A jewel-box auditorium with gilded plasterwork, a domed ceiling, and rich red drapery, the Perot is a 1,600-seat survivor from the era when even mid-sized Southern cities had grand picture palaces. After decades of decline, it reopened in 1980 as a performing arts venue and now hosts touring Broadway productions, symphony concerts, and the occasional comedian.
The acoustics are surprisingly forgiving, and the steeply raked balcony delivers good sightlines. Even without a show, the lobby is worth a peek if you can talk your way in: marble columns, ornate light fixtures, and the kind of decorative density that nobody builds anymore.