Pantages Theater

This is an overall nice theater. The staff is really nice and helpful here. I attended a fantastic performance of the Swan Lake by the Russian Gand Ballet. It was amazing. This breath of culture in the NW was very welcome.
Parking was not too much of a problem. I managed to park two blocks from the theater and the parking is free after 6. Love that about Tacoma.

This is a cool space to see a show in the heart of downtown Tacoma. The theater is historic and ornate and quite lovely inside – beautiful arches, chandeliers and balconies. I have only seen stand-​up comedy here and the acoustics were mostly okay; there were times when the sound got a little splashy where I was sitting, underneath the balcony.
Seating is a bit of a squeeze – you’ll feel like you’re in a middle seat in coach on a 737. You’ll get brushed up against a lot as people come and go in your row or the one behind you.
Decent parking, restaurants and bars in the surrounding area too.

Not a bad theater. Went to see a Queen tribute band. It’s artsy old inside, same with the seats. So expect broken down cushions and narrow seats, very narrow. Although leg room is enormous! You typically don’t have to stand up for people to walk in front of you. Parking, find it on the city streets, there is plenty to find. If it is during the week then I don’t know, I was there on a weekend.
I didn’t purchase drinks so I cannot comment on that. Just plan on an old venue and have fun.

Beautiful Venue in Tacoma .
Went here on a school field trip to see a play, the staff handled a theatre full of kids awesomely.
I will come back and have a grown up date night

This is an older theater. It’s been around for a long long time. The staff are volunteers, I think. They are all really nice. Bathrooms are downstairs and old and dirty. The bar area is decent and prices are a bit high for Tacoma, but I get it they need to make some money somewhere. Seating is cramped but not as bad as the Paramount in Seattle. I would say overall A-​OK.
One plus is parking which is convienent and just across a sky bridge.

I went here a few weeks ago to see the Peking Acrobats. The general theater is older in looks but actually I liked the vintage look and lighting of the theater. There were plenty of volunteers and workers on hand to assist with getting to our seats and each one was very friendly and had a smile on his face.
The show was sold out and luckily we were able to get six seats in the box seats on the sides of the theater so we had great view. It felt like we were kind of bourgeois sitting as a group separated from the general population of the theater floor but they we were able to laugh and talk and chat with each other without disturbing the rest of the people seated around. It was a very nice view so if you can sit in the box seats, please do so.
Now I thought the stage was a little smaller than I have been to in other cities and the field of sight is narrowed where you focus directly on the stage and can’t really see what may be coming up on the sides of the stage. In the box seats you could kind of see what was coming up but the surprise wasn’t given away. It was awesome show and would have been perfect for kids. Too bad it was only a one night show. I hope they come back, because I would definitely see the acrobats again.
It was pay to park in the surrounding area, but we found a garage that had $ 5 parking so that worked out. I am kind of eager to see what other shows come up at the theater, because I’d like to hear more of the acoustics and sound quality within the theater. The Peking Acrobats had some instruments but nothing like an orchestra or group of instrumentalists. I’ll be back.

We didn’t get great seats for a show and were in the mezzanine, second to last row. But wow! This theater still had an amazing view from back there and the sound was phenomenal! Comfy seats and very well kept! Although I was not looking forward to making the trek to Tacoma for a show I am very glad we did! It was the best venue I have been to for a show since I have moved to WA!

We were there for the Nov. 23^rd Lyle Lovett Concert. We make it to an event at the Pantages about once a year. This year we noticed the overpowering scent of cigars in the waiting area near the restrooms on the left. There was also the stench of a cheap cherry scented deodorizer throughout the lobby. I don’t know if they had rented out the place to a cigar smoking crew, had employed disrespectful cigar smoking contractors that thrashed the place, or just had incompetent cleaning staff. In any event the experience was unpleasant. The concert was great though, despite the usual undersized uncomfortable seats. Loved the Pantages, don’t let it go down any further! Upgrade the seats!

This rating in no way reflects the various groups that play the Pantages but rather the room itself.
The house is not very live. If you’re stuck under the first balcony, forget enjoying an acoustic show. Of course the sound quality is much higher *in* the first balcony and quite a lot less the farther back you go. For actors, it’s like singing in a barn full of cotton, though there is an incredible sweet spot Down Center.
A lot of care went into the renovation many years ago. Among other travesties, the Tiffany glass ceiling was painted over! The Pantages was brought back from the brink and has been the center of Tacoma’s Downtown renaissance ever since.

This pretty theatre, the main venue in the Tacoma theatre district, holds about 1200 people. The seats are placed pretty well, allowing good viewing from most any position. They also provide very good booster seats for youngsters.
The programming is high quality and diverse, and the board seems to go out of their way to look for a variety of acts that are not only divergent culturally, but price wise as well… for that I thank and salute them!
While not as ornate as the 5^th Avenue or Mt Baker Theatres located elsewhere in Western Washington, the Pantages is nevertheless a wonderful home for the fine arts scene in T Town: pretty, spacious, elegant. If you’re considering visiting for a show, you will not be disappointed in this venue.

Admittedly, 3 year olds are impressed by a lot. Mine in particular just got done «wow-​ing» at rocks paved into a parking lot in Fred Meyer. This place really had him going– a cool stained (?) glass looking light above, chandeliers, really interesting moldings and décor.
Seats were stadium style, thank God, and there was plenty of leg room (or room to walk with a small child to the restroom from d@mn near center row.
We saw the *forgot troupe name* Chinese puppets, which was amazing. Child was pretty much awestruck the entire time.
Anyway, this little outing (and scoping out the bars, little arcade /​deli around the area made me think of Tacoma as less of a zit on the ass of Seattle. Thanks, Pantages /​ICF!
Oh, but lose the bitchy ushers. Thanks.

I saw Star Wars here. Star Wars was the first movie I ever saw. I have been a full-​on movie dork pretty much ever since. The Pantages gave me one of the great loves of my life – the movies.
What they’ve done to restore it is pretty amazing. It looks gorgeous now, and they book all kinds of cool top-​notch entertainment here. The place is well-​run, sounds good, and of course looks great.
Downtown Tacoma is coming up around it too. Lots of decent places to eat. I can easily recommend the Pantages and downtown for a day-​long date with museums or whatever attached, or as an evening on the town. I love this theater.

So I just endured a truly awful show here, beyond terrible in fact. But this review is for this theater, a true jewel, glistening in the night like pearls strung across a socialite’s neck.
The interior millwork is astounding, soaring decorative carving, moulding, friezes, truly mezmerizing. You can observe the wealth that once was Tacoma so very long ago.
A Northwest Treasure and a tribute to true craftsmanship.

I’ve been to a few shows here and have always had a great experience. The staff has always been helpful and friendly and they have a nice selection of food and drinks. I guess there’s not much else to say…

My love for This American Life and Ira Glass knows no bounds. By that, I mean, it dragged me all the way to this theater.
Let’s be honest here — when I say theater in Western Washington, you’re probably thinking «Paramount?» Nope. «Moore?» No. «5^th Ave?» Still no.
Just when you thought there wasn’t another reputable theater around,
there’s the Pantages Theater in Tacoma — home of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts. Since this review is all about honesty, I’ll be frank, I’ve never heard of them either until this event.
But there are many reasons (besides fawning over a public radio personality) to come here: the ushers are all super helpful and friendly, and it is important to note that they are all volunteers! The audio sounded great. The lighting showed Mr. Glass wonderfully. The entire feel of the theater provides the audience a sense of belonging because it is very intimate and cozy. Parking is super easy because they have a pay parking garage that connects to the theater through a sky bridge — for a $ 5 fee. However, you could also park at the Tacoma Dome and ride the LINK Streetcar to the theater for free!
After this wonderful event, I can safely tell you that I know where I will be spending some of My American Life — at the Pantages Theater.

Wow, who knew such a beautiful theater was located in Tacoma? Well, I’m sure a lot of people did, but I sure as heck didn’t. I always viewed Tacoma as something to write off and drive through, but when Air was playing a show there it gave me reason enough to go down and check it out.
Again, wow, this theater is gorgeous, intimate, well restored, serves beer in the lobby, etc etc. I’m not much of an audio-​nerd (seeing as I think the sound from my clock radio is a-​ok) but everything sounded good to me. There also doesn’t seem to be a bad seat in the house, and since it’s reserved seating I could see throughout the majority of the show until some guy, so moved by the music, got up and started dancing (or flailing about, as the case may have been) others got up and moved to the aisles to dance. So polite.
And, going for the triple Wow! Can you believe the Pantages Theater is so cool that they have antique furniture from the home of the first mayor of Tacoma down by the restrooms? And, it’s not just for looking at!
Great intimate venue to take in a show.