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DeVos Performance Hall

3.5 (44 reviews)

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Common + symphony
Jaila H.

Went to see common! People advised me against the second row- it was GREAT! I was very close but not craning my neck! The symphony was an enjoyable experience! The drinks were great and the bar tender was nice! Everyone was dancing and singing it was a fun and enjoyable night!

Dear Evan Hansen - May 3-8, 2022
Katy C.

DeVos Performance Hall is a good venue for a musical, ballet, symphony performance, etc. I've been going to shows at DeVos since I was a little kid - my mom and I used to go to The Nutcracker every year, so it has a lot of memories for me. The hall itself is large and every seat I've been in has a decent view, even the upper balconies. As Broadway Grand Rapids season ticket holders, Nate and I have been to DeVos Performance Hall many times over the past few years! The construction in the lobby seems to be mostly done. They expanded the women's restroom area, which was smart and helpful to cut down on lines at intermission. You can purchase beverages (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) before the show and during intermission, and new for the 2022-2023 season, they have lids so you can bring your beverages in to the auditorium now. You can also get candy. Prices aren't cheap and you usually only get 10-15 minutes to drink your beverage during intermission, so I rarely buy drinks here. They do have two bars and a couple of bar stands now. They take credit cards for purchases at the two main bars, I believe the two smaller stands are cash only. There are currently no COVID protocols in place for entry as of October 2022. They are pretty strict on their bag policy; I saw someone being turned away to put their purse in their car at the show last night. According to their website, DeVos Performance Hall "does not permit bags larger than 12" x 9" x 3", other than those required for medical or parenting needs. All bags will be screened by security personnel. Policy is subject to change based on event policy." One complaint I've had in the past is that it tends to get super warm in the auditorium, but at last night's performance I was comfortable so maybe they've dialed in the temperature controls a bit. Parking is convenient and abundant around this location, so it's usually not difficult to find a place if you get downtown early enough. I'm glad we have this venue right in town as it gets some really great acts.

Nichole M.

This is a large venue with a ton of moving parts. When we arrived before we even entered the building their was an employee outside directing the crowd into the building. When he put eyes on us he escorted us to the side entrance where the metal doctors were. We put our purses on the belt and walked though. I was wearing a heated vest so the machines went off and I they broke out the security wand to make sure it wasn't something else and I appreciated that. The tickets were electronic so I brought them up on my phone and they were scanned to gain access. The crowd was a mix of dressed up and casual attire. I enjoyed that we arrived around 6:45pm and the show started at 7:00pm. We had enough time to get a fun Broadway picture with props. A volunteer was assisting and I thought that was a nice touch to the event. There was a merch table where I picked up a Christmas ornament for $25.00, then onto the dreaded alcohol line. Again getting there a little early allowed us to get in line early but still a line. Looking around there were two other drink line happening with two bartenders at each station so in their defense they were trying to hussle. We waited about 10 minutes but the line did continue to grow so I can only imagine how long the others had to wait. I ordered two long island ice teas price came to $30.00 with tip. My friend ordered two double shots of vodka with water and it was $60.00 without tip. Your options to get to your seats are by stairs or elevator. We took the stairs. Our seats were balcony F so it was four flights up. The levels are marked well and there are a ton of employees around willing to help. I accidentally kept trying to go into mezzanine section lolol. I like balcony seating but would suggest row A instead of row F. F was fine but A I thought would have been better for me. I had forgotten how small theater seats are and carrying jackets, drinks and the playbill was a lot. I would have really liked to have had a locker to check my personal items in but didn't see any and didn't ask unfortunately. Another thing is I never know where to sit in the theater. At the end so you can get out fast or in the middle where you do have a great view but the chances of you getting out without disrupting everyone is slim. Our seats were 5 and 6. Right close to the end so we had to get up every time someone needed in or out. While holding your coat, purse, drink, and playbill. It was a lot. The acoustics were amazing. We could hear everything and I could see the actors. When intermission came you get 15 minutes to break for the restroom, drinks, leg stretch, whatever. No WAY is that enough time to do anything with the amount of people in that venue. So for the 2nd half of the show the doors kept opening for those who couldn't get done in 15 minutes. That interruption lasted for around 10 minutes. So when the show was over the house lights came on and we headed for the exit. There were a lot of people and the crowds were respectful of each other so we all got out timely. Overall great experience at the theater.

Concert hall
Dan P.

Very intimate performance hall with good acoustics. We attended a Gershwin-centric performance and thoroughly enjoyed it. COVID-19 protocols include checking everyone's vaccination cards and asking your DOB. Comfortable seating. Useless ushers.

Paul Yelp N.

My compliments to the entire Nutcracker ensemble. We were delightfully surprised by the quality of the sets as compared to the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. Orchestra and dancers were also outstanding. Will be part of our new Michigan tradition!

Sinai P.

I went to watch Dear Even Hansen in May, and it was great. I sat in the Mezzaine area and it was close and far enough to be able to see the people's expression, but also see how the background changed for each scene and interacted with the plot. It was my very first time attending a musical at DeVos and loved it so so much. I'd definitely come to see a perfrormance any time. The parking was also validated from what I remember, and it wasn't too crowded to get out of the parking area by the time the show finished.

Karen H.

This place is a dump. The seats are filthy. The floors are filthy. The decor is in need of a major refresh. Below are pictures of seats and chairs.

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Photo of William F. I.
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15 years ago

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12 years ago

We went and saw Once Musical here the other night and had a great time. Great facility, incredible show, and an excellent atmosphere.

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9 years ago

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9 years ago

Went to Book of Mormon and it was great but the sound wasn't great. Words were mumbled

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Review Highlights - DeVos Performance Hall

Overall, a very good selection of performances from Broadway GR, Opera GR, GR Symphony, and GR Ballet, to touring musicians; I even saw Alton Brown do his culinary stage show there.

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Came for the most amazing performance by comedian, Alok!…read more The Pyramid Scheme is a fun retro take on a dive bar known for their great shows, pinball machines and (somewhat) reasonably priced drinks. The staff may seem rough on the outer edges, but they are all actually teddy bears once you get to know them. Usually shows are standing room only, which is a drag if you are old like me and opt not to wear orthotics. Luckily, the 9 pm encore show was seated. My old bones appreciated this. Now look below as I'm fangirling in the attached photos! I absolutely adore Alok and their courage to humorously challenge the gender binary and systematically poke holes in the patriarchal system that comprises The USA.

i have been attending the Pyramid Scheme for years now. I absolutely love all of the staff and they…read morereally become like friends and family after constantly seeing them when attending shows. The lineups are often pretty diverse, now offering more local music and the addition of more free events to bring together the community. They've added vintage nights, trivia, and free pinball days which I think is a very important and necessary community good. The venue has a front half with a bar, pinball cabinets, and even some outdoor seating. The back hosts the concert venue with interior bar, seating, and elevated stage. I'm allergic to alcohol so I can't speak to the drinks nor the prices but they have free water jugs readily available which is a lifesaver during shows and is just such a small, nice feature to have access to. I definitely would recommend coming here for a concert, finding some new local music, or establishing a new hang out for your friends.

Midtown

Midtown

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Midtown is such a cute performance space. They are located in studio park, right on top of of the…read more123 restaurant and movie theatre. They host open mic nights (usually free), comedians, and niche musical artists. I believe the venue only sits around 100 people, but the intimate space makes for fun shows where artists can interact with the audience. There is a full service bar in the back and they serve a few snacky-type foods (popcorn, pretzels). Ticket prices range, and I think it's based on who they book. So just be in tune to their website for info. If you park in the "STUDIO PARK(ING)" ramp, they will validate the parking ticket. My experience seeing shows here has always been positive. Midtown is also a part of the Listening Lawn performances in the summer! Overall a 5/5 rating.

I've been to the Listening Room a few times now, most recently for a stand up show. Seats were…read morefirst come, first served, so we got there early and grabbed a seat near the front. One of the nice things about this venue is that there's not really a bad seat there, due to the small size of the room. It's pretty cozy, but I like the more intimate setup for shows. I will say that we could hear the concert happening outside on the lawn throughout the set, which was a bit distracting at times but not too bad. A server will take your order right from your seat - they have a small drink menu and a couple snack options. They only had one mocktail option available - a lemonade drink which was really sweet but tasty. I wish they had the other non-alcoholic drinks that One Twenty Three offers downstairs. Drinks are pretty pricey, and I'd skip the snacks and just head to One Twenty Three for dinner before or after the show. They close out your tab automatically at the end of the night and add a 20% gratuity. You can still ask to see your bill if you want to check the total, etc. I think this is useful so you don't have to flag down your server to close out your tab if it's busy. I still really like this venue, and will continue to seek out shows here.

Intersection Lounge

Intersection Lounge

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The Intersection is a multi-stage venue that gets some decent acts. I've seen at least 15 shows…read morethere since 2011. The main venue is large and cavernous with hard concrete floors and limited reserved seating. The "stache" is the front room with a small stage, which makes for an intimate show and we've seen some favorite bands there. Elevation is downstairs and I've only been in there once but is also pretty nice for a smaller show. The bar lines tend to move quickly, and I like that there's a bar in the lobby that's usually less busy. They don't serve any food, which is a bit of a bummer but there are a few places around where you can get dinner before a show. No designated parking lot for the Intersection but there's plenty of street parking nearby. Overall I prefer 20 Monroe to the Intersection these days mostly for their snacks :) But if a band I like comes to the Intersection, it's an easy yes for me since it's close to home and a decent spot for a concert.

My first experience going to the Intersection was fun and an enjoyable night out. There is parking…read moreeverywhere around the venue. We paid $20 cash or card and walked just a block to the front door. We were greeted and asked for our ID. We were directed to another counter after we go in the door to show our tickets for the show. All the staff were polite, professional and welcomed us to the venue. There were ample amount of wait staff and people at the bar to get drinks fast. I was drinking ling islands and they cost $10.75 without tip. We were notified due to the venue not selling out the VIP section was open and first come first serve so we found the most perfect spot to enjoy the band, people watch and have a place to put our drinks. The sound system was incredible and the auto very clear. The bathroom were clearly marked and there were plenty of stalls. Overall good night out.

DeVos Performance Hall - theater - Updated May 2026

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