3 Best Performing Arts Venues in Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage often surprises visitors with the variety—and high quality—of its cultural activities. In addition to top-name touring groups and performers, some local productions are always going on around town. These might include provocative theater, children's shows, improvisational troupes, Buddhist lectures, photography exhibits, poetry readings, and Alaska Native dance performances. The Friday entertainment section of the Anchorage Daily News is packed with events and activities.

Alaska Center for the Performing Arts

Downtown

Four theaters make up the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, which is home to nine resident performing arts companies—including Alaska Dance Theatre, Anchorage Opera, and the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. The center also showcases traveling production companies. The lobby box office sells tickets to the productions and is a good all-around source of cultural information. Take a look inside to learn more about upcoming events—which are understandably more bountiful in winter—or relax amid the blossoms in the adjacent flower-filled Town Square Park on a sunny afternoon.

Bear Tooth Theatrepub

Spenard

Catch foreign films, indie flicks, and nostalgic classics at this second-run theater with a back-corner bar. Place an order at the counter outside and runners will deliver your nachos, pizzas, and garlic-cilantro fries from the attached Southwestern grill directly to your seat. The Bear Tooth also occasionally clears out the movie seats to host nationally touring music acts.

Music in the Park

Downtown

On summertime Fridays, open-air concerts are presented at noon in Peratrovich Park (also known as Old City Hall Park). Come back on Saturday afternoons for Jazz in the Park from 4 to 6.