The air is humming/ And something great is coming, sings Tony in the American musical classic West Side Story.

For Portland theater-lovers, that something is Portland Center Stages new Bob and Diana Gerding Theater at the historic Portland Armory, opening Oct. 1. Located in the Pearl District, the theater features a 599-seat main stage and a 200-seat black box studio.

The Portland Armory was built in 1891 to house local units of the Oregon National Guard. Preserving the 115-year-old landmark, the Gerding Theater at the Armory has been designed to meet the highest standards of green building design and will be one of the most advanced examples of environmentally sustainable design in the Northwest, according to a press release.

To celebrate the grand opening, Portland Center Stage will host a free Community Celebration on Davis Street, between Ninth and 11th Avenues on Oct. 1. Festivities include live entertainment, local food, a beer garden, tours of the new building and a sneak peek at the inaugural production, West Side Story. The play runs Oct. 3-Nov. 5.

Portland Center Stage started in 1988 as OSF Portland, a satellite company of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. In 1994, it became an independent company and was renamed Portland Center Stage. Producing a blend of classical, contemporary and world-premiere works, the company currently attracts an annual audience of more than 90,000 theatergoers.

Setting the story of Romeo and Juliet in the streets of New York, West Side Story was an instant phenomenon that combined the talents of Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. The Portland production features a large cast of local and New York talent and a live orchestra visible on stage.

Ticket prices range from $18.60 to $61.50, depending on seating location and day of performance. For tickets and more information, contact 503-445-3700 or visit www.pcs.org

Below is a list of other events coming up Out of Town.