Live Theatre
The oldest form of entertainment and education, whether acted for those gathered around the campfire, indoors or outside, in a small humble room, or on a magnificently decorated stage, live theatre has always been a part of mankind’s life. Preformed by one person or a cast of hundreds, live theatre’s purpose is the same; to educate or entertain. I believe theatre feeds the soul as well as the mind.
We in the Puget Sound area are blessed with enough live theatre performances that we could go to a different performance five times a week and never see the same one twice.
Our current list is only a small part of the live theatre productions to be seen in our area. However, we will be adding to and updating this list on a regular basis, so check back from time to time. Support your local thearte.
Mount Baker Theatre
104 North Commercial Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-734-6080
Offical Website
Map & Directions
The Mount Baker Theatre in downtown Bellingham's Arts District is the largest performing arts facility of its kind north of Seattle. A beautifully restored 1927 architectural treasure, listed on the register of National Historic Places, the theatre is dedicated to showcasing some of the best live performing artists on both the professional and community levels for audiences in the North Puget Sound area and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
The Radio 8 Ball Show
The Radio8Ball Show launches a new season at Theater Off Jackson!
We last saw Radio8Ball packing them in at The Center House Theater at Bumbershoot for a show that people are still talking about. Now, after a brief hiatus, Andras Jones is bringing his Pop Oracle show to Theater Off Jackson for extended run of Sundays through June, featuring some very exciting musical acts and startling celebrity guests Skypeing in from out of town to ask their own question.
Newcomers and Old Hands alike, Andras Jones and Theater Off Jackson welcome you, one and all, to the magickal world of The Radio8Ball Show! A world where questions are answered by picking songs at random and interpreting them like musical tarot cards. Part experimental theater. Part rock and roll cabaret. Part mystic mind-expansion. The Radio8Ball Show is a night of live rock and roll divination hosted by Andras Jones featuring a different live musical guest every night. Songs are chosen by spinning a large wheel that determines which song the artist plays as the answer to the question. Although the use of a spinning wheel as an element of a rock and roll show is nothing new (Elvis Costello pioneered the song wheel idea on his late-80's tours) its use for divination in this show is a neat twist on an old idea. It is a fun way to spend an evening, but be warned, it can be addictive.
For show times and tickets Click Here
Theatre Off Jackson
409 – 7th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98104
206-340-1049
Map
The Theatre Off Jackson offers entertainment for everyone, children and adults, fun for the family and the risqué. One day a puppet show, the next night Burlesque may be the ticket. Comedies and comedians, new plays written by locals or readings of the works of masters are offered on the Theatre Off Jackson smorgasbord of entertainment. Looking for fun, Click Here to see what is playing and when.
CenterStage Theatre
Knutzen Family Theatre
Dumas Bay Centre
3200 SW Dash Point Road
Federal Way 98023
253 835 2000
Map
Centerstage Theatre produces quality theatre, their goal to entertain, enlighten and lift the human spirit. How is the quality of the productions? In the last two years, Centerstage has won Best Season, Best New Play, Best Actress, Best Actor in a comedy or musical, Best Director of a comedy or musical from the Tacoma Newspapers. Centerstage has worked with talents as diverse as Martin Charnin (writer and director of Annie on Broadway); European Composer of the Year, Peter Sipos; 5-time Grammy Nominee, John Forster; and Karen Archer, a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre of Great Britain. If you are in or close to the South Sound, treat yourself to a great evening of entertainment, catch a performance at CenterStage! Click on the Offical Website for ticket sales, performance times, and driving directions.
WaMu Theater
800 Occidental Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98134
Map
WaMu Theater, designed to accomodate almost every event—everything from stage productions to pop, rock, and country concerts, to comedy, variety and family shows, even to trade shows and commercial events, is among the first of its kind in the country. Check the Offical Website for current and future planned events.
Seattle Cold Readers
No longer are scripts doomed to dark drawers, gathering dust. No longer are actors relegated to coffee shops with nothing to read. No longer is the community deprived of the art and genius of their own budding stars.
Now, on the third Thursday of every month, Seattle Cold Readers invites the community to the Spitfire Bar and Grill to enjoy an engaging evening of cold readings of great scripts, written by local playwrights & screenwriters, and read by some of Seattle's top actors. Don't be left out of the fun.
Spit Fire Bar & Grill
2219 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121-2058
(206) 441-7966
Map
Capital Playhouse
612 E 4th Ave
Olympia, WA 98501
360 943-2744
www.capitalplayhouse.com/
Map
If you like musical theatre, Capital Playhouse is your cup of tea! The Playhouse uses music, theatre and dance to build self confidence, maturity, self discipline, responsibility and leadership for the arts in the Olympia community. Besides the five full production musicals performed by seasoned adult actors each season, the playhouse also offers through their Kids At Play program six wonderful full scale productions in which the performers range in age from 8 to 17 year olds. To date, several thousand area youth have sung, danced and acted in nearly one hundred KIDS AT PLAY productions to the enjoyment of more than 240,000 audience members.
State Theater
Harlequin Productions
204 Fourth Ave. E.
Olympia, WA, 98501
360 786-0151
www.harlequinproductions.org/
Map
Harlequin Productions, a professional, non-profit theater company offering a year-round season of classics, musicals, and new works, owns the State Theater. Harlequin is dedicated to high quality theater productions that excite, challenge and enrich theater artists and audiences alike. They offer a slate of six or seven productions a year including everything from Musical Comedy to Gritty Dramas and brand new productions and the tried and true --yes they do some Shakespeare, too.
Olympia Little Theatre
1925 Miller Avenue NE
Olympia, WA 98507
360-786-9484
www.olympialittletheater.org/
Map
The Olympia Little Theatre has been providing quality entertainment for the enjoyment of its audiences since its inception in 1939, making it Olympia’s oldest theatre, and one of the oldest in Washington State. The Olympia Little theatre offers seven productions each year plus the WOLT radio play version of a classic holiday story – each production is scheduled for fourteen performance dates.
ACT Theater
Kreielsheimer Place
700 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone 206 292 7676
www.acttheatre.org
Downtown map
ACT made history as the first theatre in Seattle dedicated to producing contemporary plays, and they’re still making history today. With multiple stages and diversity of work, ACT keeps you intimately involved with new theatre. Since 1998, six of ACT’s world premiere plays have gone on to New York success.
The 5th Avenue Theatre
1308 5th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone 206 625 1900
www.5thavenue.org
map
Escape to a magical world where life is a banquet and Once Upon a Time is just around the corner. The 5th Avenue brings approximately 150 live musical performances to the stage each year. Great shows in a grand theatre. Actor Rex Smith said, “Performing at The 5th Avenue is like performing inside a beautiful jewel box.” The 5th Avenue is incredibly beautiful. One of the most stunning features is the auditorium’s center dome, a replica of a palace’s throne room (only twice the size). The “Pearl of Perfection” chandelier is held in the teeth of a great coiling dragon, which has five toes, each toe representing an evil spirit that must be vanquished. The elaborate proscenium arch that frames the stage features a myriad of Chinese design motifs, including bas-reliefs of the Forbidden City and the SummerPalace. The theatre’s constant residents are a pair of Fu Dogs, which have traditionally stood guard in front of China’s imperial palaces.
The Paramount Theatre
911 Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98101
Phon 206 467 5510
www.paramount.com
Downtown map
The Moore Theatre
1932 Second Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone 206 467 5510
www.themoore.com
Downtown map
The Paramount and The Moore Theatres are owned and operated by the Seattle Theatre Group. Both of these historic old grand dame theatres have been completely renovated and host an eclectic performance season of 40 extraordinary engagements. Something for everyone, from dance to comedy to drama, including Broadway, comedy, dance, jazz, speakers, silent film, music greats and family and community entertainment.
Seattle Musical Theatre
7400 Sand Point Way NE
Building #47, Magnuson Park
Seattle, WA 98115
Phone 206 363 2809
www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org/
Map
Seattle Musical Theatre, located on the grounds of Warren G. Magnuson Park, is the Seattle area’s only theatre company devoted exclusively to the production of musicals. The Seattle Musical Theatre group strives to bring you the best of both old and new musicals. The combination of a story told through the medium of music is indeed the best of both worlds of entertainment. Seattle Musical Theatre has been bringing entertainment to an ever increasing audience for over thirty-one season, so check them out and go enjoy a wonderful evening of music and theatre.
Teatro Zinzanni
222 Mercer St
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 802-0015
http://dreams.zinzanni.org/
Map
Teatro ZinZanni is a three-hour whirlwind of cirque, comedy and cabaret all served up with a five-course feast. An ever-evolving and constantly changing production, combining improv comedy, vaudeville revue, music, dance, cirque and sensuality into a dizzying and colorful new form that is never quite the same from evening to evening. The fast-paced action of the show unfolds above, around and even alongside the audience as they dine.
Balagan Theatre
1117 East Pike St
Seattle, WA 98122
206-718-3245
www.balagantheatre.org/
Map
Balagan Theatre is a fringe company that is committed to creating a diverse body of work that engages its audience with passionate, thought-provoking productions of the highest artistic quality. Balagan Theatre productions run the gamut of genres—comedies, dramas, and musicals, something for every taste and fancy. The other side of Balagan is called the B side. Balagan’s B Side is Seattle's newest late night entertainment destination: a cabaret featuring a vast array of genres from classics to cutting edge new works, performance art, and staged readings. Go to the website for show times and ticket info for both the mainstage and the B side.
Theater Schmeater
1500 Summit Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
206 324-5801
www.schmeater.org/
map
Theater Schmeater came into being in 1992, its mission to produce great plays simply and foster a love of theater as an art form for future audiences. The Theater is in production year-round, presenting 5-6 mainstage shows and the Free Classic in the Park. (in 2007 over 1,000 people enjoyed the park show at no cost to them.) Theater Schmeater also produces a handful of special events, including their annual Wine Auction fundraiser and special Karaoke nights. The theaters policy has always been, and is now, that any person eighteen years or younger is admitted free to all performances. Load up the kids and spend an enjoyable evening at Theater Schmeater! Tickets are available for purchase on line and at the door, starting thirty minutes prior to show time on the day of the production. But don’t wait, they could be sold out.
Classic in the Park runs from July 12 - August 10, 2008 on Sat and Sun, at 5:00 p.m.
All shows in Volunteer Park are at the Amphitheater and are free.
Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival
Volunteer Park 1247 15th Ave E
Seattle, WA 98112
206-748-1551
www.greenstage.org/sotf
Map
In 2001, GreenStage, Theater Schmeater and Wooden O Theater created a cooperative theater festival in Seattle's Volunteer Park. Starting in 2008, GreenStage will be the presenter of Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival (SOTF), but you can look forward to performances by all your favorite companies from year to year. This is a two day celebration of FREE theater in the park. That is right—I said, FREE—All day, for two days, one play, after the other. Because of the huge success of this festival, a second stage has been added, directly behind the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
Go to www.greenstage.org/home to check out, locations and schedules for Shakespeare in the Park, a summer series of GreenStage productions.
Seattle Repertory Theatre
155 Mercer Street
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone 1 877 900 9285
www.seattlerep.org/
map
Seattle Repertory Theatre is one of America's premier non-profit resident theatres. Seattle Repertory Theatre has achieved international renown for its consistently high production and artistic standards, and was awarded the 1990 Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre. With an emphasis on entertaining plays of true dramatic and literary worth, Seattle Rep produces a subscription season of plays along with educational programs, new play workshops and special presentations.
Intiman Theatre
201 Mercer St
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone 206 269 1900
www.intiman.org/
map
In Swedish, intiman means the intimate, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at the Intiman Theatre, an intimate performance space where every seat is close to the action. In 2006 INTIMAN was honored with the Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the most prestigious award given in the nonprofit theatre field.
Seattle Children's Theatre
201 Thomas St
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone 206 441 3322
www.sct.org/
map
Seattle Children's Theatre is the second largest resident theatre for young audiences in North America, 250,000 children, parents, and teachers annually attend. Performances are held in the Charlotte Martin and Eve Alvord Theatres from September through June. Children of all ages, toddlers to octogenarians, are welcome.
Seattle Shakespeare Company
Performances in the Center House Theatre
Phone 206 733 8222
www.seattleshakespeare.org/
map
If you like Shakespeare, the Seattle Shakespeare Company performs 3 Shakespearean plays and 1 classic each season from September through June. Seattle Shakespeare Company believes the plays of William Shakespeare and the classics of theatre are timeless, crossing social and cultural boundaries and deserve a theatre committed to first-rate, professional productions of Shakespeare and the classics.
On the Boards
Lower Queen Anne
The Behnke Center for Contemporary Performance
100 West Roy Street
Seattle, WA 98119
Phone 206 217 9888
www.ontheboards.org/
Map
On The Boards introduces its audiences to international innovators in contemporary dance, theater, music and new media, as well as presentations of new work by promising Northwest performing artists. On The Boards, presents 70 to 80 performance nights each season. Something different can be fun.
The Bathhouse Theater
7312 W. Green Lake Dr. North
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone 206 524 1300
Box Office Hours: Tue - Sat 1 pm to 5 pm and 1 hour before show time.
www.seattlepublictheater.org
map
The Bathhouse Theatre is, well, an intimate theater. That means small, no frills. But the Bathhouse showcases great performances by great actors. The theatre is operated by Seattle Public Theatre and is definitely one of the best smaller theaters in the Seattle area. I’ve never been disappointed.
Northwest Puppet Center
9123 15th Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Phone: 206 523-2579
Offical Website
The Northwest Puppet Theater is not really located in the Green Lake neighborhood but right next door in the Maple Leaf neighborhood.
Directions & Map
Puppet Theater is believed to have come in to being with the advent of the shadow puppet centuries ago in China. But the puppet and puppeteering has been around centuries befor that. People form all walks of life and social classes all over the world have enjoyed the performances of puppets and their puppeteers. And Northwest Puppet Theater keeps this ancient form of entertaing theater alive and well by presenting over 250 performances each year.
The Carter Family Marionettes have been featured performers at National and World Puppet Festivals from Scotland to Uzbekistan. The company has been awarded the "UNIMA/USA Citation of Excellence" (the highest award in American puppet theater) for three of their productions and are especially known for their mastery and preservation of the traditional Sicilian marionette theater known as Opera dei Pupi.
If you are entertaining grade schoolers or are a child at heart, this is a show you don't want to miss.
Artattack Theater Ensemble
The Capital Hill Arts Center
(Walrus Theater)
1621 12th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
http://artattacktheatre.com
Map
Artattack Theater Ensemble is committed to producing plays by brave new talents and contemporary masters as well as innovative renderings of classics, always keeping in mind that it is necessary to take risks in the pursuit of new truths in theater, in order to keep challenging ourselves and our audience.
Stone Soup Theatre
4035 Stone Way N.
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 633 – 1883
www.stonesouptheatre.com/
Map
In 1999 Stone Soup Theatre began entertaining Seattle audiences with professional productions of one-act plays. The works of Tennessee Williams, Eugene Ionesco, John Guare, A.A. Milne, Harold Pinter, Thornton Wilder, Anton Chekhov, Neil Simon, Edward Albee, Tom Stoppard and Athol Fugard have been featured. As community theatre go, this is a gem!
Taproot Theatre
204 N. 85th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
206.781.9707 - Box Office
www.taproottheatre.org/
Map
Taproot Theatre Company, founded in 1976 by six college grads from Seattle Pacific University. From that humble beginning, the company has become one of Seattle's largest mid-size theatre companies. Today, Taproot Theatre serves over 150,000 people annually throughout the Pacific Northwest with a full Mainstage season, touring programs and Acting Studio. Taproot Theatre exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while providing hope to our search for meaning.
LIVE GIRLS!
2220 NW Market St
(Lower Level)
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 683-6983
www.livegirlstheater.org/
Map
Live Girls Theatre is Ballard’s only resident theater and it isn’t easy to find. The theater is downstairs and until you actually get there, you’re doubtful there really is such a place—but there is. This tiny theater is tucked away back in a tiny basement area, and when you look around at the cramped quarters and the mix of folding chairs and salvaged theater seats, you wonder if you should stay. The answer is a definite YES! You see, Live Girls! is dedicated to producing and developing new works by women—some of the best up and coming talent around, and you get a first opportunity to see these works performed. Hey, what’s not to like, you get to see cutting edge work and support a good cause at the same time.
ArtsWest Playhouse
4711 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
206-938-0339
website
map
Arts West is an art gallery by day and a theatrical performance house by night. Every Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 7:00 PM, Arts West Gallery is open to the public, and admission is FREE.
Playhouse performances start at 7:30 PM (except for the Sunday Matinee, which starts at 3:00 PM). The Playhouse presents a six-play season; the 2008-2009 season features four Seattle premieres (including a Tony Award Winner for Best Play and an award-winning World Premiere). Each play pushes at the boundaries of issues, audience, and the theater itself.
Since moving into this beautiful theater and art gallery near the corner of California and Alaska Streets (in the heart of the West Seattle Junction), ArtsWest has entertained over 200,000 visitors with over 400 productions and exhibitions. Check the website for performance schedule and ticket info.
The Historic Admiral Theater
2343 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
206-938-3456
website
map
The Admiral Theater isn’t just a neighborhood movie theater. It’s an icon, a piece of West Seattle’s history. Sure the seats are old and not the most comfortable, but it only costs $5.50 to se a movie (and a seating upgrade is in the offing). The Admiral shows art films as well as second-run films. Management looks forward to bringing film festivals, filmmakers, and more live performances (comedy and concerts) in the near future. For now, The Admiral now boasts the cozy Crow’s Nest Lounge, serving beer and wine (during live shows only).
Kenyon Hall
7094 35th Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98126
(206) 937-3613
website
map
Kenyon Hall presents live musical and theatrical performance—vaudeville in an historic West Seattle setting. The Hall is also home to a Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ, which is featured in a number of films, concert, theatrical productions. Call ahead for ticket and performance information or check the website.
Columbia City Theater
Seattle's Historic Vaudeville Theater
4916 Rainier Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 723-0088
www.columbiacitytheater.com/
Map
The Columbia City Theater was once known as the Lish House and playground for Jimi Hendrix. It was a haven for underground discoard and later hardcore punk bands called it home for a while. Now, the Columbia City Theater features live music acts, comedy and burlesque. Drinks are served in the theater, food and drinks are served in the lounge. If you are visiting the "south end" be sure to stop off at The Columbia City Theater.
Renton Civic Theater
507 South Third Street
Renton, WA 98055
425-226-5529
Offical Website
Driving Directions
Map
In the ‘80s, the founders of the Renton Civic Theater leased a boarded up 1920s movie palace, rolled up their sleeves, did some major remodeling and opened for their first live theater productions in 1987. The remodeling and improvements have continued on through the years as have a continuous string of wonderfully performed stage productions - classical musicals, comedies, and dramas that are family-friendly. Check the website for performance times and ticket information.
The Driftwood Players
The Wade James Theatre
950 Main Street
Edmonds, WA 98020
Phone 425 672 9600
www.driftwoodplayers.com/
Map
It all started for the Driftwood Players, over a cup of coffee 50 years ago; when some talented people got together and decided to start a theatre group. Since that fateful day the Driftwood Players have entertained their ever growing family of theatre goers with productions from every genre—Thriller or Comedy, Romance or Ghostly, Victorian or Musical. Over 50 years of productions have made the Driftwood Player’s not only an Edmond’s icon but a prize gem in the North Sound’s entertainment crown. The Driftwood Players never fail to entertain. I mean, after all, they been doing it for nearly ever.
Bellevue Civic Theater
BCT performances are held at:
Bellevue's Meydenbauer Center
11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue, WA 98004
Bellevue Civic Theater Website
map
Bellevue Civic Theatre’s mission is to provide professional theatre with an emphasis on contemporary, classical and musical comedy. The BCT opened in 1999 with “Angry Housewives,” and ever since, the hits just keep rolling in. Dedicated to providing entertaining and compelling theatre, BCT has brought well-known favorites such as “The Gin Game,” “Steel Magnolias,” “On Golden Pond” and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s blockbuster “Jesus Christ Superstar” to the stage. Check online for tickets and performance times.
SecondStory Repertory
16587 NE 74th Street
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 881-6777
http://www.secondstoryrep.org/
Map
SecondStory Repertory is located in the Redmond Town Center near the Center Court, on the second level next to Borders Books & Music. Since its opening in October 1999, the Eastside's first full-time theatre ensemble has offered a year-round season of musicals, comedies, revues, and dramas, along with its popular Sprouts Children's Theatre series of original musicals for ages 4 and up.
The theatre also presents jazz and folk concert, improvisational comedy, poetry readings, informal stagings of new works, and many other special events. In all, there are more than 150 performances each year.
Redwood Theatre
Fred W. Meitzer theatre
Redmond Municipal Campus
8703 160th NE
Redmond, WA 98052
(206) 525-3493
http://redwoodtheatre.org/
Venue Map
Map
Redwood Theatre is a true community run organization. Their goal is to provide a variety of high-quality, entertaining theatrical productions for the Eastside Community, at a reasonable price. And they have been doing just that for at least twenty-five years now. No production is pre-cast, and local playwrites are encouraged to submit their work. Everybody, rookie and veteran actors alike, get a chance to try out. Redwood Theatre, starting in 2007, has added one musical to their production list each year to kick off the season. So, load up the kids and head over to the Eastside for some great entertainment.
Village Theatre
303 Front St N
Issaquah, WA 98027
(425) 392-2202
www.villagetheatre.org
map
Issaquah’s Village Theatre is a leading producer of stage musicals in the Pacific Northwest, providing the area with quality theatre for all ages. Village Theatre has grown into one of the region's largest professional 
Equity theatres, with over 18,000 Mainstage subscribers. Village Theatre offers a five-show season running September through July, including four musicals (at least one original musical each season) and one play in the organization’s two theatres in Issaquah: the beloved 1914 First Stage Theatre and the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre built in 1994.
The 2008-2009 season offers: Saint Heaven (New Musical), Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Importance of Being Earnest (Comedy), Stunt Girl (Original Tale), Show Boat (Musical). Check the website for ticket and performance information.
Tacoma Musical Playhouse
7116 6th Ave
Tacoma, WA 98406
(253) 565-6867
http://tmp.org/
Map
After moving to the to the 380 seat Narrows Theatre in 1995, Tacoma Musical Playhouse has rapidly grown into Tacoma’s premier musical theater company and the largest community theater in the four-state Northwest region. TMP brings six musical productions to the stage each year, which draw theatre goers from as far away as Portland, Spokane, and Vancouver, BC. These TMP mainstage productions are the reason TMP has long been regarded the "Best Entertainment Value" in the South Puget Sound. Past productions include: Lullaby of Broadway, Cabaret, West Side Story, The Music Man, Singin’ in the Rain, The Sound of Music, Damn Yankees and many, many more. Initiated in 2006, the Tacoma Children’s Musical Theater at TMP is fast becoming a favorite option for family entertainment in the South Sound. These fully-produced musicals bring to the stage the most beloved stories of classic children’s literature…and feature many of your favorite TMP mainstage performers.
Tacoma's Broadway Center For Performing Arts
(Tacoma’s “theatre district”) includes The Pantages Theater and The Rialto Theater, two completely refurbished grand dames of Tacoma yesteryears, and Theater On The Square, the new kid on the block. These three great venues host all genres of stage performance, from hilarious comedians and storytellers to fresh new musicals, tried-and-true classics, and other theater productions.
Tacoma’s Broadway Center For Performing Arts also provides a home to Tacoma’s Resident Arts Organizations: Northwest Sinfonietta, Puget Sound Revels, Tacoma City Ballet, Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma Philharmonic, Tacoma Opera, Tacoma School of the Arts, Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, and Tacoma Youth Symphony Association.
The Pantages Theater
901 Broadway
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 591-5890
www.broadwaycenter.org
map
Greek immigrant Alexander Pantages dreamt of owning beautiful and successful vaudeville theaters across the country. But it was Kate Rockwell (“Klondike Kate”, Pantages’ mistress) who put up the money to build Tacoma’s Pantages Theatre.
Being somewhat the cad, Pantages later married another lady and never paid Kate back her money. Kate sued him but never fully recovered her financial loss. She struggled for the rest of her life to make ends meet. As the song says, “He was her man, but he done her wrong.” They say a ghost (that could be Kate, the woman scorned) haunts Tacoma’s Pantages to this day… And it’s the oldest of all Pantages Theaters still in operation, designed after an ornate theatre in the Palace of Versailles. A truly awesome venue for the arts.
City of Tacoma: Rialto Theater
310 S 9th St
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 591-5890
www.broadwaycenter.org
map
Tacoma’s Rialto Theater also opened in 1918 and was hailed as "the ultimate photoplay house". But the Beaux-Arts style Rialto was still and foremost a vaudeville-era theater designed to meet the acoustic needs of theaters and concert halls of the time.
The Rialto resembles Vienna's 1916 Redoutensaal, the first "shoe box" shaped orchestral hall. Much of the original ornate plaster decoration (including replicas of cupids and patriotic eagles) remains to this day.
Theatre On The Square
905 Broadway
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 591-5890
www.broadwaycenter.org/
map
Theatre On The Square, the third jewel in the crown of Tacoma’s Broadway Center For The Performing Arts, opened in October 1993. This impressive venue boasts full theatrical production capabilities, including a 302-seat auditorium, a new rehearsal hall, scene shop, costume shop, and storage space.
Tacoma Little Theatre
210 North I Street
Tacoma WA 98403
(253) 272-2281
www.tacomalittletheatre.com
map
Founded in 1918, the Tacoma Little Theatre held its first public performance in December of 1919 and has managed to churn out productions every year since – 89 years all tolled. Sure, there were gaps in its production history for various reasons--including the Great Depression and World War II. But records show organizational activity has never ceased since Tacoma Little Theater’s earliest days.
Certainly the Theater is going strong today, offering 5 to 6 Main Stage productions each year--Musicals like Hello Dolly, Dramas like Inherit The Wind, Comedies like The Odd Couple--plus 4 Second Stage productions. Voted one of the best Community Theatres in the country, Tacoma Little Theatre provides delightful entertainment at very affordable prices. Go to the website for performance times and ticket prices.
