i

The Keller Auditorium, Portland’s oldest and largest publicly-owned theater building, occupies a downtown city block across the street from the renowned Keller Fountain.

Credit: Photo by Jason Quigley

Keller Auditorium

Updated Nov. 12, 2024 3 min read Downtown

Oregon Arts Watch

The Keller Auditorium is Portland’s oldest and largest publicly-owned theater building, hosting over 1,000 performances each year. Depending on the stage configuration, it can seat more than 3,000 people for touring Broadway shows, opera, ballet performances and more. The Keller occupies a downtown city block across the street from the renowned Keller Fountain Park.

Credit: Photo by Jason Quigley

History of Keller Auditorium

Credit: City of Portland (OR) Archives, AP/17092

Keller Auditorium opened on July 4, 1917, as the Portland Public Auditorium, serving as a concert and events venue and the home of the Oregon Historical Society. Much larger in its early days — when its seating capacity was around 5,500 — the auditorium proved its versatility the very next year when it became a hospital and morgue for victims of the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic.

In the mid-1960s, citizens campaigned to redevelop the building, and the auditorium was torn down and rebuilt, retaining only the north and south walls of the original structure. On May 3, 1968, the new Civic Auditorium opened to the public, becoming central to the Portland performing arts scene. The new space hosted touring shows, the Oregon Symphony and Portland Opera, and many other performances that required its spacious auditorium, sharp acoustics and advanced stage technology.

After an extensive upgrade in 2000, the theater was renamed Keller Auditorium to honor its benefactor, Richard Keller. Today it remains a practical and versatile performance space.

Performing Arts in Portland

More Arts

Portland Theater

Portland has a well-established network of venues and theater companies and an increasingly dynamic and diverse small theater scene.

Classical Music in Portland

Classical music in Portland isn’t just the classics. Classical musicians offer new and innovative works, and an ongoing lineup of inspiring performances, from timeless works to modern interpretations.

Comedy in Portland

There’s always something funny happening in Portland. From stand-up comedy to improv or even comedy classes Portland has any kind of comedy you may be looking for. Portland boasts many stages to bring you fresh, up-and-coming, and touring comedians.

Resident Companies at Keller Auditorium

Credit: Photo by Jason Quigley

Broadway in Portland

One of the most frequent entries on the Keller Auditorium calendar is the Broadway in Portland series. The Keller’s huge stage and vast orchestra section make it a perfect home for touring Broadway spectacles, from “Wicked!” to “Fiddler on the Roof” to various Disney extravaganzas. No compromises are necessary in the transfer from Broadway to the Rose City.

Tickets $35-$250; subscriptions available. Details are subject to change; please check Broadway in Portland’s website for current information.

Oregon Ballet Theatre

Portland’s largest dance company is Oregon Ballet Theatre, and the annual George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker dominates the Keller every December. The company offers a full range of ballets, including edgy contemporary choreographers to traditional story ballets requiring demanding classical ballet chops and characterization. Oregon Ballet Theatre also performs in the smaller Newmark Theatre.

Tickets start at $32. Details are subject to change; please check Oregon Ballet Theatre’s website for current information.

Portland Opera

Founded in 1964, the Portland Opera is known for finding up-and-coming singers to sing classic roles in operas like Verdi, Mozart and Puccini. In recent years, the company has experimented with much more modern fare. The Opera Chorus is a community institution, and the stage design in the Keller can border on the spectacular. The company also uses the Newmark Theatre and its headquarters near OMSI for more intimate programs.

Tickets $35-$250. Details are subject to change; please check Portland Opera’s website for current information.

Other Frequent Events at Keller Auditorium

Since the 1960s, the Keller has hosted its share of rock ’n’ roll shows and still features stops from artists like Iggy Pop, Iron & Wine and David Byrne. Holiday favorites like The Hip-Hop Nutcracker with MC Kurtis Blow return each winter. The auditorium also hosts lectures presented by the World Affairs Council of Oregon and Literary Arts.