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When planning a trip to Phoenix, don't rule out an evening at the local performing arts theaters. No matter what section of town you are in, there is a theater in the area ready to entertain. Downtown Phoenix has a variety of venues all within close proximity that put on top notch performances. If you are able to venture away from the downtown performing arts district, your options are even greater.

The Phoenix Symphony Hall hosts Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, and the Phoenix Symphony and is also the site for Broadway touring companies and a host of other dance and theater productions. The theater features 2,312 seats. The entrance is literally steps from the Hyatt Regency Phoenix making a car-free evening possible.

Not far from Symphony Hall is the Orpheum Theater. Built in 1929 and recently renovated to its original gilded splendor, it features replicas of the original carpets and beautifully embellished furnishings. It is the only Phoenix theater to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The theater presents plays, concerts, and Broadway shows. It is located in the downtown performing arts district.

Also located in the downtown performing arts district is the Herberger Theater, home to three resident theater companies, Actors Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, and Center Dance Ensemble and host to many others. The theater frequently features productions geared toward children. The Herberger is located a short walk from the Arizona Center, a small outdoor mall of retail shops with a variety of restaurants, making it a perfect afternoon or evening outing for supper and a show.

Phoenix's Celebrity Theater has long been famous for its rotating stage surrounded by seats, with no seat being more than 75 feet away from the stage. The theater specializes in live concerts. A few of the bands scheduled to perform in April, 2008 are Asia, Little River Band, and The Robert Cray Band among many others.

For fans of live concerts, another outstanding venue is the Cricket Pavilion. This outdoor amphitheater is a favorite during the hot summer months. Seats under the pavilion are cooled by ceiling fans that generate a gentle breeze from above. The "cheap" seats are preferred by many who like to sit out on the grass on a hot summer night and listen to their favorite band. Large viewing monitors improve the view from the lawn. Cricket Pavilion is located in Phoenix but it's out in the west valley at 79th Ave and Interstate 10, so plan on driving a bit to get there.

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