Got to watch Golden to support a friend performing. The stage was so intricately well thought out. We loved how when the actors were performing they utilized not only the stage, but the stairs too. Please go see Golden before they end. Their last show is on May 11 for 2pm or 7pm. read more

Union Arts Center - Stage for Golden - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Generally a good théâtre experience. I have been to about four or five shows here and I think they all have been very well produced. I find the shows in the round a little awkward but I think anyone who is interested in local theater should give this a try. I have also seen a few really stand out shows here that surpassed my expectations. Shout out to Cambodian Rockband! read more

Union Arts Center - The smaller of the two theater's set up for the show the Last 5 Years - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A Christmas Carol here was absolutely fantastic and the cast did an exceptional job. This was a highlight of our weekend in Seattle and we'll definitely be back for more plays in the future! It's a perfect way to spend a weekend vacation and both of our kids, 8 and 14, couldn't stop talking about how amazing it was. Extra points for having sensory packs for people who need it. It made a huge difference for our youngest and allowed him to sit still and enjoy the play all that long. I hadn't seen that before and I think it's such a thoughtful offering that should be available at more places. read more

I went to see A Christmas Carol here last week and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. From the diversity and talent of their actors, to the set design and cool special effects, having a theater in the round setting made for a supremely joyful holiday experience! The location of this theater is near the Convention Center and feels safe walking around at night. The will call staff were friendly and the staff helping us find seating were warm and welcoming. The building itself where the ACT Theater resides has an interesting history and fame of its own when it was known as the Eagles Auditorium Building. You can still see the original stage in the back of the theater. It was one of several places where Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke November 10, 1961, on his only visit to Seattle. I am excited to see another production here in the future! read more

Nice venue. There's a bar with some prepackaged snacks available. No hot food available.

We again attended A Christmas Carol and this year's rendition was excellent. We love the intimate feel and the "theater-in-the-round" design. read more

First time here, surprisingly! But won't be the last. My friend had an extra ticket for The Last Five Years, which was very well done. There's good views from every seat. Sound mix was good. The people next to us sat down with far too much cologne on and unfortunately my eyes and throat started burning, so I asked the stage manager? usher? unsure to be reseated basically as the show was starting and they were very flexible about it, which I appreciated. Thank you for the accommodation! And patrons of the arts, please don't wear heavy scents in tight spaces--people like breathing! read more

Unlike the Rep, which provides pay-what-you will tickets for at least one performance per run, ACT provides only 20 tickets per performance. The misleading website says that "pay what you will tickets" be bought in-person on the day of performance, but that is untrue. ACT sells discounted tickets per performance in advance and those tickets were all sold out months ago. As a low-income senior, can rarely afford to go to live theater. ACT's tickets are prohibitively expensive and it has no interest in providing theater to anybody but the rich. I'll stick with ACT, Taproot and other theaters that aren't as greedy and elitist. read more

This review is for the venue, not the Dina Martina show itself. My buddy and I each bought two drink; one drink for each of us before the show and one drink for each at intermission. Upon review of my credit card charges a couple of days later, I found I was charged $77.97 for two drinks. He was charged $74.38 for the other round. If you're going to see a show at ACT either don't drink or bring a flask. It is nothing short of theft otherwise. read more

Just like 5th Avenue Theatre, the ACT theatre is a long time institution to the Seattle theatre scene. They produce their own shows and commonly cast locally. Come here often enough and you'll recognize a few actors. The ACT contains two theatres within, the larger Goodman Theatre and the smaller Falls Theatre. Two different shows can be performed at the same time. I have had mixed experiences with the shows I've seen at the ACT. Some are a bit too ambitious, some are just weird, some are perennially popular like the Christmas Carol. Today's show is "Urinetown", a humorous and sometimes cheesy musical with likeable actors and the entirely show-stealing "Little Sally". Parking is on your own dime. Plenty to choose from in the area. Be sure to have $3 handy to buy a chocolate chip cookie. It's one of the best theatre cookies. The water fountain is functional dispensing cooled water, saving the world from some plastic. read more

Union Arts Center - Urinetown stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What a fun way to see "A Christmas Carol" ! Seating up to 400, there is not a bad seat in the house. With me being vertically challenged, it is not unusual to have a view of the back of a head, not an issue here! The theatre is in the round with the play in the bottom of the bowl. Fantastic acoustics, amazing ceiling, architecture and stage props. This Sunday matinee experience was beyond all my expectations for a local live production. I definitely will return to the ACT for other venues! Many dinner spots nearby for the "after show" experience into the late night. I also enjoyed seeing the young people working to assist in seating before the show. read more

Union Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What a cool theater! I saw choir boy! Not mad at all about the steamy shower scenes! But back to the review. Lol. The Theater is amazing. I had no idea that they offer a limited number of value seats as low as $5 pr ticket and these were not obstructed view seats! The seating in this theater is so cool. Every seat has a great view! I highly recommend. read more

Union Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I really enjoy the intimate setting this provides. My husband and I have been to two shoes at two different theater rooms. The one pictured we saw Choir boys was amazing. The boys had incredible voices was definitely a bit adult of you don't mind full male nudity for your children then your fine otherwise bits definitely an adult show.. the staff are really nice when we went one of the vendors was from a local winery the two gentleman were the owners cannot wait to visit it. I do think it's pretty silly they still wear masks but that's small they offer them when you walk in. read more

Union Arts Center - Choir boys - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Dina Martina has really hit the big time if she's performing at ACT. I've been seeing shows at ACT since 1987 when I worked on a production of The Downside. The "new" location is better than the old Queen Anne digs, but parking isn't fun, so call for a lift to make arrival uber easy. I'm a fan. read more

Interesting theater space in the heart of downtown Seattle. It's a pretty intimate space best described as a black box theater, and has two floors of seating. Parking is a nightmare though, so arrive early to troll the streets. read more

See all

Well, it all depends on the play you're attending whether you'll like the theater, right? But if you want to go to a play, just go. ACT is a fantastic facility with a great large-theater approach to what they put on the boards. They know they have to sell a lot of tickets, and they program their plays accordingly. They commission plays. They premiere plays. They develop playwrights. They hire locally and nationally. They cast locally and internationally. They develop talent that goes on to significant careers in bigger markets. They also attract returning talent from big markets, and retain great talents that just like being where they are. Sometimes the plays they choose can seem a little tame, but, overall, every season has several things worth checking out. For a big place that really wants to draw as many theatergoers as possible, that's a great testament to their ability to be fresh and interesting without misfiring too often. In terms of the theater itself, you can't ask for much better. Huge attached underground parking garage, right on a million bus lines. Great small theaters with interesting seating. Awesome high-ceilinged upstairs theater in the round, with sets and lighting always to a high standard. I've seen many very moving and funny plays here through the years, and will support ACT as long as they keep putting up such good productions. I highly recommend seeing something here no matter how experienced you are as a theatergoer. I will caveat this by saying that Seattle has dozens of theater companies that are more experimental/avant-garde than ACT; ACT is aimed at a somewhat more mainstream audience given its size. But it's consistently entertaining and often hosts genuinely great productions. read more

Union Arts Center - yankee tavern - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My first time here, thanks my girlfriend who goes yearly for the Christmas Carol. Pros: The theater is so quaint and very intimate. The entire time we were watching the actors, for that moment, we felt like we were very much a part of it. The bar area is also pretty nice, with a good selection of wines, sparkling champagne, bottle water, sparkling cider (they were put this round). Obviously drinking at any venue before any show is not cheap. Expect to spend $3 for a small bottle of water and $9 for a glass of wine. This is a little more reasonable that some theaters. There is also a coffee and snacks area if you are not a drinker. See picture for details. Cons: Expect to spend a pretty penny for ticket to the show, we sat in the second row and it was $80 per ticket (I don't think sitting in the back would be all that bad as it is quite small of a theater per my pictures) read more

See all

I organized a group event for 13 people for Ham for the Holiday's. What an easy venue to work with. Group tickets had to all be purchased in one transaction. Since my party was over 10 people, the service fees were waved. Discover is an accepted form of payment when purchasing tickets. Parking can be found at: WA State Convention & Trade Center Garage Cost: $6 after 5pm and $7 during the day Payment Options: Cash and Credit Cards http://www.wscc.com/ Our show started at 8pm and the doors opened at 7pm. Theatre doors open at 7:30pm. At 7pm a lobby consisting of a full bar and snacks is available. Cash, Visa and MasterCard are accepted forms of payment BEFORE the show starts. At intermission, cash is the only payment accepted. You can pre-order/pay for additional drinks before the show and your drinks will be available for you at intermission, allowing you to also bypass lines. Drinks are allowed in the theatre; however, no food is allowed. This venue doesn't have a bad seat. Sound is great too. Thank you ACT for a night full of endless laughter and holiday cheer! read more

Union Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

ACT is a fabulous theater company performing in a wonderful performance complex. We've seen a couple of World Premiere plays here that were as good as anything I've seen in New York, LA, San Francisco, Chicago or Ashland. read more

Union Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Update: After visiting several other venues in Seattle and coming back to ACT three times, it is hands down my favorite theatre in Seattle. My review below sums up many of the reasons why, but I will just add that the patrons at this theatre are very well mannered (no talkers or chewers), the seats have such a great incline that even shorties can see, and the bathroom never has a wait. Theatre wasn't as cold on subsequent visits so it must have been a fluke on my first one. I still wish you could take beverages inside but I'll take this theatre over the others any day of the week! Also, we had an event pop up and needed to change ticket dates. Really easy to do! 5 stars all the way. Previous: Wow, I was so impressed with the acting and special effects in A Christmas Carol. It's been one of the best shows I've seen since moving to Seattle. The children were just as amazing as the adults. It was really superb. Although there was no intermission, the 90 minutes flew by. Our seats were on the front row, and personally, I thought it was a little too close for comfort. I would say row 2 or 3 if you like being close. Really, even the last row I wouldn't mind. It appears to be all good seating. There was some street parking right outside the theatre and a garage right next door for $7. The negatives to this place were: 1) it was FREEZING inside. Dress in layers! Most people kept jackets on. 2) they only allow water bottles in the theatre (although I read online differently; perhaps each show is different?) 3) the ramp getting up to the theatre was pretty steep. It's 3 floors and some older folks were struggling getting up and down. It was pretty rough for some of them. I didn't see an elevator but I would call and see if you're someone who might need one. This performance has made me want to be a member. I have one more show this season so I suppose that will be the deciding factor. I highly recommend seeing something there. Although the show was 5 stars, I am deducting a point for my negatives. Having a drink and several layers of clothing during a freezing 90 minute show makes a world of difference! read more

Union Arts Center - Front row is close in the Allen theatre. Go with rows 2 and up. - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Blown the eff away! I sat on this review for a week because I couldn't even come up with words to describe my first experience here. And yes... I know, I've lived here for 4 years and haven't been to the ACT theater until now. Shame on me. And shame on YOU if you're not making plans to visit soon. The variety you get here cannot be compared to any other theater company in the city. We're lucky to have lots of great shows but ACT has all of the variety that 4 entire theaters have, all under ONE roof! ACT's history (and the history of the building) fascinates me. Did you know this old building was a giant gentlemen's club back in the day? Just think... I walked through a building that for decades was closed-off to women. Well, MOST women ;) The molding and small details of this historic building remain much the same. I love how it was important that during the remodel of this building to outfit it with various performance halls, they wanted to keep the charm and history in tact. Aside from the awesome array of shows that ACT offers throughout the year, there's also an equally awesome opportunity to catch them ALL for a discounted price. The ACT pass (much like a Netflix account) costs a fee every month and with the pass you can see ANY play you want for only $25!! Even plays that otherwise cost $55 a seat are only $25 if you're an ACT pass holder. What a fantastic deal! Additionally, if you bring a date or friend who isn't a pass holder, they still get a discount because they're attending with YOU. So even knowing someone with an ACT pass is a perk. I almost feel like I'm being paid to see shows here. Such good deals, such great theater. read more

Union Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What an unexpected surprise! I had no idea that this theater was so intimately charming! I honestly came into my first show here thinking the seats would be terrible, it would be uncomfortably warm inside, but I was blown away. First off, any seat is a great seat. The theater is small, so you get a fantastic view no matter where you are. If you arrive late (which my party did...oops), the employees will seat you in the back until intermission. We didn't even bother going to our original seats because we were happy with our view in the back! The temperature was very pleasant, and the seats were comfortable. I was impressed with the scenery and the effects in such a small venue. Our show ("Cat on a Hot Tin Roof") had two intermissions, which was a nice way to break up the longer monologues, and gave us the opportunity to get some refreshments and/or use the restroom. Just make sure you FLY down to the restaurant right at intermission, or you'll be waiting a bit. Drinks were cash only, so I had to have a friend spot me, but there was a nice variety of wine, beer, alcohol, and sodas. There was also a kiosk with snacks. We parked at the Convention Center, and ACT is located on the bottom floor. You have to go outside to the front entrance/ticket booth to get to the theater. There doesn't seem to be a dress code - I saw everything from suits to jeans - and it's nice to know they aren't stuffy about that kind of stuff. I just can't say enough good things about this theater - you have to try it out for yourself! read more

This is definitely one of my favorite theatres in Seattle, although parking is kind of a pain to find in this area. But the theatre itself is gorgeous, they show some great plays here (I really really really like "Vanities"), and the staff are super nice. You also have a great view from almost every seat in the theatre. If you haven't already, you've gotta check it out! read more

I had the pleasure of visiting this theater during a weekend trip to Seattle to watch the comedy musical "First Date" starring Greg McCormick Allen and Kelly Karbacz based on the novel by Austin Winsberg. The theater is conveniently located in the downtown area and easily accessible by foot from most of the major hotels as well as the Space Needle. Stepping inside, I immediately noticed the interesting lighting that was hung from the ceiling. These chandeliers are composed of an array of wavy metal lines that reminded me of orbitting planets or a model of the solar system. The stage itself is relatively small and the seating arrangements are very intimate and packed in. However, it seemed to me that every seat in the house was a good one, considering the fact that the elevation of the seats was steep enough to see over the tallest of people sitting in front. Pricing for tickets is very reasonable and if I were a Seattle resident, I would most likely opt for the membership/subscription that is offered here for $25/month with unlimited viewings of the shows here. Undoubtedly, that is a great deal! One thing I noticed when entering the theater is that instead of the standard Playbills (which I collect), they hand out full-sized booklets with all of the information about the musical and performers. Also, be weary when attempting to take pictures as the staff are fairly strict on a no camera policy. read more

See all

I love our playhouse in downtown Seattle! It consistently has great plays that come through and the facility is beautiful. Bathrooms are accessible and plentiful, and you can order libations for intermissions ahead of time - so smart! Prior to the performance I attended for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof there was a free wine tasting happy hour - this was a great perk! This being a 3-he performance, by the second intermission I was a little hungry. I was pleased to find a sliced veggie and hummus option along with oatmeal chocolate chip cookies - both delicious and exactly what I needed! I also had bottled water - all of which I was able to put on my credit card with no minimum. Very cool. I've enjoyed every play I've seen here and will continue coming here for future plays! read more

Came in town for vacation and wanted to catch some local theater. ACT had two offerings. We went to see "Dance Like Man" an Indian story, and had a lovely evening. We were quite impressed with the venue, and encouraged to see that the house was sold out and that Seattle audiences were supportive of new cultural works. In fact we had to get Standing Room Only tickets. Lucky for us that the theater has barstools upstairs for SRO and we were able to watch the show from the balcony. read more

ACT has more than one theater inside so there are several different productions performing on any given date. The well-known Seattle run of Late Night Catechism has been playing here for almost 8 years now and is still as popular as ever! The Fall's theater is smallish with good views from all of the seats. The only complaint I have is the seats are narrow and there is no way to share the arm rests without pissing off the persons sitting next to you. read more

Union Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What I love about ACT: the programming. AWESOME. Been here a few times lately as I really like what they show and the staff are also equally awesome. Love them, love what they're doing. What I have a hard time with, unfortunately, is that some of the seating isn't great for me, it's waaaay up high in the air, overhanging the stage which is freaky to me and my weirdness with heights. They also seem to run out of stuff at concessions often, but maybe I've just come at odd times. Overall, check here first for a fun evening out, it's bound to have something GREAT! read more

Don't like the play you're seeing? Try another theater in the ACT, you'll find something you like. Seriously - we've been to about 10 plays here over the years, from the smallest (Late Night Catechism), to musicals in the basement theater ("The Education of Randy Newman", "Vanities"), and a few shows in the big theater in the round (A Marquis De Sade show - no really). I think the ACT is unusual in having so many theaters showing so many different kinds of shows, almost all of them things you won't find elsewhere. They also have this cool thing now called the ACT Pass, which is like a subscription ($25/month/person) and you get to go as many times as you like to pretty much any of their shows. You also get 1/2 off all your guest tickets, and discounts on the parking (tip: park in convention center right next door, best deal in town on weekends) and concessions. Other theaters have subscriptions for the season, but those only get you 1 ticket (or set) per show, you almost never get discounted guest seats and you certainly can't go back another time. What a great value, so we're trying it out this year. The ACT is in the historic and remodeled Eagles building on 7th and Union (across the street from the Sheraton and the One Union Square Building). read more

ACT is one of my favorite theaters in Seattle. The ticket prices are reasonable compared to some of the bigger theaters. I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. I saw Ramayana here and the show was excellent. We really enjoyed it. They had a bazaar of sorts in the lobby during the intermissions with items for sale and chai and Indian bites. This weekend I saw A Christmas Carol. The show was delightful and very well done. All the actors were good but Scrooge was excellent. I will continue to return for more productions! Park across the street in the Union Square garage if you're here on a weekend. It's only $8 for all day parking on the weekend. read more

Last night was my very first time to a production of the ACT. "Fathers and Sons" was a great production, and the round theater makes for a better story. There are 4 theaters within. The round theater setting is very intimate, maybe too intimate. The seats are almost shoulder to shoulder tight, and the cast sometimes run up and down the aisles as part of their act. For a moment you forget and find yourself engaged and part of the act as a character. It was nice to sit close enough to see the actor's face expressions and overplayed snot on one of the sappy scenes. I'm glad I discovered the ACT, and excited to catch future contemporary features. There's parking across the street at the Convention Center. Take the elevator and follow the color coded way to the ACT. If you miss the Convention Center you can turn north on 7th and park at the Union Square Building for the same price (6 bucks). read more

My girlfriend had this great idea to see a Christmas Carol during the holidays last year. Immediately flashbacks of the pathetic, uninspired Peter Pan and Wizard of Oz plays came to mind from High School. But of course I said the two most important words you will ever say, "yes dear". 8 ) So we arrived a little early and the parking wasn't bad, not great either but nothing worse the any downtown parking. We walked in to a very nostalgic, but well taken care of building. Almost as if you were walking back in time, I felt what it must have been like before television and this was the hot ticket. I don't know how Heidi scammed the tickets but we were seated right down on the floor. It was great. A nontraditional seating, as far as I know. It was like a big bowl and seats surrounding 360*. My feet were right on the stage and I was even brushed by costumes a few times and moved my feet so that I wouldn't trip the actors and cause a unrehearsed scene! Very small stage but things kept popping up out of the floor and things kept coming out of the ceiling, very good use of space. I was blown away when I left and thought, I could really come back here again. It was fun and they even had a little bar in the building for coffee, tea, or pre/post play mixed drinks. What a treat! In closing, I would come here again. Next time with much less apprehension and coaxing !!! read more

Recently went and saw the Christmas classic "A Christmas Carol" (Part of the holiday trilogy of the Nutcracker and A Christmas Story. Sorry Jimmy Stewart fans, It's a Wonderful Life doesn't crack the top 3) and was charmed by the experience. Saw the play in the Allen Theater (there are several different ones in the building) and found it great. The acoustics are wonderful and although the Allen Theater is one of the larger ones, found it intimate as well. The cast was wonderful and R. Hamilton Wrights' performance as Ebenezer Scrooge deserves a special nod here. For those unwilling to stump up the cash to see a performance here I say "Bah, Humbug!" read more

I've been coming to ACT since I was a boy. We had a family tradition to see "A Christmas Carol" each year--and even though it was always the same story ACT always found a way to make it seem new. Some of my favorites I've seen at ACT recently: "Das Barbecü" (hilarious satire of Wagner's Ring Cycle), "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" (absurd splatterfest), "Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog" (Joss Whedon's comical musical, from our friends at Balagan Theatre) and "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead" (the Peanuts gang re-imagined in high school--thoughtful and funny). I can't wait to see "Twilight Zone Live" next (brought to you by Theater Schmeater)! I'm a proud ACTPass holder and you should be too: $25/month to see all the performances you want and 50% off companion tickets? You can pick your chin up off your keyboard now. Yeah, it's a fantastic deal (and a great date night). It also includes all of the shows at ACT put on by guest theaters, lectures, workshops and other special events--though not "A Christmas Carol" (I suspect that one's their bread and butter). read more

The first time I visited the ACT was during a Yelp Elite Event (reviewed separately) and I was impressed with how beautiful the venue was. I was also impressed by the show that night (Vanities), enough so that I decided to take advantage of my shiny new ACT Pass membership and come see it again with my mom for our birthdays. First, I tried to reserve the ticket through their website but I couldn't get the log-in to work. So I emailed the box office and they responded almost immediately and let me know the tickets were reserved. I still can't get the log-in to work on the website, but with such a quick email turnaround, I don't really care. We stopped by before dinner the day of the show to collect our tickets at Will Call, which was a breeze and the nice gal whose name I've forgotten, remembered me from the Yelp event which was fun. We then made our way through the rabbit warren and down the stairs to the beautiful Falls Theater where the ushers seemed really happy to see you. Last time I had center stage, 4th row seats and this time, we were up and to the left which was not quite as good but provided a different perspective which was nice. I'm not sure there is a bad seat in the place, as the theater feels very intimate and close. The sound system is incredible, especially as I tend to have trouble following live performances and I could understand most of it, and did I mention the theater is really beautiful? It's also a nice bonus that ACT feeds directly back out to the Convention Center so you can get to your car without having to go outside again. I'm excited to see what new shows are coming up so that I can take advantage of my ACT Pass membership which is really an incredible deal if you plan to visit the theater once a month or so. read more

I'm going to be frank about this: 3D, Super-HD, IMAX, etc. will never be able to replace the richly rewarding--both intellectual and emotional--experience of live theater. And ACT Theatre ranks among the very best. Over the years I have been fortunate to be able to see some wonderful productions of, among others, "The Trip to Bountiful (Lori Larsen's career-best work)," "Mary Stuart" (with the excellent Suzanne Buchard and Anne Allgood), "The Pillowman, "Vincent in Brixton," "Night of the Iguana," "Death of a Salesman," and "Mourning Becomes Electra" (with former NEH head and Tony Award-winning Jane Alexander). The stage lighting in the Allen Theater is particularly striking. It is a truly eerie, enthralling experience to be in a pitch black theater and for the lighting to highlight just one spot, one person, one face...this is truly riveting. It is not predicated on having 40,000 men and beasts going into a rampage, killing 40,000 others, and finally tumbling into a 10,000-foot-deep precipice. Unlike motion pictures, everything in a stage play is in focus, and one can wander at will over the entire set, seeing the action from multiple perspectives. Even with the most advanced technology, the movie camera can only focus on one spot, while leaving everything else blurred to varying degrees. "The Trip to Bountiful" moved me much more than the Oscar-winning film version with Geraldine Page. "Bountiful" was meant to be seen on stage, in front of an audience, past the lens of an camera. One of the advantages ACT has over its peers--Intiman and Seattle Rep--is its theater in the round. In fact, it has two theaters and one "cabaret" space for more intimate productions. There is less thrown-in-your-face political correctness than at Intiman. Now that my eyesight has worsened, it is more difficult for me to attend ACT productions, but I will remember fondly what I have seen staged at ACT. Kurt Beattie's aristic leadership has been excellent, and the pre-production talks with him and members of the cast that I have attended were both informative and fun. "Pinter Fortnightly" is an example of the initiative undertaken by ACT as well the seriousness of its intentions to bring the work of one of the most important English-language dramatists to Seattle audiences without regard to non-artistic considerations. Staff and volunteers are uniformly gracious and support well ACT's mission. Thank you, ACT, for surviving the many challenges you have faced over the past two decades. read more

I recently went here to watch Das Barbecü, a comic adaptation of Wagner's Ring Cycle, and had an absolute blast! The show took place in the Falls Theatre. It was a round theatre where all seats had a perfect view of the stage, allowing for every audience member to truly take in all of the details from the performance. You could really tell the actors and director had a lot of fun in this production, I can't wait to attend my next show here! read more

Tonight I went out with a couple friends to see "Late Nite Catechism" at the Act Theatre. Whoo-hoo, Girls Night Out! I remember when GNO used to mean getting to the clubs at 10pm, partying until 1am (bars closed earlier where I'm from), and going out for breakfast until 3am. Now GNO means picking up my friends at 7pm so we can get to the Convention Center parking garage by 7:30, in order to have good "general admission" seats at ACT Theatre's Buster's room, and driving home through Belltown at 10:30, wondering, "Who are all these people on the streets and what are they doing here?" But I digress. Like Tiffany S., I paid $6 for parking, a reasonable amount for the downtown area. There is an explanation on the ACT website about following the orange or blue line out of the garage into the Convention Center, then taking an elevator down to the first floor. Huh? No worries. It's the truth. We found ACT, walked in, located our theater room and sat. The set for "Late Nite Catechism" was decorated like a Catholic school classroom. Having gone to Catholic "Sunday School," or "CCD" as it was termed then, I almost shuddered, but got a grip before the play commenced. Aubrey Manning stars in the one-woman show, portraying a nun teaching her class--the audience--Catholic dogma. The production does include scripted material, but Ms. Manning relies on much audience interaction to get laughs. And there were quite a few. If you have visitors coming to town who might appreciate a humorous trip down Catholicism lane, taking them to this play is a novel idea. If Late Nite is playing when my parents get to town next March, I'm so there. Well, I better go to bed now, as I came home late from GNO: it's 11:30! ;) read more

I've been going to ACT theatre ever since it was located on lower Queen Anne (it's now located downtown in the beautiful historic Eagles building). Aside from their traditional offerings such as the holiday "A Christmas Carol" and contemporary plays by Harold Pinter, Steven Dietz and Sarah Ruhl, ACT is home to the Central Heating Lab, which presents some of the best yet-undiscovered music, theater and dance in the city. ACT is actually four theaters... get to know the Bullitt Cabaret, the Lallie Black Box, in addition to the larger Allen & Falls theaters. It's also a great event space for parties, meetings, and weddings! read more

The votes are tallied and it's unanimous, Das Barbecu officially rules! RUN don't walk to Das BBQ! I enjoyed myself immensely and was lucky enough to say 'howdy' to the actors backstage (can't tell you my secrets). Even for the most wary of anti-country music folk, Das Barbecu will keep you in tears ... from laughter! The singing is top-notch, the costumes are phenomenal and the actors blaze across the stage putting their hearts/souls into their performances. They each play 2-4 characters and the speed of the costume changes will have you wondering if there's a little magic involved. There were ladies in the audience who are in the chorus in Seattle Opera's "The Ring" cycle (which Das Barbecu is poking fun at) who absolutely loved it! As for Eurydice, the other play I saw at ACT Theatre, it was a complete switcharoo. Whimsical, dramatic and poignant. It was a modern re-telling of an age-old Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice all set in the drippy, dark, abandoned looking underworld. The theater was arranged in a perfect circular way where every seat had a great view of all the action in the middle. They even had a makeshift elevator that was raining INSIDE it with the main character looking dismal as she held her umbrella while she descended into Hades. Couldn't tear my eyes away! It's a beautiful gem of a theatre that's tucked away but unforgettable once you step inside. It's one of the only theaters in Seattle with multiple stages (Count 'em, 1 - 2 - 3!), each more stunning than the last. I give them massive props for well ... their props! Everything is flawless and meticulously built adding so much more dimension to the performances. I knew nary a wink about country music, gods or Wagner's "The Ring" and both plays were beyond my highest expectations. And the staff even have "Behind the Scenes" nights with free catering and a pre-show talk usually with the play's directors/screenwriters/actors. read more