MARY POPPINS to Open at The Foster Theater With Motive Theatrics
Xander Dean directs and plays Bert opposite Voni Kengla as Mary Poppins in the Foster Road venue's debut show.
Regional theater company, Motive Theatrics, announced the opening of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins: The Broadway Musical at the newly renovated Foster Theater, 5444 SE Foster Road in Southeast Portland. The show runs August 28th through September 6th.
Delightfully perfect, this tale about identity and belonging is a must-see for the young-at-heart. With familiar songs, high-energy dance, and imaginative settings, the production delivers as much spectacle as soul.
Identity and belonging are defining themes for Motive Theatrics, a 501(c)3 non-profit theater founded by 24-year-old Tigard-native Xander Dean. Through intensive camps and classes for artists of all ages, Motive Theatrics stages full productions with a mission of making high-quality theatre accessible to every artist who wants to take the stage. Dean directs Mary Poppins and also plays Bert, accompanied by accomplished singer/actress Voni Kengla as Mary Poppins.
The show unfolds inside the Foster Theater, a Foster Road landmark that stood dark for years before a $3.5 million restoration brought it back to life in November 2025. Its full-back-wall LED screen becomes a character of its own as the story flows from the very practical Cherry Tree Lane to whimsical rooftops and a fantastical walk in the park.
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