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Washington Center for Performing Arts |
| WASHINGTON STATE > OLYMPIA HOTELS > SEATTLE > SEATTLE HOTELS > SEATTLE AIRPORT HOTELS | ||||||||||||||
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The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, South Puget Sound's largest
performing arts facility, is committed to providing a wide variety of
entertainment and cultural activities for the residents of five counties.
Located in the heart of Washington State's capital city, The Center has become a
community gathering place, providing a focus for the performing arts unique to
the region. Our multi-purpose facility contains a 983-seat proscenium theater with four seating levels and adjacent lobby spaces, as well as a smaller Stage II black box theater with its own lobby. The Center's stages and lobby areas are available for rental - not only for regional performing arts groups and touring artists, but also for workshops, seminars, receptions, parties, video shoots... just about anything you could think of. Opened in 1985, our facility has played host to thousands of events, with almost 2,000,000 people crossing our threshold. Our history did not start in 1985, however. The Washington Center is really the grandchild of the old Liberty Theater, a 1924 vaudeville house which stood on the same ground the Washington Center does today. The Liberty Theater was renovated and refurbished in 1948, becoming the Olympic Theater movie house. The Olympic was then taken down to just a few exterior walls in the early 1980’s, and completely rebuilt as the Washington Center. While the building's facade still retains elements of the 1924 architecture, the interior is contemporary and modern. The Washington Center building is owned by the City of Olympia, and the Washington Center for the Performing Arts is a private, not-for-profit organization with a long-term contract to operate the Center The Washington Center Gallery was created to showcase regional Northwest artists… both those beginning their career and the established. The gallery is located in our lobby space, a four level area lit naturally by skylights and also with adjustable track lighting. We also have the ability for special projects, sculpture or three-dimensional art if warranted. The Washington Center our Annual Holiday Quilt show. Come see over 30 quilts, from modern to tradtional as they warm the walls of the Washington Center. The Gallery is open Fridays 11:30 - 1:30 and by appointment by calling 753-8585 x507. DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE CENTER The Washington Center is located in downtown Olympia at 512 Washington St SE, in the block between 5th and Legion. From areas north or south of Olympia: Take I-5 to exit 105, "City Center." Proceed through the first traffic light, through a short tunnel. Turn right at the next light onto "Capitol Way." Proceed eight blocks on Capitol Way to the third light. Turn right on Legion Way. Proceed one block, and turn left on Washington Street. The Washington Center is the large beige building on the right. From the west: Take Highway 101 to I-5 north Follow the above directions. From the west side of Olympia: Take Harrison Avenue across either the 4th or 5th Avenue bridges. Turn right on Washington Street. The Center is on the left, between 5th Avenue and Legion Way. From the east side of Olympia: Take Martin Way, which turns into State Avenue. Turn left on Washington Street. The Center is on the left, between 5th Avenue and Legion Way. Be aware that there are two other theatres within a block and a half of the Center; the Capitol Theatre around the corner on 5th Avenue between Washington Street and Franklin Street, operated by the Olympia Film Society, and the State Theatre at the corner of 4th Avenue and Washington Street, operated by Harlequin Productions. |
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