The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts

Formed in 1993, the Northwest Children’s Theater and School (NWCT) produces four major shows per year and administers one of the largest theater schools on the West Coast. Their mission is to educate, entertain and enrich the lives of young audiences — a goal they accomplish through award-winning performances, classes and camps. Since 2023, they’ve called The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts home — this flexible venue, conveniently located in the heart of downtown Portland and easy to reach by public transportation, offers entertainment, food and parking, all in one building.

There are four main spaces at The Judy: the Stage, a large performance space featuring 240 comfortable seats; the Black Box, a flexible performance space with up to 120 seats on movable risers that can be configured in a multitude of ways; the Studios, a collection of three multi-purpose rooms with built-in sound systems (two of which feature high ceilings and basic theatrical lighting); and the Cinema, a large space equipped with a screen and projector, which can accommodate 190 guests. Taken as a whole, The Judy comprises a wide variety of spaces and potential arrangements — best of all, when you rent this affordable Portland venue, you’re supporting NWCT’s commendable mission.