Whether you want to introduce your children to the performing arts or make date night plans for the grown-ups, we’ve got options for you! Check out our roundup of local performance venues, and find shows that fit your interests and budget.
Biggest Barriers to Experiencing Live Theater
We asked our followers on Instagram what are the biggest obstacles that keep them from buying tickets to local productions. Here’s what they told us, and our tips for breaking those barriers.
Cost
Think live performances are out of your price range? Thanks to the Regional Arts & Culture Council, anyone who receives food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and has the Oregon Trail Card can buy $5 tickets to many performances through the Arts for All program each year. Learn more and see participating venues here.
Don’t qualify for Arts for All, but still looking for a way to save? Consider splitting a season ticket package with friends. Season tickets are typically much more affordable than individual tickets, and if you split with friends, you’ll save even more. Tickets are also a great addition to your holiday gift wish lists. Another option is to buy “rush tickets,” usually sold close to performance time; check with box offices to learn more about their rush ticket policies. (Psst…Portland Center Stage has the best rush tickets policy in town; you can book them online ninety minutes before performance time). Certain venues also have discounted shows, such as pay-what-you-wish nights at Portland Playhouse and other venues. Check event host websites or call the box office for details. Discounted tickets are often offered to students and seniors, and public libraries offer free cultural passes to many venues. Don’t forget to cash in your Multnomah County Library summer reading ticket prizes, too! Tickets to Northwest Children’s Theater and Oregon Children’s Theatre are often included in the reading prize selection.
A note about ticket prices: Ticket price estimates below are based on available tickets at the time of this writing and are subject to change. We include a range here for planning purposes, but venue websites will have the latest information.
Shows Start Too Late
Matinees are your friends! Most venues will offer afternoon performances on weekends, but they can sell out quickly (lots of parents in Portland), so book early.
Sold Out
Alas. FOMO is real. As a person who used to miss out on everything, I know this is fixable. Sign up for e-newsletters from your favorite venues on the list below and follow their social accounts, plus regularly check our Kids Calendar. Season tickets are another way to make sure you never miss a show, and bonus, your family fun for the year is already planned with plenty of time to find a sitter.
Childcare
Speaking of sitters, it’s so hard to find childcare. When my children were young enough to need a sitter, we were aggressively trying to tackle our student loans and didn’t have wiggle room in the budget to pay for a sitter and tickets to a show. Our extended family lives out of state, and we didn’t want to ask them to babysit on their rare visits to Oregon. But we still went to shows! Either we chose a production that was fun for all ages (hello The Nutcracker), or we swapped childcare with our friends. It takes a little more puzzling, but it can be done.
Anxiety + Noisy Kiddos
Portland Playhouse offers “relaxed performances,” where you can vocalize quietly if needed, and move in whatever way you need. They turn off harsh lighting effects and reduce the volume, so these peformances are also sensory friendly. Other venues may call showtimes like this “sensory friendly,” or “access performances.” Book those dates and attend a show without fear of judgement!
If you’re worried your kids will be too loud during a performance, take them to one of the children’s theaters in town! Kids are expected to be kids at places like Northwest Children’s Theater and Oregon Children’s Theatre. Alternatively, when my kids were little, we would leave shows like The Nutcracker at intermission so the amount of time they had to be still and quiet was minimal. We lost some value, but it was so much better than not seeing the show at all.
If it’s illness you’re concerned about, look for performance dates when masks are required. These are a type of access show when more medically vulnerable community members may attend knowing that everyone in the audience will be wearing a mask. Sometimes proof of vaccination is required as well. You may also attend outdoor performances, usually offered during the summer at local parks either through Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer Free for All. Bonus, they’re free to attend!
Parking + Safety
If you want to see a show downtown but you don’t feel comfortable parking there, I recommend seeing a show at The Judy. It has an attached parking garage and couldn’t be easier. If you prefer to avoid downtown completely, visit one of the venues listed below in neighboring suburbs or other parts of Portland.
We hope this makes it easier for you to take advantage of the vibrant performing arts culture in our city. We’re so lucky to have such talent in Portland, and these organizations absolutely need our support, especially after the pandemic closures.
Children’s Performances
Oregon Children’s Theatre
Oregon Children’s Theatre has been performing for Portland famlies for over thirty-five years. Enroll your child in one of their fabulous classes, or see one of their engaging productions, often adaptations of popular children’s books, such as this year’s Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical.
Estimated Ticket Prices: $28-$62
Audience: On their website, OCT provides recommended ages for each performance, but all shows are kid-friendly. Some of the Young Professionals shows are for ages 13+.
Northwest Children’s Theater
There is always something fun happening at Northwest Children’s Theater‘s The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts, aka The Judy. Whether you attend their Halloween Ball, watch a performance in the Ball Black Box, see Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on the Schnitzer Stage, or sign-a-long at the Family Cinema, you can count on having a great time.
Estimated Ticket Prices: $0-$35 for stage productions, $4-$5 for cinema
Audience: All ages are welcome to their children’s productions.
Lovegood Performing Arts Company
Lovegood Performing Arts Company‘s 2024-25 season kicks off with Beauty andthe Beast! More shows will be announced as the season progresses. This is a great opportunity to support the young actors at Lovegood.
Estimated Ticket Prices: $15-$20
Audience: All ages welcome!
Kindie Musicians and Children’s Performers
Check our Kids Calendar to find local performances featuring these fantastic artists:
Olive and Dingo: the People’s Clowns
Nikki Brown Clown
Aaron Nigel Smith
Red Yarn Productions
Mo Phillips
Kelli Welli
Mr. Ben Music
Mr. Hoo
Tallulah’s Daddy
Hi Joe Kye
Triple Rainbow
Lori Henriques Music
Cat Doorman
The Alphabeticians
Pointed Man Band
See also:
New Moon Productions
Portland Puppet Museum Live Performances
Penny’s Puppet Productions
Dragon Theater
Plays, Musicals and Opera
Broadway in Portland
Broadway in Portland‘s 2024-25 season tickets sold out in a flash, and it’s no surprise: with favorites like WICKED and Hamilton on the season roster, families were quick to snag one of the best ticket deals in town.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Individual tickets vary by show, seat and demand, but they are approximately $30-$150 before fees (some popular shows could be more). Season tickets typically sell out quickly (you may join the waitlist), but the season package is approximately $250-$700, depending on the seat. You may join their e-club to have early access to individual tickets while you wait for a season ticket spot or if you prefer to buy individual tickets.
Audience: Recommended ages for each show are listed on their website. Children under 2 will usually not be admitted.
Portland Opera
If you haven’t been to the opera before, The Portland Opera is a place where all are welcome. It’s an experience like no other, and seasons often include family-friendly options, such as last season’s Cinderella. This year’s youth opera is already sold out, but fans of Stephen King and Shakespeare have a lot to look forward to in the rest of this year’s selections.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Vary by demand and availability, but approximately $25-$150. Season ticket packages offer at least 20% off individual ticket price. In the past, two weeks before showtime $10 tickets are available with a student ID, or up to two $5 tickets with a valid Oregon Trail card.
Audience: Masks encouraged, but not required. Performances are generally recommended for ages 8+, as operas are long. Check the content warnings for each production to decide if a particular opera is appropriate for your child.
Opera on Tap
Speaking of accessible opera, Opera on Tap brings the music to you. You can often find them at Mike Bennett’s Wonderwood Springs and other venues around town. Sign up for their newsletter or follow them on social media to find out where to see their next FREE performance.
Estimated ticket prices: Free
Audience: Varies by production and venue.
Portland Center Stage at the Armory
Portland Center Stage at the Armory focuses on sharing a variety of stories from diverse perspectives. Every show and cast at PCS is thoughtfully chosen and skillfully executed, and you’ll leave each production with plenty to talk about on the ride home. This season kicks off with Sweeney Todd, perfect for one of your Halloween season outings.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Approximately $25-$98 for individual tickets. Season tickets may be purchased in an Everything Series ($304-$552), a Main Stage Series ($230-$446), a 3-show package ($115), 8 admission pass ($550), or — for ages 35 and under — an Armory Card 5-admission pass ($125) . PCS offers fantastic ticket specials, including pay-what-you-will nights. Their rush ticket policy is the best in town; book your ticket online ninety minutes before the show for $25.
Audience: Most shows are recommended for high school ages and up, but may also appeal to mature middle-schoolers.
Portland Playhouse
Located in Portlands historic King neighborhood, Portland Playhouse performs in the former home of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. They are “committed to anti-racist theatre,” and you can expect to see representation in every aspect of the performance. Their annual performance of A Christmas Carol is so good we saw it twice. There’s not a bad seat in the house at this intimate theater.
Ticket Prices: $59.96-$69.95 and worth every penny. A three-show subscription is $149. Specials include BIPOC pay-what-you-wish nights, pay-what-you-wish Wednesdays, $5 Arts for All tickets, and $25 access tickets (no proof of need required).
Audience: Varies by production. All ages are welcome at A Christmas Carol.
Broadway Rose Theatre Company
Broadway Rose Theatre Company’s 2024-25 season includes a couple of fan-favorite holiday shows — Five Golden Rings and Santa Sing-Along — plus popular productions like Grease and Waitress. A season package is worth the buy here; their shows are always high quality.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Vary by seating and availability, but typically range from $20-$52. Season tickets passes for 2023-24 are available in 4-, 5-, and 6-show packages.
Audience: Children under six are not admitted to their main stage shows, but children ages 6+ receive discounted admission. Typically, their youth theatre productions (not listed here) don’t have age restrictions and prices typically range from $10 for youth to $12 for adults, kids under 2 free. The Santa Sing-Along is also kid-friendly, of course.
Lakewood Center for the Arts
Speaking of holiday shows, Lakewood Center for the Arts’ is bringing A Christmas Story: The Musical to the stage in their 2024-25 season, in addition to Jersey Boys, Groundhog Day, plus a comedy and thriller you won’t want to miss.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Approximately $20-$50, season tickets are up to 20% off individual price.
Audience: Recommendation varies by performance, see website.
Milagro
Milagro is “the premier Latino arts and culture center of the Pacific Northwest.” See shows in both English and Spanish at this Southeast Portland gem. This year’s season includes Frida: Un Retablo and A Home What Howls (Or the House What Was Ravine), and there’s not a bad seat in the house. They always host a Día de los Muertos festival, with local events and productions.
Ticket Prices: Approximately $20-$30. Season passes range from $56-$102.
Audience: Varies by production. Contact the box office for more details.
Imago Theatre
Imago Theatre is bringing back its popular ZOOZOO show this December, featuring introverted frogs, tricky penguins, and a menagerie of other animal characters. It is recommended for ages 4+, and the rest of their season includes A Streetcar Named Desire, Salome, and Happiness.
Ticket Prices: $19.50-37.50
Audience: Varies by production
Stumptown Stages
Stumptown Stages is celebrating its 20th anniversary season with an exciting lineup, including It’s a Wonderful Life, Tootsie, and Hairspray. Specializing in musical theater, Stumptown promises an unforgettable experience for Broadway enthusiasts.
Ticket Prices: $36-$67, season packages range from $100-$192
Audience: Varies by production
Bag & Baggage Productions
Bag & Baggage Productions is Hillsboro’s premier theatre company. Families won’t want to miss The Ballad of Iron Jo, a fairy tale adventure inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ “Iron John,” recommended for ages 5+.
Ticket Prices: Tickets vary by show. The range may include pay what you can, a standard ticket of $25, and/or pay it forward $40 tickets.
Audience: Varies by production
Other Venues to Explore:
- World Stage Theatre
- Portland Revels
- Echo Theater Company
- CoHo Productions
- Clackamas Repertory Theatre
- Twilight Theater Company
- Portland Panto Players
- Artists Repertory Theatre
- Profile Theatre
- Third Rail Repertory Theatre
- Original Practice Shakespeare
- Curious Comedy Theater
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland
- Portland Concert Opera
- Theatre Diaspora
- PassinArt
- PETE
- Fuse Theater Ensemble
- BOOM Arts
- Imagine Theatre
- Beaverton Civic Theatre
Ballet and Dance
Oregon Ballet Theatre
Oregon Ballet Theatre‘s 2024-25 Season is full of family friendly performances, including Hansel & Gretel, The Nutcracker, and (their annual school performance) Sleeping Beauty. Make The Nutcracker part of your holiday traditions, or start a new tradition with the family season package.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Individual tickets start at $29. Season ticket packages come in three options: Family (save 50% on kids’ tickets); Repertory, and Choose Your Own.
Audience: The recommended family package includes Hansel & Gretel; The Nutcracker; Giselle.
The Portland Ballet
Speaking of traditions, The Portland Ballet hosts a show every year on the weekend after Thanksgiving, and this year’s performance will be Firebird & Petrushka, with the latter set in Portland. Tickets are very affordable, and it’s such a fun way to kick off the holiday season. They also offer a spring show, usually around Mother’s Day weekend, the perfect experience gift for mom!
Estimated Ticket Prices: Start at $15.
Audience: Shows are appropriate for the whole family.
NW Dance Project
NW Dance Project‘s 21st season includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hedda, and more. Their bold, contemporary performances will remind your teen that you are actually still cool.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Approximately $29-$68, plus $6 service fee. Half-price student/senior rush tickets (as available, all seats) at theater box office beginning one hour before performance time. Arts for All tickets will be sold at the box office at 5:30 pm the night of the performance. Season packages for four shows are offered in two tiers, Green at $221, and Yellow at $245.
Audience: Shows are typically appropriate for the whole family.
BodyVox
BodyVox is bringing back BloodyVox this season, and there’s a matinee performance (costumes encouraged!) that is perfect for the whole family. And Serious Cupcakes is back in December with a seasonal twist — all of the shows in this “sweet assortment” are holiday-themed. Don’t miss these shows or any of the other innovative and oh-so-cool performances in the 2024-25 season.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Vary by show and seat, but approximately $20-$71. Season tickets offer a 15%-25% savings and range from $112 to $172.
Audience: Most performances recommended for ages 8+.
White Bird
Families will absolutely want to take their daughters to White Bird‘s Okareka Dance Company performance about female endurance and strength. The 2024-25 season is incredibly diverse, including Korean, Brazilian, African, Flamenca, classical ballet, break, and humorous pointe from The Trocks.
Estimated Ticket Prices: $6-$97. A three-show season package ranges from $93-$159.
Audience: All family-appropriate, but probably most enjoyed by middle schoolers and older.
Other venues to explore:
Aerial Performances:
Concerts
Oregon Symphony
Oregon Symphony‘s 2024-25 Kids Series includes Melodies of the Animal Kingdom, The Sounds of Science, Peter and the Wolf, and Adventures in the Great Outdoors. The Popcorn Package includes Disney’s Frozen in Concert, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in Concert, and Back to the Future in Concert. The Pops Series includes The Sound of Space with the Oregon Symphony, Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of im Burton, Heroes & Villains: Star-Crossed Nemeses and Back to the ’80s. The Classical series includes Brahms 2: Moments in Light and Darkness, Dvořák’s New World Symphony, Exhilarating Beethoven, and many more. There are so many fantastic holiday shows on the schedule, including A Charlie Brown Christmas — LIVE! and Love Actually in Concert. Coming this January is Beethoven x Beyoncé, the perfect crossover for parents and teens with slightly difference tastes.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Tickets start at $25 for most shows, but $12 for the Families Series. For season tickets, there are many options at a variety of price points.
Audience: The Kids Concerts series is perfect for up-and-coming music lovers and lasts only one hour. The Young People’s Concerts are perfect for grades 3-8. Families may also enjoy the Pops Series, featuring popular musical hits from a variety of eras, or the Popcorn Package, when the live orchestra accompanies a film projected on the big screen. While the Kids Concerts Series is appropriate for younger children, most productions are recommended for ages 7+.
Metropolitan Youth Symphony
Metropolitan Youth Symphony‘s 2023-24 Season includes The Force of Love, A Powerful Voice Rises: soloists in the spotlight, Music for Millions: Film and Video Games, and, a season finale by esperanza spalding, Portland native and five-time Grammy winner.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Downtown concerts are typically $13-$54, Community concerts (see website for schedule) are $5-10.
Audience: Bring the whole family. MYS students may attend any MYS concert for free.
The Portland Youth Philharmonic
The Portland Youth Philharmonic has been going strong for more than a century! Performances include a wide range of works, from long-time favorites to new works. Their Concert-at-Christmas: Out of this World features John Williams’s music from E.T., and more.
Estimated Ticket Prices: Typically $15-$60, Schnitzer Series season subscriptions available from $28-$182.
Audience: All are welcome. Hear the nation’s first youth orchestra for yourself!
Classical Up Close
Classical Up Close. This organization — a collective effort by members of the Oregon Symphony — provides FREE community concerts in the Portland area. See their website for the full schedule.
Ticket Prices: Free.
Audience: They offer full-length concerts, shorter pop-up concerts, and even kids’ concerts.
Orchestra Nova Northwest
Orchestra Nova Northwest (formerly Portland Columbia Symphony) performs at venues across the Portland metro area, including The Reser, The University of Portland, Reynolds High School, and Mount Hood Community College.
Ticket Prices: Individual tickets typically $20-$50. Season packages offer 10%-15% off.
Audience: Concerts are recommended for ages 7+.
Other venues to explore:
All of the Above
Portland’5 Centers for the Arts
Portland’5 Centers for the Arts brings over 1,000 music, theater, dance and lecture performances to Portland each year at their five venues: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Newmark Theatre, Keller Auditorium, Brunish Theatre and Winningstad Theatre. This is a great, one-stop site if you like lots of options in one place.
Rose Quarter
You may think of the Trailblazers and Winterhawks, but the Rose Quarter hosts lots of additional events. This season see Disney on Ice, Harlem Globetrotters, Monster Jam, and Paw Patrol LIVE!
Portland Metro Arts
Portland Metro Arts is a nonprofit arts organization that provides meaningful access to quality arts education and performance for all ages, including dance, visual arts, theatre and music.
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton boasts a wide array of world class performances in a beautiful building. Enjoy the free interactive Musical Playground event for families, or get tickets to see one of their incredible shows. There’s always something happening at The Reser!
Portland Ovations
Portland Ovations is a non-profit performing arts organization connecting artists and audiences through diverse arts experiences. Their unique mix of live performances and more intimate workshops, lectures, masterclasses, and School-Time Performances have delighted Portlanders since 1931.
See also:
- Clinton Street Theater
- NW Performing Arts Alliance
- Chapel Theatre
- Cathedral Park Performing Arts Collective
Want to know what’s happening this week? Check out our popular Kids Calendar.
- This Weekend in PDX - December 16, 2024
- Why Cutting Your Own Christmas Tree Is the Move This Year - December 12, 2024
- We Found the Best Alternative to Peacock Lane - December 12, 2024