Alberta Rose Theatre

I wish could give the Alberta Rose 4 (or even 5) stars. Positive aspects of this theater: It’s lovely and old, they offer a decent variety of alchaholic beferages, it’s fairly easy to see the show from anywhere, tickets are not too pricey. And the beautiful purple velvet curtains near the lobby were made by my dear friend Naomi.
I’ve been here twice now — both events around sex… hmmm. I see a pattern emerging. And while I may return if the show of my choosing is only available here — I will wish I doidnt have to. WHY, you ask… The seating
I hate the seats. Half theater and half joined party chairs. My ass is killing me within 30 minutes. It really makes the whole thing hard to enjoy even when it’s so worthy of it. There’s little order/​sense to the bar area/​line serving deal and it’s always super packed in and right next to the huge bathroom line. And the front door sign lights up «exit» — but you can’t go that way. Ok — I just felt silly there so I’m taking it out on you! But mostly, it’s the seats.

Great theater with unique shows. Always have a great tool me hear. Very funky and Portland feel. Great food and drink options and great staff. Saw nightmare b4 xmas, great show and stage decorations. A overall great Portland place to visit.

We continue to appreciate this intimate funky theatre venue! Such a variety of great entertainment in a relaxed setting. We attend concerts, circuses, and vaudville variety shows here on a regular basis and have never been dissapointed! Get here early and enjoy libations and the many restaurants along Alberta. So much fun!

Alberta Rose is a great mid-​sized performance venue on NE Alberta. As with any venue of this sort, the experience is largely dependent on the event that you’re there for. I’ll try to give an overview of the pros and cons of this space, divorced from my experiences that were unique to particular shows.
PROS:
+Most of the theater is filled with comfortable seating, with a very small amount of standing room in the back. I’ve never understood the desire to stand at concerts. In my mind, plentiful and comfortable seating is a clear selling point.
+A variety of Ninkasi and New Belgium beers on tap at a good price. Also cider and wine and snacks.
+Friendly, efficient staff. I’ve always been impressed by everyone here from ticket checkers to hand stampers to bartenders. Great staff makes waiting in long lines more bearable.
CON:
–Despite being a fairly large venue, the Alberta Rose has a grand total of TWO unisex single stall bathrooms. WHAT?! Are you kidding me? I’ve never been to a show here that didn’t feature huge restroom lines at intermission and after the show. If you’re smart, you’ll empty your bladder before showing up and drink in moderation throughout the night.
That’s pretty much the story of the Alberta Rose. If they have a show that you want to see, by all means go. If they don’t, there’s no reason to go out of your way to see something here.

Fun little space — very well arranged to see shows and get a great view no matter where you are seated. I was impressed on the use of the space down to the arrangement of the lobby and bar so that people fit in here very well even with a show that is almost sold out.

Run run run to the bathroom as there is like two stalls.

As I get older and my knees weaker, I long for a venue where I can remain seated whilst sipping a delicious beer. Well, hello Alberta Rose!
I catch Mortified here and enjoy the off-​the-​beaten-​path musical artists. In short, go here, save money, get a buzz, be entertained, and be an adult. The Crystal is so overrated…

Miz Kitty’s Parlour, the long running Portland vaudeville novelty show and revusical, successfully combines the old time vaudevillian format with contemporary performances to provide wide ranging audiences memorable shows. Miz Kitty’s April 11^th, 2015 show, part of the thirteenth season, included everything from the sublime to the ridiculous and easily kept theater goers engaged for over two hours.
The drab and dreary two story exterior of the historic Alberta Rose Theater showcases boutique shops framed in bright white window trim that easily masks the fact there a theater present to passerby’s on the vibrant Alberta Street. With only a small hanging marquee and wide, dimly lit windowless entry that hides the tiny box office to the right, the exterior of the theater seems incomparable to the more flashy Hollywood and Baghdad Theaters to the south. This seemingly lifeless building is the perfect home for Miz Kitty’s Parlour.
Upon entering the lobby, a flood of color and sound transport participants into another world entirely, pulling off the illusion that the show inside is a somewhat secret, somewhat forbidden event like the outlawed speakeasies of the prohibition era. Passing into the concession isle, a glimpse of the stage can be viewed through two large theater entrances and a giant open window that serves nicely as a standing bar and waiting area.
Miz Kitty’s house band, «The Cur Tails», are stage right with a red and blue lit curtain background that surrounds a large movie screen playing a slideshow of artsy burlesque like images of dancing ladies, performers, and bunny costumed freaks. The band conjures up a lively, swinging jazz number and the early arriving audience fills the theater with loud, boisterous conversation.
As the concession line briskly moves along and the $ 5.25 per pint Ninkasi Stouts are in hand, the lights dim, the band begins playing Miz Kitty’s entry theme music, and the song lyrics are displayed against the movie screen. The Miz Kitty regulars begin to sing along and unsure first timers do their best to follow lead. For a brief moment, one feels like they have gotten themselves into an evening of hammy performances and an awkward social engagement they may soon regret.
The three hundred plus seat theater is packed, but a few open seats in the back corner offer a nice place to slip into obscurity. There is no rear balcony so the sound from the stage is captured within the castle gray walled theater hall nicely. Worn, slightly uncomfortable seats create a real vintage vibe. It’s hardly noticeable you are sitting on a thin piece of fabric over wire springs in the non-​existent cushion. There are no drink holders so you must remain on guard that a stumblebum in the seat next to you does not kick your drink over on the floor, but it all seems to work and the deficiencies do not detract from the enjoyment of this quirky venue.
Miz Kitty makes her grand entrance to the stage and reveals that after thirteen years of hosting her imaginative show, she has complete command of the theater and her audience. Wearing what appear to be striped purple stockings, an early twentieth century sequin bustier with tassels, and large feather headdress, Miz Kitty is immediately captivating and charismatic. She engages the audience with laughter and quickly introduces the evening’s first act, a Pete Krebs country western duo «The Earnest Lovers». They are very talented and very country western. The set is quick, about fifteen minutes, and then Miz Kitty returns to shell out door prizes to unsuspecting audience members. These are mainly costume pieces she has collected from rummage sales and the skit offers comedic relief between acts.
A staged comedy duo are called up to the front, momentarily tricking the audience into believing they are not part of the show. Their humor is hammy and corny, but easily elicit laughs from the boozed up crowd. The duo are given a special suite in one of the two baluster balconies that overlook the stage. The amusing pair do hit comedic gold in the opening after intermission with their rendition of «Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off» which is the only time the evening seems to overtly slip into a 21 and over adult rating.
The variety of the night’s acts feature The Company Cirque En Deroute, a trio of acrobatic performers from New York who startle the audience with their visibly dangerous acrobatics that include a clearly three hundred pound man standing on the shoulders of a slim sidekick. One can hear the audience gasp as the heavier man appears to crush the life from the smaller man. Their female counterpart is tossed through the air screaming and crawls up and down the two men nearly reaching the interior height of the theater. The performance is purposefully clumsy and frightening, propelling the the entire evening’s entertainment into a well rounded success.
Additional musical acts include lively irish music from local Portland group, «The Stomptowners»,

Literally feels like a Portlandia episode. Ugh. Oh well. Is what it is, it’s Alberta after all.

Part of the appeal of this theatre is its location. There are so many food and drink options for before and after a show that it can’t help but add to the experience.
Although the seating is comprised of individual chairs (not the most comfortable), the setting is very intimate. That means you won’t ever feel too far from the stage. If you’re sitting off to the side and near the front, you may develop some neck craning issues. So I’d recommend arriving early to queue up for general admission shows or try to get your neighbors to all agree to rotate the chairs slightly. Again, since the seating is all individual chairs, they’re more freely movable.
There are also two unisex restrooms at opposite ends of the bar service area. Expect lines before and after the show.

These folks are the bomb!
When it comes to booking a place for my event, these folks were awesome to work with. (awesome people with whom to work) Clarity, quick response, and a complete lack of attitude were served up in big doses. Even though circumstances forced me to pick another venue, Adam was among the best folks I’d encountered.

Way to go, Joe!
Place looks great! We’ve been here a couple times now (to see our very favorite, the lovely Tracy Grammer) and it’s so delightfully set up and comfortable. Joe (owner) is super friendly, totally service-​oriented too.
I would really love to see Livewire here– that’s the goal!

Very nice little theatre! My first visit to this venue, for a «Celtic Yuletide» concert. Very enjoyable. Excellent sound, well-​regulated. Nice concession area with good variety of drinks/​snacks.
Visibility in the theatre was very good, the only downside were the somewhat uncomfortable seats (but tolerable). I’d definitely come again, though.

Let’s get down to it.
Went to see Grant Lee Phillips. Pretty cool little theatre. Good sound, especially for acoustic acts. Good little menu of eats. Their schedule is varied and entertaining. Will definitely head back.

Last night I attended a really interesting viewing of a silent horror film, accompanied by Beth Karp’s live piano performance of her original soundtrack.
The staff was great, the concession was yummy and reasonable, and the experience was comfortable, charming and entertaining.
The only downside was the projector kept dying. No one was mad– these things happen. But it’s the only thing keeping this from a 5 star review.
I will be back for sure.

I came here for a burlesque show and didn’t know what to expect by the looks of the poster and FB event posting. I brought a friend and we were absolutely floored by how cool and almost «speakeasy» feel to the theater. The bar sold snacks, alcoholic and non-​alcoholic drinks. I’ll come back for another show and I’ll definitely recommend friends to see music here.
The theater has an inclined floor with typical theater seating, and it’s semi-​separated with a wall with doors and glassless windows. The bartender was a sweet gal dressed in 1920’s attire. She seemed to tie it all together for me.
I like it.

Went to a sold-​out show at the Alberta Rose last night, so I got to see how this place operates at full capacity. Staff was PRO — very friendly & efficient the whole night. Concessions were really awesome. They had a nice selection of good beers + wines plus treats like Moonstruck hot chocolate & hand pies.
The downside to this place is that there were only two bathrooms that both had long waits for most of the evening and the theater chairs were uncomfortable. The floors where my friends and I sat were sticky & the whole area had a funky smell.
Overall, though, the venue & experience were both great. Would see a show here again for sure.

The second new music venue (new for me that is) that I visited last weekend was the Alberta Rose Theatre. This is a beautiful space to see some live music in a part of town that didn’t really have much going on musically aside from just going to see bands at bars before this place opened.
The Alberta Rose reminds me a bit of the Aladdin Theater. A smaller version, but a very similar set up. Food and drinks in the back of the room, separated by a partial wall that blocks that area from the seats and stage. It is about as classic a set up as one can get.
I look forward to keeping my eyes on the show list and hope to get back here again soon.

This is just a great little theater.
I did a show here a while back and had a really good experience. This is a really nice, small theater, seating around 300. The people working here were all really friendly and easy to work with.
The acoustics here are quite good. The venue is clean and everything works the way it is supposed to work. The green room is comfortable and clean as well. I spent most of the show out with the crowd and found the audience experience to be great. I don’t think you can find a bad seat in the house. I couldn’t be more impressed by this place and think this neighborhood is very fortunate to have such a nice little theater.
I’m a big fan of the Alberta Rose theater and the people working here. I’m looking forward to going back for another show.

Wow.
Beautifully remodeled old classic theater, Ninkasi beer on tap for $ 4.50 (at a music venue!), Radeburger pils on tap, inexpensive local eats, and pretty decent sound. I’m very impressed.
I finally had a chance to stop in to Alberta Rose to meet some friends for a concert and the whole time I was there I couldn’t stop mentioning to everyone I was with how impressed I was with the cleanliness of the space. Usually these renovated old theaters are full of dirt and grime. Often you can tell the owners just slapped a new coat of paint on and reopened. Everything here is clean and sparkling. New carpet, new bar, new paint, new sound… it’s all here.
While I haven’t been drawn up here by any of the acts booked so far, this is the kind of venue where, if I’m on the fence about a band or act, the quality of the venue would help push me to go.