McCaw Hall Announces Backstage Tours

McCaw Hall just announced the launch of a new program: free tours, to provide the public an opportunity to explore one of the most outstanding performance venues in the nation. The tours are offered the third Tuesday of each month beginning on Aug. 17 and continuing on Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, and into the new year (no Dec. tour), noon to 1 p.m.

Tours will bring visitors through the auditoriums, lobbies and amenity spaces that contribute to the ambiance and grandeur of the facility and give them a glimpse of the backstage - and the state-of-the-art production technology of the Hall. The tours will highlight the extensive art collection housed in the building, review the dynamic history of the Hall and point out the many environmentally sustainable design features of this world-class venue.

Completed in 2003, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall is the third reincarnation of a performance hall on the site whose life began in 1928 as Seattle"s first civic auditorium. The building was fully renovated for the 1962 Seattle World"s Fair. McCaw Hall is home to the Pacific Northwest Ballet and Seattle Opera, who perform in the 2,900-seat Susan Brotman Auditorium. Seattle International Film Festival makes use of the smaller Nesholm Family Hall for its year-round film series. Seattle Center operates and maintains the building.

McCaw Hall administrative staff lead the monthly tours, They require advanced sign-up, and are subject to change based on event schedules. The sign-up deadline is at noon on the previous Friday. The tour size is limited to 25 people on a first come-first served basis. To register, call the McCaw Hall administrative office at 206 733-9725. To learn more about other free public offerings at Seattle Center, visit
www.seattlecenter.com.

Photo by Rozarii Lynch