Newmark Theatre

As the trailblazers of progressive Irish dance, Trinity Irish Dance Company has spent 35 years redefining the art form through the vision of Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard. This family-friendly program, featuring live music from the company’s own folk-rock band, draws from new and classic Trinity repertoire. Highlights will include the Portland/Northwest premieres of “Pasture Bedtime, Bleating Hearts,” a whimsical work by Portland’s own Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton of BodyVox; “Séseacht,” choreographed by renowned tap dancer Michelle Dorrance in collaboration with the company; and “The Sash,” choreographed by Mark Howard, Chelsea Hoy, and Stephanie Martinez. Trinity has sold out stages across Europe, Asia, and North America—a tradition kept restlessly alive through their distinct artistry.

Jake Shimabukuro is a world-renowned ukulele virtuoso whose groundbreaking artistry has redefined the instrument for the 21st century. Hailed as the “Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele,” Shimabukuro has captivated audiences across the globe with his masterful technique, innovative spirit, and deeply expressive performances that seamlessly blend elements of jazz, rock, classical, blues, folk, and traditional Hawaiian music.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Jake began playing the ukulele at age four, quickly developing a unique style that pushed the instrument far beyond its traditional boundaries. He first gained international recognition after his jaw-dropping rendition of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral, introducing millions to the ukulele’s untapped potential.

Over the course of his career, Shimabukuro has released numerous acclaimed albums, collaborated with an array of legendary artists—including Bette Midler, Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffett, Ziggy Marley, and Mick Fleetwood—and performed everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to the Hollywood Bowl and the Kennedy Center. His most recent projects showcase both his dazzling technical command and his growing focus on emotional storytelling through music.

Beyond the stage, Jake is a passionate advocate for music education and community outreach, frequently performing at schools and benefit concerts to inspire the next generation of musicians. Whether playing an intimate solo show or headlining with a full band, Shimabukuro continues to prove that the ukulele is an instrument of infinite possibilities—one that speaks a universal language of joy, connection, and hope.

The Man Who Saw Heaven is a new original musical about a fourteen-year-old farm boy who walks into the woods with a question and comes out claiming he has seen God. What follows is a life of conviction, wonder, and relentless opposition: a young man who gathers a movement, loses nearly everything, and never takes back a word of what he says he saw. This is the story of Joseph Smith, told through an entirely original score and performed by a cast of local singers and actors. Whether you know his name or are hearing it for the first time, this is a story about belief, courage, and the cost of standing by what you know. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

One night only. This performance will be captured live by a professional film crew, and the audience will be part of the recording. Come be there for the night this story is preserved on film.

<p>Both celebrated and debated since its 1935 premiere, Porgy and Bess remains one of the most influential and complex works in the American operatic canon. Featuring a groundbreaking score that blends jazz, blues, gospel, folk music, and spiritual traditions, the opera creates a vivid portrait of life within the tight-knit Catfish Row, as imagined in DuBose Hayward’s 1925 novel Porgy, and based on residents of the Gullah community of South Carolina. Through unforgettable songs arranged by Russell Garcia (known for the seminal 1959 Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong rendition) the work explores love, resilience, addiction, faith, and the struggle for dignity amid hardship. </p>

<p>Both celebrated and debated since its 1935 premiere, Porgy and Bess remains one of the most influential and complex works in the American operatic canon. Featuring a groundbreaking score that blends jazz, blues, gospel, folk music, and spiritual traditions, the opera creates a vivid portrait of life within the tight-knit Catfish Row, as imagined in DuBose Hayward’s 1925 novel Porgy, and based on residents of the Gullah community of South Carolina. Through unforgettable songs arranged by Russell Garcia (known for the seminal 1959 Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong rendition) the work explores love, resilience, addiction, faith, and the struggle for dignity amid hardship. </p>

<p>Both celebrated and debated since its 1935 premiere, Porgy and Bess remains one of the most influential and complex works in the American operatic canon. Featuring a groundbreaking score that blends jazz, blues, gospel, folk music, and spiritual traditions, the opera creates a vivid portrait of life within the tight-knit Catfish Row, as imagined in DuBose Hayward’s 1925 novel Porgy, and based on residents of the Gullah community of South Carolina. Through unforgettable songs arranged by Russell Garcia (known for the seminal 1959 Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong rendition) the work explores love, resilience, addiction, faith, and the struggle for dignity amid hardship. </p>

<p>Both celebrated and debated since its 1935 premiere, Porgy and Bess remains one of the most influential and complex works in the American operatic canon. Featuring a groundbreaking score that blends jazz, blues, gospel, folk music, and spiritual traditions, the opera creates a vivid portrait of life within the tight-knit Catfish Row, as imagined in DuBose Hayward’s 1925 novel Porgy, and based on residents of the Gullah community of South Carolina. Through unforgettable songs arranged by Russell Garcia (known for the seminal 1959 Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong rendition) the work explores love, resilience, addiction, faith, and the struggle for dignity amid hardship. </p>

Sacred Earth is Ragamala Dance Company’s signature work—a powerful, hour-long journey of movement and music that celebrates the beauty and vitality of the natural world. Performed as a continuous arc of high-energy dance and evocative poetry, the work unfolds like a living ritual. Aparna Ramaswamy and Ranee Ramaswamy are widely recognized as among the leading practitioners of Bharatanatyam in North America, and under their direction, Ragamala has traveled the world as ambassadors for contemporary Indian dance. Inspired by the ephemerality of South Indian kolam rice flour drawings, Warli wall paintings, and ancient Tamil Sangam poems, Sacred Earth illustrates the delicate, interdependent relationship between humanity and nature.