Pre-show activities

Scavenger Hunt: Nine of the tadpoles have wandered away to find creative inspiration for their comics, but it’s almost showtime and we need to get them back to the stage! Find all nine so the show can go on!

Opening Night Celebration!

Friday, November 1, 6:00–7:30 pm: Come in your best Cat Kid, Dog Man, or any other Halloween costume and trick-or-treat in the lobby of the Newmark Theatre! Grab your goodie bag from the OCT table in the main floor lobby, then head upstairs and visit partnering organizations throughout the other lobby areas. Don’t forget to pick up a new Dog Man or Cat Kid Comic Club book from Broadway Books!

Cat Kid Comic Club: the musical

  • Our friends from OMSI will be at the theatre with a fun activity and sharing information about their current exhibit "Exquisite Creatures Revealed!"

  • ICAN Radio is a dedicated radio station for children to celebrate the joy of being a child, explore other cultures, and enhance their learning. ICAN provides access to the arts for all, and nurtures a love for music and literature.

  • FACT Oregon empowers families and transforms how communities perceive disability through peer support, trainings, and other resources to help them dream big dreams for their children.

  • Winner of the 2022 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Award and hailed as the "The Best Comic Shop in the World," Books with Pictures will be sharing their love of diverse and inclusive graphic novels!

  • Calling all Questers and Magic Seekers! The team from Wonderwood Springs will be at the theatre with details about their family-friendly restaurant, coffee shop, and mini golf course in St. Johns!

  • The Science and Comics Initiative through the University of Oregon will be working with kids to create their own spooky comic strips!

  • Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and strive to make it better every single day. They explore their strengths, take on new challenges, and can always be themselves, regardless of background or ability. Come learn more about what Girl Scouts do, and how to join or start your own troop!

  • The Shadow Project is dedicated to making school more accessible and engaging for K-8 students with learning challenges like dyslexia, ADHD, autism and trauma, so they can achieve their full potential.

  • Portland’s Cat Adoption Team (CAT) is the largest cat shelter in the Pacific Northwest, offering adoption, foster care, and veterinary services to homeless cats and kittens. Check out their thrift store in SW Portland!

Literary Arts PDX Book Festival

Saturday, November 2 is the Portland Book Festival! This festival features on-stage author discussions with over 100 authors and interviewers, drop-in writing workshops, pop-up readings, an extensive book fair, and local food trucks in this city-wide celebration of books and stories. Events on Saturday, November 2 begin at 10:00 am and conclude at 6:00 pm. You can view the full schedule of events, including many family and kid-friendly events, on the Book Fest website.

This festival will be happening at multiple venues around downtown, including at Hatfield Hall at Portland'5, the Portland Art Museum, The Judy, and other locations throughout the downtown area. Please plan ahead accordingly as parking downtown will be extremely limited. There will also be road closures around the Newmark Theatre, including SW Park Ave and SW Main St. We encourage families coming downtown on Saturday to consider alternate transportation such as Trimet.