Portland's Vibrant Entertainment Scene Offers Diverse Options This Week

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This week in Portland, Oregon, the entertainment calendar is packed with a wide range of events catering to diverse interests. Highlights include an improv comedy show by the renowned Dropout troupe, a concert by the popular local band The Builders and the Butchers, the Cosmic Light Tour featuring Grag Queen, a gender-inclusive sex education class, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play adaptation of Hamlet, a 4/20-themed artisan market and movie screening, a cannabis-friendly standup comedy showcase, and a hip-hop performance by underground legend Homeboy Sandman.

Why it matters

Portland's vibrant arts and entertainment scene continues to thrive, offering residents and visitors alike a diverse array of cultural experiences. These events showcase the city's creativity, inclusivity, and embrace of both traditional and emerging art forms, catering to a range of interests and demographics.

The details

The week kicks off with an improv comedy show by Dropout, a troupe born out of the popular website CollegeHumor, on Wednesday, April 15. On Thursday, April 16, local favorites The Builders and the Butchers will take the stage at the Aladdin Theater for a concert supporting their latest album release. Saturday, April 18, brings the Cosmic Light Tour featuring Grag Queen, the winner of the Queen of the Universe competition, to the Mission Theater. On Sunday, April 19, the monthly storytelling circle Human Reproductive Stories presents 'Body Basics, Revisited,' a gender-inclusive health and sex education class. Also on Sunday, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'Fat Ham,' a reimagining of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet,' opens at the Portland Center Stage. Monday, April 20, features a 4/20-themed artisan market and movie screening at the Academy Theater, followed by The Gateway Show, a cannabis-friendly standup comedy showcase, at Nova PDX. The week concludes on Tuesday, April 21, with a performance by underground hip-hop artist Homeboy Sandman at the White Eagle Saloon.

• The Dropout Improv show is on Wednesday, April 15.
• The Builders and the Butchers concert is on Thursday, April 16.
• The Cosmic Light Tour with Grag Queen is on Saturday, April 18.
• The 'Body Basics, Revisited' class is on Sunday, April 19.
• The 'Fat Ham' play opens on Sunday, April 19.
• The 4/20 artisan market and movie screening is on Monday, April 20.
• The Gateway Show is on Monday, April 20.
• The Homeboy Sandman performance is on Tuesday, April 21.

What’s next

Tickets for many of these events are selling quickly, so interested attendees should act fast to secure their spots. Additionally, the 'Fat Ham' play at Portland Center Stage is recommended for high school audiences and older, so parents should consider the content before bringing younger children.