Seattle Children's Theatre

I’ve now been to two plays here and I am so impressed. The entire staff is warm and welcoming. The pre-show entertainment (like a scavenger hunt)is so fun for the kids. And the plays have been so high quality, from the voices to the stories to the sets to the acting. My niece and nephew were enthralled. I loved every minute of the entire experience.

Every bit on a par with any adult company, I have never been to one of their productions and was impressed by the quality and depth of investment they had put into this production. The show itself seems to have been developed here and was thoroughly engaging. The shows are rated for appropriate ages. The tickets were reasonably priced and there is probably not a bad seat in the entire, small auditorium. They included a short question and answer period after the show the kids loved and there were free activities in the lobby before the show and at the intermission. I look forward to more shows with my grandchildren.

This was our first visit to the theater, and we loved it! The performance was top-notch, with hilarious actors who got us involved right from the start. We live outside Seattle, so parking was a bit tricky to find. Fortunately, if you’re nearby, you can usually score free parking in one of the Amazon buildings.

Wonderful theater. Every seat has a great view because it's a smaller theater. Stage design is beautiful and you can tell everyone absolutely loves the organization. Watched Carmela Full of Wishes on opening night, packed house, easy 1 hour show and just a happy vibe throughout.

Very professional and nice people. The pianist will play on the moment any piece you bring to the audition. So thankful that we found this place.

Great place to take little ones to introduce them to theater arts. The show was the right length for my 3 year old to sit and if any kids get restless there is a quiet room to escape to. The seating is great and little booster chairs are offered if kids can't see when they sit behind a tall person.

Wonderful play! Kids and adults fully engaged. Generally a great theater, great production values with great plays, casts, music, set design, directing,

A wonderful production! We come once a year and our kids absolutely love it.

Beautiful theatre! The lobby is spacious and engaging for children. We arrived as doors opened and had no problem filling the 60 minute wait time before the play started. The seats are comfortable and spaced well- especially when tall people (adults) look behind them to see who is seated behind them. Just a little lean to one direction of center seat can block a child's view. Enjoy!

Wonderful theater. Every seat has a great view because it's a smaller theater. Stage design is beautiful and you can tell everyone absolutely loves the organization. Watched Carmela Full of Wishes on opening night, packed house, easy 1 hour show and just a happy vibe throughout.

5 stars for the outstanding cast, props, and overall performance! My heart was full of love as I watched our little hunch forward to make sure she captured every word from the stage. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was full of modern day humor (if that's a thing), interesting use of props, and fun bright costumes. They didn't skip a beat when transitioning scenes, and there was no long intermission. The seating is intimate and the view is spectacular for any little kid, regardless of where you're seated. We heard every word from the performers even while kids were talking, laughing, crying around us. I'm sad it took us so long to catch a show, and will certainly return to watch many more! In my opinion, the price point was steep if you have several children who want to attend. I believe it's $50 for adults and $40 for kids. The price is likely average for any live performance in Seattle. If it were lower, we could see EVERY show, but it will most likely be a special occasion for us. I didn't see any concessions or visit the store, but will arrive much earlier next time.

Having been gifted two tickets to Mr. Popper's Penguins, we were so happy with the performance, and the space! A fun stage showing, entertaining the youngest of patrons from age two years, through to their grandparents! Colorful scenes, a manageable auditorium with comfortable seating and helpful staff. We loved the opportunity to enjoy a show here, and look forward to more visits in the coming years.

I came here for school growing up. My favorite Shakespeare play is and was Julius Caesar and we came here for a rendition of the play set in Samurai Japan... Doesn't wear well, I would have preferred the true setting, culture, and people/ethnicity of the story. Felt the same way when I saw the play. But hey, that was back in the 1990s and early 2000s when doing things with something Japanese was all the rage. Changing the race/ethnicity and setting of a story to something different than reality is something I am not a fan of. Though it does a good job of conveying that the story as conveyed in that particular rendition/telling is fiction. That was my personal take-away after seeing the play, I prefer dry and bland non-fiction to glamorized fiction. A strong take-away for one play, though part of the magic of performance arts is that such a strong reaction can be elicited from a singular performance. The realizations one has about oneself and how history is portrayed through watching plays is worth a visit in and of itself. I came here for a number of other plays as well and enjoyed those ones. Overall I give the Seattle Children's Theatre 5 stars because it brought some of the stories we learned and heard in the classroom to life on stage. Plus, we would also get some time with the cast of the performance after the play was over for a short question and answer session. Good acoustics here too! I typically get headaches when I watch plays, I didn't get them here.

Had a horrible experience with the ticket office. Nothing was resolved of my situation and they truly looked like they didn't want to be there. Hire competent people?

Wow - can't believe I haven't reviewed SCT! We've been subscibers for the last 7 yrs. The shows seem to be getting better as the years go on. Just tonight, we saw "Lyle the Crocodile", I really thought I was going to take a 2 hr nap - instead I enjoyed every minute of it! The actors were great - Lyle was an especially good dancer. The songs were all catchy and the sets were incredible! Last year there was a show that was absolutely horrible and for my opinion on FB, there media person blasted me but promised to send me comp tix to another show (it never happened....) - so that's why the 1 Star deduction. All in all - a great production company in a great space with funtastic shows!

I had an odd experience as my grandsons and I entered the theatre for a Sunday afternoon performance of "Black Beauty." A volunteer ticket taker questioned me as I handed her our tickets. Her concern was appropriateness of taking my almost-five year old grandson to the performance due to the theme of the mistreatment of horses. At one point I thought she was going to refuse us admission. The fact is, it is a children's theatre and I was well aware of the plot of the play and did not need or appreciate being grilled by this lady. My grandsons and I did enjoy the play and were not overly troubled by anything we saw.

My daughter took a class this summer with SCT Drama School and got a free ticket for a summer performance. Since "Hair" was all that was left that's what we went to see. Bravo! Who knew that kids could put on such a great performance?? It was awesome and I am embarrassed that I doubted this would be anything short of a great show. I grabbed up a bunch of promotional material on the way out the door - as all I could think about is when we're returning, what we're going to see next, and getting my daughter up on that stage. We both had a blast, thanks SCT.

Great for Daughter-Father Outing! My wife and I are supports of live theater. And, as such, want to expose our kids to the fun of attending shows. We bought 2 season tickets for my youngest and it was my turn to get to join her. She has gotten to choose various family members to go with her, something special. We went to see Art Dog, a play about a security guard and his secret identity. We went on a weeknight and scored street parking, saving $ off parking in a lot. We walked over to the Center House for a pre-show bite. I settled into a gyro and she had a kids meal from Subway. Off to the show. As season ticket holders we get to enter the theater a little before the general admission tickets. Seating is not assigned here, so on busy nights that is a big perk. Tonight wasn't one of those nights, we were able to walk right in and choose center stage 3 rows back. Really we could have sat anywhere my daughter wanted, it was her night, the room was open. There aren't bad seats that I've experienced, but it is nicer to be closer to the stage and more center. The show was fun, but no intermission this time, always good to know that in advance to plan properly (for hunger/restroom needs) Before/After the show there was an activity to buy a large cookie "canvas" to "paint" with frosting. Also the gift shop was fun to brows for classic kid toys and books as well as items tying in to the recent show. A fun gift to give a child to introduce them to the arts. Tip - you can head down to the stage after the show to meet some the actors , ask questions and get autographs if your kid is into that.

Last week I chaperoned a group of 11 year old students to Diary of Anne Frank. I wanted to pass on my disappointment for one scene in the play that I felt was totally inappropriate for a "Children's Theatre". Anne had a monologue about her going through puberty and things had changed for her...however she proceeded to go on about touching her breasts and kissing girls. I believe this scene was not necessary to add to the story line and could easily go without. I felt an agenda was trying to be pushed and it forced kids and parents to feel uncomfortable. This is a "Children's Theatre" and should not include adult content. For the past 7 years I have gone to a show at least 1x year. Hopefully they will take this short part out of the play and realize who their audience is. Sad to say that I will not be allowing my kids to attend any more shows if I can't trust the content that is delivered.

This review is for the Drama School, I have not personally attended performances: Our 4 year old attended what I was given the impression was to be very simple drama/theater/acting instruction/practice. She reported that they did nothing but watch skits by the staff and draw pictures about them - never got on stage, never said lines, never put on costumes, etc. I thought I might not be getting the whole story from my 4 y.o. and so asked if I could watch the class for a few minutes, and was refused. A couple years later, whenever we pass the Children's Theatre, my daughter still says "There's where my *art* class was."

When I received an email letting me know The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe was playing at SCT, I leaped at the tickets without giving it a second thought. I remembered it being one of my favorite books in elementary school, and was excited to see a live version of it. I hadn't really thought about the part where I was a grown adult headed to a children's theater, but... alas, the thought came too soon and my tickets were already purchased. What I loved about SCT was first how affordable it is. I love going to the Paramount and the 5th Avenue theaters, but because of their big productions, each show can cost me upwards of $50 per person. A week night showing at SCT was only $25 per person; a weekend showing, a bit more at $40, but still far more affordable than the $70 weekend shows at the bigger theaters. The theater is quite small (there are no balcony seats, and are probably half the size of the floor seats you'd see at the other places), so each show feels quite intimate. The orchestra off to the right of the theater was not overwhelmingly loud, and the cast, while small, did a great job I liked that the weekend show that I saw also came with a Q&A session at the end, allowing the actors to interact with the children who attended the plays, giving them a great impression of the theater world. What I could see some improvement on though in SCT is the seating - the seats are first come, first serve, and are not assigned, so when running late, you are expected to be able to navigate through the dark to find the random, one-off empty seats that may or may not be occupied by a mother's diaper bag. There are no ushers to guide you to a seat, and the floor lights are very dim. Seating and navigation aside though - great production value in a great location in the shadow of the Space Needle. Definitely recommend for an inexpensive performance, and for budding actors and actresses looking for a sneak preview of what they could do on one stage one day.

If you want to attend very expensive, yet mediocre performances, then this is the place to go to. Weekend shows are the priciest. Clearly they have their special, loyal audience, who don't mind shelling out a boat load of money for their shows.

I find the plays at the Children's Theatre to be, well, variable. Some are great, some mediocre, others, well, below mediocre. Productions values are always top-notch, with a crew of techs and designers that are capable of pulling off a trip through the wardrobe to Narnia, or a simple bare stage with lights making up most of the scenery (never as easy as it looks). Most plays are for kids from 7-13 or so, usually one or two a year recommended for four and up. They have been making attempts to appeal to older children, but it's usually only one show a year. Acting is almost always well done, and in most cases exceptional, but a sameness has crept in the productions of the past few years, I think coming from the growing pangs of the past ten years (they moved into the large building they are in now from a very small space at Woodlawn Park Zoo) and there has been a certain disconnect from their audience as a result. This will probably not be noticed by the kids, but can be felt by the adults who accompany them to performances. Still, a good bet on most shows, especially if it's your kid's favorite book they're adapting. As with EVERYthing at the Seattle Center, beware the angry parking gods!

For years so many wonderful performances. So many changes. performances changes.. over and over.. I have voluntered for them.. I have marveled at their shows. Schools bring their kids here for plays. We brought a group years ago. The kids loved it! Right on! Keep on!

For the past 4 years I have been taking daughter to SCT. We have seen about 10 plays here. It is an expensive splurge at $25 a ticket, so we choose 2 or 3 plays a year and save up for our special night on the town. Parking is always hit-or-miss. Sometimes we are able to find affordable street parking, and other times we have to pay for the garage at Seattle Center in effort to make it to the show on time. Traffic is unpredictable, so be sure to allow enough time if you are traveling from the north or southend. We have tried out a few other local puppetry and play venues but the quality at Seattle Children's is by far the best, justifying the more expensive price point. Every seat in the theatre is good, and the backdrops & costumes are always magical. We leave with good memories every time and will continue coming back.

Oh, SCT. I've pretty much seen this theatre from every possible angle. I went to their shows when I was a kid and loved them, I spent six years as a student in their Drama School (amazing teachers, very talented and lovely people), and later worked/volunteered there myself, which was great because it seems like the kids are having a lot of fun. When I was a student there I had a blast performing in the Summerstage shows and doing the Young Actor Institute in high school, and I think they gave me some very good training, as well as a lot of fun. I don't make it to many of their shows, but I do still go occasionally, and a lot of them are fun for adults, too. They tend to have really great actors, and I've seen the theatre cope with challenges (particularly financial) well without sacrificing quality. SCT was a huge influence in my life, by making theatre accessible and fascinating to me from a young age. I hope they're still going strong when I have kids I can take there.

Hey, if you've got kids -- or grandkids -- or nieces or nephews -- or, even neighbors with kids and you haven't been to SCT -- what are you sitting in front of your computer for? SCT is fantastic -- AND YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A KID TO REALLY ENJOY IT! Take someone, anyone to see some shows at SCT. Dramas, musicals -- creative, classical -- stories, images: really a thrill. And the acting, staging, and costumes are professional on par with anything you'll find in a "grown-ups" theater. The double enjoyment of attending SCT is that in addition to the great show that you'll enjoy, you'll know that you are supporting wonderful artists who are inspiring and encouraging to our younger generation.

We've been enjoying this theater for at least 4 years. We'll miss it when the girls get bigger

Back from taking the kids to Seattle Children's Theatre's production of "Robin Hood". It was one of the best plays I've ever seen, children's or adult. Great set, costumes, acting and it was hysterically funny. Even if you don't have kids, you'd be glad you went. Extraordinarily well done.

I have never been disappointed by a SCT production. They are amazingly creative. How they take a short Children's book and turn it into a full-length production is amazing. Dig deeper into the actors, their talents, and their contributions to the productions and you can't help but be impressed. My kids leave dazzled, and I am always on a high after watching their faces during the show.

SCT continues to amaze the young and old members of our family. Their productions bring smiles to our faces each time we visit. Excellent cast and great story lines. My 10yr old son says "My favorite part of going to Seattle is the Theater." Thank you SCT for making each season so memorable and special. We would recommend an afternoon or evening to families. Every show we have been to has knocked our socks off. Did you know if you book a party the cast signs an amazing art print for you to take home? Excellent customer service from people who seem to LOVE their jobs. Thank you SCT for taking time at the end of each performance to answer the little people questions about how you put on the show.

I'm surprised to see that this has not been reviewed more often. This is probably one of the most amazing theaters I have ever been to. When my family used to be season ticket holders and we went to every production before I eventually grew out of the plays, I thoroughly enjoyed every single one that I went to. Every one of the plays provides an enjoyable, funny, and touching experience that everyone will love. They never failed to deliver a truly enriching and amazing play, every single time. I especially loved how audience members got the opportunity to interact with the cast members at almost every single play. It really helped me, when I was younger, to learn more about plays and what it takes to make a play and connect on a deeper level with the cast. Thanks, SCT, for making so many of my Saturday afternoons something to eagerly anticipate.

I've taken my kids to shows at SCT since at least 2011 when my oldest child was 5, and this past weekend I took my 3-year-old for the first time. Attending a show at SCT is a great way to introduce children to live theater, with features such as small auditoriums and Q&A sessions with the actors after most performances. Many shows also have interactive displays in the lobby to introduce the audience to the show. The shows targeted towards younger children tend be based on popular children's books and have sets and costumes that closely resemble the illustrations in the source books. If your kids aren't into theater, I suggest starting with a show where your kids are familiar with the story either from reading the book or watching a film adaptation (or read the book/watch the film a day or two before you go). Also if you aren't sure if a play is age-appropriate for your child, SCT's age recommendations are usually pretty good, but you know your child best. We have taken all 3 of our children to plays where they were 1-2 years younger than the recommended age and they enjoyed them. But I would not take my children to a show that is too far below their age level either, because they would get bored. For example I wouldn't take my two older children (now 8 and 10) to see the current show, "The Snowy Day", nor would I take my 3-year-old to "Into the West" or "Seedfolks" later this season. Again, that's just my children; your mileage may vary.

I've been here a few times for various acts during the Bumbershoot weekend. It's a small venue, well kept and clean and inviting. I've been here to see some intimate performances and spoken word spots. I haven't really seen this venue used outside Bumbershoot.

I went with several of our kindergarten and 1st grade classes to see The Brementown Musicians and, dang, that donkey can dance!! I absolutely LOVED this play (and I'm not much of a fan of plays in general). The adults were entertained and laughing through most of it, the kids were highly entertained...I definitely recommend going to see THE BREMENTOWN MUSICIANS!!!!

First play for our daughter was Lyle The Crocodile. She had a blast, but it was a little long...but expected, I guess. Great actors, great stage props, great sound and lighting! I think I'd go back there if my daughter wanted to as well. Don't know of any other places geared towards kids that are performing at this level.

First time here. Saw "The man who planted trees". We LOVED it. We are not sure who enjoyed more, the adults or the kids (ages 8,9,and 10). It was also great to get to meet the actors after the play and talk to them. We are sure to come again and try more shows.

This is a great fun place to go for everyone. We took a child but I really enjoyed it all and they had many parts that I laughed at that the children would not get. An example was a very funny CNN take off with a wether person added. Very funny show and very enjoyable. We saw The Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.

We've been enjoying this theatre for the last 8 years. Every production has been well done. My child even took one of their summer camps, and it was an amazing experience.

My kids attended the Drama School Preschool as well as still attend the children's plays. Always delightful, entertaining and educational! The staff is absolutely amazing and I always trusted my children in their care!

Their shows are so much fun for my young children. It's been a fantastic way to introduce them to the theatre, and we feel so fortunate to live in a community with strong and vibrant theater for children.

I am so glad I have school-aged children and can now attend the plays at a discounted price through school field trips. The productions are superb and the experience is so enriching. Tickets can be pricey but what a magical experience for children and adults alike who enjoy performing arts.

I gave 3 stars as Pinochio is the only show we have attended at the Children's Theatre. My primary reason for only 3 sars is the lack of detail or should I say none at all regarding the shows. I want a good review stating set design, number of actors and especially if any are children. I want to know about costumes and content of each show so I can decide if the show would be appropriately entertaining for the age of the children I will bring. $25 per ticket, even for toddlers is expensive and I expect high quality for that price. I would never have taken my 4 year old grandchild to see Pinochio had I seen any photos of the scenes. I expected a play of Pinochio for children to be more along the lines of Disney. What we saw was a stage setting of painter's drop cloths and bulding equipment. There were 4 adult actors dressed as carpenters. They acted out the story line without anything more that that setting and costumes. I feel adults would have enjoyed it much more that chidren. I am on a small fixed income as is my grandchild's disabled mother. We traveled about 100 miles each way to attend. We want to give the child a lot of experiences, inclluding dance, musicals, theatrers, animal habitats and even ballet. However, given our circumsances, we must be very selective. Seeing this show used all of our entertainment budge for at least 2 months. Even as an adult, I did not enjoy the show much. It was boring.

High quality, good outreach, reasonable pricing. Whenever I buy theatre tickets I am invariably stunned at the price. And frankly even SCT is not inexpensive. But compared to a large scale traveling production where you might pay hundreds to be in a poor visibility area, they are unbeatable. All show are in intimate settings with an ampitheatre design allowing all seats very good view. We saw the Wizard of Oz last night (For our annual theatre excursion, we had to decide between this and the traveling Wicked and we are pleased we chose this). It was me and my school aged son who has seen the movie many times. I was a bit bummed as I find the movie a bit long and boring. SCT changed all that with fast-moving action, amazing scenery and some added humor. It was two hours start to finish and we were never bored. Once I thought about the set, the venue, the actors, the musicians, I realized the $72 for two attendees was very reasonable indeed. Plus, they give low cost or free performances to schools and underserved audiences. I think SCT is the best theatre in town. I rarely see a show I would not tweak to be better but this one was it. It was my third time at SCT (Peter Pan and a Richard Scary play some years back) and each has been impressive. What a great way to introduce kids to the theatre! I had only one suggestion. The other shows we have attended allow children to ask questions ("talk back" they call it) We were told this one was too long yet the actors stayed for autographs. I think there is much more value in a kid asking how the tornado was made than waiting a long time with no interaction for a signature. I know that the actors work hard but a "talk back" period could be with only a few actors and set people each performance. It really adds to the magic of chidren's theatre and is another way it trumps the adult variety.