BEST Tucson Dinner Shows and Live Theater

SEE ALSO: Great Entertainment Ideas
SEE ALSO: Tucson Events Schedule TODAY

ALSO: Great Entertainment Ideas
ALSO: TUCSON Events Today

Want a fun night out in Tucson? Well, you've come to the right place! Tucson has many options for dinner shows, plays, Broadway shows, and university productions. If you want to explore further, we have also have a wonderful list of lovely Tucson theatre shows for your entertainment on the town. And if time is of the essence and you simply want to get some ideas for Tucson happenings today, then visit the Event Oracle's Best Tucson Events Today. Meanwhile we think the following dinner shows and theatre companies stand out from the pack.

• CARNIVAL OF ILLUSION

  

  Carnival of Illusion is an evening of old-world magic in the style of classic entertainers such as Buster Keaton, Mae West, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Harry Houdini. The hosts have performed as house entertainers at the world's top resorts, Fortune 100 CEOs, to the 200 Most Powerful Women in America and have been called the "Best Show in Tucson". You'll find yourself laughing out loud, squirming in your seat with wonder or perhaps even onstage with the performers, Roland Sarlot and Susan Eyde. Two show times make it easy to decide if you want to have dinner before or after the show. For eats, there are so many great restaurants downtown within walking distance, you'll appreciate the variety of food choices. Dinner and a show becomes exactly what you want, great entertainment and your choice of favorite cuisine, whether it is fine dining or a quick nosh.

  Carnival of Illusion performs on select Saturdays at the landmark Scottish Rite Grand Parlour. It is more than a Great Magic Show. It's the only place to experience Magic, Mystery, and OOOH La La! Shows SELL OUT in advance due to the popularity and intimate nature of this boutique theater. Book your seats early! Advance reservations required. And don't worry about parking as there is free parking for the show right next to the building.

• Gaslight Theater

  

  This funky little 225 seat theatre features various theatrical comedies throughout the year. Each show is a hilarious spoof of popular culture, from Space Trek to 009 License to Thrill and more. Next door's Little Tony's diner serves the meals with items such as wings, pizza, nachos and more. Also on the menu is beer and wine for those who want something more than a soda. Their desserts are scrumptious, with a huge number of them involving ice cream. Or order up a slice of pie or cheesecake. Every table sports a bowl of free popcorn to boot. This is always a fun Tucson dinner and show for the entire family with a down-home feeling.

• Gaslight Music Hall

  

  Come to the new Gaslight on North Oracle for concerts, shows & revues, dance parties and more. Instead of theatre, the Gaslight Music Hall brings you a great evening of music and food. You'll get the same fun food as at the original Gaslight, plus a ton of great entertainment. Popular local musicians are often on the bill along with touring artists. Blues, rock-n-roll, pop, country. . . there's a night for almost everyone looking for a toe-tapping evening. It is a perfect night out for the whole family from junior on up to grandma and grandpa.

• Roadhouse Cinemas

  

  Visit the Roadhouse Cinemas for dinner and a movie all in one convenient location. Order food and drink from your super deluxe reclining seat at any time by just pressing a button. Enjoy craft beers, wine and a full menu created by an award-winning chef. Sit back, enjoy drinks and food at your seat and come and see the latest films. You can even pre-order your meal online before the show. The Oracle also recommends you order your tickets online so that you can reserve a seat, so you get the best seats in the house. There's always a great line-up of shows to choose from.

• Laffs Comedy Caffe

  

  Laffs is Arizona's original comedy club. There are two shows every Friday and Saturday night with headline acts. Or come on a Thursday for open mic night, and see Arizona's up-and-coming comedians. You can even take a chance on stage yourself. The club has a two-drink minimum for shows. They also have a menu featuring appetizers, sandwiches, burgers and more. Some huge names in comedy have passed through Laffs at some point in their career, so come to Laffs to catch the freshest faces in comedy.

• Traildust Town

  

  Traildust Town is a great family fun destination with more than one choice for fun. There are several entertainment options at Traildust Town including the Wild West Stunt Show and the Shooting Gallery. The town itself is a recreation of a pioneer town, and is a step back in time. You can also shop, pan for gold, or ride a carousel. Feeling peckish? The Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse is great for a satisfying pioneer style meal cooked over real mesquite wood. Watching gunslingers duke it out on the streets is bound to work up anybodies appetite.

• Jackrabbit Lounge

  

  The Jackrabbit Lounge has a retro vibe, with crafted cocktails and a great line-up of entertainment for an evening of fun, chill or whatever strikes your fancy. For those brave enough to face the mic, there's karaoke on Thursdays, and for those smart enough, there's trivia on Tuesdays. But if it is a show you are after, then check their calendar for their frequent burlesque and drag variety shows. There's some upbeat food choices on the menu, including what they call "sharable plates", so be sure to bring along someone to share with.

• Surly Wench Pub

  

  Surly Wench on Tucson's well-known 4th Avenue is the home of great pub food and kick-ass burlesque shows. They've been hosting both local and traveling burlesque shows since 2006. Each show is different, due to there being a different producer every time with their own vision and creative touches. Be sure to come back every first Friday of the month to get your burlesque fix. You'll be entertained and also be left wanting just a little bit more. There's always next month!

• IBTs Bar and Food

  

  Drag queens galore can be found Wednesday through Sundays at IBTs Bar and Food, Tucson's favorite (and only?) gay bar since 1985. A ticket to the show includes a seat, a beverage and a dinner item, and oh so much more! You get the best drag shows in Tucson. After dinner and the show, you can dance the night away with their DJs, either inside after 11pm, or on their patio. As for dinner choices, no vegetarian options here... it's all about the meat!

• Fox Tucson Theatre

  

  Downtown Tucson is home to the wonderful Fox Theatre, which is now beautifully restored to its original glory of the early 1930s. This theatre hosts local and international entertainment throughout the year attracting big name performers and local favorites. The Fox reigned for over 40 years as Tucson's entertainment palace, but eventually fell into dire disrepair and was almost too far gone to save. Luckily for Tucson and for arts patrons the Fox is once again a top-notch theatre for seeing great musicians, dancers and performers of all types.

• Unscrewed Theater

  

  It's comedy improv on Friday and Saturday nights and it's fun, fun, fun! There's a variety of improv styles and something for all ages. Go to a family friendly show or get crazy and show up for one of their uncensored improv shows where anything goes! Ticket prices are super reasonable and it is a great place for the whole gang to go to get their laugh on. No two shows are ever alike, as suggestions from the audience keep things fresh and different each time. As an extra bonus you can go on one of their FREE freeform Friday evenings and get a taste for what they are all about without spending a dime.

• The Rogue Theatre

  

  The Rogue Theatre company is local, witty and smart! Very, very smart! They choose great plays and mesmerize with sophisticated productions that are thoughtfully produced. The Rogue has an upstanding reputation in the community for consistently providing high quality theatre in Tucson. They are located in the Historic Y building just off of 4th Avenue, so are centrally located and easy to find. Their website says they emphasize language, ensemble and challenging ideas and they certainly succeed.

• Arizona Arts Live

  

  Arizona Arts Live brings big name and international performers to Tucson on the big stage at the University of Arizona's Centennial Hall, as well as other indoor and outdoor venues around town. As UA Presents, they presented 25 years of fabulous shows that have included names like Itzhak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, Bonnie Raitt, Penn and Teller, Buena Vista Social Club and so much more! As you can probably tell from just that short list the variety of entertainment covers everything from classical to pop, dance to comedy, circus to percussion and everything in-between, not to mention great theatre. Now with a new name and updated vision, you can expect the same great world-class entertainment.

• Arizona Theatre Company

  

  Join the official State Theatre of Arizona for great professional theatre in Tucson. Head downtown and you will find AZ Theatre Company at the Temple of Music and Art, the first of two performance spaces, the other being in Phoenix. You'll see fabulous musicals, thoughtfully produced classics, new works, comedies and intense dramas. Arizona Theatre Company usually produces six shows per year, and everything from the acting to the sets to working with the community in unique ways, is done to the highest standards. Dress up, order up some tickets and treat yourself to a fantastic evening of theatre.

• Broadway in Tucson

  

  Broadway in Tucson is known to feature some of the biggest theater shows in Southern Arizona. In partnership with Centennial Hall, the theater strives to provide entertainment in Tucson to everyone, offering assisted listening devices so everyone can enjoy the performances. Located on the University of Arizona campus, the theater accommodates as many as 2,500 guests. You know what they say... go big or go home!

• UA Marroney Theatre

  

  Built in 1956, the Marroney Theatre in Tucson seats 332 in a newly refurbished proscenium auditorium. You'll find up and coming artists, as the theater works with the School of Theatre, Film, and Television in collaboration with the University of Arizona. With new seats, decor, lighting system and sound system, this Tucson entertainment theater is a great place to support local performers on their journey into the performing arts. You'll have a fun evening while watching the students' dreams come alive right on stage.

• PCC Center for the Arts

  

  The Center for the Arts located at Pima Community College offers a 425 seat theater with a lively selection of performances. Not only does the center feature dance and musical performances, but galleries and contemporary works as well. There are also many special events throughout the season. The Center for the Arts is a great and affordable Tucson entertainment venue.

• AZ Repertory Theatre

  

  Arizona Repertory Theatre, otherwise known as ART, is the laboratory in which the University of Arizona hones students' creative processes and careers. The performers who are in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program in Acting and Musical Theatre make up the company, and come from all across the country. ART is modeled after professional classical repertory theaters. You will find mainly classical and musical productions, which are well noted for their quality and ambitious nature.

• Invisible Theatre

  

  Don't worry, it's not really invisible so you will find it. If you're looking for an intimate setting to enjoy a live performance, the Invisible Theatre offers plays from the silly to the heartfelt. With an invisible energy flowing between the performers and the audience, the magic of theatre comes alive. Performing many classics, Broadway plays and musicals, there are a diversity of performances to choose from. The invisible Theatre is a unique Tucson entertainment theater to experience.

• Live Theatre Workshop

  

  With five different theater programs knitted together under the Live Theatre Workshop umbrella, there is truly a show for everyone. Utilizing local talent, encouraging youth to attend the theater, and providing low cost theater tickets are all part of their aim. With lots of opportunity for theater education and a strong family theater program, they support people of all ages to participate in Tucson live theater. It is truly an eclectic mix of theater offerings and opportunities for local Tucsonans.

• Borderlands Theater

  

  Borderlands is a theater company that focuses on the development and exploration of works that voice the diversity of issues connected to the U.S./Mexico border region. The main voice being reflected in their works is that of the Latino/Chicano/Mexicano but all voices of the region are worked with various perspectives. Using the "border" as a metaphor that flavors their choice of works, they have a rich history of looking at community issues, bringing them front and center. The works are often deep, personal and reflective and succeed in helping to express the issues of the Tucson and beyond.

• Arts Express Theatre

  

  Arts Express is all about entertaining, empowering, and educating those interested in musical theatre. Their programming is aimed at a diverse cross-section of the community, celebrating culture and building character. All ages are welcome, so if you simply want to see some great musical theatre, or you want to explore educational opportunities in the theatre arts, Arts Express will provide just that for cast, crew, and audience alike. Located in Park Place Mall, there are also several dining options to explore before or after the show.

• Arizona Onstage Productions

  

  This small but power-packed non-profit professional theatre company is solely devoted to presenting musicals. Its productions have won local theatre awards and have been very well received by local theatre critics and reviewers. Arizona Onstage Productions chooses challenging and unique pieces, and have a working relationship with the University of Arizona and other organizations. This hard-working company has been bringing musical theatre to Tucson audiences since 2003 and presents three to four musical productions per year.

• Arizona Rose Arts Organization

  

  This theatre company started out producing original musicals with a positive theme. And for twenty years they did just that. More recently that have started to add favorites and well-known pieces to their season's line-up including shows like Steel Magnolias and The Rainmaker. After 30 years of growth, they have expanded their mission to include the Arizona Rose Opera Company and the Arizona Rose Youth Theatre, with a sincere desire to support all art forms through production, development and eduction.

So have fun exploring the various Tucson dinner show and theatre options for a fun night out on the town! See you at the theater.