Short List: Upcoming events include Zach Bryan, Oregon ZooLights, ‘A Christmas Carol’

Published 12:15 am Sunday, November 17, 2024

‘Flash Ah-Ahhh!!!’

Reminder: Chapel Theatre in Milwaukie and StageWorks are staging the 10th anniversary production of the sci-fi rock opera spoof “Flash Ah-Ahhh!!!,” featuring 17 iconic Queen songs performed by the cast. The story: When the Earth is threatened with destruction by the planet Mongo, Flash Gordon, New York Jets football hero, and his high school sweetheart, Dale Arden, are shanghaied aboard Dr. Hans Zarkov’s rocket ship in an attempt to save the planet. But Ming the Merciless has other plans. Flash must avoid the amorous advances of Ming’s daughter, Aura, and unite the warring kingdoms of Mongo to overthrow Ming and save his love and his planet. … And he only has 14 hours to do it all.” Queen songs include the “Flash Theme,” “We Will Rock You,” “I Want to Break Free” and “The Show Must Go On.” It stages 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on various days, through Nov. 23.

More: chapeltheatremilwaukie.com, stageworksink.com.

‘A Christmas Story’

Lakewood Theatre Co. presents “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” based on the motion picture “A Christmas Story” through Dec. 15 at Lakewood Center for the Arts in Lake Oswego.

The story: Based on the movie classic set in the 1940s the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts — an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model BB gun. Rebuffed at every turn with a similar echoing response, Ralphie plots numerous schemes to achieve his desperate desire for the coveted BB gun.

More: lakewood-center.org.

Live Music

The Tribune runs a list of notable concerts each month under title “Live Music” on its website, portlandtribune.com/lifestyle. Check it out — each and every month.

Jimmie Herrod has been a Pink Martini singer for many years, became a finalist on “America’s Got Talent” and has been doing a lot of solo shows. He’ll perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at Alberta Rose Theatre (albertarosetheatre.com).

The Next Waltz is a cool show, as all-star Portland musicians recreate the final concert of The Band, and it takes place 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 22-23 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 at Alberta Rose Theatre (albertarosetheatre.com). The Band’s final concert was made into one of the best rock and roll films ever, “The Last Waltz.”

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, on “The Lost Christmas Eve” tour, makes its annual stop in Portland for two concerts, 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 at Moda Center (rosequarter.com).

Country star Zach Bryan takes the stage at Moda Center, 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 26-27 (rosequarter.com). He’s on “The Quittin Time Tour.”

White Bird Dance

In another We Are One Festival performance, White Bird Dance welcomes the innovative company Alonzo King Lines Ballet with its latest work “Deep River,” which melds dances with spiritual music from the Black, Jewish and Indian traditions. Dance is paired with a soulful score. It stages at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23 at Newmark Theatre.

More: whitebird.org.

Christmas concert

In one of the early holiday/Christmas shows, it’s “A Very Merry Mariachi Christmas” concert with Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. It’s a cultural highlight of the Portland-area holiday scene. Conductor Hernandez leads the mariachi band as it moves among classical, pop, jazz, swing and show tunes in a musical tribute to Christmas traditions. It’s presented by Oregon Symphony.

More: portland5.com.

ZooLights

One of the most popular holiday attractions, Oregon ZooLights opens Friday, Nov. 22, showcasing dazzling life-size animal silhouettes, forests of lighted trees and rides on the zoo train. This year’s ZooLights also features installations from local artists and makers, including an interactive light-up jellyfish from Ron Smith (“OctoEyes”), 3D LED stars from Charmed Machine and a moving wall of linear light tubes from Colton Nye.

More: oregonzoo.org/lights.

OIBA’s ‘The Nutcracker’

Oregon International Ballet Academy, led by husband-wife choreography team Xuan Cheng and Ye Li, presents Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton. Cheng is a former Oregon Ballet Theatre star who’s now with Hong Kong Ballet; Li also danced for OBT. It’s the academy’s 10th anniversary staging of “The Nutcracker.” OBT principal dancer Brian Simcoe returns in the roles of the Prince and Nutcracker.

More: thereser.org.

Oregon Symphony

Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5” was written during Joseph Stalin’s Great Terror campaign in the former Soviet Union, which made music a matter of life and death for Soviet composers. The Oregon Symphony plays the work, along with Prokofiev’s “Violin Concerto No. 2” and Nina Shekhar’s “Lumina,” in concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25 at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

More: orsymphony.org.

Rose Quarter Guitar Show

There’ll be vintage, new and used guitars from iconic brands to see, buy, sell, trade and play at the fifth annual Rose Quarter Guitar Show, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

More: westcoastguitarshows.com.

‘Twelfth Night’

Portland Center Stage puts on the Shakespeare-inspired show, titled “Twelfth Night, Or What You Will,” with previews starting Nov. 24 and the regular run Nov. 29-Dec. 22 at The Armory. The story: When Viola washes ashore, her twin brother Sebastian is lost at sea. Disguises, mistaken identities and unrequited love show them that shipwrecks may be the least of their problems. It’s one of Shakespeare’s most enduring comedies with love, mischief, music and libations.

More: pcs.org.

‘A Christmas Carol’

Attend Charles Dickens’ holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” about miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and three ghosts at Portland Playhouse. It’s the 17th season of “A Christmas Carol” at Portland Playhouse. Join the spirits who guide Scrooge through a transformative journey toward love. The hopeful musical entertainment runs Nov. 26-Dec. 29.

More: portlandplayhouse.org.