My first visit to EJ Thomas for the Cirque Holidaze Dreams show. Absolutely magical. Both the show…read moreand the hall were gorgeous with Christmas decorations and finery. Convenient parking garage attached. Full bar with reasonable prices! Seats are roomy. It's big enough to hold a crowd but small enough to still feel intimate. Tons of folks to help direct you and find your seat but the seating is logically laid out so you can also manage on your own. I will look for other shows to attend. It's a wonderful venue.

We purchased front row center seats in the balcony because we wanted to sit in the center of the…read morefront row in the balcony. IMMEDIATELY after scanning my tickets I got told we have something better for you and was given different tickets than my mobile tickets I already scanned. I argued and they sent me to those seats anyway. Upon checking them, I returned back to the person and said no I paid for balcony front row in the center. You're trying to put me all the way to the right in the last row up against the wall on the bottom level. The workers then in a very snarky tone said go upstairs to your seats then and you can scream all you want up there. On our way we were stopped by another person trying to give us "a better view". Once at the entrance for our level someone else tried to get us to get different seats and then when we were sitting someone ELSE tried to "upgrade" our seats. If you don't want people on your balcony, don't sell balcony tickets.

Went to a wedding here!! Beautiful!! I just wish that the…read morebar had bigger space. It was a tight squeeze when we went to get cocktails before the wedding. Overall it was amazing there.

I recently attended a wedding at this venue, and it was really lovely. The ballroom was stunning,…read morewith beautiful high ceilings and lots of light. I ordered a vegan meal, and it was delicious! It was a lovely risotto with some grilled vegetables - highly recommended. There's also spacious suite that's perfect for the bridal party to get ready in. There's a limited amount of parking in a small lot just outside the hall.

Hot Take: Shakespeare is meant to be acted, not read…read more As a 9th-grade English teacher, I think "Romeo and Juliet" belongs off the required reading list and back on the stage. Shakespeare's plays aren't specimens to examine under a microscope--they're living stories that come alive when talented actors perform them. Want proof? Experience Shakespeare the way it was meant to be enjoyed: outdoors on a summer evening, drink in hand, shouting "Huzzah!" with the crowd as a talented local troupe breathes fresh life into centuries-old scripts. That's exactly what my daughter and I found on an enchanting Sunday evening at Stan Hywet Hall, where the Ohio Shakespeare Festival's "As You Like It" came to life as dark rain clouds mercifully passed overhead, sparing us a downpour. From twinkle-lit brick pathways to moss-covered stone walls and turrets where actors rested between scenes, the gardens of Stan Hywet transport audiences away from the everyday into the magical world of the Bard. Here, love strikes instantly, dialogue dances in rhyme and meter, and fools somehow manage to speak the deepest truths. Though Shakespeare's language sounds foreign to modern audiences, OSF's expressive physicality and vocal intonation make the story easy to follow. Rather than translating Shakespeare, the company invites audiences to understand him naturally. The physical comedy of Touchstone, played with perfect timing by the purple-bearded Brian Pedaci, and Audrey, hilariously portrayed by Hannah Storch, drew waves of laughter from the audience. As Orlando, Trevor Buda impressed--and occasionally terrified--me with his athleticism. When Orlando swung beneath the balcony from a cleverly concealed set of monkey bars, I wondered whether the structure would hold. Fortunately, Buda also doubles as one of the company's carpenters, so he clearly trusted his own handiwork. Buda's earnest, gentlemanly Orlando paired beautifully with Sabrina Maristela's energetic and thoroughly lovable Rosalind. They even made a skeptic like me believe in love at first sight--at least for three fanciful hours. What lingers with me a few days later, though, is the feeling that this company genuinely enjoys performing together. The ensemble feels less like a cast and more like a family inviting you into its after-supper, before-bed entertainment. That sense of warmth and close-knit community is especially refreshing in an age when genuine shared experiences seem increasingly rare. "As You Like It" runs Thursday through Sunday evenings through July 26. Arrive early for the Green Show, where a dozen performers offer a relaxed, audience-driven pre-show that adds another half hour of laughter before the main event. "Macbeth" will follow from August 6 through August 23 (2026). Don't let the trauma of reading "Romeo and Juliet" next to the creepiest boy in your ninth-grade English class keep you from discovering what Shakespeare was always meant to be. Spend an evening laughing under the stars, surrounded by gardens, actors, and neighbors. Let the Ohio Shakespeare Festival convince you that Shakespeare is still well worth the effort.

This is really fun. I attended one of the summer performances at Stan Hwyet Hall, so not at their…read moreindoor theater, but it's the same overall group. The actors were enthusiastic and talented, and the performance was very well done. They stick to the language, but did a great job translating some of the passages through tone and body language. The Green Show prior to the main show was a lot of fun - humor and dancing and mock fighting, with some improv thrown in to really show their range. Definitely a fun experience!

Excellent symphony orchestra under the helm of the extraordinary artistic leadership of Christopher…read moreWilkins. They often present imaginative and inventive programs designed to enlighten, entertain, and provoke discussion about splendid music. The musicians are talented and exuberant whether they are playing in a park bandshell or in an acoustically superb concert hall.

I have enjoyed the Akron Symphony since I was in grade school. I attend the Gospel Meets Symphony…read moreeach year in February. It's the symphonys best concert all year!

Although I am not a member, I was here for a Christmas open house for members of other local…read morehistoric organizations. It was absolutely beautiful with the holiday decor and I loved talking to some of the members and learning about the history. I had never been inside before and I found the inside to be larger than I had imagined with all sorts of cool nooks and crannies. (E.g. check out the vault in the upstairs ballroom!) They served wassail and cookies to all visitors. I really am curious to learn more about the history of this house and club.

Mark DiFeo is the Chef in this beautiful mansion built in 1901. His food is freshly prepared daily…read moreand is delicious. Known as Grey Lodge, this beautiful home to the Akron Woman's City Club, is rich with history and tradition. Originally home to rubber executives, this gracious estate makes the perfect venue for an unforgettable meal. Treat yourself to elegance while enjoying Summit County's most delicious cuisine. You will want to become a Grey Lodge Dinning Member and never want to leave. The President of the Club is outstanding too.