Newmark Theatre

This fall, Portland welcomes an extraordinary celebration of classical ballet as PRIMA Ballet Gala brings together artists of the Grand Kyiv Ballet and international guest performers for one unforgettable night.

More than a performance, PRIMA Ballet Gala is a night of elevated artistry – where timeless classics meet contemporary expression, and the stage becomes a space of beauty, power, and emotion.

The program features iconic highlights from world-renowned ballets including Don Quixote, Spartacus, and The Dying Swan, alongside vibrant national dance such as the thrilling Hopak, set to music by legendary composers including Tchaikovsky.

Begin your evening on the red carpet, then step inside for a celebration of artistic excellence and international cultural connection.
Guests are warmly encouraged to attend in the evening attire, helping create an atmosphere of elegance worthy of this special occasion.

Join us for a rare opportunity to experience world-class dancers, timeless choreography, and a night filled with beauty and inspiration.

Seats are limited. Be part of PRIMA Ballet Gala — where ballet speaks from the heart.

Fred Armisen is a comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He is the co-writer and co-star of IFC’s Emmy-nominated series Portlandia. He is in the hit Netflix series Wednesday as Uncle Fester. He stars in HBO’s Los Espookys, which he co-wrote and executive produced. He can also be heard in the hit animated Super Mario Bros movie. Armisen stars in, writes, and produces IFC’s hit show Documentary Now. He has also appeared in HBO’s Our Flag Means Death, Judd Apatow’s The Bubble, andAmazon’s series Forever. He voices characters in Big Mouth and The Mitchells vs. The Machines. He is currently starring in the Broadway play All In. Armisen is an 11-season veteran of Saturday Night Live. From 2014-2024, Armisen was band leader of the 8G Band on Late Night With Seth Meyers.

The World’s MOST Iconic Ballet — With a LIVE Orchestra!

The legendary tale of Swan Lake takes flight in a breathtaking production from World Ballet Company, as fate and magic entwine in a timeless battle between good and evil. Performing with a Live Orchestra, and featuring a cast of 50 international dancers, over 150 radiant hand-sewn costumes, and stunning hand-crafted sets, this spellbinding ballet captures every heart-pounding moment — from the Dance of the Little Swans to the Black Swan’s 32 fouettés, and every pirouette in between.

With Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score soaring through the air and played LIVE, immerse yourself in this mesmerizing journey where dreams, heartbreak, and hope unfold right before your eyes.

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (including 20-minute intermission)
Audience: For ages 5 & over

*About the Company: Based in Los Angeles, and led by Sasha Gorskaya and Gulya Hartwick, World Ballet Company presents the most beloved and iconic ballets of our time in cities nationwide. Driven by the belief that ballet is for everyone, performances appeal to newcomers and seasoned ballet goers alike. The company attracts many international artists and comprises renowned professional dancers representing over ten countries.

To date, World Ballet Company has traveled to more than 300 cities, reaching an audience of more than 500,000 fans.

Make it a group experience! Special pricing is available for groups of 10 or more.

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.

Join The Ringer's Bill Simmons, along with special guests, for a live recording of his show, The Bill Simmons Podcast for the first time ever in Portland!

Open Space presents its unconventional winter dance show, NOT-Cracker! Get it?

Experience Portland’s very own holiday spectacular, set in the rainy city we all love. NOT-Cracker tells the tale of Ted, an unfortunate friend who thinks they can’t dance—until they’re swept up by a cast of whimsical characters. Join Ted as they enter NOT-Cracker’s colorful world, where dance finds us all!

Featuring a cast of more than 60 young dancers alongside professional artists and special guests, NOT-Cracker is a joyful, high-energy holiday experience for ALL AGES. The production brings together contemporary dance, ballet, hip hop, Street dance, and Ballroom rooted in the vibrant culture of the Ball scene—creating a holiday show that is anything but traditional.

Choreographed by Open Space co-founders Franco Nieto, Charlene Hannibal, and Maeve Dougal, with additional choreography by Tokyo street artist Uno, NOT-Cracker features Open Space’s professional Company Artists, Open Space Too trainees, students from The School at Open Space, and guest performers including Charles Roy (House of Ada, HBO Max’s Legendary) and Portland Street artist NØIR.

Gather your friends and family and make NOT-Cracker your new Portland holiday tradition!

Forget everything you know about traditional holiday shows. Open Space brings you NOT-Cracker, a truly unconventional winter dance spectacular set right here in our beloved Portland. You’ll follow Ted, an unfortunate friend convinced they can’t dance, as they’re swept into a vibrant world by a cast of wild characters. Get ready for an adventure where dance finds everyone.

This dynamic show features choreography by Open Space co-founders Franco Nieto, Charlene Hannibal, and Maeve Dougal, plus Tokyo Street artist Uno. You’ll see company artists, street dancer NØIR, Charles Roy from HBO’s *Legendary*, and sixty students from The School at Open Space. It’s a fresh, new holiday tradition. Go see it!

Forget everything you know about traditional holiday shows. Open Space brings you NOT-Cracker, a truly unconventional winter dance spectacular set right here in our beloved Portland. You’ll follow Ted, an unfortunate friend convinced they can’t dance, as they’re swept into a vibrant world by a cast of wild characters. Get ready for an adventure where dance finds everyone.

This dynamic show features choreography by Open Space co-founders Franco Nieto, Charlene Hannibal, and Maeve Dougal, plus Tokyo Street artist Uno. You’ll see company artists, street dancer NØIR, Charles Roy from HBO’s *Legendary*, and sixty students from The School at Open Space. It’s a fresh, new holiday tradition. Go see it!

Forget everything you know about traditional holiday shows. Open Space brings you NOT-Cracker, a truly unconventional winter dance spectacular set right here in our beloved Portland. You’ll follow Ted, an unfortunate friend convinced they can’t dance, as they’re swept into a vibrant world by a cast of wild characters. Get ready for an adventure where dance finds everyone.

This dynamic show features choreography by Open Space co-founders Franco Nieto, Charlene Hannibal, and Maeve Dougal, plus Tokyo Street artist Uno. You’ll see company artists, street dancer NØIR, Charles Roy from HBO’s *Legendary*, and sixty students from The School at Open Space. It’s a fresh, new holiday tradition. Go see it!

Forget everything you know about traditional holiday shows. Open Space brings you NOT-Cracker, a truly unconventional winter dance spectacular set right here in our beloved Portland. You’ll follow Ted, an unfortunate friend convinced they can’t dance, as they’re swept into a vibrant world by a cast of wild characters. Get ready for an adventure where dance finds everyone.

This dynamic show features choreography by Open Space co-founders Franco Nieto, Charlene Hannibal, and Maeve Dougal, plus Tokyo Street artist Uno. You’ll see company artists, street dancer NØIR, Charles Roy from HBO’s *Legendary*, and sixty students from The School at Open Space. It’s a fresh, new holiday tradition. Go see it!

You can take the boy out of the trailer park, but you can’t take the trailer park out of the boy… stand-up comedian Dusty Slay grew up on Lot 8 of a mobile home neighborhood in Opelika, Alabama, with a love for both classic country and rock and a career history peppered with jobs like waiting tables and selling pesticides. Now the Alabama native with the “We’re having a Good Time” attitude is hitting cities all across the country playing comedy clubs and selling out theaters filled with fans eager to imitate his signature Wave.

The trucker hat, long hair and mustache, flannel shirt and oversized glasses aren’t affectations to cultivate a stage persona as the B-side of a 1970s Bob Seger track—it’s just Dusty. As a young boy, growing up in a trailer park, Dusty never felt like he was poor. He didn’t even know folks were better off than him until he went to school and was the only kid whose home address said “Lot 8 Moore’s Trailer Park." In his comedy he reflects, "We never felt poor, we just didn’t have everything growing up. Like, instead of ice cream, my mom would just pour milk into a bowl, and then she’d call us in the room and say ‘welp, you’re too late!" Raised by a single mother with two daughters from a previous marriage, Dusty’s unique family home was never lacking for warmth or love. His father, always present in his life from the very beginning, made sure to show him the simple joys of boyhood adventure. “We never had real pets growing up, we just had prisoners of nature. A dog would wander up, we’d chain it to a tree. Now he’s ours.”

As he came of age and started joining the workforce, Dusty had many jobs. He had multiple stints as a dishwasher and waiter at restaurants and food chains like Papa Johns, Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers, as well as a couple tours with Western Sizzlin’ and the historic Hyman’s Seafood. He spent 8 years as a pesticide salesman selling to hardware chains like Lowe's and Home Depot. “A lot of people would come up to me and ask weird questions like, we want something that’s gonna kill the insects but not harm the environment. I’d say "well, how bout a shoe? Cause I’m selling pesticides here.” In 2001, Dusty bought back his childhood home, the trailer that he grew up in. At this time, he made plans to join the army, but an untimely arrest for marijuana possession disrupted those plans. Later that September terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York and months after the country was at war. “Everything happens for a reason,” says Dusty. After a few years of improv classes, in 2008 Dusty was inspired to try his hand at stand-up comedy, where he found his true calling. He won the Charleston Comedy Competition and was named Charleston City Paper’s Stand-Up Comedian of the year in his then hometown two years in a row. In 2014, he made the move to Nashville and made comedy a full-time gig touring comedy clubs all across the country.

The Nashville scene welcomed Dusty with open arms and at age 36, Slay became the youngest comedian at the time to ever perform on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage. To date, he’s logged dozens of appearances in front of “his people” on the historic stage in the last few years, fully embedding himself in the country music scene and having been asked to host some of the biggest events across the subculture, including Hangover Fest at the ACMs in Las Vegas in 2022 and CMA Fest’s Forever Country Stage with the likes of Scotty McCreery, Dustin Lynch, Lainey Wilson and some of the most iconic names in the genre.

It wasn’t long before his comedy caught the attention of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon where he’s since performed 6 unforgettable late-night sets, firmly establishing himself as a crowd favorite and bona fide star on the silver screen. His breakout performances launched him into the Netflix family, featuring as one of six comics in season 3 of The Standups, highlighting the brightest new comedians at the top of their game in ½-hour stand-up comedy formats. Dusty made his solo Netflix debut in January 2024 with his first one-hour special, WORKIN’ MAN, celebrating his many years as a “road dog” comic, and the material he’s honed and crafted, reflecting on his trailer park upbringing, the hilarious nuance of hourly shift work and the amusing idiosyncrasies of everyday life.

WORKIN’ MAN opened to tremendous success on the Netflix platform, paving the way for partnerships and collaborations with iconic brands like Cracker Barrel, Lugz and Field & Stream. Appearances on Hollywood Squares with Drew Barrymore, as well as trending podcasts like This Past Weekend with Theo Von and Kill Tony, have continued to raise Dusty’s profile from Nashville legend to mainstream comedy hero. In the summer of ’25, Dusty released his latest Netflix special, WET HEAT, a love letter to the south sharing his experiences traveling the country and getting into mischief in the hot and muggy regions he’s always called home.

Ilana Glazer is a comedian, actor, advocate, and creator best known for co-creating and co-starring in the acclaimed series BROAD CITY. The internationally touring standup comedian debuted her second special, HUMAN MAGIC, on Hulu. You can find her comedy & socio-political video-podcast “IT’S OPEN with Ilana Glazer” every Thursday on YouTube, audio-only available everywhere you podcast. Additionally, Glazer co-wrote and starred in BABES, which premiered at SXSW 2024 to rave reviews before its release with Neon. And in 2025, she made her Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of GOOD NIGHT, & GOOD LUCK alongside George Clooney for a special limited run.

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.

Armed with the unique perspective of growing up in rural Idaho to become a favorite in the New York stand-up comedy scene, Ryan is one-of-a-kind.

With two Netflix specials, Happy Face and his latest, This Just Hit Me, plus numerous late-night television appearances, including as a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, he's garnered a following of loyal fans. They've turned out for sold-out theaters and arenas across the country, including a headlining show at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the same time, he's had the unique privilege of serving as a frequent opener for two of the largest touring comedy acts in the country, both Jerry Seinfeld and Nate Bargatze.

Ryan is beloved by stand-up fans everywhere, and his future is bright.

The New York Times said, "his new hour a breakthrough,” and praised his ability to tell "great observational jokes that display meticulous attention to language and a gift for making the familiar seem alien.”

<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>

We have a fabulous triple bill for our spring-bling-fling performances!

Ihsan Rustem's LINGER will take you where rock-n-roll meets contemporary dance with his up-beat work set to a medley of your favorite songs by The Cranberries.

We're bringing some sparkle and flare to the stage with the return of Nicole Von Arx's GLIMMERS.

Robyn Mineko Williams, will create her first original work with NW Dance Project, a collaboration that has been in the works since Robyn won our Pretty Creatives competition in 2012!

Join the young dancers of OBT School for an enchanting performance designed for audiences of all ages! Featuring excerpts from beloved classical ballets and culminating in a Grand Étude that showcases the whole school.

Heather McMahan is an actress, stand-up comedian, and podcaster (Absolutely Not! with Heather McMahan) whose first Netflix special, Son I Never Had!, debuted in October 2023 at #4 and held a top-10 position for seven days. Her second special, Breadwinner, debuted on Hulu in October 2024. McMahan just recently finished The Bamboozled Tour, her third national tour, and is gearing up for her sophomore comedy cruise, Absolutely Knot.

Described by The Hollywood Reporter as an “auditory David Sedaris for the millennial set,” McMahan is known for her authenticity and broad humor. Heather has co-hosted the red carpet for E! for the Emmys, Grammys and Oscars. She’s appeared on Is It Cake and The Great American Baking Show – Celeb Edition as well as on Celebrity Jeopardy, winning her first-round match-up vs Cynthia Nixon & Cedric the Entertainer. Beloved by the TODAY Show, McMahan is a frequent guest and co-host on the fourth hour alongside Jenna Bush Hager. She previously starred opposite Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang in Love Hard.

Born and raised in Atlanta, McMahan still lives there with her husband and two French bulldogs, Rigatoni and Macaroni.

• Exclusive POST-SHOW Q&A TALKBACK with Heather McMahan
• VIP lanyard
• Autographed tour poster

Maria Bamford is revered for her deeply personal and experimental comedy about mental illness. She’s the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult and is the star of four hour-long stand-up specials (Local Act, Weakness is the Brand, Old Baby and Maria Bamford: the special, special, special!) and the surreal, semi-autobiographical Netflix comedy series Lady Dynamite, about a comedian who suffers a nervous breakdown.

Maria was the first female comic to have two half-hour Comedy Central Presents specials and starred alongside Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis and Brian Posehn in The Comedians of Comedy. She also created and starred in the cult hit web series The Maria Bamford Show, in which she plays all the characters. Maria is often recognized for her prolific voice-over work, including characters on Big Mouth and its spin-off Human Resources, HouseBroken, Teenage Euthanasia, Santa, Inc., Bob’s Burgers, Bojack Horseman, Summer Camp Island, Adventure Time, Talking Tom and Friends, Legend of Korra, Puss in Boots, CatDog and PBS’s Emmy-winning series Word Girl. She played DeBrie Bardeaux on Netflix’s Arrested Development and recurred on the ABC hit series Fresh off the Boat. Other TV guest roles include Night Court, Life & Beth, Portlandia, Kenan, Mr. Mayor, and large recurring roles on Hulu’s Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, and Showtime’s Flatbush Misdeameanors. Maria was also Emmy-nominated for her guest appearance on the Netflix children’s series Ask the StoryBots.

Maria’s late-night appearances include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CONAN, The Late Late Show with James Corden and The Tonight Show. Her interview series What’s Your Ailment? deals with the various mental struggles of celebrities and is available on the Topic streaming service. Her Audible Original You Are (A Comedy) Special is a semi-mock instructional book for both stand-up and life.

Tentacle Tribe is a genre-defying company unlike any other. In Prism, five dancers move between a reflective floor and movable mirror panels, their bodies multiplying and dissolving into infinite combinations of light and movement. The choreography draws from popping, tutting, and breaking, woven together in the company’s unique partnering style. Mesmerizing and kaleidoscopic, Prism is a reflection on what we see and what we miss. Tentacle Tribe represents a new wave of artists fusing hip-hop with other dance forms—and Prism is their most dazzling statement yet.

Get ready, Portland, because MOMIX is back with their acclaimed show, Botanica. This unique company, known for blending dance, illusion, and theatricality, takes you on a vibrant journey through the natural world. You’ll witness nature’s changing forms, from the four seasons to evolving landscapes, all set to an eclectic score. It’s truly imaginative.

Michael Curry, the acclaimed Oregon designer behind Cirque du Soleil, brings spectacular costumes, projections, and giant puppetry to the stage. Dancers transform into plant-like and animalistic figures, creating a visually lush experience. This show, revived in 2026, is a treat for audiences of all ages. Don’t miss this one.

A Portland favorite is back. MOMIX returns with Botanica—a surprising, joyful, and revelatory journey through the beauty of the natural world. Revolving around the imagery and magic of the four seasons, this work reveals nature’s changing forms through MOMIX’s signature combination of dance, illusion, and theatricality. Botanica is set to a score ranging from birdsong to Vivaldi, animated by spectacular costumes, luminous projections, and giant puppetry designed by Michael Curry—the celebrated Oregon production designer behind Cirque du Soleil and the Metropolitan Opera. Imagination takes the stage as a treat for audiences of all ages. Having danced over 10,000 performances worldwide, MOMIX has long proven they are a standout—and Botanica is among their most enchanting achievements.

Get ready, Portland, because MOMIX is back with their acclaimed show, Botanica. This unique company, known for blending dance, illusion, and theatricality, takes you on a vibrant journey through the natural world. You’ll witness nature’s changing forms, from the four seasons to evolving landscapes, all set to an eclectic score. It’s truly imaginative.

Michael Curry, the acclaimed Oregon designer behind Cirque du Soleil, brings spectacular costumes, projections, and giant puppetry to the stage. Dancers transform into plant-like and animalistic figures, creating a visually lush experience. This show, revived in 2026, is a treat for audiences of all ages. Don’t miss this one.

Get ready, Portland, because MOMIX is back with their acclaimed show, Botanica. This unique company, known for blending dance, illusion, and theatricality, takes you on a vibrant journey through the natural world. You’ll witness nature’s changing forms, from the four seasons to evolving landscapes, all set to an eclectic score. It’s truly imaginative.

Michael Curry, the acclaimed Oregon designer behind Cirque du Soleil, brings spectacular costumes, projections, and giant puppetry to the stage. Dancers transform into plant-like and animalistic figures, creating a visually lush experience. This show, revived in 2026, is a treat for audiences of all ages. Don’t miss this one.

Get ready, Portland, because MOMIX is back with their acclaimed show, Botanica. This unique company, known for blending dance, illusion, and theatricality, takes you on a vibrant journey through the natural world. You’ll witness nature’s changing forms, from the four seasons to evolving landscapes, all set to an eclectic score. It’s truly imaginative.

Michael Curry, the acclaimed Oregon designer behind Cirque du Soleil, brings spectacular costumes, projections, and giant puppetry to the stage. Dancers transform into plant-like and animalistic figures, creating a visually lush experience. This show, revived in 2026, is a treat for audiences of all ages. Don’t miss this one.

To wrap up our season we are back to our roots with TWO PREMIERES, the JA Collective, an acclaimed award-winning LA-based director and choreographer duo, will create their first original work on the company.

Local luminary + Princess Grace Award winner, Andrea Parson will create a new work combining dance, theatrics, and comedy in a classic "Whodunit" mystery inspired by Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.

Join us for the final show of our 23rd season to experience a fabulous evening of dance!

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.