What an amazing venue. The outside is beautiful with a lovely marquee. The lobby is small, but…read morepeacefully decorated. There is an orchestra level as well as a balcony level and when you walk into the theater space it is beautiful. The stage is large. The theater holds a lot of people. The ticket takers and ushers were extremely friendly and more than happy to help in anyway you can. Just off the lobby there are men's and women's restrooms that have about two stalls in each. There are more restrooms and larger restrooms upstairs. The seats are very soft and cushiony and comfortable to sit in for longer periods of time. There was not a ton of legroom so if you are a taller person, I suggest getting an aisle seat. We went to the event, called an evening with the dude screaming the movie the big Lebowski where we watched the movie, then Jeff Bridges came out, shared stories photographs, and answered questions about the movie. It started I believe at six and went went on for several hours to a sold out crowd. With that being said, the theater never felt too congested to where you could not move and get around. They also offer a small concession stand, and you can bring food and drink to your seat. However, there is no outside food and drink permitted. Definitely love this little theater and I will for sure check out more events there in the future.

We saw Joe Bonamassa here tonight and had a great time. The theater has so much history, and the…read moresound was spot on. We are going to see what other shows of interest will be performed here so we can return soon. A beautiful venue.

Came here for a free watch party for the World Cup. Love the idea! It was very family friendly. The…read morescreen obviously is huge and so great to watch the game on. Full concessions and bar was open. We ate dinner around the corner at the Santa Barbara public house then walked over for the game. Such a unique experience to watch the game in a historical theater setting with other football fans

You have read enough about live performances in this space. I am sorry to say it also sucks as a…read moremovie theater. It smells. Like somebody else's storage unit. The stage curtains can no longer be fully retracted for a widescreen movie. Super Mario Galaxy, of all things, had about 3 feet on each side projected onto the curtains. Abandoning the beautiful entryway and its kiosk is unforgiveable. Instead you are to buy your tickets in the box office, which bears no resemblance to the rest of the building. It looks like a pop-up version of the office at your middle school. It's beautiful inside, and the unpleasant smell is faint enough you'll forget it once your popcorn and red licorice ick int. But be sure you sit in the front 10 to 20 rows if you want to actually feel you are watching a projected film on a big screen. My negativity is here to apply what small share of pressure I can contribute to what should be one of Santa Barbara's iconic landmarks. The theater is worth visiting anyway. On a certain level it is wonderful. But boy does it need a lot of work.

Although I didn't end up attending the planned show, I wanted to leave a review to recognize the…read morewonderful customer service I received from the Lobero Theatre box office! Due to an unexpected change in programming (Lucy Darling), I reached out to inquire about a possible refund. The team was incredibly responsive, courteous, and helpful. They promptly contacted the promoter on my behalf and had my refund approved and processed without any hassle. I really appreciate how smoothly everything was handled, and I look forward to attending an event here in the future. Thank you again!

The Lobero Theatre is a charming historic gem. We had a wonderful experience at the Lobero Theatre…read morewhen we went to see Lucy Darling. It's an intimate venue where every seat feels close to the stage with great views of the performance. The classic red velvet seats give it a charming old-school theater ambiance, but unlike many historic venues, the legroom was surprisingly decent and you don't feel packed in with your neighbors. The staff and ushers were welcoming and helpful from the moment we walked in. Parking was also a breeze as there is a lot right nearby that was paid, but very reasonably priced. Highly recommend!

Nice theater. A bit fancier than others I've been to, but it reflects the newness of this place as…read morewell as the price of the ticket(s). There isn't a bad seat in the house. There seem to be two entrances/exits to the theater. The one everybody uses immediately is the one on the right. The one on the left is up the stairs and leads you initially to the top back sections. It's right across the street from the Santa Barbara Public Market. Great opportunity to grab a treat before or after the show. Maybe not during intermission unless you're that fast. During intermission, there's a nice outdoor area to enjoy a beverage while waiting for the second half of the show. That might be a better idea if you don't want to miss any of the show. If you're under 30, your tickets will be majorly discounted. I'd take advantage of that someway somehow. I regret not doing so. Of course when we're dealing with live shows like this, the average age of the audience tends to be geriatric. Tell all the young ones in your life to see these shows. The actors sometimes meet with patrons outside in front of the theater building. Parking: There is a lot behind this theater, but it's not exclusive to the theater. It tends to be full during peak hours of the day. There's a line of cars constantly waiting to get in, and they only let cars in when cars leave. Street parking may be easier, but consider it's Downtown Santa Barbara, you'll have to be on the lookout for that as well. Long story short, parking is always tough. As with any show venue, the theater itself shouldn't affect the enjoyment of the show.

A gorgeous, state-of-the-art theater for seeing professional talent in an intimate setting.read more

I love The Luke! I follow them on Facebook but I also live nearby and can see upcoming events. The…read moreLuke brings an amazing amount of unique events, and many are free! The Luke is a historic theater at Santa Barbara Jr High School with lots of parking a large lobby area. I've attended church services, award ceremonies local dance productions, lectures, symphonies, operas, folklorico performances, etc. at The Luke. The Luke hosts many local groups, which I love, but also brings national and international groups to Santa Barbara. There is always something new and interesting happening at The Luke. The Luke was recently renovated, but still has a vintage feel. It's a gorgeous theater and very comfortable. By request, you can tour the theater and see the ins and outs of The Luke. I was able to go on a tour hosted by the house manager himself and had no idea of the fascinating history of The Luke. I would highly recommend this tour.

Your average nice school theater. Everything was very clean. Very dated, but the history and…read morearchitecture seem well preserved. Let's see...The bathrooms are clean. The theater seats feel a bit small, like hard wooden airplane seats, but this is kind of expected being that it is an old theater. Recitals, award ceremonies, graduations, speaking engagements...they all would be nice here, but I think theater and music performances might be best enjoyed elsewhere, especially if you're seeking an exceptional acoustic experience. You won't get it at this theater. But it still can serve many delightful purposes. Lots of parking on the mountainside of the building.

We hired the Santa Barbara String Quartet for our wedding in Nov 2025 (SO sorry it took so long to…read moreleave a review!) I just want to say if we had to do our wedding all over again, of any/all the vendors we got for the day, the Santa Barbara String Quartet were the ones we would rebook no-brainer EVERY SINGLE TIME. Everything about working with them was a delight. Emily worked me me on what songs I wanted and was helpful in walking me through what arrangements would work best for each piece. Every part of the day where they played was personalized and so so special to us! They even adapted songs that were probably really tricky to do in quartet form (they did "Everytime we touch" by Cascada for example and it sounded SO GOOD) But perhaps most importantly, when we and guests were looking back on the day, almost everyone commented on how much they loved the music. It really became a personalized and memorable part of our day and I really dont think it would have been the same without them! To Emily and the group, we really can't thank you enough for making this the best and most lovely day of our lives! (Also not sure where to put this part but, our very high energy little 3 year old nephew just sat there in awe listening to them so I really think having them is also very diverting for kids )

I'll be honest -- as the groom, I was a little preoccupied during the ceremony. You know, trying…read morenot to cry and making sure I didn't lock my knees and pass out. So did I personally absorb every note that Emily and Katrina played? Not exactly. But here's what I do know: every single guest told us how beautiful the music was. My wife was beaming. It just felt magical. Emily on violin and Katrina on cello were absolutely stunning. If you're getting married and want music that moves your guests -- book the Santa Barbara String Quartet. Five stars from me, and probably six stars from my wife.

Rockabilly lovers need to watch Million Dollar Quartet at least once in their life!…read more The heat started and the flame never dimmed in the nostalgic classic rock sounds honoring Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins. The actors and actress were extremely talented and never missed a beat.

I've seen several shows here, and it is a great theater! The actors are incredibly creative and…read moretalented and make use of the small stage, and every seat is a great seat in this intimate space. Worth every penny, such a wonderful and beautiful venue.

The Garvin is nestled on the beautiful Santa Barbara Community College Campus, complete with an…read moreocean view. I had the great pleasure of watching "In the Next Room" that included a small, but mighty cast. My experience from speaking to the representatives at Will Call to saying hello to the cast members at the end was beyond fantastic! Everyone I encountered was ever so friendly. The theater in itself is beautiful, the seats are comfy, everything is fairly new, or at least well-kept and modern. Snack stand available during intermission and prices are very fair. Restrooms located downstairs, plentiful and clean. I would happily come watch another production at the Garvin!

The Theatre group at Santa Barbara Community College performance of "In the Next Room or the…read morevibrator play by Sarah Ruhl was fantastic. The Garvin Theatre was the perfect size for this production. Each seat in the theatre had full view of the stage with great props for the time period of the play. The comedy "In the Next Room made you laugh with the introduction of the vibrator and how and why it was administered. As the story unfolded sad moments occurred with character "Elizabeth" who was hired to nurse another woman's baby after the death of her own baby. Each character in the play had an awesome performance and the costumes were amazing; especially the details in the female's garments.

Totally free summer nights under the stars out on by UCSB Arts & Lectures the Friday Nights Under…read morethe Stars is themed with past years Silent Films, Musicals, Alfred Hitchcock, Cartoons, and so many more. Bring your blanket at noon to save your spot then come back with food and friends as the sun sets and the movies kick off. Dog friendly sky for friendly dogs

Overall great experience outdoors, free and to be a part of the Santa Barbara community, wonderful…read moretime. Definitely wear and bring layers and blankets. I actually froze! Who knew it would get so chilly! Will definitely go back again! Yes you can put your beach chairs out during the day to secure a spot! Amazing!

The food, Service, and Ambiance were top-notch. I have been to comedy clubs in major cities. Comedy…read moreHideaway always puts on a fantastic show. Andrey and Maximilian are wonderful hosts; they make everyone feel at home

Hilarious! Everyone was laughing out loud. Good food and great service. So glad they're back in…read moreaction!