On the Boards

Founded in 1978, On the Boards showcases contemporary music, dance and theatre arts. Presenting more than seventy performances each season, OTB welcomes exceptional and adventurous new work that would go otherwise unseen in Seattle. It was the first in the country to premiere works by internationally known artists such as Laurie Anderson, Bill T. Jones, Spalding Gray, the Wooster Group, dumb type, Needcompany, Sankai Juku and Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. And it strongly supports emerging artists in the Northwest by commissioning new work and organizing collaborative projects. 33 Fainting Spells, Pat Graney, Sarah Rudinoff, Theater Replacement, Zoe Scofield and Awesome are just a few of the regional artists who have gotten early support from OTB and gone on to gain national recognition. OTB also hosts a variety of outreach and educational programs for audiences as a way of maintaining connection with their community.

Fun Fact: The current home of On the Boards was originally known as Redding Hall. Built in 1928, it was a popular site for community dances in the 1930s.