About The 5th
Our Mission
The 5th Avenue Theatre Association exists to develop, produce and present live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community, and to preserve, maintain, and operate the historic and irreplaceable 5th Avenue Theatre.
To achieve this mission, the Theatre will actively pursue the highest standards of artistic excellence and service, enhance and continuously improve all aspects of the facility operations, endeavor to make its programming accessible and relevant to all audiences, and maintain organizational stability.
Our Vision
To be nationally recognized as a pre-eminent musical theater company, involved in all aspects of the American musical (past, present and future) – reflected by the highest levels of artistic and production quality, staff expertise, and audience engagement.
Our Artistic Philosophy
We both produce and present musical theater (America’s great indigenous art form) with the highest standards of artistic excellence. We place an emphasis on producing and utilizing Northwest-based artists.
We are committed to the development and production of new works. Each season, we program an appealing mix of productions that reflect the broad scope and cultural significance of the American musical (past, present and future), and attract, delight and retain a large and diverse audience.
We achieve artistic excellence while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Each season must be both artistically and financially sound.
The 5th Avenue Theatre Today
Since 1926, the magnificent 5th Avenue Theatre has captivated audiences with outstanding performances of all types. In the early days, people eagerly lined up for first-class vaudeville shows, featuring the top touring entertainers of the day. The Theatre later transformed itself into a popular movie palace. In the late 1970s, The 5th Avenue Theatre fell on hard times, but was saved from a wrecking ball by a visionary group of businesses and community leaders.
Today, audiences come to The 5th Avenue Theatre to see the latest touring offerings from New York, along with locally produced, world premieres of exciting new musicals and expertly mounted productions of both contemporary and Golden Age of Broadway hits. Under the leadership of Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong, Managing Director Bernadine Griffin and Producing Director Bill Berry, The 5th Avenue Theatre attracts an annual attendance of more than 250,000 patrons and ranks among the nation’s largest and most respected theater companies.
In addition to its main stage productions, The 5th Avenue Theatre is also committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its extensive Educational Outreach Programs which include: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, Show Talks, Spotlight Nights, and a host of classes workshops, and special events. For more information about the Theatre, its season and its programs, please visit www.5thavenue.org.
Saving the Building & Founding the Company
When The 5th Avenue Theatre was forced to close its doors in 1978, 43 local companies and community leaders joined forces to save the glorious, historical building. In 1979, this visionary group formed the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre Association, and raised $2.6 million for renovations.
Following a spectacular $2.6-million renovation, the theatre re-opened in 1980, more beautiful than ever and emerged as Seattle’s premier home for touring Broadway shows
In 1989, with the generous assistance of company sponsors, The 5th Avenue Musical Theatre Company was established. The new non-profit company expanded its mission to include not only presenting touring shows but producing top quality musical theater productions of its own.
The 5th Avenue Founders
We offer our gratitude and heartfelt thanks for the commitment and vision of our founders who were responsible for the 1979 renovation and who made saving The 5th Avenue Theatre a reality:
- Airborne Freight Corporation
- ALPAC - Pepsi-Cola /Seven-Up
- Morris and Joan Alhadeff
- Longacres Race Track
- American Building Maintenance Industries
- The Boeing Company
- Burlington Northern, Inc.
- Crescent Foods
- James R. Ellis
- First Interstate Bank of Washington
- John Fluke Manufacturing Company, Inc.
- Frederick and Nelson
- Item House
- Dr. Solomon Katz
- King Broadcasting Company
- KIRO Radio and TV
- KOMO Radio and Television
- Nordstrom, Inc.
- Old National Bank of Washington
- Overall Laundry Services, Inc.
- PACCAR Foundation
- Pacific Northwest Bank of Washington
- Pacific Northwest Bell
- Pay ’N Save Drugstores
- Peoples National Bank of Washington
- Physio-Control Corporation
- Rainier National Bank of Washington
- SAFECO Corporation
- Faye and Herman Sarkowsky
- Schoenfeld Industries, Inc.
- Shuck’s Auto Supply, Inc.
- Seattle-First National Bank
- The Seattle Times
- Simpson Timber Company
- Skinner Corporation
- UNICO Properties, Inc.
- Unigard Insurance Group
- United Airlines
- Western International Hotels
- Univar Corporation
- Urban Investment & Development Co. /Four Seasons Hotels
- Washington Energy Company
- Washington Mutual Savings Bank Foundation
- Weisfield’s, Inc.
- Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation
Musical Theatre Company Sponsors
We also offer our sincere appreciation to the following company sponsors who were responsible for the 1989 establishment of the Musical Theatre Company:
- American Building Maintenance Company
- The Boeing Company
- First Interstate Bank of Washington N.A.
- Fisher Communications
- John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
- Joshua Green Foundation
- KIRO, Inc.
- Nordstrom, Inc.
- Puget Sound Bancorp
- SAFECO
- Faye and Herman Sarkowsky
- Seafirst Bank
- The Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Security Pacific Bank Washington
- Skinner Corporation
- Samuel and Althea Stroum
- UNICO Properties
- Univar/VWR Foundation
- US West
- Washington Energy Company
- Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation
