I went to a showing of The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty as my first ever opera…read moreshowing! Before the showing, there was a little lecture hall in the basement which explained the background of the show and the themes present. I think without this, I would have been a bit lost and not have enjoyed the show as much as I did. I thought the singing and acting were superb, and I loved the props and costumes. The orchestra was fantastic as well. Everything was very well done! As a note, during intermission, I noticed there was a line for the men's room and none for the women's room. It turns out that the women's room is significantly larger with more stalls to prevent a backup. It's very thoughtfully designed considering there's a limited time for intermission to use the restroom.

Terrific setting for our first night at this opera house. Lots of parking garages across the…read morestreet. This opera house has a lot of room and an easy flow from entrance to the theatre. Two elevators made getting to the fourth floor quick. The interior of the theatre is simple, pleasant colors, and well ventilated. The balcony was comfortable the whole opera. The stage was classy. The acoustics good. The performance of the Pirates of Penzance was the right choice for my sisters' first opera (my 10,000th?). Very talented actors, especially the singer that played Mabel.

A beautiful venue on the Seattle Center campus. Every seat is comfortable and spacious relative to…read moreother 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.

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

Very much enjoyed their Nutcracker performances. Highly recommend checking this out. Classic…read moreballet, stunning talent and I cannot believe they are students and not professional dancers!

Today I was invited by a friend to attend one of the student-oriented morning (1 hour) performances…read moreof the Nutcracker at Meydenbauer Place by the International Ballet Theatre. I knew nothing whatsoever of this company, and had no expectations, although I have seen many productions of the Nutcracker in my life, incl. the New York City Ballet, the Cleveland Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Ballet Met in Columbus. This company is a full school with a professional division. I didn't have the same expectations for professionalism as I would have for an all-professional ballet company, hence only 4 stars. However, all things considered, it really was a 5 star performance for what can be accomplished at this level. It is obvious that Vera Altunina, the director, whom I knew nothing about, is a woman of exquisite taste, experience, thoughtfulness, and intelligence. We are incredibly blessed here in Puget Sound in the fields of classical ballet as well as music. I was so impressed by the quality of dancing overall, the gorgeous scenery drops (not sure of my stage jargon here!), the stage craft, the mime quality, the costumes, and the lighting. Ms. Altunina is responsible for the choreography presented here, and I believe I recognized some familiar steps here and there showing she has adopted and adapted elements from the versions she danced in Russia so that everything suits her dancers. No one looked awkward or ungainly. I was immensely thrilled by the stage presence, acting, deportment, etc. of every dancer, whether the youngest of the performers or the older professionals. Everyone looked thoroughly prepared and experienced, so I'm guessing that Ms. Altunina is an extremely organized and skillful director. I was also extremely delighted by the two guest principal dancers, both from Kiev. Unfortunately, I didn't get a program, and so have no names to give you. Apparently, I was told later, that the principals are husband and wife. The Nutcracker prince impressed me with his long beautiful lines, elegant, graceful port de bras, and sublime effortless technique. His Sugar Plum Fairy was petite, elegant, and precise. Their harmony was wonderful, the dancing apparently effortless. I asked a few of the company dancers afterwards how they got those wonderful painted stage screens, and was told they had been painted in the Ukraine. This I could well believe, as they reminded me of some of the work of painting I have seen evident in book illustrations, etc. (The Ukraine, and also Russia, must have a factory that cranks out extremely talented artists, and perhaps we should be hiring their art teachers as well!) I also appreciated all the costumes, and was happy to see the snowflakes wearing kokoschnik-like headpieces with their pretty costumes. All of the performance appeared smooth and professional. I can't believe we can see this for a modest price in the much-maligned suburbs, without the hectic drive to the Seattle Center area. This is not to say you shouldn't go to see the PNB Nutcracker. I'd say go to both, as I myself will be later this month. One cannot have too much beauty and magic in their lives. We are already incredibly blessed to have Pacific Northwest Ballet here, and to discover that we have yet another ballet company is just extra whipping cream! Go take your kids, if possible, to one of the student performances. I sat next to a 3 year old boy, who appeared enraptured.

Not a bad seat in the house !!!!!!! First time in the venue ......I saw the Fabulous thunderbirds…read more,front row tickets at the end seats ....still a great view of the band ,great sound !!!!!!

Watched a comedy performance tonight, great venue. All the seats are good, comfortable. Wish they…read morehad beverage holders but other than that, no complaints. The bar hostess was fantastic. A+++++

The thing I like most about Benaroya Hall, not even touching on the great programming, like the…read morelive Fantasia performance that we saw last year, is its lovely hillside situation. From its entrance street, it's inviting, warm and unprepossessing like a city bistro or an off roadway theater, but once you enter, you realize how vast and stunning it is. And you can certainly see that from down the hill too. I wish I could come here even more. I also love how you can reserve your intermission drinks ahead of time. Amazing.

We visited Benaroya Hall to attend a presentation by a National Geographic photographer on the…read moremigration of the monarch butterfly. It was fascinating to learn what he endured to capture the butterflies' journey from the United States to Mexico. The theater itself is beautiful and well maintained. The lobby feels elegant, with tasteful décor and plenty of great spots for photos. Parking is convenient, with ample paid options available in the garage. The staff truly stood out--they were friendly, welcoming, and eager to help. They offered tips on nearby restaurants for dinner before the event, pointed us toward the restrooms, and let us know where to find coffee and snacks. The bathrooms were clean, and the seating in the auditorium was easy to navigate. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and Benaroya Hall proved to be an excellent venue for an event.

I came for a an orchestra concert here and had a great night. The acoustics are excellent --…read moredialogue and score came through clearly and evenly, which made the performance immersive. Seating is comfortable for a long show, with good sightlines from where I sat. I also enjoyed the outdoor areas -- nice spots to hang out before the performance and a pleasant pre-show atmosphere. Staff were friendly and helpful throughout. One improvement: there are no elevators, which can be difficult for those with mobility issues.

beautiful place great location!!…read more bathrooms - line for bathroom had to be 30-60 mins during a 20 min intermission. need to figure that out. also- need more railing and lighting in stairwells, felt unsafe.

I really loved going to see their performance of All's Well That Ends Well. I so enjoyed my time…read morehere and I highly recommend you see a performance when in Seattle. I went before the pandemic, so I'm not sure what the schedule is now. The performance is in the Armory building on a lower floor. People arrive early and chat in the lobby. They have some cookies and sodas for sale. The theatre was really great and seating was comfortable and not crowded so you can really enjoy and get a good view probably wherever you sit. The the acting was exceptional. I really enjoyed. Most people were dressed pretty casually. People were really friendly. Highly recommended!

BECOMING OTHELLO: A Black Girl's Journey, written and performed by Debra Ann Byrd is amazing. I…read moredidn't know what to expect. That didn't matter. The actor's story has tragedy, and hope. It is ugly, and beautiful. It is gripping, and moving. Her writing mixes Shakespeare, slam poetry, singing, and spoken word. Ms. Byrd brings it all together for the audience. If you're in Seattle, go before it's gone.

Really loved watching Elf there with my friend! The staff here are very nice and efficient in…read moregetting everyone in fast. I have tried the food here yet, but you get these really cute cups if you order drinks here. Super cool that you can see the orchestra pit during intermission! Very cute venue to watch during the holidays!

It's a nice enough theater. I came here to watch Suffs and the seats all the way in the back were…read morealso decent for watching. The area around it didn't feel the best to walk around in. Once inside I tried to find some sustenance but the options for non alcoholic non junk food was very low. Very pretty theater though!