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The Paramount’s changing uses are built into its design, from an Italian-made convertible floor to a stage expanded for later productions. Seattle Theatre Group’s volunteer-led tour offers a roughly two-hour introduction and a behind-the-scenes glimpse.
All times are local to the venue · America/Los Angeles
At the Paramount, adaptation has a mechanical form: its Italian-built floor can be arranged for theatre seating, a ballroom, a dance floor or dinner theatre. The Free Paramount Tour takes the historic working venue as its subject, with a volunteer guide and a behind-the-scenes glimpse; the public listing does not promise a demonstration of the floor.
The building opened as the Seattle Theatre on March 1, 1928. Silent films and vaudeville were major forms of entertainment in that period, and Seattle had more than 50 movie palaces, according to Seattle Theatre Group’s history of the venue. The Paramount later served as a Cinerama movie house and a home for Broadway productions and rock, soul and jazz concerts.
The building’s present form also reflects a substantial renovation. After financial difficulties in the 1980s and early 1990s, an eight-month project preceded its 1995 reopening; STG says the work included expanding the stage, restoring plaster and gold leaf, cleaning chandeliers and updating sound and lighting. The event listing puts the restoration cost at $20 million. Those changes help frame the tour’s behind-the-scenes element: visitors are learning about a landmark that has been adapted for continued use, not just preserved as a period interior.
Further reading: Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Paramount Theatre History - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
The monthly public tour is led by volunteer staff, lasts about 120 minutes and includes a behind-the-scenes glimpse. STG does not publish a room-by-room route, so access to a particular backstage area should not be assumed.
STG offers separate private group tours on weekdays by reservation for groups of eight or more. Those visits last about 90 minutes and may include dressing rooms, the green room and backstage spaces when show conditions allow; children must be at least 8. Student-group tours are also available by request for ages 7 and up, with attention to stage technical operations, backstage work and the history of the lobby and theatre building. These are distinct offerings, not additional parts of the monthly public tour.
Further reading: Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Theatre Tours - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
The tour is scheduled for the first Saturday of each month. The calendar lists the next edition on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon; STG describes the visit as approximately 120 minutes. Meet by 10 a.m. outside the main entrance at the corner of 9th Avenue and Pine Street.
Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Calendar - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
Admission is free, and the event page links to a reservation form. The listing does not state whether a reservation is required or provide reservation conditions, so check the form before planning your visit.
The Paramount Theatre is at 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101.
Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Paramount Directions & Parking - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
STG identifies an accessible entrance on Pine Street at 9th Avenue. Its accessibility information says the historic theatres, including the Paramount, have no elevators and no ADA parking. The public tour listing does not describe access along the tour route or in behind-the-scenes areas. For tour-specific questions, contact [email protected] or call 206-682-1414 and press 5.
Accessibility Services - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Paramount Directions & Parking - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
STG does not state an age policy for the monthly public tour. The age guidance for separate student and private group tours does not establish a rule for this visit.
Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Theatre Tours - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
The Paramount is at 911 Pine St, on the corner of 9th Avenue and Pine Street, one block north of the Seattle Convention Center. STG says the theatre is across from the Convention Place Metro Tunnel entrance and within walking distance of many major bus stops. The venue’s map links can calculate directions from your starting point.
Paramount Directions & Parking - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
The theatre has no parking lot of its own. STG lists nearby paid lots and garages as well as metered street parking; it does not give rates or availability. Street meters are free after 8 p.m. and on Sundays, not during this Saturday-morning tour. A passenger drop-off zone is listed at Pine Street and 9th Avenue.
Paramount Directions & Parking - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Accessibility Services - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
STG identifies the designated accessible entrance on Pine Street at 9th Avenue. The venue’s accessibility information says there is no ADA parking at the Paramount. Because the public tour’s route and backstage access are not described, contact STG to confirm tour-specific access needs.
Accessibility Services - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Paramount Directions & Parking - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
STG describes the volunteer-led public tour as approximately 120 minutes, with a behind-the-scenes glimpse.
The event page links to a reservation form but does not state whether advance reservations are required or list booking conditions.
STG does not list an age policy for the public tour. The separate student-group and private-group age guidance applies to those offerings, not necessarily this visit.
Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Theatre Tours - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
STG says its historic theatres, including the Paramount, have no elevators. The public tour description does not specify its route or guarantee access to particular backstage rooms; contact STG about tour-specific access.
Accessibility Services - Seattle Theatre Group ↗ · Free Paramount Tour - Seattle Theatre Group ↗
911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.
Images from the linked sources. Each caption identifies the context of the image.
Event, planning and background information checked 2026-11-01 against the linked sources.