Performing Arts❯Musicals

In New York City’s gritty East Village, a group of bohemians strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness, and the AIDS epidemic.

2005. Directed by Chris Columbus. Runtime: 2 hours 15 minutes. Rated PG-13.

There’s no day but today for RENT Movie Bingo, hosted by Violet Hex! Let your inner theater kid shine through iconic songs, dramatic entrances, and questionable decisions, complete with custom bingo cards designed by the host!

Violet Hex is a maximalist drag starlet, DJ, cult cinema programmer, and a staple of Portland’s queer nightlife scene. Violet is known best for her larger-than-life drag performances and dramatic fashions, as well as for her work in Portland presenting queer celebrations of cult cinema throughout the decades. Living at the intersection of punk and disco, Violet Hex has opened for/collaborated with legends such as John Waters, Lady Miss Kier, Jinkx Monsoon, Susanne Bartsch, and Peaches Christ.

See full details at tomorrowtheater.org.

Music & Libretto by Michael Ching
Based on a concept by Dean Anthony

Portland State University’s Opera program kicks off its 50th anniversary season with Michael Ching’s “Speed Dating Tonight!” (2013). Set over the course of a single evening at a local bar, this clever, heartwarming opera follows a revolving cast of singles searching for that elusive spark. There's the dreamer, the hopeless romantic, the bashful, the over-sharer, the chronically distracted, and everyone in between, each getting their moment in the spotlight through music that is equal parts tender, heartbreaking, and hilarious.

Written with duets and ensembles for up to 45 voices, “Speed Dating Tonight!” has a flexible modular structure that can be customized to fit any cast size, voice type, or gender identity. PSU Opera’s version of “Speed Dating Tonight!” features 35 song selections and arrangements specifically chosen to reflect the unique assortment of voices in the 12-member cast.

At its heart, this is a show about the universal human longing to be seen and cherished by another person. Woven through the interactions is another question: can a genuine connection actually happen in five minutes or less? With Michael Ching’s delightful opera, the answer is decidedly yes.

Visit the Speed Dating Tonight! web page to learn more about this production, including additional dates, cast and crew information, photos, and more as we get closer to opening night.

Learn more about the Opera program at Portland State University's School of Music & Theater.