Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center

Great place to have an #event big or small #gala or #fundraiser in #Seattle #washington. Has a full updated #theatre saw some great shows here and very safe #neighborhood. The Director here is Brilliant and kind and welcomed me once I came in. #Seattle #washington

What a cool little Gem hidden not far from were I live and in plain site even yet
This is a cool Building Jewish Temple turned into community center
Had a great time seeing a Documentary here Celia Cruz — Celia the Queen was a wonderful documentary in a wonderful setting, as this is a small venue there is not a bad seat in the house
If I see anything else going on here that even remotely sounds interesting, I will head over and take it in as it was time well spent, and the staff here was great all around

I went to the Cultural Arts Center for the finale of the Langston Hughes Afro-​American Film Festival. The Cultural Arts Center used to be a Jewish synagogue and is listed as a historical landmark. Now it is a program of the Seattle Parks and Recreation. It focuses on African American performing arts and cultural legacies, but also on creating connections with diverse cultures in the community. From the beautiful façade of the building outside to the cozy atmosphere of the auditorium, the Cultural Arts Center pulls you into a wonderful arts experience.
The final screening of the film fest was a vibrant documentary about Afro-​Cuban singing legend Celia Cruz, entitled «Celia the Queen». The will-​call and box-​office processes were a bit scrambled as lines wound down hallways, but gracious volunteers helped channel people to the appropriate lines and locations. The theater space offers an ample stage area for live performances, and it has comfortable seats in tiered rows that provide great viewing from any seat in the house. It was a little warm for the first few minutes of the show, but that could have been from the impromptu salsa session that resulted during the host’s introductory comments. Once the film started the theater temp normalized to a level where a viewer could focus more intently on the show and music.
The film and festival ended with a reception in the lower level of the Center. There was plenty of space to eat, drink, mingle and dance to the sounds of salsa. This is a lovely place for the community to come together and celebrate the arts.

I went here a while back (winter?) for a free night of Seattle Symphony. Yes, free. Twice a year the symphony travels to various places in Seattle and puts on some free shows… yay!
Here’s their mission statement: The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center celebrates, nurtures, presents and preserves African American performing arts and cultural legacies.
The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, located in the heart of Seattle within the vibrant Central Area neighborhood, is an historic cultural arts institution, established in 1972 as a home for artistic and cultural expression. Operated by the City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, the Center has provided 36 years of continuous programming for youth, adults and families.
Langston Hughes puts on about a show a month (musicals, plays). I really need to get back there, because it’s a neighborhood non-​profit, it’s not pretentious at all, and because it’s about preserving and celebrating heritage… who can’t get behind that??!