Over the last couple of decades, I've seen various shows at the Orpheum Theatre. Parking can be…read morevery difficult, and deters me from seeing a show here if I can avoid it. I'll see shows that are touring if they have a spectacular stage presence like Anastasia; which was truly remarkable! A beautiful theatre, and for the right show, worth dealing with downtown Phoenix parking.

What an absolutely gorgeous venue! As I walked in, I felt like I was stepping into a different era…read more I was so impressed and in awe with the beautiful Spanish architecture with all the intricate murals, moldings, gold accents, arches, and hidden decorative peacocks. We went to watch The Phoenix Symphony performing with Troupe Vertigo: Cirque Carmen. It was a magnificent combination of orchestral music with aerial acts, dance, and circus style performances. The seats were very comfortable and the quality of acoustics was fantastic. Make sure you take a clear bag or a small purse (8.5" x 5.5") as they do have a bag policy. Large purses and backpacks are not allowed. They also use metal detectors and have security screening. I'd definitely love to go see another performance here.

We went to see Million Dollar Quartet and it was amazing. These musicians killed it. The bass…read moreplayer almost stole the show. You really felt like you were in Memphis at Sun Studio with Elvis and the legends. Parking is free in adjacent lots. There is a bar with snacks and drinks open before the show, and if you want to order a drink ahead of time for intermission it will be ready and waiting for you. Great venue.

My wife and I watched a play for the first time today. It was a great experience. We watched…read more"Come From Away", a play about the town of Gander, Newfoundland who sheltered 7,000 people for 5 days after 9/11. It's a very nice venue. Parking is close (and free). If you like you can take the Light Rail there also. The Stephenson theater, where we saw the play, seats 500. There are no bad seats. The play itself was very well done. We thoroughly enjoyed it! We'll be back.

From experimental plays in the Kax Black box theater to Broadway shows in Center stage, the free…read moreoutdoor performances on Saturdays and First Friday, to their Art Gallery, I am always finding something my friends and I will enjoy!

I checked out Herberger Theater Center for the first time for an event hosted by Fever: The Jury…read moreExperience. Located downtown, this charming theater puts on various performances (plays, musicals, and The Empire Strips Back (a Star Wars burlesque parody) to name a few. Parking is notoriously bad downtown but here's a cheat code: if you park at the Arizona Center's parking garage, the Herberger will validate your parking ticket for a deep discount off of the fee. It's not free but it's a deep discount. Just talk to the box office and they will take care of you. The theater itself is a charming, old-school theater. We enjoyed the event and the seats were relatively comfortable. We were on the upper level and didn't have any issues seeing the stage. In the lobby, you can find some concessions selling drinks and snacks. I went with a beer. You're allowed to bring it into the theater, but there are no cup holders. Upon leaving, I found out that for certain parts of the year, there are free concerts in the grassy area outside of the theater. I'll definitely have to check that out at some point, and also come back for another perfromance!

Small cozy theater. You line up under the valet tunnel of sorts, and you offer your name once they…read moreopen the doors. No physical tickets. They offer you an optional shot once you come in, then usher you to your seats. You have a qr code menu to order any food or drink and it will be brought to you quickly. As for the most important part, the show itself. It was a fantastic mix of improv and classic Shakespeare. You will laugh and you will enjoy yourself. Highly recommended.

Hidden in downtown Phoenix, you will find The Rose Theater, where the production of Drunk…read moreShakespeare happens. In a small intimate theater, portrayed as The Library, one actor takes 5 shots of their drink of choice while still acting out the play Romeo and Juliet. It's a mix of comedy, improv, and ridiculousness that also allows for audience participation. The actors were amazing while being able to change the direction of the story. We had the convenience of ordering drinks and snacks right from our seats and having them delivered. We had a great time full of laughs! I highly recommend this hidden gem if you're looking to do something off the beaten path! Great for date nights, ladies night out, bachelor and bachelorette parties, you name it. If you're looking for something inappropriate, look no further lol!

One of my favorite artists was touring with a Phoenix stop at Monarch Theatre. The show was delayed…read moreover an hour which didn't start the night off on the right foot. Additionally, it was very crowded and loud. Personally, I'm not a fan of this location and would only visit again if it was an artist I really liked (like Ekoh). I didn't see beverages/food, but it was extremely crowded and could have missed that being an offering.

I came here to see a concert last night. Worst club I've ever been to. The bouncers are rude, the…read moresound system isn't good. There were 2 bartends for a packed house. I lost my wallet inside and when trying to get back inside or communicate to the bouncers the issues, I was dismissed due to his "long line". Will I return? Never.

My most recent visit was to the Phoenix Theatre Company to watch Jersey Boys, and I must say, the…read moreperformance was truly electrifying! The talent, energy, and passion displayed on stage from the beginning to the end were incomparable. This has become one of my go-to places for entertainment...

Definitely an interesting experience, but I admit straight away that this experience is a little…read morepricey. I like the fact that there are daring enough to challenge the audience with nudity (both male and female) in a very tasteful artistic way and I'd give them high regard for that. It honestly reminds me a lot of what the Greeks used to do through the history of their plays and performances. There were a few minor things that I had disagreements about when I went. First off it may have just been that performance but the play I attended just didn't see them that well written. Again it could've been a bad play on this attendance and it doesn't mean I won't give it another chance to see if the writing of gotten a little better. On a positive side, it was good to see them use actors who are new to the acting experience to get them seasoning. So when you go you will definitely see local upcoming talent on stage. The other negative part I have was the sound quality. They had to use headset with microphone which I thought took away from the experience of watching one on stage. There are a lot of feedback issues, dropped sound quality, and the likes which took away from the experience. I think though this too could be rectified with a little work backstage for the next time. I would like to go again and see what they have to offer. Definitely This place gives you a whole new perspective to the idea of theater which I think is a good idea. It is a pricey ticket though so be forewarned.

What beautiful hall! I saw the holiday pops show a few years ago and most recently Madama…read moreButterfly. My first opera. I was impressed.

As the self-appointed king of events, I'm back at it with another review of a venue. This time,…read moreSymphony Hall. Located in downtown Phoenix, this venue, you guessed it, houses the Phoenix Symphony. Though that's not all. They also host ballet performances and opera performances, too. I've stopped by three times for matinee performances on Sunday: the Mask of Zorro (opera), a Dia de Los Muertos performance (symphony), and Rick Steves' Europe (symphony). Since this is downtown we're talking, parking isn't easy. You'll either have to park in a garage/surface lot or on the street. I'm morally opposed to paying for parking, but I've had to shell out a couple of dollars to use metered parking ten minutes or so from the venue. Minus the parking difficulties, the rest of the experience is pretty awesome. You go through metal detectors to get in, but the line moves fast. They have complimentary water, which is always a nice touch. There are multiple areas to buy refreshments and snacks (beer, wine, liquor, soft drinks, desserts, coffee, etc.). And most importantly, the theater is beautiful. Pretty much every seat in the house is solid. And the prices tend to be affordable. They also have a nice variety of performances throughout the year. As a lover of the arts, Symphony Hall will continue to be a frequent entertainment option for me. If you've never seen a symphony performance, ballet, or opera, I highly encourage you to give it a try!

A night at The Nash is the perfect date night for anyone looking for a classy, cozy place to enjoy…read morejazz, drinks, and conversation. This RoRo staple has gotten even better since the remodel a couple years back! We most recently stopped by for a free First Friday performance, when a lovely quartet took the stage. Seats cleared out quickly during the break, and we were able to grab a nice side view. The acoustics were perfect all throughout the room -- loud enough to be immersed in the music, but quiet enough for groups to easily chat. The gorgeous lighting and velvety curtains behind the stage really add to the ambiance. The staff was super attentive, walking around to take drink and food orders. The food isn't anything crazy, but I still enjoyed the charcuterie plate as little snack (and a way to support this amazing local venue during the free set!). Highly recommend this incredible jazz club!

Oh! My! Gosh! I have to be honest, I'm not a huge music person. I don't know any instruments and…read moreI've been listening to the same songs for over a decade, so I'm not exactly known for my taste in music. Despite that, I do have a good sense of what places have the right vibes and if you need a comfy, welcoming environment just to sit back and relax, The Nash is EXACTLY where you want to be. Some friends and I visited on a Sunday night, which The Nash had scheduled as a jam sesh. The room is basically a small amphitheater with a main stage and plenty of seating for guests to enjoy the show. The seats are comfortable, the air conditioning is kept at a reasonable amount of chilly, and the music is excellent. There's just something exciting about watching people do what they're passionate about, especially when they're really good at it. Every artist who stepped on stage was fearless, outstanding, and mesmerizing. My friends and I stayed for a few hours just watching everyone play! I loved the communal atmosphere, like everybody knew each other and they were all old friends. Overall, I would highly recommend this spot for anybody visiting Phoenix. There is a very small cover charge, but for good, local music, it's worth every cent (or more, honestly!).

Great time & good food!…read more Although we had a lot of fun with live music and the food was really good the drinks were AWFUL. If you get anything other than a beer or a shot you won't even taste any alcohol. We actually sent a Gin & Tonic back and our waitress said "This is the third drink I've had to return" and she said she didn't want to return it because the person making the drinks was getting mad. Pretty sad when even the servers know how bad the drinks are. That said, we'll go back to enjoy the food and music but we're only getting shots or beer since it's pretty tough for even that bartender to mess up. Live and learn All in all we had fun and will try it again.

This is one of my favorite restaurants with live music. I've been here probably a dozen times this…read moreyear and really appreciate that they feature local cover bands and artists. It's always a fun atmosphere. They offer a good selection of beer, wine, and American cuisine (pizza, wings, salad, burgers). I also like that there is usually no cover charge since it's a restaurant/pub, though there are occasional cover charges for special events like New Year's Eve. The staff is very nice and attentive. Parking can be a challenge, as it's located in the CityScape development and the restaurant validates parking for up to two hours only.

(Would have been 3 Star review, but I gave an extra star for the company cast)…read moreThe Senior Center in Buckeye hired this company to do a "50s Sock Hop gone sour" themed party. It was a fun event, the hired actors were good and the food was decent. I don't know if the Senior Center provided the food, or if it was part of the show cost. Regardless... if you've never been to one of these murder mystery shows, it can be extremely confusing. The actors gave each table a hard book folder with notes in it, they chose one person from each table to be a "suspect" of the murder. Not a whole lot of explanation goes in to what each suspect is supposed to do. You really have to read the notes in the folder. I was chosen as a suspect and I needed to say specific things when all the suspects were interrogated up in front of the audience, on a microphone. "Anxiety spike!" A couple times, everyone in the room has to go around to other tables, or mill around the room, asking questions to try and figure out who the killer is. It gets very convoluted. I noticed that some people just gave up because it was too confusing. There should be a little bit more explanation as to what people are supposed to do, ESPECIALLY the people from the audience who are chosen as suspects, or people who have NEVER been to a murder mystery themed show. Overall, it's a fun time, but be expected to do some reading, take some notes and actually participate in the show. It's not like you're there just watching a tv show. Kudos to the company actors. They were fun. Good job, cast!

What a fantastic experience; I cannot say enough good words to express how thoroughly engaged the…read moreactors made everyone feel. Kudos! The party, an 80's themed mystery, in Las Vegas, was facilitated by Valarie and Toni, and they pulled it off with flair and style. The ability to begin with cocktails and appetizers gave everyone involved a chance to mingle & created cohesive detective pairings for total strangers. Time went fast and it was saturated with twists and hidden clues. I had such a good time. *Highly recommend for anyone wanting to throw a unique party. Most excellent!