Miami is a key destination for anyone wanting to experience diverse cultures and lounge on sun-soaked beaches. However, if you are looking for a different scene from the city’s fast-paced nightlife, check out one of these top theatres in Miami, and enjoy a memorable performance. This guide highlights leading venues for touring Broadway, ballet, opera, symphony, and concerts, plus quick tips on seating, capacities, and how to book with TicketSmarter.
Miami Broward Center for the Performing Arts
The Miami Broward Center for the Performing Arts, or the Broward Center, is a performing arts center dedicated to showing the local South Florida community the world of arts and theater. The 224,500-square-foot facility opened in 1991 and has hosted numerous concerts, ballets, operas, and plays along with various community events. The Broward Center contains three main performance spaces: the Au-Rene Theater, Amaturo Theater and the Abdo New River Room, with a combined seating capacity upwards of 3,400.
The Broward Center puts on more than 700 performances each year and its arts-in-education programs serve more than 150,000 every year. The performing arts center underwent renovations in 2012, which were completed two years later. The updates included the addition of two new buildings: the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center and the Huizenga Pavilion. The education center seats nearly 500 guests and hosts youth productions, lectures, business seminars and community events. According to the Broward Center, the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center houses classrooms and studios and supports the Center’s large-scale education reach and programming About / Education — Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Au-Rene Theater & Amaturo Theater
As one of the main performance spaces within Miami’s Broward Center, the Au-Rene Theater has a seating capacity of 2,658, with orchestra, mezzanine and balcony sections. This theater is typically used to put on major regional, national and international performances, which include productions from the Miami City Ballet and the Concert Association of Florida. Noted performances held in the Au-Rene Theater included concerts from Tony Bennett and Indigo Girls as well as touring Broadway productions of The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and Wicked.
The Amaturo Theater is the second main performance space in the Broward Center. This theater has a seating capacity of 584 and showcases symphonic orchestra concerts and dance performances along with productions created by the local Miami community and children’s theaters, seminars and film showings. Notable guests and productions that have been seen at this theater include the Second City Revue, Newsies – The Musical , Gold Coast Jazz and West Side Story.
Miami Dade County Auditorium
As a premiere performing arts center, the Miami-Dade County Auditorium has served the South Florida community for more than 70 years. The center opened in 1951 with the classic opera Carmen. The Miami-Dade County Auditorium has two main performance spaces, which consist of a main theater, with a seating capacity of 2,372 and a black box theater that can hold 200 guests. The performing arts center launched a Little Havana-based event in 2015 called the “Hot Theatre Summer Series.” The series focused on offering cultural programs to the community using live theater experiences. Get tickets to the Miami Dade County Auditorium and enjoy performances from figures like Jerry Seinfeld, Yo-Yo Ma, the Florida Grand Opera and more. According to the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, the Auditorium opened in 1951 with an inaugural production of Carmen, and the main theater seats about 2,372 with a separate black-box space for roughly 200 patrons Miami‑Dade County Auditorium — Miami‑Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.
James L. Knight Center
The James L. Knight Center is a multi-purpose entertainment and convention complex located in downtown Miami. Named after a famed newspaper publisher, the James L. Knight Center cost nearly $10 million to build and opened its doors in 1982. Shortly after it opened, the event center hosted beauty pageants such as Miss Universe in 1984 and 1985 and Miss USA in 1986. The James L. Knight Center annually hosts graduation ceremonies for Miami Dade College students. The center contains 34 meeting rooms, a lecture hall that can seat 117 people as well as Ashe Auditorium, which has a seating capacity of 444.
The main performance space in the complex is the theater, which can seat up to 4,569 people. The wedge-shaped theater has a 16,000 sq. ft. stage area and was designed to project superior acoustics. The theater also provides the audience with unobstructed views of the stage. All of these spaces are perfect for hosting events like lectures and seminars as well as concerts, musicals, plays and local productions. Depending on an event’s requirement, the facility can seat up to 5,000 people. Get your James L. Knight Center tickets to enjoy events from artists like DJ Yus and The Smile.
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
The Adrienne Arsht Center was opened in 2006 at the site of a former Sears department store built in 1929. As one of the biggest performing arts centers in the country, this non-profit organization hosts more than 400 events annually, attracting close to 450,000 guests. Home to the Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and the New World Symphony, the Adrienne Arsht Center puts on a variety of theatrical productions and has also hosted political debates and Broadway shows like The Book of Mormon, The Color Purple , and Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations.
The three main performance spaces of the Adrienne Arsht Center are the Carnival Studio Theater, John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall and the Ziff Ballet Opera House. With tickets to the Adrienne Arsht Center, people can experience performances like The Barber of Seville and Hamilton , along with showcases from local artists and theater groups. The complex features capacities well suited to large-scale tours and classical programs, including the Ziff Ballet Opera House at about 2,400 seats and the Knight Concert Hall at about 2,200 seats, plus a flexible black box space for intimate plays and community series. The Arsht Center notes its role as home to resident companies including Florida Grand Opera and Miami City Ballet and presents more than 300 performances each year across venues such as the Ziff Ballet Opera House and the Knight Concert Hall Ziff Ballet Opera House | The Arsht. Florida Grand Opera is also listed among the Arsht Center’s resident companies, and the company presents mainstage productions and education programs in the region Florida Grand Opera — Resident Company page (Adrienne Arsht Center).
Plan Your Visit and Compare Seating
- For detailed event calendars and seat maps, browse TicketSmarter listings for the Arsht Center, including the Ziff Ballet Opera House: Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center
- Upcoming highlights include Clue – The Play at the Ziff Opera House: Clue – The Play Tickets
- Families can consider Disney’s Moana – Live to Film Concert at Knight Concert Hall: Disney’s Moana – Live to Film Concert Tickets
- Looking ahead, The Notebook – The Musical is slated for the Ziff Opera House: The Notebook – The Musical Tickets
How to Choose Between Miami’s Major Theatres
Selecting a venue depends on programming, capacity, and acoustics.
- Touring Broadway and ballet: Broward Center’s Au-Rene Theater, the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House, and Miami Dade County Auditorium host frequent touring productions and classical dance.
- Opera and symphony: The Florida Grand Opera appears at the Arsht Center, while symphonic concerts routinely play Knight Concert Hall and Amaturo Theater.
- Large concerts vs. intimate plays: Choose James L. Knight Center for arena-sized productions. Opt for Carnival Studio Theater or black box spaces at Miami Dade County Auditorium for intimate works.
- Seating and sound tips: Seats near a venue’s sound booth often offer balanced audio. Use TicketSmarter’s interactive maps to compare sightlines across orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony sections.
Education, Access, and Booking Tips
Many Miami venues support education and outreach with student matinees, rush tickets, and youth programming. The Broward Center and the Arsht Center run robust arts-in-education initiatives that welcome school groups and families. National NEA data show arts attendance and engagement shifted during 2021 and 2022, and arts organizations expanded education and discounted-ticket programs to rebuild audiences; in 2022 just under half of U.S. adults attended an in-person arts event, a useful context when planning group or student tickets Arts Participation Patterns in 2022 — NEA. For ticket buyers:
- Student, military, senior, and group discounts are commonly available on select events.
- Same-day box office sales may open a few hours before curtain.
- Accessible seating is available at major venues with companion locations nearby. For specific ADA requests, contact the venue box office.
- TicketSmarter provides interactive seat maps for major Miami halls and aggregates available seats in one place to help you compare options quickly.
Explore More Live Music in Miami
Beyond the theatre district, Miami hosts national tours across popular venues. You can compare concert tickets, including synthwave act The Midnight at The Fillmore Miami Beach, on TicketSmarter The Midnight Tickets at The Fillmore Miami Beach.
Get Miami Theatre Tickets Today
Whether you enjoy the opera, dance showcases or touring Broadway shows, find tickets for the top theatres in Miami with TicketSmarter. If you plan to stay in the area for a while, find exclusive Miami travel deals with HotelPlanner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best theatres in Miami for touring Broadway shows and ballet performances?
For touring Broadway, look at the Broward Center’s Au-Rene Theater and the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House. Ballet fans will also find Miami City Ballet programs at the Arsht Center. You can compare dates and seats on TicketSmarter, including Ziff Opera House listings at Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center.
How can I find tickets and seating options for major Miami performing arts centers?
Use TicketSmarter to view interactive seat maps and available inventory for Miami’s top halls. For example, explore Ziff Opera House events and family concerts such as Disney’s Moana – Live to Film at Knight Concert Hall on TicketSmarter.
Which Miami venues host opera, ballet, and symphony performances frequently?
The Adrienne Arsht Center regularly presents Florida Grand Opera and Miami City Ballet, while symphonic programs often appear in Knight Concert Hall. The Broward Center and Miami Dade County Auditorium also host classical series. TicketSmarter lists these events so you can secure seats in advance.
How do I choose between downtown Miami theaters for large-scale concerts and intimate plays?
Pick the James L. Knight Center for large concerts with capacities reaching into the thousands. Choose the Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center or black box spaces at Miami Dade County Auditorium for intimate productions. TicketSmarter seat maps help you visualize configurations before you buy.
Where can I compare seating capacities and acoustics of Miami theaters before buying tickets?
TicketSmarter event pages and venue overviews provide capacities and seat maps to help you compare orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony views. Areas near a sound booth generally offer balanced audio. For the Arsht Center’s Ziff Opera House, see the Arsht Center venue page for capacity and seating details Ziff Ballet Opera House | The Arsht.
Do Miami venues offer student or military discounts and rush tickets?
Many venues offer student rush, military, senior, and group pricing for select performances. Availability varies by show. TicketSmarter listings can help you time your purchase, and venue box offices can confirm eligibility and same-day rush details.
Can I book tickets to upcoming plays and musicals at the Arsht Center through TicketSmarter?
Yes. You can purchase tickets to upcoming shows such as Clue – The Play at the Ziff Opera House and The Notebook – The Musical on TicketSmarter.
Updated date: December 12, 2025
