What a great venue for live entertainment. Was there to see the Van Halen Tribute Band on May 9th …read more The band was amazing and the venue is huge and the band was amazing . My only issue is that even tho it is a historic venue I think it could be a little more well preserved. And there is no parking so that was a bummer .

Stunning historic venue! Always something exciting happening at Brook, either a musical, an…read moreorchestra performance, or a traditional concert, there are events here for everyone of all ages! It is a very well kept, clean, and comfortable theater. They always have a great variety of snacks and drinks during performances which is great. The staff always has the theater decorated for the holidays, special occasions, and just in general. Definitely worth stopping by for an upcoming event!

This theatre is one of those historic 100+ year old venues, like UCAC in Rahway or the Basie in…read moreRed Bank. Capacity is around 1800, but only about 1000 seats are really good. For example, in the orchestra you don't want seats from row Q to the rear or on the extreme sides because the sight and sound is not good. And in the balcony you don't want seats from row H on up. Otherwise acoustics and sight lines are good. Bathrooms maintained well. Ushers helpful. Security at entrance professional. They have all kinds of shows here. I wish they scheduled more blues, like Kenny Wayne Shepherd 10/2/26 and rock, like Joe Jackson 7/8/26. Parking in New Brunswick downtown is in parking garages. There are several eateries within walking distance of the theatre for an early dinner before a 730 or 8pm show.

Theater was clean and well kept. The theater space itself isn't huge but sound for our kids' show…read morewas just fine, and seats didn't feel crowded nor did the kids seem to have visibility issues in adult chairs even when adults were seated in front of them. Staff were organized and friendly. I had my purse searched upon entry; all bags were looked at. My ticket was purchased through Vivid Seats, and apparently they didn't provide me a legit theater-issued QR so I had to visit the box office. They were friendly and promptly issued me printed tickets. Lobby was a con because it's just small and cramped. This old building probably didn't have to house as much food and merch purchasing back in its day but the multiple concession lines were blocking people from just getting to the theater and accessing their seats. They have tons of low quality junk food for sale. The huge group sitting next to us had chicken fingers, fries, a ketchup smell that wouldn't go away... it was honestly ridiculous the food they allow in people's laps just to turn profits. I was surprised these people were buying full huge meals (that had to cost $40+ each for junk) at 3:30pm to hold it in their laps for a 1.75h kids' show. Whatever. Point is, if you haven't eaten and want to pay $40 for crap that will linger in your body, you will not go hungry here. Clean bathrooms were the right size to allow a packed house to process themselves in the 20min intermission timeframe. This includes the ladies room, which always takes longer, and it was for a kids' show, which adds even more time. I recommend pairing your visit with the Rutgers Zimmerli Art Museum if you have time. They are open until 6pm most nights.

There are a few things in life that are inherently good. In my opinion, those include: live music,…read morecarnival food, thrill rides, good weather, quality time with friends, and animal freak shows. The Union County Music Fest provides all of the above and more, and all at the super low price of ... well, NOTHING! Let's start with the logistics. First of all, it would be nearly impossible to get to Music Fest without a car, so I'm lucky my Jersey-dwelling pals offered to drive. Second, Music Fest is held in association with the county fair, which accounts for the rickety and slightly scary rides, the carnival food (funnel cake, anyone!?), and the Anibal freak show. Freaks on display included a zebra/donkey cross breed, sheep with five legs, and a midget bull. Awesome! Now on to the music. There was a great mix of styles on display, and the three bands I saw each provided a very different experience. First I saw The Zombies, a '60s psychedelic band that was popular with the older crowd, but still were pleasantly enjoyable. For me, the highlight of the evening was getting to see Robert Randolph and the Family Band, who were absolutely spectacular. His mix of rock, funk, rhythm and blues, and gospel is not to be missed and I was totally blown away by his incredible work on the pedal steel. In fact, I was so impressed that I weaseled my way backstage after his set so that I could tell him I was hooked and will definitely be seeing him again soon. See the attached picture for visual proof. Headlining Sunday night was Spoon, another band that I really like. They were better than when I first saw them a couple of years ago in NYC in a venue that I hate, and the crowd was very receptive. The threat of rain kept many people away, which was too bad for the bands but good for me and my friends. We were right up near the front for both Robert Randolph and Spoon. A few of my friends were there for the Saturday lineup as well, and they said it was much more crowded, which isn't a surprise since the weather was so much better. Saturday's performers included headliners Train (not my thing, but ok), OK Go, The Bravery, and several others. The festival also boasts a small stage for local bands, as well as a pop/dance area, which seemed popular with the tweens. I hear there was also a human freak show on Saturday, but unfortunately it was not open Sunday. I'm excited to see who will be back for Music Fest in 2011, but it will be hard to beat the experience I had there yesterday.

For Union County, this was a great festival. However, it was poorly put together also…read more First off, we did the smarter thing and used Uber to get to and from the event because I heard parking was a disaster. Also, there were very few signs. When you did park, you had a bit to walk but there were no signs that told you where to go. I think they need better signage and more lighting in the dark as I almost twisted my ankle walking over. The craft beer garden was $9 a drink, which was a bit high. And you didn't get to sample anything before you bought it (also note get your token beforehand) so careful how you spend it. Though, they had some great beers there. The waits weren't too long surprisingly. However, the lines for some of the food trucks were way more. Many food trucks already sold out of food when I got there Saturday night. Meh. But thankfully there were plenty that were more well prepared. The rides were a little pricey also at $1.50 a ticket and some of the rides at 5 tickets. Eek. I think I'd go again but they do need some improvement. Also, more lighting would be appreciated all around. This review doesn't include the concerts because I didn't bother with that. If you angled yourself properly in the food truck/carnival area, you got a GREAT view of the MainStage for FREE FYI.

We went to see Disaster at this theatre. It is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen! Corny…read morebut quite amusing!!! The theatre staff is very friendly and helpful. The quality of the performances is not quite at the Broadway level, but the prices are good and the theatre is quite intimate. Snacks during intermission are only $1, which can't be beat. And they have a nice selection of food and drink. Parking is not easy, but it ends up manageable. I highly recommend becoming a member of the theatre, as the yearly membership price is comparable to the cost of one ticket. There are many opportunities for volunteers to usher or help out in other ways. There is a handicapped bathroom on the main floor, but it seems that it would be difficult to maneuver a wheelchair or walker in the tiny aisles.

I have been a patron of Somerste Valley Players for years and am never disappointed. It is a small…read morecommunity playhouse that is reasonably priced and provides an excellent performance. For those of us who enjoy good quality community playhouse productions, this theater group does an outstanding job. What I like most is that they give an opportunity to community members to tryout to be part of their productions. The results are always good.

Spacious seating layout with approximately 150 seats, allowing ample room to stretch and enjoy the…read moreshow comfortably. The theater is well-maintained with great stage lighting and impeccable sound quality, offering good acoustics for a rock performance. However, the lack of public WiFi and dead zones in certain areas, like the ladies' room, can be inconvenient. Street parking along the street is convenient, and concessions are available at the entrance as well as a small bar offering reasonably priced drinks. Merch tables greet you upon entry, making it suitable for small shows.

If I could give this venue - recently established as a Live Music venue - "0" stars, I would. It's…read moreinteresting that - as of this writing - the new management has not yet "claimed" this business on Yelp, but if they eventually do, I hope this review remains on file. I was surprised, then anxious to see how this VERY TINY, old movie theater would work as a new concert venue, but then I was quickly discouraged by the fact that the new management had FAILED TO PROVIDE HEAT for a concert they were presenting in the dead of winter (February 24). Remarkably, during the intermission of the show I had attended I had the extraordinary opportunity to chat quickly with the lead singer of the band that was performing at the particular program I had attended. Shockingly, he immediately shared with me the fact that he and his band had COMPLAINED to the management about the lack of heat in the theater and that the management had "blown them off". How contemptible and unforgivable is it that the management was unable to provide as simple and amenity as HEAT for a live music concert in the dead of winter? If you have read this far, I strongly urge you to RESIST the temptation to patronize this location - unless and until they show enough respect for their patrons to provide heat during the winter.

What an amazing way to start off the holiday season!! Thank…read moreyou to @yelpnewjersey and @arballet for the 2 giveaway orchestra seats to experience The Nutcracker on December 9 at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton, NJ. So excited to win!! Beautiful performances!! The Sugar Plum Fairy was my favorite with the snow falling!! It brought back so many wonderful memories of watching my daughter Simonne dance!! With @centerfordanceeducation Lots of free parking available across the street from the theater.

Wonderful company with great performances! I grew up watching them & still go back once in a while…read moreto see their shows even though I live in NY now. Their Nutcracker is a holiday classic!

Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol returned to the McCarter after a three year Covid hiatus to prove…read moreonce again that this 19th century rebuke of Industrial Age ruthlessness and eventual redemption can still surprise and enlighten. In the current interpretation, directed by Lauren Keating, casting for many of the main characters has been made more inclusive and in several roles, "re-gendered" as female - including Mr. Scrooge himself (Dee Pelletier.) As a result, the sharp elbows and volatility of a classic George C. Scott or Albert Finney Scrooge seemed far more muted, especially as the staging was less lavish than in previous productions. And I don't know if the urban contemporary dance number at the end and the "updating" of several key scenes (Tiny Tim becomes a veterinarian??) was entirely necessary but It just goes to show that live theater is always intriguing and that a story you think you know by rote can still surprise. Not since Rod Serling's Carol For Another Christmas turned this venerable chestnut into an anti-war sermon has a version demanded full audience attention. Five stars for challenging my expectations. The McCarter remains a treasure.

Went to see The Woman in Black . I am a huge fan of the novel and have seen the movie. The movie…read morewas not that good. This version has as we might put it , issues. There is a narrative frame- device- that I found rather irritating. The protagonist is an old man who hires an actor to tell the story. This is over done and should be cut down. The first act is rather dull. It does come alive in the second act and redeems itself.Hence I wound up enjoying the play. If I were directing and I could take liberties , I 'd try to bring it more in line with the book. If it isn't scary it isn't anything. Too much dithering in the first part of the play.The actors , in challenging roles, did yeoman work. On the theater itself, the seats are very uncomfortable. It has a nice bar. You can park for free at nearby garage.

Before the invention of 15 movie multi-plexes featuring stylized lobbies, stadium seating,…read moresuper-sized reclining chairs, and full menus, we all went to cinemas like The Cranford Theater. The concession stand sells popcorn, candy, and soda. The seats are small and squeak when you shift position. The rows don't have enough room between them for you to squeeze past seated patrons without banging against their knees. The bathrooms look exactly like the bathrooms in a typical 1970s grammar school. I saw another Yelp reviewer observed that no one under age 50 comes here, and I noticed that too. If the only movie theaters you've been to were built this century, then an old cinema like this one would be a shock. I doubt anyone born since 1990 would tolerate sitting for three hours in this dated theater. Parking is a problem. We parked on the street a few blocks away and walked because the tiny lot in front of the movie theater was already full, even though we were about 20 minutes early. Despite being an old theater, the actual sound and screen projection of the movie is fine. This cinema does get the latest releases and shows them at convenient times, including matinees. It's got a prime location downtown within walking distance of many places to buy food and drinks. Look for discount ticket prices on certain days and times.

New vision is no longer Running the Cranford theater. They were just leasing it from the owners …read more Now the owners have taken over and did a wonderful renovation back in the end of 2019. New seats and carpeting along with other changes have made this a really great theater. They have classic movies once a month and other special events around Halloween and Christmas time. It was great coming to see the original Halloween movie from 1978 they even had a drive in in the back parking lot when the indoor theater was closed in 2020 The Staff are very friendly and helpful. The screens are of a good size for a multiplex crystal clear projection and great sound. Definitely come down and support this movie theater in the wonderful downtown of Cranford New Jersey. Get something to eat in one of the good restaurants before after the movie. Too many independent theaters in New Jersey have closed over the past few years. Definitely come out and support this great theater .Doreen Sayegh along with her father work really hard making this a great place to see a movie.