The Story of Paris Theatre

Erected in 1890, just three years after Paris’s Moulin Rouge, the Paris Theatre has long been Portland’s most notorious stage. Known for its scandal and spectacle, this historic landmark has been carefully renovated and reborn by the artistic team behind internationally celebrated Can Can.

Today, the Paris Theatre stage will be re-lit with captivating performances, culinary concessions and craft cocktails.  More than a theatre, it’s a gathering place for locals and travelers alike who celebrate original artistry and delight in the decadent. 

The Restoration

The revival of the Paris Theatre is a story of serendipity and passion. Discovered by the Can Can troupe in the mid-2000s, the theatre became a long-held dream for founder Chris Pink and choreographer Fae Pink. Just blocks from where Fae’s great-grandfather ran his cigar shop, the Paris Theatre seemed destined to become Can Can’s Portland home.

Two decades later, that dream has been realized. Saved from conversion into offices, the theatre was carefully restored to continue as a stage for the next century. With local artists at the heart of the project, the Paris Theatre is more than a performance space; it’s a commitment to community, creativity, and connection to our Old Town heritage. 

About Can Can

For twenty years, Can Can has redefined nightlife in the Pacific Northwest, dazzling audiences with over 10,000 performances that fuse spectacle, artistry, and indulgence. Known for its original multimedia productions, Can Can blends live music, dance (from classic to cabaret, burlesque, and beyond), acrobatics, vocal performance, and comedy into unforgettable evenings of escape.

Celebrated as a cultural gem in Seattle, Can Can has earned accolades including Best Date Night Spot, Best Theatre Company, and Best Place to Take Visitors in The Seattle Times’ Best in the PNW People’s Choice Awards. Its original works have also been honored by BroadwayWorld Awards for Best Scenic Design, Best Ensemble, Best Choreography, and more. Audiences have called it “a fantastic evening of frolic and fun” (Queerty).

Now, Can Can brings its signature sparkle south to Portland with the reopening of the historic Paris Theatre. Here, world-class entertainment collides with craft cocktails and culinary concessions. Its a decadent playground for the deviant, the curious, and the celebratory.

Often imitated but never duplicated, Can Can isn’t just a show. It’s an experience and one that critics have described as “a world better than anything in London” (BBC).