3 Best Performing Arts Venues in Seattle, Washington

This 1963 cinema, restored by the late Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen, seamlessly blends the luxury of the theater with high technology. Behind a standard-size movie screen sits an enormous, 30-foot by 90-foot restored curved panel used to screen old three-strip films like How the West Was Won, as well as 70-millimeter presentations of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The sight lines throughout are amazing. Rear-window captioning, assisted listening devices, audio narration, wheelchair access, and other amenities ensure that everyone has an outstanding experience. Beyond blockbuster screenings, the space hosts festivals, events, and arthouse cinema. 

Forget about 40-ounce Cokes and popcorn with neon-yellow butter—Central Cinema makes movie night a more elegant experience. The first few rows of this charming, friendly little theater consist of diner-style booths. Place your order for pizzas, salads, snacks, and cocktails or other beverages, and servers will deliver your food unobtrusively during the first few minutes of the movie. The theater shows a great mix of favorites and local indie and experimental films.

Top-notch productions of new works and children's classics are are put on in two neighboring Seattle center theaters. After the show, actors come out to answer questions and explain how a play becomes a play.