Performing Arts

91.5% of first dates suck purely because of awkward, dull, boring conversations. Conversational Lube is here to FIX that.

You’re invited to the first real-time, live comedy dating show. Singles will be matched, meet for the first time, then join a comedian on stage (the lube) to have a first date. Yes, audience members will be put on blind dates in real time at the show. That means you, yes, you can come and possibly find your soul mate. (Or at the very least go home with a funny af story.)

Each couple will have a date on the stage and be joined by a licensed professional* (*fully unlicensed comedian) to lube up the conversation, make sure it flows, stays entertaining, and fully capitalize on any weird shit that comes up. (The last part mostly for the sake of the audience and laughs.)

Hosted by stand-up comedian and writer, Cait Chock, who is single for many reasons but not because she can’t dazzle a first conversation. She shines in a first impression, then actively decays like a free radical. She’s a lost cause, but she’s using her conversational skills to help you find love.

No guarantee that you'll find love, but it's guaranteed it will be a helluva lot more fun than another boring and slightly deranged Tinder meet-up. ALL are welcome, even you monsters already happily in love, can come, eat, drink, laugh, and watch everyone else squirm. Apps suck. Approaching strangers in the wild is scary. Hitting on your Trader Joe’s cashier is not cool. A comedy show is your best bet.

Don’t settle for shitty, boring, vanilla conversations…apply conversational lube.

Friday, November 27 6:30pm doors, 7pm show 21 and over at Al's Den

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.