Theatre-in-the-round, also known as arena theatre or central staging, is a theatrical stage 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 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'', the original stage production of '' Man of La Mancha,'' and all plays staged at the ANTA Washington Square Theatre (which was demolished in the 1960s), including Arthur Miller'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'',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. Set design 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 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. 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, which later evolved into the permanent Orange Tree Theatre 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 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. The sessions, titled "Man in the Arena" were produced by Roger Ailes, 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, 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 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,

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 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,

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

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

(replacing the La Boite Theatre Building)

Canada

* Globe Theatre,

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,

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 and Fresnes

Hong Kong

* Hong Kong Coliseum, Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon * Theater in the Wild, Hong Kong Disneyland, Penny's Bay, Lantau Island

Japan

* The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha e Komo Mai!, Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, 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, Soho * 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 in 2021) * Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone * Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond *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 * Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

Elsewhere

* Crucible Theatre,

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,

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 (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) * Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough * The Dukes, Lancaster * Everyman Theatre, Liverpool *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 * Celebrity Theatre,

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, ArizonaHale Centre Theatre in Arizona
. Accessed 2014-06-20 *Theater Works, Peoria, Arizonabr>

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,

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 (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,

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.

Florida

* Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room (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 **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,

(

), Bay Lake, Florida **Preceding attractions include Flight to the Moon (1971–1975), Mission to Mars (1975–1993) and the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (1994–2003). * Festival of the Lion King, Disney's Animal Kingdom (

), Bay Lake, Florida

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, Illinoisbr>
* Mill Run Playhouse, Niles, Illinois (demolished 1984) *Richmond Hill Theatre, Geneseo, Illinoisbr>
*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

Iowa

*Flanagan Studio Theater, Grinnell, Iowa

Kansas

* Mark A. Chapman Theatre, Kansas State University,

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,

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 (Demolished 1991)

Massachusetts

* North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly, Massachusettsbr>
* 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, MassachusettsSouth Shore Music Circus
official web site * The Little Theatre, Newton * Balch Arena Theater, Medford, Massachusetts

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, Minneapolis, Minnesota * Rarig Center Arena, Minneapolis, Minnesota * Arena Theater, Northfield, Minnesota (Built 1967, mothballed 2011)

Missouri

* Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts,

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,

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, 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 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, Westbury, New York *

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) *Arena Theatre at University at Albany, SUNY in

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

Oregon

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

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 (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, TexasPlaza 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,

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 thrust stage 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
West Valley Performing Arts Center
West Valley City, Utah

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, Seattle, Washington

Wisconsin

*Fireside Dinner Theater, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin *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'' 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 Yes were the first rock-era group to perform in-the-round during their 1978–79 Tormato 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, 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 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, who gave up drinking on the '' Hysteria'' 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 used an in-the-round setting for her 2009 '' The Circus Starring Britney Spears'' 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 used a circular, in-the-round stage for their Christmas in Spiceworld tour in 1999. * U2's 360° Tour used a very large circular stage. * The Dixie Chicks' Top of the World Tour used a circular stage, except in venues where it was an end stage. * Metallica 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 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 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