The Paramount: A Brief History of Seattle’s Iconic Venue
Plus What’s Currently Playing!
Seattle's Paramount Theatre stands as a grand testament to the golden age of movie palaces. Originally opened in March 1928, it was designed by renowned architects George and Cornelius Rapp to host vaudeville performances and silent films. Though it debuted as the Seattle Theatre, its name was soon changed to the Paramount Theatre after Paramount Pictureswho invested over $3 million in its constructionsought to showcase their films in premier venues across the country.
The theatre's inaugural screening featured Feel My Pulse, a silent comedy directed by Gregory La Cava and starring Bebe Daniels. With seating for over 3,000 guests, the Paramount quickly gained a reputation for its opulent architecture and lavish interior design. Throughout the Great Depression, it remained a cultural cornerstone, presenting silent films, vaudeville acts, and eventually the new wave of "talkies."
As entertainment tastes evolved, so did the Paramount. By the late 1960s, it had transformed into a versatile venue, hosting musical acts across genresfrom rock and soul to Broadway productions. Despite facing financial challenges and threats of demolition over the years, the theatre endured, thanks in part to its designation as a historic landmark in 1974 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Paramount entered a period of decline until the 1990s, when former Microsoft Vice President Ida Cole stepped in. Her vision and investment revitalized the theatre, restoring its original grandeur while equipping it with state-of-the-art technology to support world-class live performances.
The theatre's grand reopening in 1995 featured a production of Miss Saigon, reaffirming its role as a premier destination for Broadway in Seattle. This marked a new chapter in its storied history,
In 2002, the Seattle Theatre Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the arts, took ownership of the venue. Hosting the best of the best when it comes to Broadway, comedy and live music - The Paramount remains one of America's most legendary live venues.
Now, let's take a look at what The Paramount has to offer this 2025/26 Broadway season...
What's On: 2025/26
Some Like It Hot
Sept 16 - 21, 2025
The classic black and white romantic comedy Some Like It Hot bursts onto the stage in full technicolor during a new imagining of Billy Wilder's 1959 musical mobster classic. Widely considered one of the most influential and celebrated filmmakers of the Golden Era of Hollywood cinema, Wilder brought together silver screen legends Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon for bonafide box office success, creating one of the most beloved films of the MGM canon in the process.
Shucked
Nov 4 - 9, 2025
Winner of two Drama Desk Awards! After an a-maize-ing premiere at Broadways Nederlander Theatre, the heartwarming story is heading on a national tour! With Nashville's top songwriting talents from Tony winner Robert Horn, in collaboration with Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, this musical offers a kernel of joy in these divided times, exploring how opening up to people and ideas we are wary of can be a beautiful process, uniting us in our similarities, not our differences. Aw Shucks!
The Lion King
Dec 4 - Jan 4, 2025
Disney presents a musical that brings the much-loved 1994 animated film to life to breath-taking effects, spirit and power, inviting you to explore the African Serengeti and join the wide eyed cub Simba on the adventure of a lifetime as he grows up and accepts his destiny as the King of the Pride Lands. In addition to the beloved songs penned by Sir Elton John and Tim Rice (such as the soaring 'Circle of Life') this phenomenal adaptation has original songs and explodes with joyous, captivating music that soundtrack the rich mythology and moving drama expertly.
The Beautiful Noise
Jan 13 - 18, 2026
Good times never seemed so good, especially with the Neil Diamond musical heading on tour! A Beautiful Noise is a brand new production about the Grammy Award-winning legend Neil Diamond's life. Tony Award-winning 'Once on This Island' producer Kev Davenport will join forces with Four Season's Bob Gaudio in producing this new musical. You'll experience a journey through Diamond's life with some of his memorable hits including 'Love on the Rocks', 'Songs Sung Blue' and of course 'Sweet Caroline' to keep your feet tapping along the way. It'll be an experience like no other!
The Wiz
Feb 10 - 15, 2026
The seven-time Tony-winning hit, "The Wiz," is back with a brand new tour the first in 40 years! The soul, gospel, funk, and R&B-fused reimagining of Frank L. Baum's "The Wizard of Oz" is taking to the road on the second leg of its tour in a brand new production directed by Schele Williams, presenting William F. Brown and Charlie Smalls' vibrant musical for the 21st century. With additional material by Amber Ruffin and choreography by Jaquel Knight, join Dorothy, Toto, Tinman, Scarecrow, and Lion as they boogie down the Yellow Brick Road in search of heart, knowledge, courage, and home!
The Notebook
March 3 - 8, 2026
This brand-new musical made its Broadway debut in 2024 and now audiences across the country can enjoy The Notebook as it heads out on a national tour! It's been sixteen years since Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams first set screens alight as Allie and Noah in The Notebook, but romance fans are in for a song-and-dance treat when this beloved story comes to a stage near you! Featuring music and lyrics from American singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, a book by Bekkah Bruntstetter (Cake, This Is Us) and direction from Tony nominee Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Rent).
Les Miserables
Apr 7 - 19, 2026
Cameron Mackintosh's epic musical is back! Based on Victor Hugo's novel, this sweeping epic is one of the most popular musicals in history, a tale of love and revolution that draws audiences in time and time again. Its classic score, written by Herbert Kretzmer and Claude-Michel Schonberg, includes the timeless 'I Dreamed A Dream', 'One Day More' and 'Do You Hear the People Sing'.
Nominated for three Tony Awards, this latest Broadway production is a more than worthy chapter in Les Miserables' long history. It debuted at the Imperial Theatre in 2014 and ran for two years, drawing huge acclaim for its stripped down storytelling, which jettisons some of the bloat attached to previous productions, and the atmospheric video projections that lend the show a hugely cinematic backdrop.
Phantom of the Opera
May 13 - 14, 2026
In 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber unveiled his latest masterpiece, Phantom of the Opera, an electrifying rock musical inspired by Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel. This mesmerizing tale of supernatural romance has captivated audiences and become a cultural phenomenon. As Broadway's longest-running show, this iconic production continues to break records, with an estimated 140 million viewers worldwide.
Experience the magic of Phantom as it enters a new era with a refreshed production set to enthrall audiences across America. Don't miss your chance to witness this legendary show as it haunts your city on this exciting new tour!
Hells Kitchen
July 21 - 26, 2026
This all-new inspirational musical is now heading across 30 states on a brand-new North American tour, beginning performances in fall 2025. Created by playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz and scored by Alicia Keys, Hells Kitchen is largely drawn from the award-winning singer's story, based on Keys' life growing up in the Bronx. Maleah Joi Moon won the 2024 Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her role, with Kecia Lewis winning Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
