445-3700. Box office hours are Noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, and open for walk-ups until curtain on show nights. **About the Event:** "The Importance of Being Earnest" is celebrated as a rare work of art that achieves perfection on its own terms, according to The New York Times. If you're a fan of works like "Sense & Sensibility," "Bridgerton," "Saltburn," or "Gossip Girl," you'll find this adaptation both familiar and refreshingly innovative. Don't miss this opportunity to experience Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece through a contemporary lens, promising an unforgettable theatre experience at Portland Center Stage.