There is no place for dead space in the live theater. In past, wherever one looks in a historic theater auditorium there are signs of life or the potential for life everywhere. Fast-forward to present day, though this design ideology remains the same, contemporary playhouses look much different.

Theatre, derived from the Ancient Greek word théatron, meaning a place for viewing. Literally, a place to spectate. This meaning has been influencing the design of theaters for ages. The architecture has always taken the main stage, but in cases where it could not, there were statues, paintings, decorative motifs of plants, or some other signs of life, and this would exist virtually everywhere that might catch a playgoer’s eye. Architects today have streamlined this idea by more or less eliminating statues and decorative motifs, instead focusing on three-dimensional acoustic paneling, creating patterns with light and designing architecturally sleek spaces to promote movement and wayfinding.

Well, it's showtime and the curtain is rising, so we've gathered some of our favorite modern theaters for you to analyze as well. Join the conversation on our facebook page.