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Kennedy Theatre At Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts Tickets
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About Kennedy Theatre At Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
The Kennedy Theatre is a versatile, black-box style venue within the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. This intimate space offers flexible seating for up to 144 attendees on a 40 x 60 ft stage, making it ideal for experimental works, intimate concerts, and literary or spoken-word performances. Operated in a modern downtown setting, the Kennedy Theatre combines artistic versatility with convenient access to transit, parking, and nearby amenities.
Ticketing is straightforward: purchase at the box office Monday through Friday, 10 AM–2 PM, or buy securely online via Ticketmaster. For the best seating options, check the current seating chart on the MMCPA site and secure your seats early for popular shows. The venue remains a core part of the larger Martin Marietta Center, which also hosts other performing arts stages and events throughout the year.
Getting to the Kennedy Theatre is easy with multiple transit options. GoTriangle provides regional bus service, and the R-LINE free downtown shuttle stops near the Raleigh Convention Center, offering a convenient option for downtown attendees. Ambulatory access is supported with accessible parking in the center deck and an accessible drop-off on South Street. Event parking nearby is typically priced around the best available price, and the front lots are currently impacted by construction for the Omni Raleigh Hotel. When planning your visit, consider nearby hotels and dining to enhance your Raleigh experience. While Omni Raleigh Hotel is planned across from the center with roughly 550 rooms (opening targeted for 2027), there are other lodging choices within a short radius, plus a variety of restaurants in the downtown area. The Kennedy Theatre has hosted notable performances and collaborations, including a hometown concert by Ariana DeBose in 2019 and connections to Theatre Raleigh’s Hot Summer Nights series, underscoring its role in Raleigh’s vibrant arts scene.
Secure your seats with confidence: we’ve got you covered with reliable ticketing options and up-to-date venue details. The Kennedy Theatre retains its name as a distinctive venue within the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.
Good to know
Seating, Parking & Venue Information
- Venue type: black-box experimental theatre (40 x 60 ft) with seating up to 144.
- Address: 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601.
- Seating chart exists on the MMCPA site (direct PDF link may be restricted by access controls).
- Ticketing: Tickets can be purchased at the box office (Mon–Fri 10 AM–2 PM) or online via Ticketmaster.
- Parking: Front lots closed since 11/23/2025 for Omni Raleigh Hotel construction; multiple nearby parking options; event parking $10; accessible parking in the center deck; accessible drop-off on South Street.
- Transit: Public transit via GoTriangle; R-LINE free downtown bus with a stop at the Raleigh Convention Center; accessible drop-off on South Street.
- Nearby hotels: Omni Raleigh Hotel (planned across from the center, ~550 rooms; opening targeted for 2027).
- Notable events: Hosted performers like Ariana DeBose (a 2019 hometown concert); historically linked to the Hot Summer Nights series run by Theatre Raleigh.
- Renaming/branding: The performing arts center is branded as Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts since 2023; Kennedy Theatre itself retains its name as a venue within the center.