This post is brought to you in partnership with Broadway in Portland. I received complimentary tickets to facilitate my post. Opinions are my own.
Great Scott! Back to the Future: The Musical is in Portland, and last night I was lucky enough to attend opening night. But before the show even started (before I even set foot in the theater!), I knew this was something special. Everywhere I looked there were people decked out in that classic Marty McFly vest or sporting Doc Brown wigs. Others donned their 50’s gear. And I knew right then that Back to the Future The Musical was going to be more than a show. After all, Back to the Future is more than just a movie – it’s part of our collective cultural DNA. Everyone loves this story. (I mean, we named one of our dogs Marty after Marty McFly.) This is a story that generations have grown up with, quoted, and then shared with their own kids. And in a time when it often feels like we have fewer and fewer things in common, there was something downright magical about seeing Portland come together to celebrate a piece of our collective nostalgia. Don’t we need a little more of that right now?
As it turned out, the magic was only just beginning. Back to the Future: The Musical may be one of (if not THE) most visually interesting and innovative shows I’ve ever attended (and I’ve been to a lot of shows.) The way this production blended traditional stage acting with digital effects was unlike anything I’ve seen before. The DeLorean (yep – this show had an actual DeLorean on the stage!!) didn’t just drive across the stage, it genuinely looked like it was racing through time and get this – FLYING. (No clue how they did that – and I don’t need to know. It was awesome!) And I don’t even know how to adequately describe the way this production utilized screen technology. At times the show felt like a simulation ride, a movie, and a live theater production all rolled into one. It was pure theater magic.
However, beyond the special effects, the nostalgia, and the humor – the show features a beautiful message about dreamers, risk-takers, and people willing to stop sitting on the sidelines of their own life. One of Doc Brown’s biggest musical moments celebrates those who dare to imagine what could be instead of simply accepting what is. And while not very many of us are going to get the chance to put a time-traveling flux capacitOR (IYKYK) in a DeLorean, all of us can choose to take the chance, chase the dream, or make the change. To talk to our Calvin. To stand up to our Biff. To run for mayor. (And special shout-out to the amazing Cartreze Tucker who played Goldie Wilson! Favorite song of the night!!) The future is shaped by people willing to act.
David Josefsberg as Doc Brown and Lucas Hallauer as Marty McFly could not have been more perfectly cast. When you’re performing characters from a beloved cult-classic film, comparisons are inevitable. (Unfair – but inevitable.) But these two more than met the challenge and stepped into this beloved story with charm, energy, and what felt like a genuine affection for the characters they were playing. Together, they were a dynamic duo whose chemistry anchored the entire production.
Back to the Future The Musical will be in Portland at the Keller Auditorium through June 21st. While tickets are limited, you still have a chance to see this incredible show. Any remaining tickets can be found HERE.
If you can’t make it to Back to the Future The Musical, next up at the Keller Auditorium is Hell’s Kitchen! Broadway’s hit musical featuring the music of Alicia Keys will be at the Keller July 14th-19th. You can purchase tickets for Hell’s Kitchen HERE.
And don’t miss out on the FABULOUS upcoming 2026/2027 Season from Broadway in Portland! Get ready Portland – it’s going to be an incredible year at the theater! This year’s lineup includes some fantastic new shows coming off Broadway and a few long-time favorites (that I can’t wait to see again!) To learn more about the upcoming season, visit: https://portland.broadway.com/subscriptions/. See you at the theater!
