Northwest Children’s Theater is moving to Broadway. 🎤 On Saturday, April 29, The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts (aka “The Judy”) will open its doors on 1000 Broadway as Portland’s new go-to center for arts performances, education, and special events for all ages.
The move has been a long time coming. Over the last three decades, NWCT has entertained and educated over a million kids, parents, grandparents, teachers, and students. In order to keep pace with its growth, NWCT knew it was time for a new home.
Enter: The Judy, a new space in an old place.
What the exterior of the Broadway Theatre looked like in 1929 — peep the cool old cars.
Photo via Wikipedia
About The Judy
1000 Broadway has a long history as an arts space. The lot was formerly home to The Broadway Theatre , an art deco movie house opened in 1929. After its planned renovation fell through, the theatre was demolished in the mid-80s and replaced with 1000 Broadway, a 24-story office building that included a fourplex movie theater that operated through 2011.
Now, the former fourplex will become The Judy’s new spaces:
- The Stage: A traditional proscenium-style (read: the part of the stage in front of a curtain) performance space that seats 240.
- The Black Box: A flexible performance space with 120 seats that can be set up a variety of ways for creative productions.
- The Studios: Three flexible rooms that can be used for classes, camps + rehearsals, each with a built-in sound system and theatrical lighting.
- The Cinema: The Judy’s very own 190-seat movie theater, which will host Family Movie Nights on Friday evenings, weekend matinees + other special screenings.
Bonus: With its on-site maker space, full concession area + attached parking garage, The Judy will also offer rental and partnership opportunities (think: birthday parties, office celebrations + more). 👀
A still shot of a past production of NWCT’s “Cinderella.”
Photo by David Kinder
See it for yourself
Don’t miss the free Grand Opening Event on Saturday, April 29 from 12-1:30 p.m., and mark your calendar for its first round of upcoming shows: “Elephants & Piggies: “We Are in a Play!” (April 29-May 28), and “Cinderella” (May 5-May 21), plus spring break camps, spring classes and summer camps . 🎟️ *