It's cold outside! Maybe a little bit wet too... so brighten up those darker winter evenings with the region's bountiful performing arts. Plan a cheerful night out with dinner and a show.
From neighborhood clubs to formal stages, the variety and mix of local and touring talent packs our regional local show calendar. Pick your entertainment and then make an evening of it with drinks or dining nearby. Below are some of our suggestions.
Soromundi Lesbian Chorus
Downtown Eugene
Hult Center for the Performing Arts
Eugene is a city for the arts with four impressive resident companies at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts that includes ballet, choir and the symphony. Additionally, this magnificent venue is a touring stop for many national entertainers and Broadway productions, and it is also a welcoming stage for local talent, film and presentations.
Resident Companies
The Hult Center sets the stage for an elegant night out - where locals go to dress up if they dress up at all. With an attached parking structure, hearing loops at the ticket windows and in the lobby, Assistive Listening Devices available for use in the concert halls, wheelchair accessible seating in the theaters and loaner booster seats for children, this is an easy place to watch a show.
Upcoming Shows
Nearby Drinks & Dinner
- Trophy Room at the Graduate by Hilton Eugene
- 6th Street Restaurant and Sports Bar
- The Old Spaghetti Factory
- Jazzy Ladies Cafe & Club
- Gordon Tavern
Best Places to Stay
The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts
Only blocks away is The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts with its impressive arts series that includes a celebration of American music, Broadway shows and jazz and is host to many talented traveling artists. Their musical and performing arts school is ensuring the continued development of local performers.
The Shedd's wheelchair accessible hall is equipped with a hearing loop, providing an improved listening experience for those with telecoil-enabled hearing aids, cochlear implants and streamers. Street level parking lots and street parking are all around the venue. The Shedd also offers a sit-down pre-show meal in the theater complex on Friday (reserve your place when purchasing tickets).
Upcoming Shows
Best Places to Stay
McDonald Theatre
This historic theatre building is a Eugene treasure, managed by the Kesey Entertainment which brings in the summer line up of headliners at Eugene's Cuthbert Amphitheater. Now, in the winter months, enjoy the McDonald with its mix of film screenings, live music, comedy and presentations. Street parking can be found in the vicinity.
Immerse yourself in the otherworldly fusion of Beats Antique, where global sounds, electronic beats, and theatrical performance collide. An unforgettable show that demands more than just…
Father John Misty plans to bring his distinctive sound to the McDonald Theatre, offering audiences a glimpse into his lyrical and emotionally layered world. He blends folk, indie rock, and…
Get ready for an unforgettable evening with the hilarious Michael Blaustein. Known for his sharp wit and unique comedic style, Michael promises to deliver a night of laughter that you won't…
Nearby Drinks & Dinner
Best Places to Stay
Actors Cabaret of Eugene
Dinner and a show is perfected at Actors Cabaret. Order your meal when you purchase your tickets and enjoy classic lasagna or a shepherds pie before the show. The venue is in the middle of downtown across from the Downtown Athletic Club and there are several nearby parking garages. It's a fun atmosphere!
Come and see the Non-Stop Players present a lovely musical theater production of Anastasia. In the fiery midst of the Russian Revolution, a young, impoverished girl searches to find the…
Join Actors Cabaret of Eugene for the beloved musical "Little Women", based on Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel. With heartfelt songs and unforgettable characters, this inspiring story of…
Best Places to Stay
Oregon Contemporary Theatre
Oregon Contemporary Theatre (OCT) is a fun, edgy and inclusive theater. Come be entertained and impressed with the quality productions that have been exploring a diverse range of topics for over thirty years.
Ecologist and Sasquatch researcher has to prove her sanity to get her share of a family inheritance. This is a world premiere from Eugene playwright Paul Calandrino.
An award-winning drama that explores the big questions.
This fun new play showcases how a dog becomes a game changer in a woman's life.
Nearby Drinks & Dinner
Best Places to Stay
University District
Matthew Knight Arena
Matthew Knight Arena is the destination for big shows and large audiences. Rock out to your favorite band or see a show of spectacular impact from monster trucks to trick basketball shots, oh yes, and all of Oregon's basketball too!
Comedy superstar Gabriel Iglesias brings his infectious humor and larger-than-life personality to Matthew Knight Arena for an unforgettable night of laughs for "The 1976 Tour." Gabriel…
Nearby Drinks & Dinner
Miller Theatre Complex - Robinson and Hope Theatres
This is the University of Oregon's theater for the Theatre Arts Department. Catch the energy of student actors in a diverse selection of shows.
Shakespeare’s "Much Ado About Nothing" is a timeless comedy of love, wit, and mischief. As the town of Messina prepares to celebrate the wedding of Hero and Claudio, the quick-tongued…
"Radium Girls" tells the powerful true story of Grace Fryer, a factory worker in the 1920s who dares to challenge a powerful corporation after she and her fellow dial painters fall…
In this sharp and surreal comedy, Scoobi—an undocumented law student and love child of the 1994 Zapatista rebellion—faces a marriage of convenience to Dylan O’Reilly, her unlikely path to…
Nearby Drinks & Dinner
- Chula's Restaurant and Cantina
- Provisions at 5th Street Public Market
- Sy's New Your Pizza
Best Places to Stay
South Eugene
The Very Little Theatre
A long-standing community institution, The Very Little Theatre (VLT) has embraced inclusive theatre bringing diverse voices in original productions to the stage alongside classic favorites. Tucked into a corner of South Eugene, adjacent residential neighborhoods, this beloved theater is a great destination for date night.
Upcoming Shows
Nearby Drinks & Dinner
Best Places to Stay
Springfield
Richard E. Wildish Community Theater
Just a few blocks east on Main Street is the Richard E. Wildish Community Theatre. The charming downtown district is full of boutique shops and restaurants, making it a perfect date night destination. The historic theater has ideal acoustics and view lines and it is hearing looped.
Romantic Reverberations celebrates the passion and expressive depth of the Romantic era with chamber works by Frank Bridge, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, and Max Bruch. Featuring voice…
This reflective program features two deeply personal works that blend lyrical beauty with emotional depth. Dvořák’s beloved “American” String Quartet captures the spirit of a new land…
Celebrate two iconic piano trios in this elegant season finale. Mozart’s bright and graceful "Piano Trio No. 5 in C Major" showcases classical clarity, while Ravel’s "Trio in A Minor" offers…
Nearby Drinks & Dinner
Cottage Grove
Cottage Theatre
Outstanding productions draw the Eugene crowd season after fabulous season. Since the 80s, Cottage Theatre has staged classical and current productions. A local craft brewery — Coast Fork Brewing — serves pot pies alongside craft beer, and Axe & Fiddle, a local pub, has classic comfort food. The historic downtown is all decorated for the holidays, creating a magical and charming experience for pre-show shopping.
Upcoming Shows
Nearby Drinks & Dinner
Best Places to Stay
Florence
Florence Events Center
Just above Historic Old Town Florence, the Florence Events Center also offers a hearing loop system for improved listening for guests with a hearing impairment. Visit Florence for holiday shopping and dinner before the show. The Waterfront Depot or Mari's Kitchen make great date night destinations, or take the kids to 1285 Restobar or Nosh Eatery — and there is always Mo's!
Nearby Drinks & Dinner
Time for Season Tickets
A holiday show thrills and inspires the audience, but don't box up the magic for just the holiday season. Support local performing arts and extend your enjoyment by subscribing as a season ticket holder or give the gift of unlimited theater magic to a loved one. Find out what great shows are scheduled for the stage this year and plan your next night out.
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Performing Arts & Theater
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Music & Nightlife
Check out local live music events and Eugene's concert calendar for more entertainment inspiration.