Tucson Live Performing Arts & Theater Show Guide

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SEE ALSO: Fun Dinner Shows

ALSO: Great Date Ideas
ALSO: Fun Dinner Shows

There is no shortage of Tucson theater shows, with a diversity of mainstream choices and alternative options. Great Tucson theater is found at multiple locations with something fun for just about everyone. With our Tucson Theater Guide, here's the best list to help you find the perfect theater show in Tucson for you! Among the most popular choices in Tucson is Carnival of Illusion, named the "Best Show in Tucson", Broadway in Tucson, The Arizona Theater Company, and the Arizona Opera are also among the top entertainment choices. You'll find this site has options for traditional to offbeat, small to large, and pop to profound. Need to know what is happening today! Visit the Event Oracle's BEST Things To Do In Tucson Today

• Carnival of Illusion

  

  "The Best Show in Tucson!" You've probably already heard of Carnival of Illusion as it's been featured on many media outlets throughout Arizona, including the Tucson Citizen, Tucson Weekly, Tucson Lifestyle, and the AZ Daily Wildcat. If you're looking for a magical night out, Carnival of Illusion transports you on a fun evening of Old-World Magic. The Vaudeville-inspired show offers the perfect blend of magic, stories, and laughs. You'll travel through magical adventures with the award-winning masters of their craft in an evening of Magic, Mystery and OOOH La La! All shows sell out so check availability at Carnival of Illusion.

• Broadway in Tucson

  

  Broadway in Tucson is known to feature some of the biggest theater shows in Southern Arizona. The theater strives to provide entertainment in Tucson to everyone, offering assisted listening devices so everyone can enjoy the performances. Shows take place at Centennial Hall on the UofA campus. The theater accommodates as many as 2,500 guests. Events feature big traveling shows such as The Wizard of Oz and Jersey Boys, as well as large scale events like magic shows and live orchestra cinema.

• 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.

• Arizona Theatre Company

  

  The Arizona Theatre Company offers numerous performances throughout the year, including classic and contemporary plays to musicals at the historic Temple of Music and Art in Tucson. The professional theater strives to enrich lives by offering outreach programs, educational opportunities and professional performances available to the community. As Arizona's first community to support theater, music and culture, the Temple of Music and Art provides a historic, 2-story auditorium, complete with a rehearsal hall, costume shop and art gallery. Each theater, offers a wonderful night of entertainment in Tucson.

• U of A School of Dance

  

  The U of A School of Dance presents a unique opportunity to see young dancers who are enrolled in one of the top programs in the United States, perform a variety of styles, due to their training in ballet, modern and jazz. The state-of-the-art Stevie Eller Dance Theatre is the perfect venue for them to hone their skills. With an average of over 30 concerts a year, the students get plenty of opportunity to strut their stuff and bring dance lovers something fresh, and often a little different.

• Ballet Arizona

  

  Experience the beauty and versatility of the dancing professionals at Ballet Tucson, supported by national companies, including New York City Ballet. Each season, the theater brings you historic classics and mainstream entertainment. There are even many family oriented performances, such as Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Ballet Tucson features many special events for the community.

• Tucson Convention Center

  

  The Tucson Convention Center offers a full calendar of events throughout the year. The arena offers excellent seating with great views of the performances from every seat. Plus, the theaters also host a welcoming and comfortable environment for the performances. There's also a ballroom, exhibition halls and a music hall for even more entertainment in Tucson.

• 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.

• UA Poetry Center

  

  The UA Poetry Center is a living archive of the spirit of poetry. The center promotes poetic literacy and strives to enrich and advance a diverse literary culture. The internationally renowned library features many events, from classes and workshops to exhibitions and local poets. The Poetry Center is a relaxing place to enjoy great poetry and connect with like-minded individuals.

• Arizona Opera

  

  The Arizona Opera offers fully-staged concerts, operas and programs throughout the year in more than one city. The theater strives to transform the power of storytelling through music in hopes to cultivate the community with the arts. With a diversity of performances offered, there's a wide range to choose from. Through their community outreach programs and events, students can even benefit from the Arizona Opera.

• Arizona Arts Live

  

  Arizona Arts Live is the University of Arizona's professional performing arts presenter. Each season they bring to Tucson a wide range of amazing world-acclaimed artists, including the likes of Melissa Etheridge, Lang Lang, Jay Leno, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Kodo Drummers of Japan, Patti Labelle and so much more. Each season brings you a huge range of entertainment... everything from classical to jazz to world music, dance, theatre, and family shows. There truly is something for everyone during their season of knock-out performances.

• Tucson Symphony Orchestra

  

  The Tucson Symphony Orchestra continuously grows its musical offerings with four different Valley venue locations. Additional performances can be found throughout the city at many restaurants and festivals. Offering beautiful and professionally performed music, the theater has won many awards, even award-winning educational programs. The theater features great entertainment in Tucson, from classic concerts to pop concerts.

• Rogue Theatre

  

  If you're ready to challenge your thinking, the Rogue Theatre is the perfect platform of alternative entertainment in Tucson. Here, you'll find plays that provide complex and provocative points of view surrounding social, personal and political issues. The emerging theatre strives to invigorate and challenge the community. The diversity of performances and artists are wide ranging at this Tucson theater and besides, it's in a very cool location with no uppity snooty types attending.

• 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.

• Zuzi Dance

  

  Zuzi Dance Company is a non-profit organization creating a connection of meaning for children and adults who enjoy performing arts. The dance company, school and theater are fully dedicated to preserving performing arts. With beautifully performed shows and events, it's a wonderful place to have a good night out on the town.

• 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.

• Loft Cinema

  

  The Loft Cinema is known as Tucson's nonprofit independent playhouse for the art of film. This alternative theater in Tucson is a mission-driven theater, celebrating and promoting the art of film. Plus, the cinema hosts a variety of additional entertainment events in Tucson each year, including an international film festival. As a recipient of many awards, the Loft Cinema provided the films you won't see at your local chain theaters. Don't forget, if you become a member you receive free popcorn. What else would you want (other than a beer to follow that down?)

• Gaslight Theatre

  

  If aiming for an evening of laughter, sing-a-longs and silly spoofs, then Gaslight Theatre is the spot for you. Gaslight has been bringing their unique brand of musical comedy to Tucson for over 35 years. This all-inclusive experience is fun for the family, who will be delighted to know that they can also enjoy beer, pizza, and ice-cream along with tons of salty free popcorn while enjoying the Tucson shows. Heroes and villains abound and the audience is encouraged to cheer (or boo) to their heart's content. It's a raucous good time this weekend!

• The Community Players

  

  A home for Tucson musical theater, the Community Players (once the Red Barn Theatre Co.), offers fun musical performances. The productions provide a unique form of alternative entertainment in Tucson. The theater prides itself in performing for the community, offering a wide variety of cast and crew for the audience's pleasure. This Tucson entertainment venue is commonly referred to as the "little theater with a big heart". They happily invite you to see a show or even audition for one too!

• 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.

There are plenty of entertaining things going on in and around Tucson that make for an unforgettable date night. It's a city full of talent, curiosity, and cultural riches that will surprise you, even if you're a longtime local. Trust us, the Oracle knows.