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This bastion of culture is the city’s first venue designed exclusively for music performances. It is also home to the Seattle Symphony. The 2,500-seat Mark Taper auditorium is known for its superior acoustics, while another 540-seat hall is used for smaller concerts.

In 2003 the original opera house underwent a massive transformation to become McCaw Hall (see Opera House). Built for no less than $127 million, this plush 2,900-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art acoustics and excellent amenities is home to the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

The largest indoor venue in Seattle Center is home to the city’s professional men’s and women’s basketball teams, Seattle Supersonics and Seattle Storm, and the Thunder-birds hockey team. Concerts are also held here.

One of the most treasured theaters in town, the faithfully restored Paramount dates from 1928 and exudes the charm of the popular Beaux Arts style of grand movie palaces of its period. Today, it presents Broadway shows, jazz and rock concerts, and dance performances.

Built in 1907, the grand lobby and halls of Seattle’s oldest theater flow with mosaic, stained glass, and woodcarvings. In 1974, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also serves as a base for new rock bands.

Opening in 1926 as a vaudeville venue, 5th Avenue’s ornate imperial Chinese design was inspired by Beijing’s Forbidden City. It is Seattle’s premier home for nationally touring musical theater.

The large green building at the Seattle Center belongs to the non-profit Seattle Repertory Theatre. The Bagley Wright Hall is the flagship of the company’s three performance venues. The Rep won the 1990s Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater, confirming its reputation for producing classic and contemporary plays of high literary standards.

Housed in the beautifully refurbished Kreielsheimer Place (formerly Eagles Auditorium), the long-running A Contemporary Theatre showcases contemporary playwrights. Inside, the cultural center contains four performance spaces, ACT’s administrative offices, rehearsal spaces, and scene and costume shops.

Victor Steinbrueck, who helped preserve Pike Place Market, was also instrumental in saving this auditorium from the wrecking ball. Its repertoire includes film festivals, music and dance recitals, and off-the-wall theater.

EMP’s performance venue (see Experience Music Project (EMP)) is a 85-ft (26-m) high room, the ultimate facility for a band looking to use 48,000 watts of surround-sound amplification, exceptional computer-controlled light systems, and the world’s largest indoor video screen.