The Tower Theatre (Submitted photo)

Tower Theatre

The Tower Theatre in Bend took the No. 1 slot Where to GO! see a show (musical or play), and it’s easy to see why it’s a local favorite.

Since its 2004 restoration, the former movie theater has played host to popular music concerts, traveling acrobatic acts, one-man plays, and, of course, musicals. For most of the last decade, the Tower has been kicking off each season with a locally produced musical in collaboration with local theater groups, hosting such diverse, well-received shows as “Chicago,” “The Producers,” “Les Miserables,” “Spamalot” and, last year, “A Chorus Line.” It’s currently hosting Thoroughly Modern Presents’ “Annie the Musical” (in performance through Saturday), and in September, TMP and the Tower will collaborate to present “Rock of Ages.” (towertheatre.org)

2nd Street Theater

Readers decided second place belonged to 2nd Street Theater, a haven for new and untested plays, including those of local playwrights such as Suzan Noyes, Clinton K. Clark and Cricket Daniel, the last of whom produced 24/7, in which original short plays are written, produced and staged literally overnight. It’s also a haven for more experimental fare such as the recent “Hand to God,” a dark comedy in which a demonic hand puppet wreaks evil havoc. (2ndstreetheater.com)

Volcanic Theatre Pub

Third place went to Volcanic Theatre Pub, an appealing venue with arguably the most comfortable seating in town. Seriously. Those couches and love seats will lull even the most reluctant and homebound out for a taste of Bend nightlife, be it live music or edgy theater. Its founder and proprietor Derek Sitter is like a one-man band of talent: When not manning the bar on concert nights, he’s directed and appeared in shows including Edward Albee’s “The Zoo Story,” David Sedaris’ “The Santaland Diaries,” Martin McDonagh’s “The Pillowman” and David Mamet’s “American Buffalo.” (volcanictheatrepub.com)

—David Jasper, The Bulletin