If you’re looking to enjoy Raleigh’s theatre scene, then you’re in luck, as the City of Oaks has plenty of performing arts venues, theatres, and comedy clubs, where you can enjoy an evening of world-class entertainment.
From Shakespearean soliloquies to toe-tapping musicals, you can finally ditch a Netflix binge night and catch a curtain call at one of these outstanding Raleigh theaters.
Ready to be entertained? Here’s where you can enjoy the theater in Raleigh…
Performing Arts Venues
Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Perhaps the most well-known theatre in Raleigh is the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, which has four unique venues under one roof hosting more than 600 events a year – so no matter what day of the week it is, there’s always something going on at the MMC!
The Raleigh Memorial Auditorium is the biggest venue in the center and has a seating capacity of 2,369 seats. It typically hosts Broadway Shows and musicals, symphony orchestras, and concerts by global artists. Frank Sinatra, Jerry Seinfeld, and Chris Tucker are all known to have played this hall.
The Meymandi Concert Hall has a seating capacity of 1,587 seats and is home to the North Carolina Symphony. It’s noted for its high ceiling and shoebox shape, making it feel more intimate despite the large number of seats. It also has better acoustics.
A smaller venue within the Martin Marietta Center is the 600-seater venue, A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater, which is where you will find the Carolina Ballet, opera, or comedy show, and the Kennedy Theatre is a small 144-seater venue primarily used as rehearsal space or regional theatre productions.
See upcoming shows and get tickets here. and read our guide to the Martin Marietta Center of the Performing Arts with all you need to know before you go!
Raleigh Little Theatre
The Raleigh Little Theatre has three performance venues – Cantey V. Sutton Theatre, a small indoor venue with a capacity of 298 guests, the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre (for rehearsals and classes) and the Louise S. Stephenson Amphitheatre at the Raleigh Rose Garden, a 2,000-seater outdoor venue in the University Park near Hillsborough Street.
It began in the Cantey V. Sutton Theatre, which opened in 1936, making it one of the oldest continuously operating community theatres in the USA!
It began by a group of enthusiastic Raleigh performers and technical workers from the Federal Theatre came together to bring community theatre to Raleigh, and not much has changed since.
Today, the Raleigh Little Theatre puts on productions from local theatre groups, as well as touring comedians and artists. From thought-provoking dramas to Christmas-time pantomimes and summer musicals, there is something for the whole family to enjoy at the Raleigh Little Theatre. We’ve previously enjoyed a youth performance of theirs in their outdoor theater. Its such a wonderful venue!
Note that their production season runs from July to June each year, leaving August free for volunteer functions and events.
Discover more cultural and performing arts experiences on Hillsborough St.
Burning Coal Theatre
Burning Coal Theater is a local theater group that puts on seasonal live theatre throughout the year. Their shows are often innovative, poignant, and thought-provoking.
The shows are often written by independent playwrights and run for a period of 2-3 weeks before a new show takes its place.
Shows are performed in the Murphey School Auditorium on Polk Street. If you can, try to plan your visit for a Thursday as there is a Thursday Night Special deal where all tickets are $20. There are also deals for students on weeknights, and College Night prices (the first Friday performance costs $5 for college students).
The 1st Sunday performance is also Pay What You Can – this is what we love about Raleigh, it’s all about the community, not the profit.
Every October, Burning Coal Theatre partners with the historic Oakwood Cemetery to present a series of short plays based on the lives of people buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, their partners, neighbors, associates and nemeses’. These short plays are written from Triangle playwrights. It’s a unique Halloween event in Raleigh.
Theatre in the Park, Raleigh
Located at the northern end of Pullen Park is where Theatre In The Park can be found.
It began back in 1947 as The Children’s Theatre of Raleigh, Inc., but changed its name in the 70s to reflect its new home in The National Guard Armory building in Pullen Park (now known as the Ira David Wood III Pullen Park Theatre after Founder and Executive Director, Ira David Wood III).
Although you’d think it was an outdoor theatre, it is in fact an indoor venue with a capacity of approximately 250 seats and puts on theatrical performances throughout the year.
It’s known to put on well-known classics such as Shakespeare plays, as well as musicals and comedy performances. It’s also a great place to discover new playwrights and catch independent theatre.
Of course the most famous Theatre in the Park production is their hilarious version of the Christmas Carol every holiday season in Raleigh.
Theatre Raleigh Arts Center
The Theatre Raleigh Arts Center was founded by K.D. Kennedy Jr. (who the Kennedy Theatre is named after) and his son, Michael Kennedy, before being taken over by his daughter, Lauren Kennedy Brady in 2009, when she renamed the company to the Theatre Raleigh in 2013.
Since then, the non-profit arts center has been known for putting on locally-produced community productions of well-known musicals such as The Secret Garden, Dreamgirls, and Rock of Ages – using both local talent and Broadway veterans in its performances.
It started out using the facilities at Kennedy Theatre in the Martin Marietta Center but moved to its own theatre on Old Wake Forest Rd in 2020.
Cary Arts Center
The Cary Arts Center is a small community theatre venue with a 431-seater capacity. It began back in the 1870s when the founder of Cary, Allison Frances Page, opened the Cary Academy.
Since then, this historic theatre has been the place to go in downtown Cary for evening entertainment.
During the day, it features an art gallery that hosts exhibitions, and you can also attend theatre and art workshops and classes.
The Cary Arts Center is the home of Applause! Cary Youth Theatre. Our eldest did a couple of performances with them before COVID. They were great!
Note the only authorized official ticketing provider for the Cary Arts Center Theater is etix.com.
Explore more of Downtown Cary while there with our guide!
Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC)
The Durham Performing Arts Center is an award-winning theatre and music venue with a 2,700-seater theatre, known for hosting some of the biggest touring shows in the country.
It’s often been ranked as one of the top five theaters and performing arts centers in the U.S. and has won many prestigious awards.
Each year, more than 600,000 guests come to DPAC to catch a touring Broadway show, a globally recognized stand-up comic, or watch a big-name musician perform.
Each year, it hosts over 250 performances, offering something for everyone, most nights a week. We’ve seen several visiting Broadway shows here from Frozen to Les Mis, and feel its a wonderful Triangle performing arts venue.
In 2025, the DPAC will welcome Steve Martin & Martin Short, Les Misérables (Touring), Kevin Hart, the Book of Mormon (touring), and the dancers from Dancing With The Stars to name a few. See all shows and ticket prices.
Comedy Clubs & Theaters
ComedyWorx
If you want a good laugh, head to Comedy Worx on Hillsborough Street, a comedy club for everything that’s designed to split your sides laughing, and audience participation is encouraged.
From improv comedy to standup to sketch to open mic nights to comedy workshops, this is the place to get well acquainted with the comedy scene in Raleigh.
It offers shows every Thursday – Saturday, with some shows being family-friendly and others more adult. Look for shows rated M for Mature when booking tickets.
Never experiencing improv before and feeling like there were much higher chances of a flop we were unsure whether it would be a great date night experience in Raleigh. It was hilarious and I left with much admiration for their ability to think so quickly on their feet and be funny.
And extra bonus, with tickets starting at $12 and cheap snacks and drinks, it’s a really affordable night out.
And if you want to do dinner beforehand like we did, check out these nearby restaurants on Hillsborough St.
Goodnights Comedy Club
Another comedy club that will ensure your tummy gets tickled is Goodnights Comedy Club, which provides stadium-sized talent to its small, intimate theater in the Village District 3-4 nights a week.
While ComedyWorx is more local talent, Goodnights is where you can catch touring comedians and regional talent. We’ve previously seen Irish comedian David Nihill who was so funny.
Here’s a guide to the Village District, in case you want to aet and drink before or after the show.
Raleigh Improv
Raleigh Improv began as a tiny brick wall inside a Vietnamese restaurant before expanding into a 450ish seater venue hosting some of the biggest names in improv comedy, all wanting to pay their dues in front of the iconic brick wall.
For more than six decades, Raleigh Improv has been the place where hundreds of the most celebrated comedians have first put their roots down in comedy. Names such as Gabe Iglesias, Damon Wayans, and Chelsea Handler have all performed here.
Come down to catch live comedy in an intimate setting and see either superstar talent or discover the next big star before they rise to fame. See all performances and ticket prices.
Lenovo Center
Home of the Carolina Hurricanes, NC State Basketball, and big name touring musical acts, is also a place where you can se some of the best comedy acts to come to Raleigh. They’d have to be good if they’re selling out Raleigh’s biggest entertainment venue. They’re not as frequent as other shows at Lenovo.
Coming this year in 2025 so far is Shane Gillis Live, and Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes World Tour.
- Address: 1400 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
- Events Calendar
- Read our guide to the Lenovo Center
- Hotels near the Lenovo Center
The Rialto Theater
The Rialto Theater in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a historic venue that hosts a variety of live events, including comedy shows. A notable event is the “Five Points Comedy Night,” scheduled for January 16, 2025. This show features a lineup of local and national comedians, offering diverse comedic styles to keep each performance fresh and entertaining. The theater provides a full-service lobby with beer, wine, liquor, and concessions available for purchase.
In addition to comedy, The Rialto showcases concerts, arthouse films, and special events like “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” making it a cultural hub in Raleigh’s Five Points area (we’ll be sharing a guide to the Five Points District soon. Subscribe to our email list so you don’t miss it.
- Address: 1620 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27608
- Event calendar
Map of These Theatres in Raleigh, NC
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