Sit back, relax, and enjoy a show on stage or screen. Experience diverse artistic expression, including interpretive dance, chamber music, Shakespearean plays, and Broadway productions. Whether historic auditoriums or multiplex theaters with reclining seats, Rochester’s movie theaters offer a wide range of first-run, independent, foreign, and student films, live-stream events, and festivals. And be sure to check out a high school musical!
Most theaters offer refreshments on-site or are within walking distance of bars and restaurants, making planning an entertaining afternoon or evening easy.
City of Rochester
Auditorium Theatre
Rochester
885 E. Main St.
(585) 222-5000
This 2,464-seat, Art Deco theater is the home of the Rochester Broadway Theatre League, which brings Broadway’s biggest hits to the city, including The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Hamilton, and many more. The architectural details, from the lighting to the ornamental dome ceiling, are as captivating as the performances.
The Avenue Blackbox Theatre
Rochester
780 Joseph Ave.
(585) 491-6730
The Avenue offers a fully accessible and inclusive space to enjoy the performing arts. Their productions amplify the voices and creative expressions of artists from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Blackfriars Theatre
Rochester
795 E. Main St.
(585) 454-1260
This intimate 108-seat theater offers a variety of plays and musicals ranging from one-actor dramatic performances to comedy, plus their free Hourglass Play Reading Series.
Comedy @ The Carlson
Rochester
50 Carlson Road
(585) 426-6339
Laugh out loud with some of the country’s funniest comedians. Enjoy dinner and a show, with table seating for 325 people.
Dryden Theatre
Rochester
George Eastman Museum
900 East Ave.
(585) 327-4800
Enjoy a different cinematic production nearly every night in George Eastman Museum’s 500-seat Dryden Theatre. They screen moving pictures from their collection of over 28,000 titles spanning the entire history of international cinema in their original format, including nitrate films.
Eastman Theatre
Rochester
255 East Ave.
(585) 454-2100
This grand theater, built by George Eastman in 1922, features several stages, the largest being the 2,326-seat Kodak Hall, the principal concert hall for the world-renowned Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). Hanging above the auditorium is a stunning 20,000-piece crystal chandelier. The Eastman School of Music offers over 700 student recitals, and faculty shows each year in the 222-seat Hatch Recital Hall and 444-seat Kilbourn Hall, many of which are free to attend. The school provides concerts via live stream at esm.rochester.edu/live, making it easy to enjoy the music from the comfort of your home. But the pleasure of attending a live performance at Eastman Theatre includes admiring intricate architectural details and the fantastic 19-foot-long glass chandelier created by world-renowned sculptor Dale Chihuly that hangs above the stairway in Wolk Atrium.
Geva Theatre Center
Rochester
75 Woodbury Blvd.
(585) 232-4382
Geva is a vibrant theater that offers an intimate setting for classic and contemporary plays and musicals. Major productions are performed on the 522-seat Wilson Stage, including the annual showing of A Christmas Carol. Smaller-scale productions, including improv comedy, one-actor shows, and readings use the 180-seat Fielding Stage.
Fun fact, Geva (as in Geva Theatre Center) is a portmanteau of Genesee Valley. Like Brangelina, Brexit, Bollywood, and brunch.
The Hochstein School
Rochester
50 N. Plymouth Ave.
(585) 454-4596
Enjoy student and faculty music and dance performances throughout the year and concerts, including the noon-hour Live from Hochstein series.
Kodak Center
Rochester
200 W. Ridge Road
(585) 254-0181
The 1,968-seat theater hosts touring concerts, comedic performances, and family-friendly productions.
The Little Theatre
Rochester
240 East Ave.
(585) 258-0400
Specializing in screening independent and foreign films, The Little Theatre also shows first-run movies, live-stream events, themed series, throwback features, and cult classics. Enjoy food, live music, and art in their cafe.
Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC)
Rochester
142 Atlantic Ave
The 80-seat repurposed church is the primary home of The Rochester Community Players, Rochester’s oldest community theater group. They offer a space for locally produced plays and musicals, including performances by Off-Monroe Players, Out of Pocket, Inc., and Polite Ink. Comedy.
Roc Cinema
Rochester
957 S. Clinton Ave.
(585) 271-1786
Opened in 1914, the Cinema is the city’s oldest movie theater. New owners reimagined Roc Cinema to offer Rochester’s first dine-in theater, offering a creative food and bar menu delivered to your seat. Enjoy a first-run movie, themed throwback, or special feature.
The Theater at Innovation Square
Rochester
131 Chestnut St
(585) 281-4893
The Theater At Innovation Square is a multi-disciplinary performing arts center for local arts organizations, community engagement, esports, and more. Find parking in the garages at Innovation Square on Court Street, Washington Street, Midtown, or on-street.
The University of Rochester Sloan Performing Arts Center
Rochester
407 Alumni Road
(585) 275-2121
This 200-seat theater showcases student music, dance, and theatrical performances.
Monroe County
AMC Webster
Webster
2190 Empire Boulevard
(585) 671-0941
With 12 screens, enjoy a first-run movie from a comfortable reclining chair.
CenterStage Theatre
Brighton
JCC Hart Theater
1200 Edgewood Ave.
(585) 461-2000
The Jewish Community Center offers a wide range of programming, including comedy, musicals, concerts, original plays, Broadway hits, and the annual Big Wigs New Year’s Eve and Hitmakers music series.
Cinemark Tinseltown USA & IMAX
Gates
2291 Buffalo Road
(585) 247-0042
Enjoy first-run movies across 16 screens, plus the only IMAX theater in the Rochester area. They also feature spacious reclining chairs with extendable footrests.
Movies 10
Henrietta
2609 W Henrietta Road
(585) 785-3335
Enjoy first-run movies across 10 screens.
Nazareth College
Pittsford
4245 East Ave.
(585) 389-2170
Enjoy live performances and community events across several of NAZ’s stages, including the 1,000-seat Callahan Theater.
OFC Creations Theatre Center
Brighton
3450 Winton Place
(585) 667-0954
OFC focuses on youth theater and memorable performances in their 260-seat theater, with a dinner theater in the 110-seat Old Farm Cafe next door. Don’t miss the hysterical annual performance of A Golden Girls Christmas Carol.
RIT Visual and Performing Arts
Henrietta
One Lomb Memorial Drive
(585) 475-2411
RIT’s 505-seat Ingle Memorial Auditorium hosts concerts, recitals, theater productions, and guest speakers. In the fall of 2023, check their calendar for performances in the new 180-seat Student Hall for Exploration and Development (the SHED). Plans are in place for a performing arts complex to be completed in 2025 featuring a 750-seat theater. A future addition includes a 1,500-seat orchestra hall.
Roberts Wesleyan University
North Chili
7 Apple Lane
(585) 594-6008
The 1,000-seat Andrews B. Hale Auditorium hosts a performing arts series that features choirs, bands, musicals, plays, dance, lectures, and the annual Christmas Gala.
Strand Theater
Brockport
93 Main St.
(585) 637-3310
The Strand shows first-run, single-feature movies. Opened in 1908, it is the second-oldest active movie theater in the United States.
SUNY Brockport
Brockport
Tower Fine Arts Center Mainstage
180 Holley St.
(585) 395-2787
The college’s Fine Arts Series offers dance, musical, theatrical, and visual arts performances in the 100-seat Black Box Theater.
Greater Rochester
Avon Park Theater
Avon, Livingston County
71 Genesee St.
The 1938 theater offers music, comedy, and classic and independent movies.
Bristol Valley Theatre
Naples, Ontario County
151 S. Main St.
(585) 374-6318
This professional 196-seat theater produces a robust summer season of plays and musicals from late June through mid-August.
Ohmann Theatre
Lyons, Wayne County
65 William St.
(315) 946-4604
Owned and operated by descendants of the Ohmann family since 1915, the theater features first-run, single-feature movies.
Palace Theatre
Wolcott, Wayne County
12053 E. Main St.
(315) 594-2785
This 1938 theater shows first-run, single-feature movies on weekends.
Regal Eastview Mall
Victor, Ontario County
70 Eastview Mall Drive
(844) 462-7342
Offering reclining seats, enjoy a first-run movie on one of 13 screens.
The Geneseo Riviera
Geneseo, Livingston County
4 Center St.
(585) 481-0036
This 1914 mixed-use performing arts space hosts live music, periodic film screenings, and community events.
Silver Lake Twin Drive-In
Perry, Wyoming County
7037 Chapman Ave.
(585) 237-3372
Enjoy dinner and miniature golf at the Charcoal Corral before a double feature at the drive-in.
Spotlight Theater
Warsaw, Wyoming County
23 S. Main St.
(585) 786-2222
See a first-run, single-feature movie on one of three screens in this 1948 theater.
Star Theatre
Dansville, Livingston County
144 Main St.
(585) 622-6722
Enjoy a single-screen, first-run movie in the 1921 theater.
Vintage Drive-In
Avon, Livingston County
1520 W. Henrietta Road
(585) 226-9290
The drive-in opens for weekend-only showings around the first Friday in April, then every night during the warmer months. Enjoy a double feature on one of four screens.
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Which are your favorite performing arts theaters?
Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.
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Thank you.
Love! Love!! LOVE!! Live Theatre and try to get to as many as I can..especially the HS plays with their great talented performances, but NEVER have found such a great compiled list as yours!! Have added it now to my “Theatre List” and will be checking back often to see what’s being offered and marking my Calendar! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING!!
I have found with most of these articles, if it doesn’t exist you have to create it yourself! I do my best to update the high school lists seasonally, viewing the new calendars online in September or contacting the schools directly if the musically isn’t specified. I’m so happy you find it helpful as well, Mary Anne!
Don’t forget WallByrd Theatre!
Great recommendation! I plan to see The Two Gentlemen of Verona this week at Highland Bowl.
The HS list is great!
One mistake is that McQuaid Newsies is March 13 – 16 2019, not April.
Thank you for the update, Jim!
What a great webpage! So helpful. The only high school i can think of I didn’t see is Bishop Kearney which i know is doing Oliver. Thanks again so much for compiling this.
http://bkhs.org/bk-life/bk-musical
Thank you for the recommendation! Of course, BK puts on some of the best musicals in the area!