Tacoma’s Armory Is Becoming the City’s Most Unpredictable Stage

A few months ago, the future of the Tacoma Armory looked remarkably quiet.

In January, Tacoma Arts Live announced that it would end most of its programming by June 30 and place the historic building on the market. Declining ticket sales had left the nonprofit unable to continue operating as it had before.

But the lights never went out completely.

Tacoma Arts Live has since entered a court-supervised restructuring process, named longtime staff member Katie Stricker as its new CEO and announced that educational programs, community activities and selected performances will continue at the Armory while the organization determines its future.

The clearest evidence of that new direction may be the wonderfully unpredictable schedule arriving this month.

On Friday, September 18, Tacoma-based nonprofit Sabor Flamenco will fill the Armory’s Roosevelt Room with traditional flamenco performed by dancers, vocalists and guitarists.

One night later, Bandit Improv will take over the same room with game-based, long-form comedy created in the moment. The group will return for additional performances in October, November and December.

Then, on Friday, September 25, the room will become an R&B silent disco. Guests will receive wireless headphones and choose between two live DJs—one playing throwback R&B and the other spinning current hits. Additional silent discos featuring hip-hop, disco, Afrobeats and reggaeton are scheduled through December.

All three September events begin at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7. Tickets are listed at $24.54, including online fees.

The performances are part of Live at the Eleanor, an intimate series Tacoma Arts Live launched in 2025 as an alternative to conventional big-stage productions. Audiences sit close to the performers in a smaller room featuring exposed brick, vintage rugs and seating arranged around tables.

What began largely as a genre-spanning music series now appears to be embracing a much wider definition of live entertainment.

That makes the September schedule more than an unusual collection of events. It offers an early glimpse at how Tacoma Arts Live may use the Armory during its uncertain next chapter: not only as an enormous hall for exhibitions and roller skating, but as a flexible home for smaller, local and decidedly unconventional experiences.

Tacoma Arts Live has not said that the Armory is no longer for sale. Its July announcement says the organization expects its restructuring process to last approximately 16 months. Click here to read the complete press release.

For now, however, one thing is clear: the Armory isn’t going quiet without trying a few new moves first.

Not familiar with the Tacoma Armory? Read a great history of the building and some of the great events that have taken place there over the years here.