First time to the theater, watching Little Shop of Horrors. Very elegant and beautiful waiting area…read morewith bar and friendly staff! They have a "pre-order" option for intermission. Definitely take advantage of that as the line at the bar gets quite long. The theater was very comfy and elegant as well. We parked underground at the library. Getting out was worse than hockey games. Next time I would think twice about parking there. It's definitely nice not having to walk outside side to get to your car in winter though.

Came here for a musical. My first time! Parking is not fun but we took advantage of La Ronde's free…read moreWednesday parking with food/drink purchase and went for drinks before the show. Website is super clear and was great to know how long the show was, that there is no intermission, where to park, etc.. Since we had to change our tickets we had to pickup from box office but that was very easy to find and very nice people working there. We were in the Shocter theatre I think. It was more tight that I would have liked as it was awkward when we/other people had to squeeze by to get to their seats. Show was 10/10 great, definitely loud enough.

The Walterdale is a community theatre that gives many an aspiring actor, set designer, or…read moreproduction assistant some valuable experience. Although the productions are run primarily by volunteers (including the actors), the productions are very professional. Ticket prices are affordable, and there are Sunday matinees. Art from local artists adorn the corridors of the lobby, which can get quite cramped before and after a show. The small snack bar offers some candy and drinks. If you like live theatre, don't overlook what's happening at the Walterdale!

Walterdale Playhouse is my home away from home. I have been involved with the theatre for the past…read more8 years - as a patron, a board member, an actor, painter, set builder, assistant stage manager, props - you name it, I've done it. I had no previous theatre experience, but the volunteers (they have one paid administrator, the rest is entirely volunteer run) scooped me up, fostered any talent I had in me and let me run with it. I am continually amazed at the professionalism in this amateur community theatre. Their most recent production, Nine, was phenomenal. The stage was incredible. The musicians were outstanding, the cast and crew were amazing. From upside down singing on a stripper pole, to dance numbers with a huge cast - this little theatre transported the audience out of their seats and into the Italian spa. The art in the lobby is indeed from local artists and is coordinated before each show to reflect the themes in the show. All are available for purchase and is a great way to integrate local artists into our community. The theatre is cozy and very intimate, but not too small that you feel claustrophobic. Ticket prices range from $12-$20, the first Thursday of every run is 2 for 1. Also the Monday before the show opens is Student night - students get in free with a valid Student ID. Amazing deal! Located next to the Strathcona Farmer's Market, the building is a converted fire hall - the first in Strathcona - and the building is a designated heritage spot at over 100 years old.

Easy online booking. Greeter checks your name at the door,…read moreand you walk right in. Perfectly nice foyer. Buy a delicious glass of wine at the concession and seat yourself. Comfortable theatre seats. Great viewing. One exit at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom. If you need to leave in the middle of an act ( I really had to go to the bathroom!!!) you will be escorted back to the upstairs theater entrance. No problem. Just a little eye rolling. Washrooms are clean and modern. Staff are terrific.

Been going here for years (started sometime in high school) and it hasn't changed a bit in quality…read moresince I left. Awesome improv on Friday and Saturday night and tickets are a steal for 2 hours of entertainment. Rapid Fire Theatre is the best - love the Whose Line is it Anyways game style that they use. Just went here to see two shows for the Improvaganza Festival (Wednesday - Opening Night and Saturday - Rapid Fire Theatre and The Gentleman's Club). Tickets were $10 and $15 respectively, worth every penny. Go while you still can! Perfect for a date or hang out with friends. Plus they have cheap drinks and candy (twizzler/nibs).

L'UniTheatre is a gorgeous theatre in Edmonton that is sometime forgotten by the general public…read more Tucked away in the french quarters of Edmonton L'UniTheatre produces its own french theatrical programming as well as is a popular rental venue for companies such as Good Women Dance Collective and Workshop West Theatre. It is also programmed heavily during the Fringe Festival. Built in the late 1990's the theatre is a beautiful space with 3 levels of seating stacked in a manner that allows everyone to be near to the stage and with great sight lines. There really aren't any bad seats in the house. The theatre remains well kept, easy to access and a great spot in a beautiful neighbourhood.

Went here for the first time last night to see a dance performance. The theatre is small - looks…read morelike it can seat around 100 people - and pretty basic. The audio seemed fine but they were only playing recorded music so I don't know what it would be like for a live performance. Two pet peeves: - The seats aren't staggered at all so the person in front of you is right in front of you. Moving their head at the same time as you are moving your head, etc. If you get stuck behind someone taller than you, it's pretty much tough luck, suck it up. Also, not a lot of leg room, rows very close together. - I don't know if it's just because it was -30 outside, but it was boiling hot in the theatre. I got a little dizzy! A few of my friends commented on it as well.

My gf and I participated in a Bollywood style dance fitness class here tonight. It was really fun…read more We are going back next Friday. This studio is really big and looked clean. There is free parking in the back you just need to register for it in the building.

It's been a while since my last visit to Marr Mac, but I have vivid memories of my experience at…read morethis dance studio. I have been studying dance since I was 5 years old (thanks, mom!), so the first thing I did when I moved to Edmonton was find a dance studio. One of my girlfriends recommended Marr Mac. I love this studio's location: it is at the back of the building occupied by Movie Studio and is very discreet. The studio itself is in the basement and consists of several large dance rooms. There are hardwood floors and wall-to-wall mirrors in every room.I signed up for musical theater, hip-hop and jazz. Additionally, there are ballet and tap classes. What can I say about the intructors? These people bring out the best in their students and make everyone believe in themselves. They are quick to provide encouraging words and to commend, and they never reprimand or discourage. There were several older women in my hip-hop class who confessed that their feelings of inadequacy upon starting the class disappeared as the classes progressed, thanks to the instructor's professionalism and encouraging words. I didn't get a chance to experience it first hand but as far as I know, Marr Mac's students get to perform onstage at various venues and to take dance trips abroad. Our musical theater teacher mentioned that once we master our routine, we will get to perform onstage. I wish I stayed at Marr Mac long enough to see this happen. Unfortunate circumstances made me stop attending this wonderful studio. I am thinking about resuming the classes very shortly.

Shout out of gratitude to the awesome Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and their recent three night free…read moreoutdoor series for Edmontonians. This labour day weekend, the Symphony, with their corporate partners, hosted three outdoor performances. The Hubba Hubby and I were excited to take in Disney on Friday night and The McDades on Sunday. The Disney show was incredible - amazing music from some old and new favourites. And there were four vocalists as well - an unexpected treat and wow were they incredible. The woman who sang as Ariel was spot on. And Genie and Zazu were unbelievable. It was such a great experience with something like twelve thousand in attendance for the two performances. And partnering with the McDades Sunday night in Kinsmen park, under the High Level Bridge was another great experience. We were just wowed with the performances - great experiences! Huge thanks to them for sharing their talent.

So I've been to a few performances from ESO and I've got to say I've been impressed. Not only do…read morethey do a good job, but it seems like they are always trying different things. The recent Symphony in the City highlights this. We caught the Fantasia one at the beginning of September and it was delightful despite the weather being cold. The support for our ESO really amazed me with so many volunteers supporting it. Seating was first come first serve for the Symphony In the City and a lot of families get there early! They have a limited concession there for food and drinks and a few food trucks were there as well. Overall it was pretty awesome. And although the weather chased us away at intermission I couldn't help but bask in this ultimate sense of community in Churchill Square.

I have taken two classes here and am about to sign up for my third…read more My first class was Beginning Aerial Silks. I highly recommend it if you are particularly interested in Silks. If you're unsure, the Intro to Aerial Arts might be better: you do trapeze, vertical rope, and aerial silks. My teachers for Aerial Silks were Sheri and Sandra. They were fantastic. My second class was with Mackenzie and was Aerial Fitness & Cross Conditioning. This class was always fun. Mackenzie kept things fresh with a mix of stretching, strength, and cardio using the floor, trapeze, silks, and other fitness apparatuses. I am about to sign up for the Beginner Contortion class for the Fall and am really looking forward to it! The staff is friendly and all the instructors are actively honing their craft. The class sizes are small so you get what you pay for: lots of one on one attention.

Ever feel the urge to run away and join the circus? Firefly Theatre and Circus has classes in…read morecircus arts for all ages - think more Cirque du Soleil, less bearded lady. Beginners can take their Taste of the Circus taster class held on a weekend several times a year, or their Intro to Aerial Arts class, a 6-week introductory class with instruction on aerial silks, rope and static trapeze. They also offer advanced classes in the aforementioned disciplines, as well as contortion, straps, hoop, loop/hammock, handstands, aerial yoga, conditioning, and kids' classes too! Students even get a chance to perform in their annual student show, Let There Be Height. I have taken several of their classes in the past and have found the staff to all be friendly, encouraging, and safety-minded. It is an excellent upper body workout (hauling your body weight 30ft in the air while climbing the silks will do that!), but should probably be supplemented with other activities for a full-body workout. Although they have safety precautions (there are crash mats below each of the apparatuses and full warm-up and cool-downs each class), you are relying on your own strength (and nothing else - no safety harnesses) to prevent you from falling to the ground, and this part freaks out my non-circus friends routinely, so just a heads up. There have been no serious injuries here that I know of, and they have a very distinct skills progression and won't teach you anything you're not ready to learn. Classes are relatively pricey at around $30 a class if you sign up for the whole session, or $50 for their taster class, but totally worth it for the uniqueness of the workout! See you in the air!

My husband and I went to see First Date in February when it was playing. Show was decent but not…read morewhat I would say memorable. It is one of those cute Valentine's type of shows that they play that time of year. Fairly predictable but enjoyable. The service we recieved was excellent considering that it was a buffet but the servers were attentive and our water and wine glasses were always topped up. Buffet is large and extensive. I normally dislike buffets but here they are well executed. Salad bar, a small seafood session (didn't enjoy the sushi rolls), cheese section. What has changed is instead of the prime rib station was replaced with a striploin and beef brisket station. I tried a piece of each. They were certainly not stingly. I am surprised on how much I enjoyed the striploin. But for a girl that doesn't like sweets, I love the Mayfield dessert choices. They are bite size so you can try a selection. I always get the rice pudding. So for a fairly predictable night out for both food and entertainment, which you won't be blown away but you won't be disappointed, try here.

We have been going annually to the Mayfield for our wedding anniversary for over 10 years now…read more Until now, we have been very happy with our choice, except perhaps for the time they did improv. This year, we happened to go the first week of the new season, Simon and Garfunkle. The show was excellent, the two singers channelling Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle perfectly. The only fault I could find with the show was that the drums were inappropriately loud. I have S&G vinyl that I just played to prove that my memories of the 60's are quite correct: The drums on the original are very subdued. The likely cause is that the program had a long resume for the drummer. Likely his ego was as puffed up as his resume. Where we were disappointed was with the dinner. It's always a buffet and excellent if you arrive as soon as the doors open. This time, we chose the brisket from the carvery and found it quite dry. The baked desserts were stale, as if they had been saved for the month the MDT was closed. Everything elsa was freshly made, salads and the items on the steam tables. Another problem was with the air conditioning. My wife complained that it was too cold in the theatre and was told that nothing could be done about it. Thankfully, the staff brought her a fuzzy warm blanket that she was able to wrap around herself. Before the show started, I looked around and another man in short sleeves was wrapped up as well. There had been a late summer heat wave which would have required cooling one or two nights before. The MDT should have been able to adapt more quickly. Hopefully when our anniversary rolls around next year, the MDT will be back on its game.