Great venue! Very clean and comfortable. I can't believe I never realized this theater was there. I came here to see a live podcast for Kid Fury. I was seated all the way at the top and I could still see perfectly. I was upset the bar did not serve Hennessy, so I didn't drink anything. read more

We had our first experience with Gala Hispanic Theatre coming here to see the play Garbo. Garbo is a well-written well-acted production about a World War II spy who was a double-agent. We really enjoyed it. Because the plays here are spoken in Spanish, Gala provides three monitors with the English subtitles. That's a real benefit, though it would be nice if one of the monitors was directly below the stage so you can see both the subtitles and the play at the same time. Seats are kinda snug, but you do expect that in an older theatre. Also, even though the theatre validated our ticket, the validation discount was not reflected in how much we paid upon exit from the adjacent Giant grocery store parking lot. read more

GALA Hispanic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We were here again for Garbo, the Actor Who Saved the World. A very nice performance of a funny and timely play. We paid for our tickets this time and the price for seniors and for regular adults (our daughter-in-law was visiting from Zanzibar) was very reasonable. The English surtitles on either side of the stage worked well (but is was a bit weird when the audience,most of which was plainly Spanish fluent, laughed after we had seen the funny part because reading is much faster than speaking). Another reminder that the seats don't leave enough room for a tall person's knees, so sitting on an aisle or in the front row makes sense read more

Gala is a Hispanic Theatre presenting cultural shows. We loved their Three Kings Show which was complementary for everyone in attendance. The theatre is small and they do not have concession available for sale. But it appears that you can bring in snacks. They are located on the second floor. Since it is small, you are guaranteed to get a seat with a view. The seats are not the best for taller guests. They do not have drink holders. It's a basic theatre with no frills but has great shows presented in Spanish and English simultaneously. You can get validated parking from the Giant parking lot. Bring your ticket inside for $4 parking validation. read more

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I saw a performance of #LaFoto tonight. You enter through double doors of a building. A guard told me to head upstairs (knowing I was there for the show). There is adequate signage that the Gala Theatre is on the second floor. The staircase has framed photographs all the way up. The box office is through the stairwell door and to the right. There is another door to enter where an usher hands you a program. Inside to the right are a few tables with low bar stools with a high bar table. There are dedicated men's and women's restrooms on either side of the bar. There's snacks and beverages for sale. Doors opened 30 minutes before the start of the show. Ushers were friendly, helpful, professional, upbeat, focused, and coordinated. Music played on loop before the show--everything from a Gloria Estefan's "Congo" to Dua Lipa's "New Rules" to breathy Latin soul jams to 90s skateboard hip-hop. The theater space is much larger than I expected, and I marveled at how beautiful the decor, particularly the detail in the ceiling, was. The set was minimalist but astutely and aesthetically built with pleasing lighting. The show was in Spanish and subtitled! After seven years of Spanish in middle and high school, I tested myself to see how much I could understand. Much of the present tense and slower dialogue I got. The show had six actors, the play was about 1.5 hour with one 10-minute interval, the story was funny and serious at times, and the pacing was good. A few women laughed at far too many scenes than the rest of the audience, but maybe they are unnaturally jovial by birth. For a cold February Thursday, the house was about 40-50 percent full, maybe more. The seating was a bit uncomfortable, but being short I can't complain. The seats cushions are comfortable but the seats themselves are tight side by side and row to row. Your knees will touch the seat in front of yours if you're taller than 5'7". These seats are meant for sitting up straight, so don't slouch. I saw dedications to loved ones on the seats. I recommend this theater! read more

GALA Hispanic Theatre - #LaFoto beautiful set - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Gala is an incredible place that contributes so much to our community. I have attended two shows - a play, and most recently the On Your Feet musical which was one of the best productions I have ever seen (I went twice!). The productions are high quality, it is a small venue which feels intimate. They require vaccines or negative COVID tests which made me feel safer. And most special to me is the crucial work they are doing through their after school programs for at-risk youth. I can't wait to go to the next show! read more

Considering my review, the word that kept coming to mind was "treasure." then I read several other reviews and, as you may have noticed, that word is peppered throughout the reviews. So, it must have some resonance. It really is a unique place and i recommend getting on their mailing list. First, it is an elegant facility in a terrific location. One block from the Columbia Heights Metro and accessible to 14th St. buses, it's also surrounded by restaurants. Will call is easy to find and they have a pre-show bar. There's also a nice display in the foyer that describes the Tivoli reclamation project. About the shows? Just wonderful events. I highly recommend their annual flamenco festival held each autumn. It is spectacular. They bring together some of the world's top performers as well as the best local talent to produce an innovative, original program. And they leave it all on the stage. The theater is small, it seats less than 300, so you're very close to the action. This is a terrific place for a date. I recommend the local restaurants such as The Heights, Alero, or Commonwealth Gastropub. They are relaxing places to start your evening. you can return to them after the show, or down the street to Meridian Pint or Red Rocks. GALA really is a gem. If I had one complaint, it's that you never know when the curtain will rise. They sometimes start the shows between five and twenty minutes late. Be there on time, but don't be surprised if they don't start on time. read more

Caliente! GALA is predominately theater for Hispanic and Latino productions, but if you don't speak Spanish-- don't let that scare you. GALA's productions have something called "surtitles' which is basically Spanglish for subtitles. At GALA, the English is projected onto the screen in an easy to follow format. The shows at GALA are typically classical Spanish plays or musicals, as well as flamenco dances. The building in which GALA resides, the Trivoli, was originally constructed in the early 1920's and was one of the most elegant movie theaters of that day. Sometimes, you can catch some really cool stuff here like Trey Parker's "Cannibal the Musical" and a Bill and Ted spin on The Brothers Grimm. read more

GALA Hispanic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We've been to GALA twice now and have really enjoyed the plays there. My fiancee is a fluent Spanish speaker, where I only remember a little bit that I learned in college. The English surtitles really do help! I would definitely recommend getting a seat high in the stands, in the middle if it is your first time going and need to take advantage of the surtitles. Your neck can get a little strained from some of the other places (trust me!) This past time that we went, we went on a Saturday night and saw their production of "La edad de la ciruela / The Aging of the Plum". I felt a little bad since the theater was about half empty for a Saturday night, but I'm assuming the show had been going on for a while. The tickets are not that expensive, compared to a lot of the other theatres in DC. And the area that the theater is in is really easy to get to (about a block from Columbia heights Metro station). I would definitely recommend this theatre to any one who's looking to try something new. read more

Had a great night watching the Chocolate City Burlesque last night. it really was very live & performance acts got the place jumping. The Theatre itself was very nice but I must say the wooden seats had very little walkway or stretch out at all and tightly fit....so make sure keep it light. read more

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Gala Hispanic Theatre is a treasure and I feel so spoiled that I can just walk up the hill a few blocks to see quality productions of plays staged in Spanish right here in DC. There's just something about a small theatre giving their all that makes me want to support Gala, especially in Columbia Heights, which has so long been a Latino enclave. I am not a fluent Spanish speaker, but not to worry, because works done in Spanish always include "surtitles" in English above the stage. For that reason, if you need to read, you'll be better off 6 or 7 rows back so you can better read while still focusing on the actors. Sitting in the second row recently I had to look up to read and therefore had to constantly take my eyes off the actors. Another standout that Gala does every year is the annual flamenco festival with its focus on both international and domestic flamenco artists. Overall, Gala is an A+ contributor to DC's cultural landscape. read more

This is a very cool venue that I'd never heard of until my friend sent invites to attend Elvis' Birthday Fight Club. Exqueeze me? Elivis' what? Yea, I was confused too. Thankfully, it was an entertaining and creative show...although, it started to lag after intermission. The theatre itself is pretty -- you can still see some of the original ceiling, although much of it is covered by sound/lighting set up. They have a bar in the lobby so you can get liquored up before the show, and they allow you to bring it in. The same setting gives it an intimate feeling, which typically makes it more fun to attend! It's located in a great area too with lots of delish dinner options before (or after). read more

Sara Perez was simply outstanding!! Her artistry, technique - everything was perfecto !! Go see this amazing Flamenco dancer and her company. You will not be disappointed! read more

We've long been Gala theatre devotees. It is a lovely venue right in the heart of DC and usually attracts good talent. I say usually. I feel that perhaps due to budget cuts, the theater's directorial craftmanship has gone down. Yesterday we had to sit through a rather painful performance of "House of Desires." The three hour play reminded me a badly written soap opera, where the actors were reciting their lines, not actually playing their part. There was absolutely no chemistry, unless you consider the actors playing the servants. I put the blame on the director. He/she either didn't finish the job or miscast his actors. Ok, enough with the bad review. Their flamenco and tango shows are always great, so perhaps I'd just stick with these two. read more

Went for the first time last night to see the one-man production "Extraterrestres, Inmigrantes y Otros Malhechores" (Aliens, Immigrants and Other Malfeasants). A good representation of experimental theater, this was a highly emotional and thought provoking performance. This performance was biligual, so even if you're not a Spanish speaker, you would have no trouble enjoying it. I believe that all their performances have subtitles. The theater itself was beautiful. Located on the second floor of an outwardly average building on 14th St in Columbia Heights, it is an elegant and intimate venue, with none of the usual pretense of theater. There's no assigned seating, but the theater has stadium seating and there are only about 15 rows of seats, so you're upfront and personal with the performers no matter where you're seated. You could tell that the company puts a lot of thought into the performances that they commission and show here. After the performance, they held discussion with the artist. At $20/ticket, this is some of best money you can spend on art in DC. read more

Went here on a date for the Elvis Presely Fight Club. My show was not in spanish and the show was fun. The review however is on the venue... the venue is fine. It's clean and feels modern. My only gripe with this theater is the fact that the seats are small and i'm 6'2" and my knees are jabbing into the guy in front of me. read more

I'm a little ashamed that I first came here to see a production that was not in Spanish (because I'm Hispanic...) but Elvis' Birthday Fight Club was so entertaining and I'm glad it finally brought me out to this theatre! We arrived about 5 minutes before a scheduled start time of 8 p.m., skipped the bar to immediately find seats (it's general admission), and there were not many seats left, but we sat ourselves in the upper right corner. The theater is pretty small, so you should have a good view of the stage no matter where you're sitting, even when you're sitting in the back corner like me. I actually really like the seats set up along the sides of the balcony, and we almost chose those seats over the ones in the corner. Now that I know how great this theatre is, I'll definitely try to come back for a dance performance. read more

The space doesn't have a grand entrance. You go up a set of stars of what almost looks like office building to second floor. Worn interior but filled with love and sweet staff. Small simple cash bar available. Only one entrance into the theater at the far end past the cash bar. I liked the space. Felt like intimate theater and large ample seating space, similar to Atlas theater. The bathroom was interesting and it had a light green jade color counter, haven't seen that around. We watched the DC Shorts Laugh Fest here, and there was a large pull down screen for movies. We sat in third row and it was great views to both comedians and for watching the film. read more

You don't have to speak Spanish to enjoy the shows at this DC gem. All productions are subtitled, though more attention could be put on making sure that the subtitles sync up correctly. I saw the Roberto Clemente story here - beautiful and inspirational. I highly recommend it! On the night I came, there was a diverse, but small crowd. It was nice to experience the show in such a small, intimate setting though. You can tell that the actors here put alot of heart into their craft. Tickets sell around $20 I think, but if you volunteer to usher you can help out and see a free show. Be sure to arrive on time because after the show starts, you waive rights to your seats and will have to sit near the balcony area. Very conveniently located, near Columbia Heights. They also validate parking for those who park at the nearby Giant. read more

A Washington D.C gem. A great bilingual theater company. Wonderful staging, great performance, and the feeling that you are family. Definitely go at least once. read more

I went to GALA for the first time last month and it exceeding my expectations; it's less than a block away from the metro and very well organized. I saw a play that was in Spanish but had subtitles that were big enough for everyone to see and understand. The actors were great and highly professional. I bought my tickets online and ended up sitting on the second row :-), I guess everyone else bought tickets either at the door or later than I did. I'm looking forward to revisiting GALA whenever they have a play that catches my interest. read more

The House of The Spirits was spectacular. Only Ford's Theatre provides a more intimate experience.

The performance of Calderon de la Barca's Soñar was incredible. Also, the customer service was extraordinary. They were able to get us 2 more seats and still keep us together. The production was professional, fun, and worthwhile. I'll be back for more. read more

This is about one of the coolest theaters I have been to in the DC area. It has a small capacity, but the acoustics are phenomenal, and aesthetically speaking, the place just looks beautiful. The foyer is warm and inviting - big enough to congregate in before or after a performance. It is normally adorned with very interesting photography or artwork inspired by the themes of the plays. Originally the theater was much larger, which you can obviously tell from looking at the decorative ceiling that seems unusually massive for how close it is to the seats. However, original features like this are charming and maintain the character of the building. The entrance isn't super easy to find though. It's located on 14th Street between Alero and Wachovia. read more

I went to an event here last weekend and it was the first time I had been here. My review is on the space moreso than the performance because I did not attend a Spanish language event. The event I attended was upstairs and the decor was very elegant. My only caution would be if you are a smidge over 5'6 your knees will touch the seat in front of you so be warned its a little tight when you are seated. Parking garage behing venue was a huge plus, as the theatre validated parking for a reduced rate and the lot didn't close allowing time to grab dinner/drinks after the performance. Overall it was a really great space and I look forward to attending another event here in the future. read more

We saw an amazing play here last weekend: La Casa de los Espiritus based on the Isabel Allende novel. The staff and the theater were fantastic and the play was just beautiful. Can't wait to come back again. read more

Wonderful, intimate venue for great hispanic performing art! This place is a gem in DC. I went to see Puerto Rico Fua! and it was fabulous. The Gala staff are very helpful and friendly. They are well organized with their ticketing. It's a great cultural spot to go to for hispanic plays. Everything is also in English on the monitors so our Gringo friends can enjoy it as much as we do! I highly recommend catching a play or event here. Go see Puerto Rico Fua as well! read more

My first time here was last night to see the Elvis Birthday Fight Club. I really enjoyed both the performance and the theater. The theater was smaller than expected which was perfect to give a great intimate feel. There was some audience participation and the small theater made everyone feel involved. read more

I loved the theater; it's a tiny jewel in the heart of Columbia Heights. We saw Puerto Rico Fua, and enjoyed it very much. Prices are not outrageous, and they even have a screen with Spanish subs for non-Spanish speakers. The only sour note was the theater manager. Instead of making a polite announcement about the "no photographs/no videos" policy, she admonished the audience quite uncivilly. I was not the only one offended by her. read more

Easy to get to location (Green Line Metro). The plays are similar to watching Mexican soap operas and are quite dramatic and funny. The dancing is fabulous. Support this theater--it needs us! read more