Austin Performing Arts & Culture

Austin Symphony, Theater, Ballet & other Performing Arts for all tastes . . .

Theatre buffs will appreciate all that Austin has to offer. There are several local theatre, dance, and music organizations that feature frequent performances in a variety of locations.

Only a short drive from the Plaza Hotel & Suites is the ColdTowne Theater, which presents live alternative comedy Thursday through Saturday. Nearby Hyde Park Theatre offers live performances in alternative theatre using local Austin talent.

For more traditional tastes, consider the Paramount Theatre and the Ballet Austin or the Austin Symphony Orchestra. For details, see the list that follows and visit their websites for showtimes and ticket information.

Austin Texas perfoming arts venues are listed by distance from the hotel:

The ColdTowne Theater  •  2.2 mi

4803 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX     (512)-524-2807
The ColdTowne Theater is Austin's home for alternative comedy. Currently running improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy shows Thursday through Saturday, the ColdTowne Theater is an Austin-based long form improv troupe that relocated to Austin two years ago from New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Website: http://coldtownetheater.com

Hyde Park Theatre  •  3.8 mi

511 West 43rd Street, Austin, Texas     512-479-PLAY
Hyde Park Theatre provides Austin with an alternative theatre scene by developing local talent (writers, designers, directors, and actors) and producing new and established works suitable for alternative theatre.
Website: http://hydeparktheatre.org/site/index.html

The Hideout Theatre (improv)  •  5.8 mi

617 Congress Ave., Austin, TX     (512)-443-3688
The Hideout Theatre is a great place for comedy, film, music, live theatre, and more in downtown Austin, Texas. Website: http://www.hideouttheatre.com/

Ballet Austin - The Paramount Theatre  •  5.8 mi

713 Congress Ave, Austin, TX     (512) 472-5470
The progressive Ballet Austin offers innovative and classic dance performances and has the fourth largest classical ballet academy in the nation. The company performs at the U.T. Bass Concert Hall, although they will soon be moving to the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center.
Website: http://www.balletaustin.org/

State Theater  •  5.3 mi

719 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701, (512) 472-5470
This vintage movie house, built in 1935 stands next door to the Paramount Theatre and within sight of the State Capitol building. Designed in the Art Deco style popular when it was built, the State lobby retains much of the charm of its past. The old movie house interior has been transformed into an inviting, open, 320-seat space offering patrons optimum visibility and comfort. The State Theater has become one of Austin's most uniquely productive performing arts resources - a thriving organization that both presents and produces a broad range of drama, comedy, music, dance and spoken-word events of the highest caliber, in downtown Austin's most commanding venues.
Website: http://www.austintheatre.org

The Paramount Theatre  •  5.8 mi

713 Congress Ave, Austin, TX     (512) 472-5470
The historic Paramount Theatre presents a huge variety of live productions including comedy, drama, music, dance, spoken word, children's programming and films. The 100-year-old theatre is a City and State Landmark. As part of the Austin music scene, the Paramount hosts release parties, booking local talent and presenting touring acts.
Website: http://www.paramounttheatre.org/

Palmer Events Center  •  7.0 mi

900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX     512-472-5111
The Palmer Events Center is capable of subdivision into two simultaneous events. The facility has two major entrances to serve each simultaneous event, one from the north off Riverside Drive and the other Barton Springs Road. The Palmer Events Center is a smaller events type of facility that caters to local public events that are not large enough to be accommodated at the Austin Convention Center. This popular Austin performing arts venue provides music performances and educational programs by such groups as the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Website: http://www.palmereventscenter.com/

Austin Playhouse  •  9.3 mi

Penn Field
3601 S. Congress, Austin, TX     (512) 476-0084
Austin’s premiere professional acting company, with two beautiful theatres offering drama, comedy, and musicals of modern theatre on the main stage, and brand new cutting-edge comedy, drama, and showcase pieces in the new Larry King Theatre.
Website: http://www.austinplayhouse.com/index.html

Riverbend Centre  •  10.7 mi

4214 Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX     512-306-3540
Provides music performances and educational programs in a variety of locations.
Website: http://riverbendcentre.com/

Austin Symphony Orchestra  •  Various Venues

1101 Red River St., Austin TX 78701, Phone: 514-476-6064
Under the baton of Peter Bay, the Austin Symphony brings music by the world’s greatest composers to Austin audiences with a classical repertoire ranging from Bach to Bernstein, as well as a pops series. Performances at various venues, including Riverbend Centre and Palmer Events Center. See Austin Symphony website for schedule and locations.
Website: http://www.austinsymphony.org