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    Citizens Opera House

    4.4 (286 reviews)
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    Love how they have specials related to the show
    Danyel M.

    If you get a chance to see a show - either a ballet or an off broadway show - at the Citizens Opera House, don't pass it up! The venue is beautiful - not sure how old it is, but they have done a great job at preserving its original condition, keeping it in mint condition. Entering and exiting the venue requires patience, but as long as you know that - you'll be fine. Everybody walks through metal detecters and they check your bags/purses. After you pass through these, you'll then show your tickets to enter into the theater. They have a decent selection of snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic bevvies. We got the twizzlers and pretzels plus some sparkling waters. I really appreciated how the water was in aluminum cans - they're looking out for the environment - thank you! Seating is easy cause they have lots of people to help guide you to the proper seat. They don't open the theater up until about 30 mins ahead of the show, so if you come early, you'll be standing out in the lobby. One of the women's restrooms is located on the second floor and during intermission it is an absolute you know what. Again, bring your patience. The inside of theater is stunning and we really enjoyed the show - sound is great, lights are great, seats are OK. They're small but that should be expected given the age of the theater. Overall, we really enjoyed our experience and will definitely be back.

    Beauty And The Beast The Musical
    Jason C.

    Came here for a Sunday Matinee with rush tickets. Well worth it the visit for any show. The Opera House is phenomenal. Highly recommend.

    Janet D.

    My absolutely favorite Boston theater! I usually try to catch 3-4 plays a year as Boston in Broadway brings some amazing productions to our city. My most recent play was Some Like It Hot and it was a fantastic play. The music, the choreography, the performers were fantastic. Another fun and memorable night out at the Opera House.

    The picture on the outside to the opera house.
    Dana S.

    I have visited this opera house before for other Broadway shows and have always enjoyed where I sit. The ushers do a nice job getting us to our correct seat placement and it is always easy to hear and see what is happening in the shows. This visit I saw Beauty and the Beast and I loved the music and the bar cup scene, the dancing and the other special effects during the play.

    Interior
    Eugene C.

    We came here on our trip to Boston to catch a rendition of the Whiz. The show was highly entertaining. The Citizens Opera House where we watched the Whiz was a fairly suitable venue to enjoy a performance. The seats are comfortable. The architecture of the space are esthetically pleasing. The staff was professional and courteous. Everyone filled in a timely and orderly manner. They even managed to sneak in late comers to the show without a lot of disruption to the performance.

    Kit D.

    I am a frequent flyer to Boston's Citizens Opera House - and might I say this is hands down the best theatre in the city. The interior is absolutely beautiful, and coming here is definitely a treat. Lately, I have seen Swan Lake of the Boston Ballet and Michael Jackson of Broadway. Absolutely incredible performances, the performers really swept me off my feet. MJ was life changing, so much young talent and it really shows. You get everything from acting, singing, and dancing. I have also seen a few other ballets including the Nutcracker, and a few magic shows here. Opera House is always packed with people, but the staff does an incredible job here controlling the flow and ushering. Additionally, the women's restroom line may look scary during intermission, but it moves really efficiently. Prior to the shows, I always like visiting the concession bar and grabbing a soda and a pack of M&M's. They serve drinks over the rocks which is fantastic for a show. Transportation wise, the area is surprisingly easy to get an Uber in. There are plenty of adjacent streets that are accessible. Additionally, the theatre is conveniently located walking distance near three MBTA lines. You can get the green/red/orange lines from either Park St or DTX. I absolutely recommend visiting this beautiful theatre if you get the chance, they offer a variety of fun, well-known shows here.

    Emily Y.

    I went to see the Nutcracker ballet which was an amazing show. They had paid bag check for $8 per item and many ushers directing people to their seats. The bathrooms were very busy before the show so I'd recommend going to the one downstairs with a lot of stalls. The performance was was magical especially the large amount of snow that fell

    Wendi K.

    We saw the Swan Lake here and it was a magical experience. I reviewed the actual performance separately :) The architecture of the building is in short, stunning. The seats are placed nicely and staggered enough so everyone can see. They serve a good amount of drinks for concessions. I suppose if I had one nit it would be - some of the audience members were disruptive (noisy, holding up phones and recording, etc.) and I do wish the staff had done more to regulate this.

    Sophie T.

    One word: WOW. I just saw Swan Lake this past weekend and it's insane how easy everyone makes ballet look. It is not easy. Extreme athleticism and precision, with some outfit changes and cool effects like the smoke on the floor when they were swans rising up from the ground. The main swan dancer (Viktorina Kapitonova) is PHENOMENAL. Jaw dropping watching her in her element. Outstanding production. Also the Citizens Opera House has nailed the bathroom situation with a staff inside yelling out all the open stalls. Even if it looks like there's a long line, it'll move very quick!

    Wiz musical
    Lena L.

    Broadway in Boston - opening night for wiz, all black cast adaption of wizard of oz. The cast was amazing and the theater is beautiful as well. Be sure to come early to grab drinks and take some pictures ahead of show!

    Sydney M.

    Absolutely gorgeous theatre! Seeing a beautiful show in a beautiful setting never disappoints. I was in a limited view seat, but still had a fantastic time. The ushers were attentive and very helpful about finding seats and providing information. There is one bathroom area in the basement which can be a hassle to get to at intermission, but the line moves quickly

    Interior
    Michelle M.

    Seeing a show at the Opera House is a must while in Boston! Came here for Les Miserables and had a fun night. The opera house itself is beautiful from the lobby to the theater. It's very picturesque and I suggest looking around the different rooms and areas to take in all the beauty. They serve drinks and sell merch for each show which is cool. The shows are top notch as it's Boston's Broadway so expect to be wowed. I've seen a couple of shows here from Anastasia to Phantom of the Opera and it's always a very professional production. Our seats were Orchestra Right, Row P and we were very close to the stage. Only thing was since we were off to the side, some parts of the stage was obstructed. However I'd rather be closer and have this as being in the balcony is very far and the actors look so tiny making it harder to see. All in all a fun night out! Bonus: accessible by the MBTA

    David L.

    While it is difficult to match the quality of New York's theatre experience, the Boston Opera House comes pretty darn close. The theatre itself is absolutely stunning, gorgeous period appropriate decor, but tastefully restored and modernized, as needed. Recent traveling performances, included Les Miserables and Hamilton were spectacular. The staff does their best to keep security moving and handling the crowds through the tight lobby. Two complaints: 1) For Les Mis, the staff did not enforce the seating hold. Audience members were given ample notice that the show would start promptly at 7:30pm. Inexplicably, the ushers continued to seat late arrivals until nearly 8:00pm. Our view of the prologue was blocked by ushers and patrons walking in late and using their cell phone flashlights. Very distracting and in very poor taste. 2) While no fault of the theatre, the lack of etiquette by some patrons was appalling. People using Apple watches, cell phones ringing, etc. during the performance was so rude. I wish the ushers would have removed these people at intermission.

    view from seat u111

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    1 year ago

    Large beautifully restored theater. The ushers were super polite. The sound system was excellent

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    1 year ago

    Performance was great. Building is a treasure! Had to use restroom and had staff helping out, calling the number of empty stall!

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    Ask the Community - Citizens Opera House

    Are their any type of refreshments available before/after the show? Also is there a gift shop type place? Have never been before.

    Hey! So yes there’s a pretty full bar/ snacks available at the theater. I forgot about balcony, but certainly on the main level and in the basement.… 

    What's better - To be in the front row of Orchestra Left Box or row J of Orchestra left (not in the side box)? Any idea about how bad the obstructed view really is? Thanks!

    Not sure, we sat in the balcony way back

    I'm planning to go see the love never dies in February and this is my first time going. Want to know what seats are the best view. You think orchestra center left is the best seat to see or mezzanine?

    For viewing (I mostly watch ballet) I prefer mezzanine. For sound, I like center backwards better but seating isn't the most comfortable.

    What is the dress code?

    It depends what you're going to see and the time of the day. With that said, you will often see a variety of attire. Many are dressed formally and some casual.

    I'm looking at attending Wicked with my son (age 5); which seats would be better, left orchestra towards the front, or box seats? How many rows are in the box seats--I can't tell from the reviews? Right orchestra further back is also an option.

    Orchestra front. Many times box seems fancy and exclusive but the angle is all wrong.… 

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    Review Highlights - Citizens Opera House

    Enjoyed ON YOUR FEET - the story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan at the Boston Opera House with my sister.

    Mentioned in 40 reviews

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    Shear Madness - A Comedy Whodunit

    Shear Madness - A Comedy Whodunit

    4.5
    (167 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    I was able to see Shear Madness with Yelp and wow what a treat!…read more The show is a murder mystery, and just absolutely phenomenal. The second half involves audience participation, but it's not mandatory if you're more on the shy side. The actors were incredible and very funny. They brought some modern twists and definitely some Boston jokes which I enjoyed. You will laugh a lot and have a great time trying to figure everything out. Overall, I think this would be a great show to see for locals and tourists alike. Perfect for a rainy day as well if you're in the area!

    Shear Madness was frankly one of the shows that really surprised me in terms of quality and fun…read morethat the crew was able to bring out from their audiences. With around 80-100 seats, the show was pretty intimate and fun. I love how their performers were able to adjust to and roll with each audience's feedback...and many times, returned with even funnier responses. It does take a talented crew to be able to work together and do a bit of improv to keep the audiences highly engaged and I definitely thought the team of performers I saw did such a fantastic job that night. I honestly went in without much expectations but definitely came out really happy that I got to see thus show. Many audiences felt the same as well. P.S. restrooms are underground and behind the stage...so you may not be able to get in there until they start letting the audiences in. Also, they have a bar downstairs so you can enjoy your show with your fav drinks, too.

    Photos
    Tony prepares to shave a customer.
    Tony prepares to shave a customer.
    I am not in the wrong. I took the pic before the show started :)
    I am not in the wrong. I took the pic before the show started :)
    Had so much fun getting to know the cast!

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    Had so much fun getting to know the cast!
    Boch Center - Wang Theatre

    Boch Center - Wang Theatre

    3.6
    (209 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Art deco details everywhere, lavish designs across the two level atrium and into the theater where…read morethey have shows. I think this would be a lovely architecture tour if we didn't have the event lights and noise of a DJ at the site. We visited an event here (not the theater part) where they had a Music America exhibit downstairs, and servers and music up in the main lobby. Very loud space and could use some more seating for the event, but was a fun gathering for ISDA hosted by LSEG. Cool venue, contains both the Wang and Shubert Theatres. An extraordinary gift in 1983 from Dr. An Wang, founder of Wang Laboratories, ushered in the era of The Wang Center for the Performing Arts and lead to a total of around $10mm in donations to help restore the theater in the 1980s.

    When I think of the Wang, I generally think of theatrical productions, so I was surprised to hear…read moremy one of my favorite bands was performing at the Wang. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit could perform in a bathroom and it would be stellar, but both of their shows this past Friday and Saturday night were phenomenal! The Wang turned out to be a great venue. It is a beautiful historic theatre, but entry (including security) was easy and stress free. The band sounded amazing! We expected a "seated" audience, but as soon as the band took the stage, the entire audience remained on their feet swaying and enjoying the music and vibes. While I enjoyed this environment, I can see that elderly attendees, shorter patrons, or those with difficulty standing for 2+ hours might have been disappointed. No awful parking issues like Gillette or the Xfinity Center, better views than TD Garden...I'd love to see more rock concerts at the Wang!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Display hallway
    Display hallway
    Current show

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    Current show
    Cirque du Soleil

    Cirque du Soleil

    4.4
    (8 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    It's a fabulous performance it is a must see…read more Thank you Damien and Yelp for the tickets Performers were professional artistic and acrobatic Parking is approximately $20 unless you're a VIP it is free but you can always park at Star market for free which is about 300 yards down the road Every seat in the house is fabulous you can see perfectly Plenty of refreshments are available as well as souvenirs I give the performance 5 stars

    This review is for LUZIA: A waking dream of Mexico | Cirque du Soleil and not Cirque du Soleil in…read moregeneral. First time to a Cirque du Soleil performance and didn't know what to expect. Came here on opening day with the Yelp Squad. I. Was. A. Kid. In. A. Candy. Store. Everything was new. Everything was exciting. The shows may be generalized into aerobatic, aerial, and circus performances, with a twist. Live music accompanies most of them. Part of it reminded me of Fuerza Bruta. Part of it reminded me of the Once popular, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (without the animals). There are different bands that performs, a solo operatic singer, and meanwhile, creatures walking amongst while they perform. The second night I went (the night after the first), we had VIP seating and ate in the VIP section. The food was phenomenal. There was tacos, guac, Hors d'oeuvres of sashimi, shrimp, and steak. Endless champagne, beer, and wine. Private bathrooms. A gift bag at the end of the night. Parking closest to the gate. This was the first Cirque du Soleil and it got me hooked. I'm excited to see what the company will think of next.

    Photos
    Opening night at the show
    Opening night at the show
    Performance
    Performance
    Cirque du Soleil

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    Charles Playhouse

    Charles Playhouse

    3.9
    (76 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    So I was gifted some tickets and I'm in a wheelchair. I called and explained that my tickets were…read morenot accessible. They did put me in center row in a handicap spot. There is an elevator for wheelchairs. The blue man group was very entertaining.

    The Playhouse: SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on you for charging…read more$69/piece for the balcony seats Section J, Row BB seats 19-23! I have never had such bas seats and pay such a high price for them! This is complete robbery. It says limited view- what it should say is shitty view aka can't see much. Miss half the show. I am extremely lucky that this was my third time seeing Blue Man. Unfortunately, someone I was with (a 9 year old) it was their first time. I had them move into better seats as I sat in the crappy seats for the whole show. The family behind me had 4 girls ranging in age from 6-14. I felt AWFUL for them. Should have thrown the money down the toilet. They couldn't see! One last bit... at the end I stood up in front of my seat and an usher came up and told me to stay out of the aisle. I WAS IN FRONT OF MY SEAT! The Blue Man Group: Show was 1.5 hrs. I paid $230 for 1.5 hrs. The show was short. It was nothing new or interesting from other shows I have seen. To be honest, this show was the most uninteresting out of all three Blue Man I have gone too. Other venues had larger stages so more action took place. This was less drumming, less paint banging, less audience interaction. It's not to say what they did they didn't put effort forth. It's to say that Chicago did it better. The cast members walked around afterwards. You could take photos with them . The travelling show in RI did it better. If you stick around you need to make some changes, keep people coming back. Keep them interested and want to spend the money to keep watching. The had the people on the floor in the front put on ponchos. WHY? They only sprayed water once into the audience! If I had paid the $225 for a seat in the front I would be PISSED!

    Photos
    Shitty view for $79 (j row b)
    Shitty view for $79 (j row b)
    Blue man group
    Blue man group
    Charles Playhouse

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    Citizens Opera House - theater - Updated August 2026

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