One of Misfit Academy’s flagship productions and the cornerstone of our community engagement program, The Night Carnival is more than just a variety show, and beyond simply a legendary costume party.
The Night Carnival is an ongoing series of immersive, themed events inviting the audience directly into the action and encouraging a deep connection with the performances, fostering a sense of artistic adventure in audience and community performers alike.
For the last 13 years The Steep and Thorny Way to Heaven and Misfit Academy have produced and presented between 3 and 6 Night Carnivals per year, inviting performers and audiences alike to a themed cabaret-style variety show and costumes-encouraged cocktail party.
The Night Carnival is specifically designed to challenge audiences to engage with performance styles you may not normally encounter by creating an entire exquisite world for you to step into for the evening.
Each production includes on-theme performances from Portland’s world-class dance, circus, music, drag, burlesque, and performance art communities, and audience members are encouraged to participate by attending in an on-theme costume and immersing themselves in the world of the show.
Past Night Carnivals include:
2012 – What Dreams May Come: A Night Carnival
2013 – Blue Valentines: A Night Carnival for Tom Waits
2013 – The Siren’s Call: A Night Carnival of Drowning
2013 – Where The Wild Things Are: A Night Carnival
2013 – A March In The Snow: A Night Carnival of Winter Rituals
2014 – Gods & Monsters: A Night Carnival
2014 – To Venus & Back: A Night Carnival for Tori Amos
2014 – Transhumanism: A Night Carnival
2014 – My Evil Twin: A Night Carnival
2014 – Hallowe’en: A Night Carnival of Classic Horror
2014 – Stardust: A New Year’s Eve Night Carnival
2015 – All’s Well That Ends Well: A Night Carnival
2015 – Mask & Cape: A Super-Human Night Carnival
2015 – All The Madmen: A Night Carnival for David Bowie
2015 – Summerland: A Night Carnival for the Faerie Folk
2015 – Things That Go Bump: A Halloween Night Carnival
2015 – Welcome To The Future: A New Year’s Eve Night Carnival
2016 – Trampled Rose: A Night Carnival for Old Portland
2016 – Abracadabra! A Night Carnival of Magic
2016 – My Imaginary Friend: A Night Carnival
2016 – Grr Argh: A Whedon-Verse Night Carnival
2016 – An Infinite New Year’s: A Night Carnival for Time Travellers
2017 – Wonderland: A Night Carnival
2017 – Tricksters & Fools: A Night Carnival
2017 – The Moon is in the Gutter: A Night Carnival for Nick Cave
2017 – Birds of a Feather: A Night Carnival of Flight
2017 – I Put A Spell On You: A Night Carnival of Ritual & Witchcraft
2017 – Speak Low: A New Year’s Eve Night Carnival of Prohibition
2018 – Fire Walk With Me: A Twin Peaks Night Carnival
2018 – Sword & Sorcery: A High Fantasy Night Carnival
2018 – Beauty & Crime: A Night Carnival for Suzanne Vega
2018 – Spirited Away: A Miyazaki-themed Night Carnival
2018 – Phobias: A Hallowe’en Night Carnival
2018 – A Light In The Dark: A New Year’s Eve Night Carnival
2019 – Clue: A Night Carnival of Mystery
2019 – Tearing Up My Heart: A Night Carnival of Boy Bands
2019 – Preludes & Nocturnes: A Sandman Night Carnival
2019 – Animated: A Night Carnival of Classic Cartoons
2019 – Urban Legends: A Hallowe’en Night Carnival
2019 – Nuclear Winter: A New Year’s Eve Night Carnival
2020 – Neverwhere: A Night Carnival of Hidden Cities
2022 – Pantheon: A Mythic Night Carnival
2022 – Devouring: A Night Carnival of Hunger
2022 – Samhain: Calling The Winter Court – A Night Carnival and LARP
2023 – The Seven Seas: A Nautical Night Carnival
2024 – Resurrection: A Benefit for The Steep And Thorny Way To Heaven
2024 – Dungeons & Dragnet: A Fantasy-Noir Night Carnival and LARP