Cool vibe at this historical theater! Located in a fun area of Madison, it's a gem to look at in both it's interior and exterior. Despite being an old theater they keep both the theater area and restrooms clean. Great acoustics and lighting for the size. For the best views, I'd definitely recommend snagging a front balcony seat to see the show and soak up the ambiance of the theater. Prices on drinks are a little high but reasonable enough. Polite and efficient staff. You can get digital tickets or pay something like $5 to have them mailed to you, which I prefer because it's fun to keep your ticket stubs. Cons? The chairs aren't super comfortable and they manage to get just under 1,000 people in the venue; impressive for ticket sales but it does make for a somewhat cramped venue, crowded lobby for drinks/merch and long lines out the front waiting for the show. Winter in Wisconsin? Better bring some hand warmers and all the things for the long wait on the sidewalk. Very limited parking so we find it best to park a couple blocks into the residential areas and wear comfortable shoes. It's a pretty safe area. Just a few things to keep in mind if you have claustrophobia. Totally worth coming for a show if it's someone/a group you've been waiting to see. We'll continue watching the upcoming shows lineup and come back! read more

What a good time at the Barrymore the first led theaters style and heart make any show here amazing read more

Barrymore Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This old theatre has a quirky charm to it. They have a massive concessions stand. The seats are very comfortable. This theatre is small so there are no bad seats. There is a parking lot and a good amount of street parking available. read more

Barrymore Theatre - Bathroom door(s) - Performing Arts Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The Barrymore Theatre is a 971-capacity live music venue on the east side. It was originally built in 1929. It is to me the most important place in the Schenk-Atwood area. The Barrymore has had a history as diverse as the current entertainment on its schedule. It is an independent, community-based theater, owned by a nonprofit corporation. These are dying in America, so let's support the one we got. There is something here for everyone at least once a year! Not a big picture taking gal so no evidence to support this claim but I'd venture to say nothing about the theatre appearance has changed in my time. Who knows when it last did. And that's what you need to know so you are coming with right expectations and not "corporate" ones. This is a no frills joint, an old school theatre where your focus is on the entertainment. I get my pre-show chow down the block and simply enjoy amazing acoustics for all of the live music I have witnessed at The Barrymore. This setting does really well to beautifully showcase a man and his guitar. We will see how it does next month with a man and his guitar and a piano! Truly we should be thankful to share an intimate room with some of the best musicians of our generation. We need The Barrymore for hosting them and to continue to make the sound superb. The venue hosts a variety of entertainment too, which I appreciate though it's all live music for me. It's worth looking at their schedule to find something to attend if you are in town for a long weekend or more. Visitors should stop here for a Madison experience. There are Barrymore ticket sellers around town so if you want to buy a physical ticket in your neighborhood, you can do that. Huge plus. read more

Barrymore Theatre - Issa vibe. Attending a Todd Snider concert at The Barrymore. - Performing Arts Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The Barrymore is a super cute little theater on Atwood Avenue in Madison. We went to see Sal Vulcano from Impractical Jokers. He was for sure a 5/5 stars but I'd give the venue 3.5 stars. We had to wait for about an hour to get in which was not super fun in the winter but is understandable. We also had to show proof of vaccination while we waited in line and got a stamp on our hands. When we got in, there were 3 sections to sit in based on what tickets you purchased: gold circle, main floor, and balcony. We bought main floor tickets which were pretty good. The gold allowed you to sit the closest up and get in 15 minutes earlier which isn't really worth the price in my opinion. The inside is cute but definitely doesn't look like it's had anything done to it in years. It's pretty outdated but not in the charming way I'd expect an old theater to look. I did love how the ceiling looked like a sky and twinkling lights! That was my favorite part of the decor! We got popcorn and Jameson and sprites to drink. The drinks were good but the popcorn was the most boring popcorn I've had. It tasted like plain popcorn with no butter or salt. It maybe had oil on it instead because the bag was leaking oil. Definitely a waste of money even though the theater smells delicious and buttery. The show itself was fantastic and Sal was hilarious as usual. His openers were super funny as well! I'm super happy we got a chance to see them while they were in Madison. I'd definitely go back but I'd stick to the main floor and just drinks. Hopefully they'll make some updates to the theater in the future! read more

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We were here for the Found Footage Festival which was a real hoot. It was our first time at the Barrymore. Despite having bought tickets ahead of time on-line and paying a service charge we had to wait in line with everyone buying tickets to trade in our order for a ticket - a bit of a pain given the line was long. The inside of the theater was decent for an old place - it is a mixture of historical charm and worn out sadness. Though it looks like the seats are new with integrated cup holders - a nice touch given they serve beer and drinks. The sight lines were OK. Unlike some of the reviewers we were lucky that the show was in November and there was no need for the non-existent AC. Assuming installing AC is not in their future I will keep that in mind next summer when considering attending any events here. read more

Great Venue. Nice seating. Reasonable drink prices ! Definitely will be returning . The Samantha Fush show as Great but I hope that was their sound engineer & not the Barrymore's . The board was clipping red way too much . Ruined the sound ! In my opinion . We'll see at the Robt Cray Oerfirmance ! read more

Beautiful old theater in the heart of the Atwood neighborhood. We went to see the Criminal podcast live show, and it got very crowded and hot fast - I don't think they have A/C. We ordered some beers, and it was cash only, so we had to make a quick stop at the ATM. The atmosphere is fun and the ceiling inside the theater has lights that look like constellations, which I thought was really cool. Overall we had a good time, and will probably be back if there are other shows we're interested in. read more

It's an old theater but gets great shows. No real parking but I used an Uber to get there.

This is a great venue for live comedy. It's quaint, a throwback that feels and looks dated, but that's part of its enormous charm.

I hate the Barrymore. I just hate it. Worst medium-sized venue in town. If there's a show I want to see then I notice they're at the Barrymore I usually skip it. How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways: -They don't have AC, only swamp cooling, which simply doesn't work in the Midwest. You get there and the building is cool but by the time the show ends it's sweltering. -The seats are horrible. Terribly uncomfortable. -The lighting sucks. Every other old theater that has stayed in business has figured out the need for a front-of-house position for key lighting. We want to SEE the talent we came to see. -The bar is in the lobby, so I have to leave the room to get a beer. -The dance floor is too small. They could fix it, but it's probably too late - Sylvee will put the final nail in this sad old building's coffin. Unless they've got a huge reserve built up from the facility fees they collect on every ticket or start a capital campaign, they're dead. The fix: Get AC. Drop in a FOH truss and hang a dozen spots on it. Remove the first 7 or 10 rows, pour in a flat floor (see Orpheum) - put rolling bars on both sides of the stage for concerts and temporary / removoable seating for everything else. Done. read more

This is a great venue! I went here on a Sunday night for a show. The place literally used to be a theater and still has the seats. There also is an area in front of the stage for standing. I love the look and feel of this theater. It appears very little has been updated which gives it a very vintage feel which I love. The sound/acoustics were fantastic. I liked that if I got tired of standing I could easily find a seat and even if I was in the back the sound still was good and I could see everything going on on stage. I definitely will be back the next time there is a band that I want to see. Check this place out if you see there is a performance you want to see. You will not be disappointed. read more

Barrymore Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I like this theater a lot. I have been in for a handful of shows now. The seating is nice and comfy. The theater itself it very nice. The walls are painted with a nice color theme, and the ceiling is twinkling with star lights. The sound and acoustics here are amazing for seeing live music. The space is not too large, so even at the furthest spot, you have a great view. I like to snag a spot in the balcony. If you're first or second row of the balcony, you have the best view in the house! It's a great venue for stand up comedy, too. Again, since it's not huge, you don't ever get that feeling like you're watching an ant on stage. No matter where you sit, you are still pretty close. Shows at the Barrymore definitely give you that intimate feeling, and that's what I like best about seeing people perform here. Parking can be tricky. There are a couple of United Way lots within a couple blocks that you can usually park in (for evening/weekend shows, they are reserved Mon-Fri til 5pm) and there is usually ample parking behind the Kennedy Place Apartments as well (there is an office building that is closed in the evening back there - that's where I usually park). There are a few bars around the area too if you want to come early for parking and need to fill the gap with a drink or two. Don't park in the lot by Player's though - it's not actually Player's lot, and you will get towed! read more

I was here a few months ago to watch a live show and though I wasn't a huge fan of the artist I figured you can't really go wrong with a live show. I think I may have been wrong. The show was good enough but everything else was just meh. Let's begin with the parking situation. There is no parking situation. I drove around for close to 20 minutes until I found something and though the spot I found ended up being pretty decent I did have to circle the block for 20 minutes before I found it. They have a parking lot in the back but it is really small and was full before I got there. Additionally, I tried to get a drink before the show and tried to hit up a bar but there were no good bars in the area. The bar I found, the name escapes me now, was cash only and looked so old. With that said however, they did make a pretty good vodka gimlet. The Barrymore Theatre itself was not any better. The ticket person was certainly less than a bowl of sunshine and I got in only to discover that they only took cash. When a place only takes cash I usually vow to myself not return. I think I am going to stick to that for this venue as well. read more

1. Good location. There are many fun dining spots around that make this a real date night or friends night out location! 2. It is a nice size for a venue. Not too big. 3. It hosts events of all shapes and sizes. From Popular acts, to film events, to speakers, and fundraising events. 4. Beer at a decent price for an event venue. It has lost some of the shine it once has. It's not the only place in town to catch touring music or artists anymore. The staff are not as friendly or welcoming as they used to be. I don't spend money getting beer because I don't like how I have been treated by the door people. I look to the Barrymore to keep bringing fun and interesting guests to Madison but I want to feel like I'm part of it. Sure I'm not a regular because it is not my side of town. But I grew up attending events at the Barrymore and I don't want to stop going. I will end on a high note. I love that the Barrymore has been added to the Wisconsin Film Festival. Opening night at the Barrymore has some magic about it. read more

Madison's great historic small concert venue. Lot's of great bands play here. I saw Weezer on their Pinkerton Tour with Nerf Herder (remember them? The Van Halen Song? Yes, I'm that old). read more

Barrymore Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

3.5 stars for the Barrymore Theater. I've been here to see a few shows over the years. I've never really had a problem with the crowds or the seating. Yes, it does get a little bit packed for the GA shows, but if you get there early enough it's pretty easy to find the seating you want. It's a decent place to see a show. I had no problems finding parking around the corner from the venue, a few blocks away. I had to walk a little, and in the wintertime that kind of sucks, but I would never pay for parking in this neighborhood. My favorite part of this venue is the 'star' curtain on the ceiling. Very cool and it creates a lot of ambiance. This is an older theater and I really enjoy the ornate woodwork along the walls. The sound is fantastic, too. If there's another artist that my husband and I want to see, we'll make the trek out to Madison to see it. read more

The Barrymore is a great mid-size venue. Great sound, good sight lines, plenty of room to stand up front, and to top it all off, a ceiling of twinkling stars. Parking can be a little tricky, but after going a few times you learn the side streets. Some bands I've seen here include Stars, Bright Eyes, She & Him, Jonny Lang, The Mars Volta, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs - one of the most memorable shows ever because Karen O. was swilling from a bottle of champagne, fell off the stage, and managed to keep singing the entire time without missing a note or spilling a drop. read more

I've been here for shows many times through the years. The venue is small, but it is cozy and has lots of charm. I've seen stand up comedy, concerts, and other events here and for pretty much all of them I'd say there isn't a bad seat in the house. Since it is small though, it tends to get crowded very quickly - and in general there is not assigned seating for the shows - so definitely show up early (before doors open) to get the best seats, or to make sure you sit together if you are with a large group. Parking is not the best, but If you don't mind a small walk parking in the neighborhood behind the theater is your best option. read more

Went recently to the Moth Grand Slam. Unfortunately it was general admission only with no reserved seating. They suggested that since the doors open at 7 and the show begins at 8, that we get there before 7 for good seats. Overall it was very orderly and we did get excellent seats. read more

Barrymore Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Saw a great show. The venue has some very contradictory policies that they claim are to keep you healthy and safe. They lied and said it was a county ordinance, in reality it's their policy decision. At least you'll know that anyone that is unvaccinated has recently tested negative, so if you get sick it's from a vaccinated person. read more

Absolutely awesome and historic venue. The acts that have come through this place in the last 20 years is absolutely astounding! I would kill to have been at this place in the early and mid-90s. Anyway, the place has good acoustics and a nice setting for just about any kind of music or event you can imagine. It is hard to believe that this place used to be a porn theater! Though I think that is part of the charm. read more

30 minutes late and no sign of the show. What up???? Santa Baby burlesque doesnt seem to be happenin"

The Barrymore Theater and the Rousers. Spent the Night Cheatin and Drinkin at the Barrymore Theater May 17th. I haven't been in the Atwood Ave area in over 20 years. The whole area has a great Vibe going. Looks like me and the Gal will have another place to hang out. The Barrymore Theater... It may be old, it may have shown porn back in the day, but it still has the blinking stars on the ceiling. This is a great place to watch a live band. You got stadium seating if that is your thing, and enough room in front of the stage to dance. Did I mention they have Tap beer?? Not just crappy tap beer, but 8 different craft beers. I am a Fan!!! 4 Stars. The Rousers, What can I say? Wow! It must have been 1987 last time I saw the Greatest Rockabilly band ever. It was amazing to hear songs off the Rousers "In without Knocking" EP. I have the Vinyl but nothing to play it on, so I was excited to pick up a Frank Furillo Signed CD! This was an epic show. They sounded great, and their stage presence is second to none. This was their 30th anniversary Show, and what a show it was. They pulled out all the stops and left everything on stage. It was great to see fellow former Mother's Pub employees and customers. I drove down from Minneapolis but I was talking to a guy who could bet that He came in from Montana to see the Band. Let me just say I was blown away by the whole night. 6 out of 5 stars!!!! If you have never seen them. You still have the chance. CELEBRATE FATHER'S DAY WITH THE ROUSERS SUNDAY JUNE 15TH 83rd ANNUAL COTTAGE GROVE FIREMAN'S FESTIVAL COTTAGE GROVE, WI 2-5 PM IN THE BIG BEER TENT ADMISSION IS FREE read more

In other cities or other years, I could see the Barrymore getting a higher score from me. But in the last few years, other venues in Madison have really stepped up their game, and the Barrymore doesn't seem to care about keeping up with its contemporaries. Its use of social media is near-archaic. The venue doesn't make an effort to create or even update pages for individual events, and good luck if you get any indication that a show is on track to sell out. And perhaps it's just my personal taste, but the Barrymore used to bring in excellent music acts on a much more regular basis. Now it just caters to the aging-hippie population of the neighborhood, preferring to fill its schedule with predictable offerings about far-left-leaning politics. These events don't offend my own political views, but they're often dull and serve as nothing more than an echo chamber for people who want their beliefs perpetually reaffirmed. They sell more tickets that way, so I'm not sure I can blame them for the strategy, but I hardly ever like the shows there. Also, the tickets are 2-3 times more expensive than the tickets usually are at other live entertainment venues in town. The building itself isn't falling into disrepair, like the Orpheum is (heartbreakingly, I might add), but areas of infrastructure could certainly benefit from attention. There is no public WiFi, and you'll be hard-pressed to get cell phone reception, even in the balcony. I do appreciate that the open dance area is slanted a bit so that we vertically-challenged folks have a chance to see, but if you want to be able to sit and see the acts, the balcony is your best bet. It's not often open, however, especially for shows that haven't sold a ton of tickets. I don't recall this being a problem at prior events, but at the show I attended last night, there were constant problems with microphone feedback, often necessitating acrobatics by the band itself. The tap beer selection is good, but that's pretty standard in this town. Bottled beer selection pales in comparison to other venues, and the liquor and wine options are slim pickings. The bar is cash-only. The only ATM in the place charges a $4 fee for each use, so if you need to withdraw cash, make sure to get enough in one go. The line can be enormous, and often is bisected by people exiting and entering the theater. The bathrooms are fairly clean and well-stocked, although I've used them on more than one occasion to discover that they were out of soap, necessitating the use of their hand sanitizer instead. Also, the saloon-style doors are an easy way to get smacked in the face entering and exiting the bathroom, so exercise plenty of caution around them. The bathrooms are so tiny that the lines are formed outside the doors. They also don't sell earplugs, so make sure you bring your own. Bottom line: in the rare event that they have a show I want to see, I'll go, but I make sure to bring plenty of cash, my own earplugs, and my plastic Barrymore cups (drinks are 50 cents cheaper when you remember to bring your cups back). read more

I love the Barrymore. I dig the vibe. I'm known to drive to Madison to see a show at the Barrymore even if the same band is playing the very next day at the Rave. It's a fact. I like how laid back it is. I like the people who work there. I like the little plastic cups your beer comes in. I just plain like it. read more

Came here for a concert and the security instantly assumed that I had been drinking which I had not. My friend was also hassled because he purchased his ticket online in advance and they were apparently unable to handle that transaction. Personally, I will not be attending any other performances here. read more

This theater has some really great acts and a good tap beer selection. The only reason I didn't give this old lovely theater five stars in that the theater itself could really use a lot of upgrades inside. I'm hoping that they follow in the Orpheum Theater's fashion and spend some decent money to bring this grad theater back to its original glory. read more

I love seeing shows at the Barrymore. There isn't a bad seat in the house and there's nothing better than strolling over there for a concert after dining at Monty's. This would be a five-star review, but their website is awful. I'm a pretty experienced online shopper, but it's really frustrating if you want to go back to the homepage because you can't view your cart from there. I wonder how many people make mistakes and buy more tickets than they need? read more

Very amazing show, but I would not be back here considering there is no air conditioning. On one of the hottest days of the year, I spent my night here and it was very rough without AC. I felt like I was going to pass out! read more

I've seen two of my favorite concerts in this theatre-Band of Horses and Dawes. The size, history and proximity to my house are what I love about this place. The drinks are slightly pricey but not crazy and the concert tickets are always reasonable-after just moving from Chicago I am astonished and happy as can be! I would recommend coming here for a show anytime-plus there are several good restaurants/bars around! read more

Arlo Guthrie, Henry Rollins, Toots and the Maytals are just a few of the bands on the line up this month. It's a great place to see a band, and they have good beers on tap too. read more

Great place for live music. Excellent selection of local beers on tap, friendly staff.

Yes the Barrymore has a solid East Side vibe, and decent acoustics but from the patron's point of view it is a pit. The seats are cramped and uncomfortable. The dance area is small and you get the hairy eyeball from the cranky front rowers if you want to groove. I've seen them throw people out for even dancing a foot into the aisle...at John Hiatt! If you end up in the balcony- give it up and go home. Don't even want to mention the bathrooms, dirty taps and awful popcorn. And yes it is in perpetual decline and there seems to be no will to fix it up. Maybe the various east side music fetes should pool their resources and work on that. But my biggest beef of all is the lack of reserved seating. Completely asinine. Why make people wait outside for an hour or more to attend an event. What? Do you think it "builds character"? Sorry, it is just stupid. read more

Exceptional small venue for comedy, music, and other entertainment. It's old Madison at it best - a quintessential Willy St/Atwood locale. Some think it's a dive with uncomfortable, small seating, but the atmosphere is perfect for the artists who preform in intimate art spaces. The growing number of brew pubs in the immediate area make for a great night out. read more

Wow, what an experience! Loved this old, small (900 seats max), vintage, 1900's theater in a downtown neighborhood of Madison, Wisconsin. Though it could use an update.... I think it would remove so much of the charm. There is no reserved seating, so we got there a bit early, stood in line and found a seat about 10 rows from the stage. Everyone was so nice..... Madison people are so cool, laid back and friendly! Enjoyed our conversations in line and once in the theater. We saw Loreena McKennit in concert and it was just awesome; plus any seat in the house is great. The theater serves an assortment of alcohol and snacks, but the location of these items needs to be moved. It is right when you walk into the theater and makes entrance and exiting of the theater very long and cumbersome. There is only one way in and out, so you're pretty much stuck if people decide to stay and buy concert souvenirs, etc; rather a fire hazard I would say..... But, would I return - YES! Parking is also an issue..... there is a small area of parking owned by the theater in the back and we were lucky enough to get the last space; but if you come any later you'll have to find parking somewhere on the neighborhood streets. read more

Worst security at any venue I have ever experienced and way overpriced drinks. $9 for a double? Fuck that noise. Security goes through literally all of your stuff at the door, I've been through airports with hassle. read more

Attended BoDeans concert on Friday. It was an absolute disaster. For some reason an extremely vocal minority in the crowd thought they were more entertaining than the band - and talked over the music the entire evening. People around them repeatedly asked them to quiet down without success and even the band asked for their attention several times (a first in my experience) . Management was impotent in their lame efforts to help, and I got the feeling they were blaming the MANY people who complained for being too picky. The combination of the rude crowd and the pointless management completely ruined the show and I will never return to the Barrymore. Which is unfortunate because I've seen so many good shows there in the past! read more

I've seen a couple shows here. Nice venue, good vibe. Good bar selections. They get a good diverse crowd.

I love this place, I really do! No rail so front row is right on the stage. The ambiance here is great and there's some cool bars and restaurants to hang at before the show. Waiting for a reason to come back. (Umphrey's!) read more