enlarge Courtesy of Portland Ovations

Cirque Mechanics makes a “Birdhouse Factory” tonight at the Merrill Auditorium. A 5:30 p.m. lecture is by Cirque alum Fritz Grobe, now of Diet Coke and Mentos fame.

The industrial factory of yore meets the theater arts of today in Cirque Mechanics' "Birdhouse Factory," performed tonight at Portland's Merrill Auditorium, courtesy of Portland Ovations. The Cirque Mechanics troupe of acrobats, trapeze artists, dancers, clowns and more will show you just how creative the human mind and body can be in its effort to reach high goals – in this case, to build the best birdhouse ever. A pre-performance lecture at 5:30 p.m. with a Cirque Mechanics alumnus, Fritz Grobe, gives audience members an insider's look at how a performance like "Birdhouse Factory" comes together. Call PortTix at 842-0800 or go to www.porttix.com for tickets.

When: 7 tonight

Where: Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland

How much: $38, $45 and $50