Eclectic Theater

Came here to watch Hari Kondabolu and it was great. A little stuffy but you have to support the local businesses in Seattle. Parking is pretty typical for the Capitol Hill area so come early so you don’t miss you show. The seats are old so bring a cushion if you need butt support. For all you tall human beings, deal with being accosted in the front since there isn’t a lot of legroom in the rest of the sections.

I was rather disappointed with the Sunday Improv show «Being Humans» here. The host really failed to get the crowd engaged, and the show simply wasn’t that funny. I’m used to going to cheap, well-​attended, hysterical, racy, well-​informed, and well-​run local improv (albeit in a different city), and this was an unpleasant variation from that in every aspect. It’s possible I went on an off night, and I’ll update my review if I return. I’ll probably avoid their straight improv in lieu of scripted shows, though. At least the beer was fairly cheap.

Eclectic and Odd, for sure, and not much to look at from the outside, but host to some truly wonderful acting. Most recently I saw ‘Zelda’, an excellent solo performance by Denise Paulette (playing until aug 27^th)

The Odd Duck Studio’s moniker has somewhat stolen my thunder in the sense that it is already quite appropriately named — a slightly dingy black box, quite literally off off Broadway, that tends to lend artistic credibility to the smallish time and/​or independent acts that perform there tucked into the middle of a poorly traveled block that reminds me more of my college theater than anything else I’ve been to in the Seattle scene.
It is not an exaggeration to say that I’d have never known it was here unless I specifically went looking for it, as most trips to this area stop at Moe Bar as the southernmost point — so the foot traffic walking by who decide to check out a show are minimal, leading to shows with spotty attendance since the class of acts here also don’t tend to have the requisite fame that allows for a large promotional budget.
The main detractors I have experienced on multiple occasions is that the waiting area is very small compared to the theater size so when shows approach full it gets quite cramped while waiting for the house to open, and a lot of the acts do seem to charge more than what I would expect for their renown, although likely to simply recoup costs.
However, it’s an intimate space with a lot of charm that is, I assume, relatively cheap for fledgling groups, and over the last 3 years I’ve had a lot of fun in a theatrical environment that feels interactive in its tininess. I don’t know if I’d go to a show solely because it was here, but I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed by the venue choice as I generally am when I see larger venue mainstays like the Paramount or the Moore.

I came here with a bunch of friends to see a comedy show. I would say «quaint» is a fair description of the theater. It is tiny, and probably quite old. «Slightly seedy» is the phrase that comes to mind most readily, though.
The people were friendly, the concessions were cheap (and a bit odd…), the theater was tiny. I could see how it could make for a very fun and intimate showing, but on the night that we came, there were very few people in attendance, the show was overpriced ($ 10; I would have paid maybe $ 5 at the absolute maximum, if it was getting donated to a charity or something, maybe), and the comedy was amateurish. It was largely awkward and not that funny. There were a few high points that got some real laughs, but most of the rest of the time it was sort of a «cricket, cricket» situation. The opening act was arguably better than the main act, even.
So, the studio itself is just eh, okay. The comedy we saw was pretty blah. I’m sure they get a variety of shows, though, so maybe check it out if you’re bored, or something. I don’t know; I could probably be persuaded to go back, but I won’t be going of my own volition.

What a cool studio! I came here last night for this radio show — not knowing what to expect. Tucked away just off the main drags of Capital Hill, this quaint little studio has a lot to offer! The show I was seeing was FANTASTIC, inexpensive and really, really funny. There was a set left up from another show that had been playing and made me think it woudl be a pretty cool place to see a show. Keep your eyes open for shows here — in the words of Tony the Tiger, they’re great!!!

Hot babes in toyland is a funny sexy spoof. Go see it and you will laugh your head off. Plays through Dec 20^th!