Theatre-in-the-round, also known as arena theatre or central staging, is a theatrical

stage Stage, stages, or staging may refer to: Arts and media Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage" * ''The Stage'', a weekly Brit ...

configuration in which the audience surrounds the performance area on all sides. Historically rooted in ancient

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

and

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

performance practices, the format was reintroduced and popularized in the mid-20th century through pioneering venues like the Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre in

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

. It opened on May 19, 1940, with a production of ''Spring Dance'', a comedy by playwright Philip Barry. The 160-seat theatre is located on the campus of the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...

and is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

. In 1947,

Margo Jones Margo Jones (December 12, 1911 – July 24, 1955), nicknamed the "Texas Tornado", was an American stage director and producer, best known for launching the American regional theater movement and for introducing the theater-in-the-round concep ...

founded America's first professional theatre-in-the-round company wit the opening of Theater '47 in Dallas. Her stage design approach was later adopted by directors for productions such as ''

Fun Home ''Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic'' is a 2006 graphic memoir by the American cartoonist Alison Bechdel, author of the comic strip '' Dykes to Watch Out For''. It chronicles the author's childhood and youth in rural Pennsylvania, United States, ...

'', the original stage production of ''

Man of La Mancha ''Man of La Mancha'' is a 1965 musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, and lyrics by Joe Darion. It is adapted from Wasserman's non-musical 1959 teleplay '' I, Don Quixote'', which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervan ...

,'' and all plays staged at the

ANTA Washington Square Theatre The ANTA Washington Square Theatre was a theatre located on 40 West Fourth Street, in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City. It was run by the American National Theater and Academy (ANTA) and initial home to the Repertory Theatre of Linc ...

(which was demolished in the 1960s), including

Arthur Miller Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright, essayist and screenwriter in the 20th-century American theater. Among his most popular plays are '' All My Sons'' (1947), '' Death of a Salesman'' (1 ...

's autobiographical '' After the Fall''. While similar theatres existed on college campuses, they had not been established in professional theatre settings before this. Theatre-in-the-round is particularly well-suited for staging dramas that utilize

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known as Bertolt Brecht and Bert Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a p ...

's ''

alienation effect The distancing effect, also translated as alienation effect ( or ''V-Effekt''), is a concept in performing arts credited to German playwright Bertolt Brecht. Brecht first used the term in his essay "Alienation Effects in Chinese Acting" published ...

'',Alienation Effect
in Encyclopedia Britannica online. which contrasts with the more traditional '' Stanislavski technique.''The book "An Actor Prepares" was first published in 1936 and is the first volume of the translations of Constantin Stanislavski's books on acting, which were published as a trilogy in English, though originally meant to be published as two books in Russian. This stage configuration allows parts of the audience to be lit, reinforcing the idea that they are part of a shared theatrical experience, which allows alienation methods like exposing lighting fixtures and other technical elements to be used in

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

. Beyond traditional theatre, theatre-in-the-round has been adapted in television (e.g., Cameo Theatre, Nixon's 'Man in the Arena' sessions), music concerts (such as the band Yes), and even campaign events, offering 360-degree visual access and fostering a communal experience. Critics and scholars have also drawn connections between this format and modern networked communication, emphasizing its democratic and decentralized structure. Preservation of this legacy continues in archival institutions including George Mason University, the University of Bristol Theatre Collection, the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research, and ArenaPAL, which collectively house photographs, production notes, and oral histories documenting theatre-in-the-round’s global impact.

Stage design and performance dynamics

In theatre-in-the-round, the stage is positioned at the center with the audience seated on all sides. It is most commonly shaped as a rectangle, circle, diamond, or triangle. Actors typically enter and exit through the audience from various directions or from beneath the stage. The stage is usually level with or slightly below the audience, creating a "pit" or "arena" arrangement. This configuration is well-suited for high-energy productions and performances that involve audience participation. It is often favored by producers of classical theatre and remains a creative alternative to the more traditional

proscenium A proscenium (, ) is the virtual vertical plane of space in a theatre, usually surrounded on the top and sides by a physical proscenium arch (whether or not truly "arched") and on the bottom by the stage floor itself, which serves as the frame ...

stage format. Theatre-in-the-round effectively eliminates the fourth wall, placing actors in the same shared space as the audience. This can be challenging for actors trained in proscenium or end-stage formats, where turning one’s back to the audience is discouraged—something that is often unavoidable in this configuration. However, it also enables strong, direct engagement with the audience. Theatre-in-the-round is also used in non-traditional performance spaces such as restaurants, public squares, or

street theater Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces without a specific paying audience. These spaces can be anywhere, including shopping centres, car parks, recreational reserves, college or university ...

Set design Scenic design, also known as stage design or set design, is the creation of scenery for theatrical productions including plays and musicals. The term can also be applied to film and television productions, where it may be referred to as prod ...

is typically minimal to avoid obstructing the audience’s view from any angle.

Historical development and global adoption

Theatre-in-the-round was common in ancient theatre, particularly in

and

, but it was not widely revisited until the latter half of the 20th century. In her survey of theatre-in-the-round, Margo Jones identified two early examples of central staging in the United States: productions by Azubah Latham and Milton Smith at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

in 1914, and productions by T. Earl Pardoe at

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...

in 1922. In 1924, Gilmor Brown established the Fair Oaks Playbox in

Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commerci ...

, which became an important early practitioner of central staging. The theatre also pioneered flexible staging by incorporating various stage configurations. As indicated by Jones, the centrally staged productions at the Fair Oaks Playbox were followed about eight years later by Glenn Hughes’s work at the Penthouse Theatre in Seattle.

Stephen Joseph Stephen Joseph (13 June 1921 – 4 October 1967)Colin Chambers (ed.) ''The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre,'' London: Continuum, 2002, p.410 was an English stage director. Life Stephen Joseph was born in London, the child ...

was the first to popularize theatre-in-the-round in the United Kingdom during the 1950s, drawing inspiration from its development in the United States. He established theatres-in-the-round in

Newcastle-under-Lyme Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. It is adjacent to the city of Stoke-on-Trent. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census, the population ...

and the Studio Theatre in Scarborough. The current venue, which opened in 1996, is known as the

Stephen Joseph Theatre The Stephen Joseph Theatre is a theatre in the round in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England that was founded by Stephen Joseph and was the first theatre in the round in Britain. In 1955, Joseph established a tiny theatre in the round on the ...

. Joseph is known for having rhetorically asked, “Why must authorities stand with their backs to a wall?”—to which he replied, “So nobody can knife them from behind.” In the early 1970s, Sam Walters established an impromptu performance space above the Orange Tree pub in

Richmond, London Richmond is a town in south-west London,The London Government Act 1963 (c.33) (as amended) categorises the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as an Outer London borough. Although it is on both sides of the River Thames, the Boundary Commis ...

, which later evolved into the permanent

Orange Tree Theatre The Orange Tree Theatre is a 180-seat theatre at 1 Clarence Street, Richmond in south-west London, which was built specifically as a theatre in the round. It is housed within a disused 1867 primary school, built in Victorian Gothic style. Th ...

across the street. In 1972, R.G. Gregory founded the Word and Action theatre company in Dorset, England, intending to work exclusively in theatre-in-the-round. Gregory sought to develop a performance approach that would allow actors to fully utilize the format’s potential for engaging with the audience both individually and collectively. All Word and Action productions were performed under normal lighting conditions and without the use of costumes or makeup.

Adaptations of theatre-in-the-round in television and live entertainment

The innovations of Margo Jones influenced

Albert McCleery Albert McCleery (December 30, 1911 – May 13, 1972) was an American pioneering television producer during the 1950s. He had a reputation "as an innovative contributor to some of television's most esteemed theatrical productions". McCleery was ...

in the creation of his Cameo Theatre for television in 1950. Running until 1955, the series presented dramas against plain black backgrounds rather than traditional set walls. This approach allowed cameras, positioned in the surrounding darkness, to capture shots from any angle. During the 1968 U.S. presidential campaign,

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until Resignation of Richard Nixon, his resignation in 1974. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...

participated in nine live televised question-and-answer sessions that used a pioneering theatre-in-the-round format, adapted specifically for television audiences. This first use of the staging technique in political media was documented in '' The Selling of the President 1968'' by

Joe McGinniss Joseph Ralph McGinniss Sr. (December 9, 1942 – March 10, 2014) was an American non-fiction writer and novelist. He was the author of twelve books. McGinniss first came to prominence with the best-selling '' The Selling of the President 1968' ...

. The sessions, titled "Man in the Arena" were produced by

Roger Ailes Roger Eugene Ailes (May 15, 1940 – May 18, 2017) was an American television executive and media consultant. He was the chairman and CEO of Fox News, Fox Television Stations and 20th Television. Ailes was a media consultant for Republic ...

, who later founded

Fox News The Fox News Channel (FNC), commonly known as Fox News, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conservatism in the United States, conservative List of news television channels, news and political commentary Television stati ...

. Ailes’s adaptation of the theatre-in-the-round format for political forums laid the groundwork for modern 'town hall' events and multi-candidate debates. Elvis Presley's '' '1968 Comeback Special'' television program featured a performance with the musicians seated on a raised stage using an in-the-round format. In the mid-1970s, tour manager Jim Halley introduced arena staging for the progressive rock band

Yes Yes or YES may refer to: * An affirmative particle in the English language; see yes and no Education * YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, Texas, US * Young Eisner Scholars, in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Appalachia, US * Young Ep ...

, leading to a significant shift in the design of rock concerts and venue seating arrangements.

Power dynamics and audience engagement

The political implications of theatre-in-the-round were most deliberately explored by R.G. Gregory. He argued that the lit space of a proscenium arch resembled a seat of power, positioning the audience as passive observers. In contrast, traditional theatre design prioritizes sight lines to ensure that actors can engage all audience members simultaneously. However, when actors are no longer framed by the proscenium arch, they are required to turn their backs to parts of the audience, losing exclusive control over the acting space. While every audience member can still see the actor, the actor can no longer maintain visual contact with the entire audience. As a result, for the performance to fully resonate, the audience must become active participants in shaping the meaning of the play. Some, such as writer Mick Fealty, have drawn a strong analogy between Gregory’s description of the fundamental dynamics of theatre-in-the-round and the

network effect In economics, a network effect (also called network externality or demand-side economies of scale) is the phenomenon by which the Value (economics), value or utility a user derives from a Goods, good or Service (economics), service depends on th ...

of Internet-based communication, contrasting it with traditional broadcast and marketing models.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages Theatre-in-the-round offers a heightened sense of intimacy and immersion, allowing audiences to feel closer to the action regardless of their seat location. This configuration encourages a shared experience between actors and viewers, breaking down the "fourth wall" and fostering direct engagement. Directors and designers often appreciate the format for its ability to eliminate barriers, enhance naturalism, and create dynamic blocking opportunities such as The Three Musketeers at the New Vic in Newcastle-under-Lyme illustrate how the format supports fast-paced storytelling with a panoramic sense of movement. Disadvantages Theatre-in-the-round also presents significant challenges. Scenic design must be minimal or carefully engineered to avoid obstructing sightlines, as audiences are seated on all sides. This restricts the use of traditional backdrops and large props, requiring innovative staging techniques. Actors must remain constantly aware of their positioning to avoid turning their backs to large segments of the audience, complicating both choreography and delivery. Additionally, lighting must be designed to avoid casting shadows or spotlighting only portions of the audience area, which can detract from visual consistency. While the format is praised for musical performances and arena spectacles—such as Yes’s Union tour, which leveraged 360-degree visibility —it can strain traditional dramatic storytelling or productions reliant on detailed scenic illusion. These complexities require directors and technical teams to adapt their methods, often resulting in longer rehearsal and planning periods.

Preserving the legacy

Theatre-in-the-round has significantly shaped modern performance practice. The following institutions, among others, actively preserve and provide access to archives that document the development, influence, and enduring legacy of this specific kind of theatre. George Mason University – Arena Stage Archives In

Fairfax, Virginia Fairfax ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia and the county seat of Fairfax County, Virginia, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 24,146. Fairfax is pa ...

George Mason University George Mason University (GMU) is a Public university, public research university in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., the university is named in honor of George Mason, a Founding Father ...

houses the largest archive dedicated to Arena Stage, a pioneer in American theatre-in-the-round. This extensive collection spans over 50 years and includes photographs, production notebooks, scrapbooks, playbills, oral histories, and handwritten correspondence. Housed in the Fenwick Library, the archive occupies 260 cubic feet (7.4 m³) or 440 linear feet (130 m) of material, providing an invaluable resource for scholars and theatre practitioners. University of Minnesota – Performing Arts Archives Housed within the Elmer L. Andersen Library, the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

’s Performing Arts Archives offers a comprehensive record of the state's theatrical heritage. Established in 1971, the archive preserves materials from both professional and amateur organizations in theatre, music, and dance. Key collections include the Guthrie Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, Theater Mu, and Theatre de la Jeune Lune. Of particular relevance to theatre-in-the-round are the 1,500 scenic backdrop renderings and design materials from Twin Cities Scenic Design Studios and the Holak Collection, which document staging formats and scenic experimentation. Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research (WCFTR) Located within the

Wisconsin Historical Society The Wisconsin Historical Society (officially the State Historical Society of Wisconsin) is simultaneously a state agency and a private membership organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of ...

in Madison, the WCFTR is one of the world’s premier repositories for entertainment industry archives. It holds over 300 collections, including scripts, photographs, business records, and more than 20,000 film and television recordings. The archive emphasizes American film (1930–1960), popular theatre (1940s–1950s), and early television (1940s–1970s). While not exclusively focused on theatre-in-the-round, WCFTR’s diverse holdings include materials relevant to arena staging and its influence on American performance traditions. ArenaPAL Performing Arts Photo Library Based in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and founded in 1997, ArenaPAL is a major digital archive for performing arts photography. The library holds over 10 million images, with 900,000 available online, and represents more than 350 collections from renowned photographers and institutions. Its holdings span theatre, opera, dance, and music, with significant visual documentation of theatre-in-the-round, arena staging, and central staging. ArenaPAL’s broad visual coverage makes it an essential resource for researchers studying nontraditional stage configurations.

Notable examples

Australia

* La Boite Theatre Building,

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(no longer used as a theatre) * Roundhouse Theatre,

(replacing the La Boite Theatre Building)

Canada

Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre was a Theater (structure), theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 at Southwark, close to the south bank of the Thames, by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men. It was ...

Regina, Saskatchewan Regina ( ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province, and is a commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. As of the 2021 Canadian census, ...

* Seton Auditorium,

Mount Saint Vincent University Mount Saint Vincent University, often referred to as the Mount, is a public, primarily undergraduate, university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and was established in 1873. Mount Saint Vincent offers undergraduate Arts, Science, Edu ...

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

France

* L'Européen,

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

* Théâtre en Rond,

Sassenage Sassenage (; ) is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France, lying in the north-west of the Grenoble urban area (and administratively within the boundaries of the Grenoble-Alpes metropolitan authority). Its historic centre is ...

and Fresnes

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Coliseum Hong Kong Coliseum (), commonly and informally known as the Hung Hom Coliseum (, ) is a multi-purpose indoor arena, in Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong near Hung Hom station. It is in Yau Tsim Mong District. It was built by the Urban Council ...

Hung Hom Bay Hung Hom Bay was a bay in Victoria Harbour, between Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom in the southeast of Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong. Since 1994, parts of the bay were reclaimed, and by 2019 it had been completely extinguished. All of present- ...

Kowloon Kowloon () is one of the areas of Hong Kong, three areas of Hong Kong, along with Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. It is an urban area comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It has a population of 2,019,533 and a populat ...

* Theater in the Wild,

Hong Kong Disneyland Hong Kong Disneyland () (abbreviated HKDL; also known as HK Disneyland or Disneyland Hong Kong) is a theme park located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It opened to visitors on Monday, September 12, 2005, at 13:00 H ...

Penny's Bay Penny's Bay or Chok Ko Wan () is a bay in north-eastern Lantau Island, and had been a port since the Ming dynasty. The bay has since been reclaimed and is the site of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which consists of the Hong Kong Disneyland t ...

Lantau Island Lantau Island (also Lantao Island, Lan Tao or Lan Tau) is the largest island in Hong Kong, located west of Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula, and is part of the New Territories. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the ...

Japan

* The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha e Komo Mai!,

Tokyo Disney Resort The (local nickname ''TDR'') is a theme park and vacation resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just east of Tokyo. The resort is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company, the Oriental Land Co., a subsidiary of the Keisei Electric Rai ...

Urayasu 260px, Old Urayasu is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 170,533 in 81,136 households and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Urayasu is best known as the home of Tokyo Dis ...

, Chiba

Malta

*Saint James Cavalier Theatre,

Valletta Valletta ( ; , ) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 Local councils of Malta, council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157. As Malta’s capital ...

Poland

* Theater Scena STU,

Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

United Kingdom

Greater London

@sohoplace @sohoplace is a West End theatre operated by Nimax Theatres. It is adjacent to the site of the previous London Astoria, as part of development around the Elizabeth line's Tottenham Court Road station. It is the first purpose-built West End thea ...

Soho SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street, Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall ...

* The Playhouse Theatre,

Westminster Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...

(after renovation to

Kit Kat Club The Kit-Cat Club (sometimes Kit Kat Club) was an early 18th-century English club in London with strong political and literary associations. Members of the club were committed Whigs. They met at the Trumpet Tavern in London and at Water Oakley i ...

in 2021) * Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone *

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, a city in the United States * Richmond, London, a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town ...

*Pembroke Theatre,

Croydon Croydon is a large town in South London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a Districts of England, local government district of Greater London; it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater Lond ...

(closed 1962)

Greater Manchester

Octagon Theatre, Bolton The Octagon Theatre is a producing theatre located in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Programme The Octagon produces eight or nine professional theatre productions each year in its Main Auditorium. Productions come from a wide range of ...

* Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

Elsewhere

Crucible Theatre The Crucible Theatre, or simply The Crucible, is a theatre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, which opened in 1971. Its name refers to crucible steel, which was developed in Sheffield in 1740 and drove the industrialisation of the city. ...

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...

. Most famous for hosting the World Snooker Championships since 1977. *

Blue Orange Theatre The Blue Orange Theatre is an independent theatre located in the Jewellery Quarter in the centre of Birmingham, England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island ...

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...

Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol
*

The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough Castle Theatre Wellingborough is located in the town of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire Northamptonshire ( ; abbreviated Northants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered ...

(can be in-the-round or normal theatre format) * New Vic Theatre,

* The Round,

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

(closed 2008) *

Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to: People * Scarborough (surname) * Earl of Scarbrough Places Australia * Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth * Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong * Scarborough, Queensland, sub ...

* The Dukes,

Lancaster Lancaster may refer to: Lands and titles *The County Palatine of Lancaster, a synonym for Lancashire *Duchy of Lancaster, one of only two British royal duchies *Duke of Lancaster *Earl of Lancaster *House of Lancaster, a British royal dynasty ...

Everyman Theatre, Liverpool The Everyman Theatre stands at the north end of Hope Street in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It was founded in 1964, in Hope Hall (once a chapel, then a cinema), in an area of Liverpool noted for its bohemian environment and political edge, ...

*Pyramid Theatre, Leeds University Union,

Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...

(formerly Raven Theatre)

United States

Arizona

* NAU Theatre,

Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff ( ), known locally as Flag, is the county seat of Coconino County, Arizona, in the southwestern United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 76,831. Flagstaff is the principal city of the Coconino Cou ...

Celebrity Theatre Celebrity Theatre is a theater in the round located in Phoenix, Arizona. Construction and features Beverly Hills architect Perry Neuschatz designed the 196 foot-diameter building as a multipurpose conference and cultural center. He received ...

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

*Hale Centre Theatre,

Gilbert, Arizona Gilbert is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. Located southeast of Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, Gilbert is home to 288,128 residents. It is the fifth-most populous municipality in Arizona and is considered a suburb of Phoenix. I ...

Hale Centre Theatre in Arizona
. Accessed 2014-06-20 *Theater Works,

Peoria, Arizona Peoria ( ) is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. Most of the city is located in Maricopa County, while a portion of it in the north is in Yavapai County. It is a major suburb of Phoenix. As of the 2020 cens ...

br>

California

*UC Davis Health Pavilion,

Sacramento, California Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat, seat of Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento Rive ...

(Home of Broadway Sacramento's Broadway At Music CircusBroadway Sacramento
at The Wells Fargo Pavilion)
The Rock Forum

Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orang ...

Glendale Centre Theatre

Glendale, California Glendale is a city located primarily in the Verdugo Mountains region, with a small portion in the San Fernando Valley, of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about north of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2024, Glendale ha ...

*Marian Theatre, Santa Maria, Californi
Solvang Festival Theater, Solvang, California
*

Old Globe Theatre The Old Globe is a professional theatre company in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It produces about 15 plays and musicals annually in summer and winter seasons. Plays are performed in three separate theatres in the complex, which is collec ...

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

**Cassius Carter Centre Stage (demolished 2008) **Cheryl and Harvey White Theatre * Circle Star Theater,

San Carlos, California San Carlos (Spanish language, Spanish for "St. Charles") is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population is 30,722 per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Native Americans Prior to the Spain, Spanis ...

(torn down for office buildings) *Riverside Community Players,

Riverside, California Riverside is a city in and the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 314,998. It is the most populous city in th ...

(built in 1953) * Valley Music Theater,

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

(built 1963, demolished 2007) *

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is an attraction located in Disneyland at the Disneyland Resort and in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and previously in Tokyo Disneyland at Tokyo Disney Resort. First opened on June 23, 1963 at the Disneyl ...

Disneyland Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, ...

, Anaheim, California

Colorado

* The Space Theatre,

Denver, Colorado Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

District of Columbia

* Arena Stage,

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

Florida

(previously Tropical Serenade), Adventureland,

Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom Park is a Amusement park, theme park at the Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. It opened on October 1, 1971, and is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Disney Experiences, Expe ...

(

Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort is an destination resort, entertainment resort complex located about southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Wa ...

Bay Lake, Florida Bay Lake is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 29 at the 2020 census. It is named after a lake that lies east of Magic Kingdom. All four of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, and one of Walt Disney Worl ...

**From 1998 to 2011, The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) operated in this attraction's space. *

Stitch's Great Escape! Stitch's Great Escape! was a "theater-in-the-round" amusement park attraction, attraction based on The Walt Disney Company, Disney's ''Lilo & Stitch (franchise), Lilo & Stitch'' franchise. A non-Canon (fiction), canon prequel to Lilo & Stitch, ...

Tomorrowland Tomorrowland may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Tomorrowland (Disney Parks), a theme land at a number of Disney theme parks around the world * Tomorrowland (festival), an annual electronic dance music festival in Boom, Belgium * ''Tom ...

(

**Preceding attractions include Flight to the Moon (1971–1975),

Mission to Mars ''Mission to Mars'' is a 2000 American science fiction adventure film directed by Brian De Palma, written by Jim and John Thomas, and Graham Yost, and suggested by Disney's theme park attraction of the same name. The film depicts the first ...

(1975–1993) and the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (1994–2003). * Festival of the Lion King,

Disney's Animal Kingdom Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is a zoological theme park at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. Owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division, it is the largest theme park in the worl ...

(

Illinois

Marriott Theatre The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois is a respected Chicago area regional theatre. Attached to the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort, the theatre produces an average of five musicals each year, presented in the round, as well as produ ...

Lincolnshire, Illinois Lincolnshire is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is a northern suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 7,940. Named after Lincolnshire, England, the village was incorporated on August 5, 1957, from the u ...

br>
* Mill Run Playhouse,

Niles, Illinois Niles is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, located in the townships of Maine Township, Cook County, Illinois, Maine and Niles Township, Cook County, Illinois, Niles, directly neighboring Chicago's far northwest border. Per the 2 ...

(demolished 1984) *Richmond Hill Theatre,

Geneseo, Illinois Geneseo is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 6,539. Geneseo is 20 miles east of the Quad Cities, at the intersection of Interstate 80, U.S. Route 6 and Illinois R ...

br>
*Cornstock Theatre,

Peoria, Illinois Peoria ( ) is a city in Peoria County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. Located on the Illinois River, the city had a population of 113,150 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Ill ...

br>

Indiana

*Wagon Wheel Theatre,

Warsaw, Indiana Warsaw is a city in and the county seat of Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States. Warsaw has a population of 15,804 as of the 2020 U.S. Census. Warsaw also borders a smaller town, Winona Lake. Etymology Warsaw, named after the capital of ...

Iowa

*Flanagan Studio Theater,

Grinnell, Iowa Grinnell ( ) is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,564 at the time of the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census. It is best known for being the home of Grinnell College, as well as being the location of the ...

Kansas

* Mark A. Chapman Theatre,

Kansas State University Kansas State University (KSU, Kansas State, or K-State) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. It was opened as the state's land-grant coll ...

Manhattan, Kansas Manhattan is a city in and the county seat of Riley County, Kansas, United States, although the city extends into Pottawatomie County, Kansas, Pottawatomie County. It is located in northeastern Kansas at the junction of the Kansas River and Big ...

Maryland

* Toby’s Dinner Theatre,

Columbia, Maryland Columbia is a planned community in Howard County, Maryland, United States, consisting of 10 self-contained villages. With a population of 104,681 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the second-most-populous community in Maryland ...

Colonial Players,

Annapolis Annapolis ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is the county seat of Anne Arundel County and its only incorporated city. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

*Shady Grove Music Fair,

Gaithersburg, Maryland Gaithersburg ( ) is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. At the time of the 2020 United States census, Gaithersburg had a population of 69,657, making it the third-largest incorporated city and the ninth-most populous communit ...

(Demolished) *Painters Mill Music Fair,

Owings Mills, Maryland Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore. Per the 2020 census, the population was 35,674. Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus o ...

(Demolished 1991)

Massachusetts

* North Shore Music Theatre,

Beverly, Massachusetts Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, and a suburb of Boston. The population was 42,670 at the time of the 2020 United States census. A resort, residential, and manufacturing community on the Massachusetts North Sho ...

br>
* Cape Cod Melody Tent,

Hyannis, Massachusetts Hyannis is the largest of the seven villages in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area at the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hya ...

Cape Cod Melody Tent
official web site *South Shore Music Circus,

Cohasset, Massachusetts Cohasset is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the population was 8,381. History Cohasset was inhabited by the Pokanoket until 1649, when it was conquered by the Wampanoag, ...

South Shore Music Circus
official web site * The Little Theatre, Newton * Balch Arena Theater,

Medford, Massachusetts Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 United States census, Medford's population was 59,659. It is home to Tufts University, which has its campus on both sides of the Medford and Somervill ...

Minnesota

* Theatre in the Round Players,

Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...

Theatre in the Round
, Minneapolis, official web site *

Guthrie Theater The Guthrie Theater, founded in 1963, is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The concept of the theater was born in 1959 in a series of discussions among Sir Tyrone Gut ...

, Minneapolis, Minnesota * Rarig Center Arena, Minneapolis, Minnesota * Arena Theater,

Northfield, Minnesota Northfield is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, Dakota and Rice County, Minnesota, Rice counties in the U.S. state, state of Minnesota. It is mostly in Rice County, with a small portion in Dakota County. The population was 20,790 at the 2020 U ...

(Built 1967, mothballed 2011)

Missouri

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is in Downtown Kansas City, downtown Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, at 16th and Broadway, near the city's Power & Light District, the T-Mobile Center and the Crossroads, Kansas Cit ...

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

Nevada

* Le Rêve Theater inside

Wynn Las Vegas Wynn Las Vegas, often simply referred to as Wynn, is a luxury resort and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. It is owned and operated by Wynn Resorts, and was built on the former site of the Desert Inn re ...

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

(opened 2005, closed 2020.) * LOVE Theatre inside

The Mirage The Mirage is a defunct casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The 65-acre property included a casino and 3,044 rooms. Mirage Resorts, Golden Nugget, Inc., led by developer Steve Wynn, purchased the future lan ...

, Las Vegas, Nevada

New Jersey

* Seton Hall Theatre in the Round,

South Orange, New Jersey South Orange is a historic suburban Village (New Jersey), village located in Essex County, New Jersey. It was formally known as the Township of South Orange Village from October 1978 until April 25, 2024. As of the 2020 United States census, ...

New York

* August Wilson Theatre,

New York City, New York New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harb ...

Circle Repertory Company The Circle Repertory Company, originally named the Circle Theater Company, was a theatre company in New York City that ran from 1969 to 1996. It was founded on July 14, 1969, in Manhattan, in a second floor loft at Broadway and 83rd Street by di ...

*The Irish Classical Theatre in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

NYCB Theatre at Westbury The Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair (originally known as the Westbury Music Fair) is an entertainment venue located in the hamlet of Jericho, outside of Westbury, New York. It was constructed as a theatre in the round, with seating for 2,870. It ...

Westbury, New York Westbury is a Village (New York), village in the town of North Hempstead, New York, North Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, on the North Shore (Long Island), North Shore of Long Island, in New York (state), New York, United Stat ...

Circle in the Square Theatre The Circle in the Square Theatre is a Broadway theater at 235 West 50th Street, within the basement of Paramount Plaza, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S. The current Broadway theater, completed in 1972, i ...

(can also be configured as a

thrust stage In theatre, a thrust stage (a platform stage or open stage) is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its upstage end. A thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between performers and the ...

) *Arena Theatre at

University at Albany, SUNY The State University of New York at Albany (University at Albany, UAlbany, or SUNY Albany) is a Public university, public research university in Albany, New York, United States. Founded in 1844, it is one of four "university centers" of the St ...

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River. Albany is the oldes ...

North Carolina

*Paul Green Theatre,

Chapel Hill, North Carolina Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, Orange and Durham County, North Carolina, Durham counties, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 61,960 in the 2020 United States census, making Chapel Hill the List of municipa ...

Ohio

*The Front Row, Highland Heights, Ohio (Demolished 1994) * Porthouse Theatre,

Kent, Ohio Kent is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the largest city in Portage County, Ohio, Portage County. It is located along the Cuyahoga River in Northeast Ohio on the western edge of the county. The population was 28,215 at the 2020 United States ...

Oregon

*The Thomas Theater, Ashland, Oregon (one of the theaters used for the

Oregon Shakespeare Festival The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) is a regional Repertory, repertory theatre in Ashland, Oregon, United States, founded in 1935 by Angus L. Bowmer. The Festival now offers matinee and evening performances of a wide range of classic and conte ...

)

Pennsylvania

* F. Otto Haas Stage,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

* Valley Forge Music Fair,

Devon, Pennsylvania Devon is a census-designated place (CDP) located in Easttown township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,515 at the 2010 census. The area is part of the Philadelphia Main Line suburbs. History As of the 2000 ...

(demolished 1996)

South Carolina

* Longstreet Theatre,

Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-mo ...

Tennessee

*Ula Love Doughty Carousel Theatre,

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...

Texas

* Plaza Theatre Company,

Cleburne, Texas Cleburne ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 31,352. The city is named in honor of Patrick Cleburne, a Confederate general. Lake Pat Cleburne, the reservoir that ...

Plaza Theatre Company
official web site * Artisan Center Theater, Hurst official web site * Whisenhunt Stage,

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

Casa Mañana Casa Mañana Theatre (also known as the "House of Tomorrow") is located in the Fort Worth Cultural District, Texas. Originally an outdoor amphitheater, Casa opened in 1936 as part of the official Texas Centennial Celebration. Casa Mañana is a ...

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, Tarrant County, covering nearly into Denton County, Texas, Denton, Johnson County, Texas, Johnson, Parker County, Texas, Parker, and Wise County, Te ...

(converted to

in 2003) *Theatre '47,

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

*Mary Moody Northen Theatre, Austin, Texas *Arena Theater, Houston, Texas

Utah

* Hale Centre Theatre,

Sandy, Utah Sandy is a city in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, located in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. The population was 96,904 according to the 2020 United States census. Sandy is home to the Shops at South Town shopping mall; the Jord ...

West Valley Performing Arts Center

West Valley City, Utah West Valley City is a city in Salt Lake County and an inner suburb of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 140,230 at the 2020 census, making it the second-most populous city in Utah after Salt Lake City. The city inco ...

Virginia

*The Barksdale Theater in

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

Washington

*Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre,

ACT Theatre ACT Contemporary Theatre (originally A Contemporary Theatre) is a regional, non-profit theatre organization in Seattle, in the US state of Washington. Gregory A. Falls (1922–1997) founded ACT in 1965 and served as its first Artistic director; a ...

, Seattle, Washington

Wisconsin

*Fireside Dinner Theater,

Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin Fort Atkinson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. It lies along the Rock River (Illinois), Rock River a few miles upstream from Lake Koshkonong. The population was 12,579 at the 2020 census. Fort Atkinson is the largest city ...

*Melody Top Theatre,

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

(1963–86)

In popular culture

*In the novel ''

The Prestige ''The Prestige'' is a 1995 epistolary science fantasy mystery novel by Christopher Priest. It tells the story of a prolonged feud between two stage magicians in late 1800s England. Its main structure is that of a collection of diaries that ...

'' by Christopher Priest, the magician Rupert Angier courts controversy by writing that stage magic should be performed "in the round" rather than in theatres with a

arch. *The English progressive rock band

were the first rock-era group to perform in-the-round during their 1978–79

Tormato ''Tormato'' is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes. It was released on 22 September 1978 on Atlantic Records, and is their last album with singer Jon Anderson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman before their departure from the ...

tour. The band also performed using a round, rotating stage during portions of their

Drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

and Union tours in 1980 and 1991, respectively. *The second tour of the global country-pop superstar

Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( ; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists of all time and the best-sel ...

, the Up! Tour (2003/04), had a stage configuration in the style of in-the-round. The tour was one of the most successful tours of 2004, and served to promote the RIAA diamond certified album, "Up!" (2002). *British rock band

Def Leppard Def Leppard are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Sheffield in 1977. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drummer), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar, ...

played in-the-round for several tours in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their 1989 live

VHS VHS (Video Home System) is a discontinued standard for consumer-level analog video recording on tape cassettes, introduced in 1976 by JVC. It was the dominant home video format throughout the tape media period of the 1980s and 1990s. Ma ...

release was entitled '' Live: In the Round, in Your Face''. "In-the-round is an incredibly, insanely aerobic kind of thing…" remarked singer

Joe Elliott Joseph Thomas Elliott (born 1 August 1959) is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the lead singer and one of the founder members of the hard rock band Def Leppard. He has also been the lead singer of the David Bowie tribute band the ...

, who gave up drinking on the ''

Hysteria Hysteria is a term used to mean ungovernable emotional excess and can refer to a temporary state of mind or emotion. In the nineteenth century, female hysteria was considered a diagnosable physical illness in women. It is assumed that the bas ...

'' tour to cope with the physical demands. "You can't stand still; you've got to keep moving. The ther members of the bandhad identical microphones on either side of the stage, so they could stand still for a little bit. I had to keep moving." *To evoke a three-ring circus, American singer

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...

used an in-the-round setting for her 2009 ''

The Circus Starring Britney Spears The Circus Starring Britney Spears, commonly referred to as the Circus Tour, was the seventh concert tour by American entertainer Britney Spears. It was launched in support of her sixth studio album, ''Circus'' (2008). Rumors of a tour arose as ...

'' tour. *Stand-up comedians have performed specials in-the-round, such as '' Dane Cook: Vicious Circle'' and Louis C.K.'s ''Oh My God''. *

The Spice Girls The Spice Girls are an English girl group formed in 1994, consisting of Mel B ("Scary Spice"), Melanie C ("Sporty Spice"), Emma Bunton ("Baby Spice"), Geri Halliwell ("Ginger Spice"), and Victoria Beckham ("Posh Spice"). They have sold over 10 ...

used a circular, in-the-round stage for their

Christmas in Spiceworld Christmas in Spiceworld Tour was the second concert tour by English girl group the Spice Girls. The eight-show tour was launched following "solo projects, marriages, motherhood and another round of slagging in the press", as a reunion for the gir ...

tour in 1999. * U2's 360° Tour used a very large circular stage. * The

Dixie Chicks The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) are an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. The band consists of Natalie Maines (lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar) and sisters Martie Maguire (vocals, fiddle, mandolin, guitar) and Emily Stra ...

' Top of the World Tour used a circular stage, except in venues where it was an end stage. *

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

have used a rectangular, diamond or oval-shaped stage in the center of the arena, beginning with their 1991 Wherever We May Roam Tour. On different tours, they have included an area within the stage, called "the snake pit", where audience members can watch the show. Their

2012 European Black Album Tour The 2012 European Black Album Tour (also called The Metallica Vacation Tour 2012) was a concert tour by American heavy metal band Metallica. ''Metallica'' (1991), commonly known as ''The Black Album'', was performed in reverse order. The band c ...

used this format. * In the musical '' The Producers'' Max Bialystock remarks that he invented "theater in the square". *

Roger Waters George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. In 1965, he co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd as the bassist. Following the departure of the group's main songwriter Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became ...

' 2022

This Is Not a Drill This Is Not a Drill was the seventh concert tour by English songwriter Roger Waters. The tour began at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, United States, on 6 July 2022, and ended at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa of Quito, Ecuador, on 9 Decem ...

tour is performed in-the-round with a large cross-shaped stage. Hanging overhead is a cross-shaped video screen arrangement that matches the shape of the stage. * For the 2024-2025 Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour by

Billie Eilish Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell ( ; born December 18, 2001) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single "Ocean Eyes (song), Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her broth ...

, Eilish is performing on a large rectangular in-the-round stage.

References

{{Authority control Theatre Stage terminology