Beaverton's Patricia Reser Center For The Arts Opens For Business

BEAVERTON, OR — The ribbon has cut. The stages are ready. Audiences have tickets. The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton is open or business.

The new 43,000-square square-foot building whose centerpiece is a 550-seat theater, aims to be not just a cultural center for Beaverton and Washington County but for the entire metro area.

"After many years in development, it's now complete, and it's stunning," the Reser's executive director, Chris Ayzoukian, said.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome everyone from th region to this beautiful facility safely and with open arms."

In addition to its main stage, the Reser has art galleries, workshop and meeting spaces, rehearsal spaces, and other features such as an outdoor plaza, spacious lobby, and a dedicated parking structure.

Patricia Reser, who donated about $13 million for the center, said that while she doesn't want to take anything away from Portland, there's something about the center that says, "we want to live in Beaverton, we want to work in Beaverton, we want to be entertained in Beaverton."

The main stage's first show opens Tuesday, March 8, when the center hosts Nobuntu, a Zimbabwean female a cappella group. The concert marks Internal Women's Day.

The Reser says that the word "nobuntu" is "an African concept that values humbleness, love, purpose, unity and family from a woman's perspective."

They will be quickly followed by an appearance by The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra.

On March 13, the Reser will have a day-long open house for the community with performances and other activities.

Here's the schedule for their spring season:

• March 8 – Nobuntu
• March 12 – The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra
###li8 and 9 – NASSIM
• April 13 – Lea Salonga
• April 15 – Oregon Symphony & The Reser Present: Be As Water
• April 18 – DakhaBrakha
###li21 and 22 – Sea Sick
• May 3 – Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
• May 14 – Mariachi Garibaldi De Jaime Cuéllar
• May 22 – Kenny Endo
• June 4 – Okee Dokee Brothers and Sonia De Los Santos
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