More Eastside A&E

Seeing concerts at teen centers is part of experiencing performance arts on the Eastside. Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond have more though, events that might happen in a formal venue or a shopping center, at a high school or a coffee shop. Attendance puts you where the action is: in a room with people from all over the world or the same street you live on.

Bellevue

Meydenbauer Convention Center

11100 N.E. Sixth St., Bellevue

425-637-1020

www.meydenbauer.comDowntown Bellevue's massive compound is an arts-scene pillar, regularly hosting all kinds of arts performances in its 410-seat theater. From Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra concerts to always-spirited performances by Seattle Opera Young Artists, Meydenbauer's local, regional and national programming goes unrivaled on the Eastside.

Kirkland

Kirkland Performance Center

350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland

425-828-0422

www.kpcenter.orgIn the shadow of Kirkland's walkable downtown and within reach of the outfield lights at Peter Kirk Park's baseball field (out of home-run range, though), this 402-seat theater is a relaxing meditation on what happens when maroon meets beige: wine-tastings, select pop concerts, theater, dance, classical music and jazz, from the area and beyond.

International Ballet Theatre

507 Sixth St. S., Kirkland

425-822-7694

www.interballettheatre.orgStudents at the company's International Ballet School of Classical Ballet struggle to master great Russian dance traditions and perform all year. You can go to rehearsals at its International Ballet Theatre: beyond watching students grow, attending piano and dress rehearsals is a fun, overlooked way to get involved with "fine" performance arts.

Redmond

Redmond Performing Arts Center

17272 N.E. 104th St., Redmond

Eastside Symphony

253-891-2694

www.eastsidesymphony.org

The Eastside Symphony culls musicians from Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland — they're always looking for more string players, according to the Web site — and, though it travels to Seattle and also makes the Eastside rounds (at large and small performance spaces, including the Redmond Senior Center), the Eastside Symphony calls the performing arts center at Redmond High School home for most performances.

SecondStory Repertory Theatre

16587 N.E. 74th St., Redmond

425-881-6777

www.secondstoryrep.orgIn Redmond, performance art in a mall is a natural idea because Redmond Town Center is already a suburban culture center. Upstairs next to Borders Books, this small theater puts on plays and lots more: jazz and folk concerts, improv comedy, poetry readings, informal stagings of new theatrical works. Its "serious" and children's programming includes 150 performances yearly.

Redmond Association of SPokenword

8862 161st Ave. N.E., Redmond, at Tully's Coffee in Bella Bottega shopping mall

16244 Cleveland St., Redmond, at The Stone House Café

www.rasp.ccContact via e-mail: info@rasp.cc

One literary arts community on the Eastside is RASP, "where people of all ages are empowered to create and perform works of written and spoken art." They utilize not only malls, but coffee shops, the suburbs' (and the world's) ground zero for bohemian interaction, for performances, readings and (most crucially) open-mic meetings.

Andrew Matson, Seattle Times staff reporter