Seattle has a thriving theater community. The city is home to dozens of theaters with even more located in the surrounding metropolitan areas. These venues and companies showcase a variety of productions from mainstream Broadway musicals and dramas to avant-garde and experimental theater. If you have a favorite type of theater, or you’re hankering for a particular genre, chances are good you’ll find it in Seattle.
The 5th Avenue Theatre
1308 5th Avenue
206-695-1900
http://www.5thavenue.org
Having opened in 1926, the 5th Avenue Theatre is a Seattle landmark and the largest theater employer in the Puget Sound area. This theater is a proving ground for future Broadway musicals. Hits that started at the 5th Avenue Theatre include “Hairspray,” “Jekyll & Hyde,” and “The Wedding Singer.”
Apart from being a great place to catch a top touring production or a future Broadway smash hit, the 5th Avenue Theater is also one of the most beautiful venues in the city. The theater’s ornate interior was modeled after Imperial Chinese architecture.
ACT – A Contemporary Theatre
700 Union Street
206-292-7676
http://www.acttheatre.org
ACT Theatre has been committed to presenting the best in contemporary theater since it was founded in 1965. The theater has hosted numerous dramas ranging from modern classics to contemporary works. ACT has commissioned several new plays and presented almost 30 world premieres.
ACT performs at the historic Kreielsheimer Place which is located in the heart of downtown Seattle. There are actually two main theaters at the site—a 381-seat thrust stage and a 387-seat theater-in-the-round. The building underwent a $35.5 million renovation in the mid 1990’s.
Seattle Repertory Theatre
155 Mercer Street
206-443-2222
http://www.seattlerep.org
Seattle Repertory Theatre was founded in 1963 and dubbed the city’s “flagship theatre” by the New York Times. Seattle Rep delights its audience with a mix of classics plays, current Broadway hits, and innovated new works. It has premiered plays by such luminaries as Neil Simon, August Wilson, and Sarah Ruhl.
The Seattle Repertory Theatre is located in the northwest corner of the Seattle Center. Several fine dining establishments are located in the area and many offer discounts to Seattle Rep subscribers. The theater has a full bar in its lobby which opens one hour before each performance.
Seattle Shakespeare Company
305 Harrison Street
206-733-8222
http://www.seattleshakespeare.org
The Seattle Shakespeare Company’s mission is “to open doors to classical plays for audiences of all ages through intimate, daring productions.” The company, which coalesced in 1991, present classical plays year around. In the summer, the company performs free of charge in area parks.
Obviously the Seattle Shakespeare Company performs works by the Bard, but they also produce plays by other authors. For example, the company has performed Sophocles’ “Electra,” Carlo Caoldoni’s “The Servant of Two Masters,” and Robert Currier’s “The Miser.”
Book-It Repertory Theatre
305 Harrison Street
206-256-9666
http://www.book-it.org
Book-It Repertory Theatre is one of the most unique theaters in the city. This non-profit organization transforms great literature into great theater with the hopes of inspiring its audience to read. Some of the novels Book-It has performed include “Moby-Dick,” “A Tale of Two Cities,” and “Don Quixote.” Book-It Repertory Theatre performs at the Center House which is located at the Seattle Center.
Book-It utilizes a unique style of theater where the narrative text of a novel is spoken as dialogue by characters in the productions. The technique has been developed over the past 20 years and is trademarked.
Eclectic Theatre Company
1214 10th Avenue
206-679-3271
http://eclectictheatercompany.org
The Eclectic Theatre Company is the resident company at the Odd Duck Studio. The company produces original, new, and re-envisioned classics. In the past, the Eclectic Theatre Company has performed works by Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen, and Shelagh Delaney.
The Eclectic Theatre Company has been around since 2006, but they can trace their origins all the way back to 2000. They originally began as The Green Theatre Project at the Cornish College of The Arts. That group quickly became Green Theatre Production which produced Eco-friendly plays at local venues.
New Century Theatre Company
1122 E Pike Street #598
http://www.newcenturytheatrecompany.org
New Century Theatre Company strives to reinvigorate Seattle’s reputation as a force for cutting-edge, professional theater. They believe the “story is king” and their productions aim to stir the imagination. They are adamant about not thinking for their audience.
Past New Century shows include “The Adding Machine” by Elmer Rice, “Orange Flower Water” by Craig Wright, and “On the Nature of Dust” by Stephanie Timm.
Seattle Theatre Group
911 Pine Street
206-467-5510
http://www.stgpresents.org
Seattle Theatre Group (STG) is a non-profit organization that operates Seattle’s historic Paramount and Moore Theatres. STG presents more than 370 shows a year. These shows not only include top quality theater productions but music concerts, dance recitals, and films.
The Moore Theatre was built in 1907 and is the oldest theater in Seattle. The Paramount Theatre opened in 1928. Both theaters have been renovated to their original glory and splendor. You don’t need to see a show to see the insides of these glorious buildings. STG offers free tours of each venue.
Seattle Children’s Theatre
201 Thomas Street
206-441-3322
http://www.sct.org/Index.aspx
Since its debut in 1975, the Seattle Children’s Theatre has presented over 200 plays to more than four million children. The troupe performs top quality works designed to capture the imagination of young audiences. Their season runs from September through June and the company performs in the Charlotte Martin and Eve Alvord Theatres at the Seattle Center.
Most of Seattle Children’s Theatre’s shows are for kids four-years and older. However, the company welcomes infants as both the Charlotte Martin and Eve Alvord Theatres have quiet rooms.
Young Americans’ Theatre Company
3612 SW Othello Street
206-245-7024
http://www.youngamericanstheatreco.org
Since its inception in March of 2008, the Young Americans’ Theatre Company (YATC) has won the Seattle Times 2008 award for Best New Troupe and the Teen Tix award for Best Show of 2008. Not bad for a young theater company operated by young actors that aims to provide opportunities for young artists.
As you might imagine, the YATC main season is in summer but the troupe does tackle a few projects during the school year.
Other Seattle Theaters
Annex Theatre
PMB 1440
1122 E Pike Street
206-728-0933
http://www.annextheatre.org
Ear To The Ground
1118 East John Street
206-390-7207
http://www.eartothegroundtheatre.org
Edge Theatre Ensemble
1620 1/2 20th Avenue
http://www.edgetheatre.org
Next Stage
1634 Eleventh Avenue
206-322-7030
http://www.nextstage.org
On The Boards
P.O. Box 19515
206-217-9886
http://www.ontheboards.org
One Lump Or Two Productions
410 29th Avenue E
206-226-9774
http://1lumpor2productions.com
Our American Theater Company
4143 20th Avenue SW
206-937-0205
http://www.ouramericantheater.org
Stone Soup Theatre
4035 Stone Way N
206-633-1883
http://www.stonesouptheatre.org
Taproot Theatre Company
PO Box 20946
206-781-9705
http://www.taproottheatre.org