A beautiful venue on the Seattle Center campus. Every seat is comfortable and spacious relative to other venues in the area, and the multiple tiers mean there are good views to be had all around. The place feels a little fancier than your average venue and it's fun to walk past the space needle on the way in. We most recently saw Fortune Feimster here in New Year's Eve and it was a great show. The security was thorough but prompt and they had plenty of bar staff and ushers to help out with needs. Seems like there were concessions available although we didn't sample any. read more

Nice venue. We went here to see Shen Yuen! Parking was $30 for garage parking. Felt safe and it was just a walk across the sky bridge to the event. Love the convenience it offers! read more

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is the go-to venue for shows like the yearly Nutcracker, for operas, and for traveling shows that feature music and dance. We have been here so many times. There is something about it that doesn't want me to give it full stars. I don't know if it's just a little bit boring inside, maybe that's it. I mean, yes, gigantic hanging sculpture inside the front doors. Impressive lit up walkway outside. Just kind of 'meh' otherwise, appearance-wise. Always well organized and usually start on time. read more

We went to McCaw for a comedy show and the venue was beautiful! I'm looking forward to The Nutcracker this winter! I would say the only downside is that the drinks and snacks are crazy overpriced, but that's not atypical. Wonderful time! read more

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall - Nikki Glaser - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A great place for a show. I really enjoy the box seats and the privacy they offer away from the main sections. The views are great and so is the sound quality. The staff are always friendly and very helpful. They also have snacks in various locations and if you get a chance to book reservations at their restaurant Prelude, it's worth it and great for grabbing a bite and drinks before a show. read more

It's the holidays and one of the greatest traditions is attending the Nutcrackercker. Pacific Northwest Ballet did not disappoint. It was another amazing performance the customs, stage and performers were spectacular. read more

We recently came to McCaw Hall to see the Nutcracker with our little one. It was a fantastic experience and a beautiful concert hall. We loved standing in the 2nd floor lobby watching all the people milling around downstairs and enjoying a delicious old-fashioned and a cupcake while doing so. Another lovely thing they do is let you pre-order a drink for intermission. This worked out so well. read more

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SLEEPING BEAUTY. If you like ballet, you will enjoy this performance. I am from New York City, so I would not say that this is the finest Ballet performance I have ever seen. That said, it is probably the best Seattle has to offer. The venue itself is first-class. It is a state-of-the-art facility both in front of and behind the curtain. The seats are soft and comfortable. Liquations are available at several bars before the show and during intermission. I think everyone should attend the ballet at least once, besides The Nutcracker, which everyone in Seattle seems to have seen at one time or another. This is an art venue, and all art venues deserve five stars. I am not an art reviewer so, don't take my word for anything I've said about the show itself. If you haven't been to a show or concert here, GO! Consider it personal enrichment. BTW, if you enjoyed my review or found it helpful, funny, or cool, please don't hesitate to click the little button to say so, or better yet, go ahead and friend me. So go on! Press that button, and never miss one of my epic reviews in the Seattle area and beyond. Cheers! read more

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall - Moi being silly with sculpture. - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Beautiful venue. First time visitor came to see the Lewis Black show (hilarious). There is a parking garage across the street which is great! The line was long but moved quickly thanks to the efficient staff. We were directed to our seating area and waited until the doors were open. Seating was tight, if you have long legs or broad shoulders, you're going to be a bit cramped and/or bumping into your neighbor. Concessions were pricey, even by Seattle standards. Drinks are allowed inside the seating area, but not snacks, so you'll have to snarf those down like a hungry squirrel during intermission. Staff is very kind and happy to answer any questions you may have. read more

First time visiting this venue for Lewis Black show. The building is very nice. Interior is cozy and inviting. Only a couple of elevators so at the end of show makes it hard for those with disabilities to get on. Seats are ok. even Be being in frfront row it was cramped for leg room and shoulder space. You can bring in drinks you buy there but no holders for them. Staff where all very friendly. Drinks are insanely priced and weak pour. For all the venues I've been in Seattle this was the most expensive. If you want to drink buy a plastic flask and bring your own in it will save you a lot of money. read more

The Hall is lovely. We went for The Nutcracker and sat in section j-33 area. I do feel some attention to detail was missed. For instance, there was a very large window behind us, as we were in the back row of our section. A woman with her toddler were in and out of the room, which would send bright sun light shining in from behind. Once they were in the room, she allowed him to stand on the window shelf and bang on the window. It was very distracting and repeatedly happened throughout the show. I would also avoid the cupcakes. They're way over-priced, gritty, dry and sickly sweet. The venue and performance was beautiful. read more

I came to see "Shen Yun" show last night with my hubby. The closest parking lot to the hall is across the road. Event perking fee $35. I recommend that you come to the parking lot as early as possible. *Note that it gets very crowded when exiting. The parking lot is connected by a sky bridge, so it is convenient to use it. I showed my e-ticket at the entrance and went inside. The inside of the hall is warm and comfortable. There are many modern sofas in the hall so you can sit freely. We went to the bar to have cocktails and take pictures. I would like to ask everyone not to wear in jeans & T-shirt if possible. And I would like to ask you to be in your seat 10 minutes before the start. read more

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I can here for a wine event and decided it had a very long time since I had been inside. It's definitely had some work done since my last visit. Down in the main floor, it's open and airy. Upstairs, it seemed more like a hotel banquet room. Maybe not as spiffed up? Since the event was small, we opted for street parking and skipped the garage but I did see there was a direct connection between the two. read more

We've been to a couple of concerts here and enjoy this venue. It is walking distance from restaurants and bars, so we usually park near them, have dinner, and then go for the show.  The venue is clean, relatively modern, and well maintained. The theater seats are comfortable, and the sound, visual, and lighting of the shows we've attended were all done well.  They have a couple of different bars with cocktails and wine you can buy in recycled cups that you can bring into the theater with you. A small selection of snacks is also usually for purchase, but they have to be eaten in the halls. Overall, it's a nice venue for an occasional show. read more

We brought the kid for his first exposure to the Nutcracker this holiday season. I like that the parking garage is connected to the hall via a walkway. Ambiance is always so festive. I do wish they had more and perhaps exquisite food selections. Lovely place. Recommend read more

Such a magical night at the Nutcracker. This is a beautiful theater which great seating but the set and stage is what I will remember the most. Simply said it was a gorgeous performance and by far my favorite Nutcracker experience I have had. My godson loved it as well and they had lots of very cool props to take photos in downstairs. Highly recommended experience at McCaw Hall read more

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came here to see the Nutcracker and was quite impressed! The first thing I noticed was how pleasant all the staff was. They weren't just polite professionals but very warm and engaging. It made the first impression very welcoming! I enjoyed all the little drink stations. They were all identical except for size but it helped with the initial lines. I took the recommendation to order ahead for intermission and highly pass along that recommendation. The lines were mammoth during intermission while I was able to grab my pre-paid drink and sip away with nary a care in the world. The cookies were very good too - giant and sugary. The facility itself was remarkable. Very open and bright in the common areas. Wide staircases to make going up and down with a crowd easy. Restrooms were a bit dated but functional. The hall itself was great. Easy to see everything, the performance was fabulous, and the seats were super narrow. That was one part that threw me because I wasn't expecting it to be so cozy! I was very happy with my experience! read more

The place is really nice. Nice venue for sure. Can't wait to catch another play of some kind. read more

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This is a 4 and a half star review. I really like McCaw Hall. It's one of the better venues in the Seattle area. The sound is amazing, and the views are unobstructed. They primarily host the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. There are occasionally traveling shows. Once I saw Steven Tyler of Aerosmith fame here. Wow! The seats can be quite elevated in this venue. If you bought nosebleed tickets, you're either hiking up several flights (up to 5 or 6 flights, I think), or learn there are elevators at the two ends. And bring binoculars! I've sat on the first rows, and they are considered to be not-ideal for both opera and ballet. For opera, you need to look at the very top of the stage to see the translation. For ballet, you don't see the feet of the dancers sometimes. In both cases, though the complaint is real, I thought it was a fair trade-off for the lower price and yet awesome up-close seats. Today, we tried side seats on the gallery, row H. These have a higher slope, making them closer to stadium seating. I love them! I'm short, and I still see past the person in front of me just fine without leaning. Food and drinks: Well, it's expensive. That's just a fact. In the intermission area, the food options are very limited. Don't rush here expecting to find a good snack that isn't junk food. There is a full restaurant on the ground floor. It leans on being pricey but the food appears to be good. If you're cost conscious, eating at the Armory is the best bet. Shopping: Their gift shop, by far, is my absolute favorite at all venues. (Teatro ZinZanni is the second.) Whoever their curator is, applause. I always end up leaving with something, not related to the show! Parking: This is the minus half star from five stars. The attached parking lot, operated by Seattle Center charges $20 during events. Steep but the most convenient. However, I have in the past, more than once, been trapped in that damn parking lot for nearly 30 minutes trying to leave it after a show. It's chaos leaving the lot. If you're lucky, there are people directing flow forcing drivers to leave the lot at the first possible exit, which is the right way to leave. But these attendants don't always stay for long even though there are still cars leaving the lot. So annoying. Today, we tried the leave ASAP, don't-clap-for-the-actors, and don't-go-use-the-bathroom method. We booked it out of that lot in a record 9 minutes. Sometimes, you can find street parking, other lots, but plan ahead and arrive early. read more

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We attended The Nutcracker and had an absolutely wonderful time. I purchased tickets online approximately 3 weeks before our show. We picked seats in the "Orchestra Back" section, and they were fabulous. I definitely appreciate how they leave 1 seat open between parties. The seats are very close together, so it would be quite cozy to be sitting next to a stranger. I purchased a parking pass along with our tickets. This guarantees parking up until 30 minutes before the show. This made the parking experience much less stressful. On the way out, there were officers directing traffic which made exiting the parking garage seamless. There was a bar and souvenir area in the lobby, plus a huge Christmas tree perfect for photos. It was a beautiful venue and a magical show! read more

I've been to the nutcracker here a few Christmas's now and will say the venue and the people working have been nice and great! However the theatre its self is always HOT specially when dressed in winter clothes. We ended up catching a cold from the people next to us too lol but still a great experience! read more

What a beautiful space - you'll feel like royalty when you're here! Whether you are here to see the ballet, opera, or just to enjoy an event like the Walla Walla wine tasting presentation, the space provides a sophisticated ambiance wowing both old and young alike. With its various levels and sweeping staircases, as well as efficient elevators close to all seating, there is no excuse not to visit at least once per season to enjoy the finer arts in life. Concessions with healthy and delicious food and drink options are available on every level and lobby spaces are open and well ventilated - great for those who don't like the claustrophobia of large events. The gift shop at the bottom has unique and beautiful gift items that are sure to please family and friends, old and young. read more

Beautiful venue both inside and out! My Sweetie surprised me recently with tickets to a matinee show of the Nutcracker Ballet. Parking was easy at the Mercer Garage, which is just across the street. There's a pedestrian bridge on Level C that takes you directly to the venue. Entrance to the parking is on 4th Street and exit is on 3rd. The lobby is spacious and beautifully adorned with Christmas decor, which is perfect for that photo opportunity. There are several floors. There are food and drink areas. Wine is served in glasses. However, if you want to take the wine inside, you would need to get a plastic "sippy cup." Call me a snob but I just can't get myself to drink wine from a plastic container. There are bathrooms on each end of every floor with numerous stalls. Lines were never an issue even during intermission. The seating is comfortable. I would highly advise not being late! It gets really dark and very hard to find your seat...and that's if they will allow you in. Please do not wear perfumes or colognes or heavily scented hair products out of consideration of others. Poor souls like me have issues with chemically-laden scents. Other than that, we had an amazing time and plan to be back to watch other performances! read more

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I went here for the first time back in April to see Shen Yun and was very impressed. The lobby was not only spacious but very artistically done and even though there were bar carts set up, we didnt felt crowded. The seating is good from just about anywhere you sit and the architecture is beautiful. Parking is convenient right across the street, and although expensive at $20, you could literally walk across the sky bridge and be at the hall. I wouldn't hesitate to go to more events here. The employees here were also both helpful, ready to give instruction, answer questions and hand out brochures. read more

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Very organized and super clean hall. Hub and I decided to experience this talk-of -the town number. I personally, was very impressed with the performers. They are all very strong and very graceful. Classic Chinese dances and with story-telling? Something different from what I experienced in the past. Their costumes are very bright, colorful and stunning. I want to say it's was a good entertainment for the first hour but sadly , the 2nd half after the intermission seemed redundant except for the orchestra. That part, the music- - flawless. West meets the East Classical Chinese music is brilliant and quite intriguing. I love listening to all sorts of music and I enjoyed this part very much. I thought it was going to be some acrobatic, high energy but a little disappointed with the redundancy towards the end. . I don't know.... Perhaps, I wasn't able to get the whole story in order and felt very sleepy. I was a little embarrassed to ask my husband that we head home. He obliged. Another good memory though. Who knows, it might be a different experience for others. Before and during intermission, they sell cookies , coffee, wine , etc. They also sell merchandises such as scarves and jewelries. Parking was accessible and cost 20 dollars for the event. That's all I can remember. read more

I've seen a lot of shows here over the years including the opera, ballet, concerts and most recently Paw Patrol. The theater seems to have a bit more upscale feel than some other places. All seats are good, but some on the higher levels require a bit of effort to get to. There are elevators available, but if you choose to take the stairs its a bit of a hike. The parking lot across the street is a nice addition as well. Most recently parking was 15$ per day, but it is nice to be able to use the sky bridge to get McCaw Hall, you do still have to go to the main level to enter for events, but it does make leaving slightly faster. This theater is nice and clean which means that you have to buy a special glass to be able to bring a drink into the theater. If you happen to own one I believe you can bring it back for future events. Its a bit like an adult sippy cup. This also means that there is limited food available, be sure to eat before you come. The concession stand most recently only sold drinks, cookies and nuts. read more

I went to McCaw for the first time last night and loved it. Not being a fan of opera or ballet, I didn't really have a reason to visit McCaw until my favorite comedian Lewis Black did a show there. What a great venue. It pays to come early to enjoy a drink, they even have a cafe with dining, which we did not try. Ample but expensive parking across Mercer street with a sky bridge to the hall. Mercer street traffic control has improved but it can back up quickly if there is another event nearby, particularly anything at Climate Pledge arena. Consider the 99 tunnel to get there and back as it is much faster. I will now look for more shows at McCaw. read more

I've seen many a concert or performance at this venue, and it truly is worthy of the consistently high ratings it has received by my fellow Yelp reviewers. Both the exterior and interior of the building are airy, lovely, contemporary and clean. The outside courtyard area that connects Mercer to the Seattle Center interior is gorgeous. (I wholly recommend reading Tom B's post about the horizontal water feature and the overhanging canopy of open metal grilling). Recently my family saw the Seattle Men's Chorus perform here and we walked outside afterwards to catch the Monorail, walking underneath this modern canopy that filtered in the dusk lighting. The spaceship-esque top of the Space Needle loomed above, huge, lit up like the moon itself, yet appearing somewhat dappled through the slats of the overhead grill. It created quite the magical effect. Inside McCaw Hall, despite the throngs of people, there always seems to be adequate to good circulation. I've never been to a show where I felt claustrophobic - even at sold-out shows. The lobby and mezzanine areas are open and always accommodate the people there. I absolutely adore the contemporary, huge, tubular, sculptural light fixture that hangs over the staircase. It's a show-stopper unto itself! We've never had a "bad" seat here, nor have there ever been any issues with sound acoustics. My only issue lies with the parking garage across the street (connected via skybridge to the Hall). Exiting this garage can take an hour (or more!) after any given show lets out. It's always a nightmare for us to leave. This is why we now go to Westlake Center and either walk or take the Monorail here. read more

Great place to see a show. Excellent, helpful staff, great intermission refreshments (including honor system Starbucks coffee), multiple bars serving alcoholic beverages, and great lines of sight from just about every seat. We saw The Nutcracker here and the production quality was excellent. I've seen The Nutcracker in Philadelphia as well and the production level in Seattle was much better. Though, the story line and performers in Philadelphia were better. read more

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall - Waiting for the performance - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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You really can't ask for much more, especially if you're used to the old Opera House days here. If you never went back then, well, you still get the same mileage out of the new place--it just doesn't seem quite as miraculous that they shoehorned a nice performance space into this location. Start with the exterior. It's that sort of too-clever modern touch that seems preoccupied with calling attention to materials rather than doing any aesthetic or functional. At least that's what I thought at first (this must be 10 years ago, or more, by now). They hung a bunch of metal twisted-wire scrims above the patio, creating a filtering effect for the light, precipitation, and wind. You feel connected to the building, without being under a portico or anything like that. It's a great solution, and creates a nice entrance for the north side of Seattle Center as well. They've put in a horizontal fountain, as well--the water slowly gurgles down a slope in the sidewalk, where it recirculates through a drain. There are resting benches along it, so you can hang out before the show. This seemed overly clever at first, too, but has come to grow on me quite a lot. As long as you aren't on crutches or anything, it's easy to walk right through, as you would any other rain-slicked surface nearby. But people route around, and let the people on the benches gaze distantly at the ripples running down the stones. Nice. All this is actually very necessary to rehabilitate what used to be here, even though the changes are permanent. What used to be here was a big rough concrete box. It looked like a junior high from early 1960s, except maybe with a higher roofline. The materials and proportions all looked like they had been selected to maximize the budget, even though this place was built as part of the Seattle World's Fair, which was a well-funded showcase for the best of everything around here (at the time). The Opera House just kinda faded into the background architecturally, and the passing years made it worse. McCaw money seems to have remedied that. Inside, the lobby feels light and airy now, and wide-open. It used to be so cramped and confined that you wondered whether the event you were attending was supposed to be a secret. But the Opera put on good performances here, and the Symphony put on many fine performances in this building. PBS came and filmed them, and they recorded many well-selling recordings of modern compositions. They've done more recording since moving to their new home downtown, but they did cut some when this was their home base. They just didn't record them IN the Opera House, because the acoustics there stank. You could hardly hear the violins, at least by the standards of symphony concert halls. They seem to have remedied the acoustics issues here. We saw two bands last night that both plugged in (Bryan Ferry, and whoever had opening for him). But they sounded great, and the room cupped the sound well, no booms or echoes. They sounded like they were in the seat next to you. The layout is welcoming as well. You walk up grand gradual stairs to an open mezzanine with a snack bar and cocktail bar. Inside, the balcony now runs two long wings gradually down to floor level, so people on the edges get a lift to their view. Gives you more choices to find your seat. There are still two balconies over the large main floor, and the orchestra pit is open for very-prime seating during performances when they don't need it for the band (like, say, an opera or ballet). Seats are comfortable, staff is friendly. They program plenty of different kinds of performance here, up to and including the more-polite forms of rock and roll (like Bryan Ferry). Looking forward to many more very good performances here. read more

I saw the Nutcracker here in November 2016 (opening weekend). My boyfriend and I sat alllllll the way in the back (seriously, very last row), but we could still see the show perfectly. I think it helped that our seats were towards the center of the theatre, so we could see all corners of the stage. The set design was absolutely gorgeous, and the seats were very comfortable. My only complaint is the parking. Don't park in the main garage (the one with the sky bridge that leads directly into the theatre). The line for that garage was absolutely horrendous, and there was no one directing traffic, so the streets around the theatre were a mess. It was about 20 minutes before the show when we went into McCaw, and people were still waiting in line to park their cars. Lots of people walked in late. On top of that, parking is $20 in that garage, which is just ridiculous IMO. Park elsewhere. There are many other options that are either free or considerably cheaper. read more

The acoustics in this hall are near-perfect, which makes this an audiophile's dream concert venue. The building is beautiful, the room is a nice size, intimate without being tiny, and the stage layout is traditional but very functional. The seats are comfortable if not oversized, but your attention will be captured by the performance that you're drinking in that you won't even notice. This venue is a great addition to Seattle Center. Everything from the Ballet to the Barenaked Ladies have been fantastic here and I'd go again without hesitation. read more

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Nice entertainment center with comfortable seating that all have good views of the stage. Parking is available nearby or via Valet service, but the latter sometimes fills up. A security gate entry is required, leave pocket knives at home. Both stairs and elevators are available to reach the multiple floors. Sometimes air conditioning is cold so a jacket can be helpful. Bathrooms during performance breaks are plentiful. There's snacks, alcoholic, coffee, sodas, water, etc for sale on every floor. Smoking is allowed outside, away from the building. Picnic tables with umbrellas are available, also. read more

Very beautiful venue for performances like the Nutcracker, but also fitting for an event like Social Venture Partners' Fast Pitch event. The seats are comfortable, and the bathrooms are so clean. The space outside the theater is so beautiful and spacious. Parking in the area is tough, but the ambience here is very nice and great for big shows/events. read more

We saw The Nutcracker Sat. Evening, and the pageantry, and the music were wonderful. Unfortunately the "Nutcracker suite" food presentation that I paid dearly for (same price as ticket) was a big FAIL. The food wasn't worth the $40.00, and there was no time to eat in any case. We stood in a que to get in the door, and another slow moving line got fill our plates. we no more than sat down when the (too loud) bells started going off, and an announcer (again too loud) directing us all to get back to our seats. No time to eat!! We felt herded like cattle, rushed, and RIPPED OFF. Who ever came up with this idea sure hit the mark as a revenue generator, but this is a really bad idea. You WILL lose customers over this. read more

Beautiful venue. Parking garage with skybridge for easy parking and access. Acoustics are great and love that the seats are generous. Food we got was actually good (cheese/nut/fruit plate at $8 and a $6 Trophy cupcake - good but overpriced). Always look forward to coming to shows here! The Nutcracker is phenomenal and had the honor of doing a pre-show dinner/meet and greet with Hall and Oates here (one of the best nights ever!). read more

McCaw Hall is a gorgeous, modern venue that hosts both the Seattle Opera and Pacific NW Ballet. Acoustics are excellent and the tiered seating makes nearly every seat in the house enjoyable to watch from. Gorgeous all-glass exterior with amazing evening lighting that drapes over a long fountain along the front of the Hall. The Hall is beautifully constructed with handsome spiral staircases. The only lack is concessions (largely beverages only), so be sure to dine in advance of your show. read more

It's a beautiful building to attend to ballet shows like Nutcracker and Swan Lake. The seats were comfortable. The amenities were good choices and a bit expensive. The ushers were good to instruct people where to sit in the audience. This place is a gem for anyone to attend the ballet productions. read more

I've been to a handful of events at McCaw Hall over the years and it is one of my favorite venues. The building is gorgeous inside and out. There's plenty of parking nearby in the garages. I just saw The Nutcracker put on by Pacific Northwest Ballet and the show was phenomenal. We all enjoyed it. We had some of the cheaper seats and even up near the top we had a great view and didn't miss out on anything. We're lucky to have such a nice venue in Seattle! read more

McCaw Hall is an amazing venue. So architecturally beautiful and elegant. Over the years, I've been to many operas, ballets, dress rehearsals, shows, and performances here never leaving less than 10000% satisfied. They say there's no "bad seat in the house". As long as you're not sitting in front of someone taller than you, yes (!) it's true. The architecture is beautiful Parking here isn't too hard find, surprisingly. There's street parking and garage parking for a decent price. Cutting through the Seattle Center makes it a quick walk from Belltown. It's worth it to be part of the Bravo club if you enjoy the performing arts. LOVE McCaw Hall! read more