Lisner auditorium is on GWU's campus. On weekends you can find free street parking. There are also nearby garages. Foggy bottom metro is an option. The auditorium is nice. Drinks and food are not allowed inside. Cash bars are open during intermission. The web site lists events going on. read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - a woman in a pink dress - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The legroom and width of the seats was not sufficient for a 5'8" woman with very long legs. I understand wanting to fit in more people - but was so uncomfortable - that I would not likely pay for a seat there in the future. read more

We saw the Washington Concert Opera here this evening. Great performance, but a terrible venue. The seats are packed closer together than in any airline I have ever flown. I am a tall guy, and the ticket seller urged me to buy a more expensive aisle seat because, he said, I would be more comfortable. I did not take his advice but it was true -- the non-aisle seats were total agony. So I moved to an empty aisle seat, but I STILL could not fit my knees, and the seats are turned in such a away that I could not put both my legs in the aisle. I I was uncomfortable for the entire first and second acts. My wife, who is only 5"2", was in a middle seat, and even she was uncomfortable For the second half, I moved to one of the movable chairs in the back row. My legs were fine back there. And not enough bathrooms. The announced intermission was 35 minutes, and the lack of bathrooms was why - my wife had to go during the intermission, and there was a line at least fifty women long for a bathroom with ten stalls. The voice were wonderful but the venue unacceptable. Some of the reviews excuse the seating because this is just a college auditorium. My college's auditoriums had better seating than this, and so did my high school's. The auditoriums in the DC public schools my children attended have better seating. And GW is one of the most expensive undergraduate institutions in the country read more

We had a really good show experience last night at the Lisner Auditorium on teh campus of GW University.  It's a typical college auditorium, so really don't expect a Kennedy Center experience.  After reading some of the reviews before I suspect people really thought they were walking into a Kennedy Center venue.  Well, it's not. But that aside, the students and staff here really do make it a good experience.  Ticketing and Entry can be rather quick.  I would suggest you pick up your tickets before show.  Even if just 20 or 30 minutes before show.  The concession area is nice, drinks are not allowed in auditorium.  When there are intermissions, the student/faculty do walk through to sell snacks, but drinks are not permitted.  The stage area and seating itself is dated, but again I'm sure GW University is putting funds in Education versus their Theatre.  It's all clean, accomodating, sound and lighting are Excellent, and the staff is really friendly and helpful. All in all a great experience at Lisner Auditorium!  We knew we were on a campus and walking into an auditorium so we were pleased with what they offered. The show, Tango Lovers, was outstanding!  If you can catch another Tango Lovers show at Lisner (appears they have a couple here a year), definitely go.  It's well worth it. read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came here for a Turkish Embassy event. It's pretty crowded around 19:00 on Subday. Price: Not sure. Free?! Many events are free. Security: Strict. Maybe only this embassy event. No drink nor food. They throw them away right away. I had peanut butter cookies. I asked them to return it to me. So I ate my sweets outside and entered again. Building: Old. Small seats especially. Armrests show how old. Sound reflection: Bad. Too loud. Somebody has to control speakers volume. I can hear many people's conversations well too. Parking: Bad. You should find parking garages. I was lucky to find a street parking spot a few blocks away. Location: Good. Safe area, I guess. Wholefoods is close. read more

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came here for a south asian Raas competition. other than the audio speakers, everything went pretty smoothly. bathrooms were clean, everyone was nice, venue was decent! the speakers weren't too clear and kept crackling read more

I came here tonight to see comedian Ralphie May perform. I was impressed with our seats for the price. However, the seats are made for "little people". I'm a little over 5'7 and I had my legs hanging out in the aisle the majority of the show. This is a huge factor to consider when purchasing tickets here. I was happy to learn upon entrance there was alcohol purchase. That was until I saw the sign that only bottle water was allowed into the auditorium. Ummm okay wtf??? I am glad I saw the show but other venues in the area are better. read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The Lisner Auditorium was built in '46 and is located on the GWU campus. It offers various public performances, and you can also rent the auditorium for public/private events. I was able to attend an event held by an embassy, and with the crazy amount of attendees, the ushers at the doors were disorganized and were not able to keep up with scanning the tickets. The lines were pretty ridiculous at different booths, and there was not enough space to accommodate the amount of people. I personally thought that there should have been a cap, as well as more monitoring of people blocking the stairways. The auditorium was a little old school, with more emphasis needing to be on the acoustics. Extremely limited restricted parking around the area, as you will be competing for a spot with students and residents alike! +located on the GWU campus +extremely limited restricted parking read more

We visited Lisner Auditorium to catch Yamato: The Drummers of Japan. They seem to swing by Lisner on a yearly basis, so if you haven't seen them already, bookmark them for next year. A humorous, artistic, and overall exhilarating experience that will leave your heart thumping long after the performance. The theatre, on the other hand, wasn't as exciting. The stage is pretty big in proportion to the seating hall, so there didn't seem to be a bad seat in the house as far as line of vision. But what kind of midgets or children did they have in mind when they designed the seats?? While all 5'2" of me was able to fit into the seat without leg cramps, my head was practically resting on the lap of the guy sitting behind me, who was unfortunate enough to be quite tall. The close quarters also make it difficult to find a place for your bag, and I ended up having to wedge mine on the floor between two seats. Aside from the uncomfortable seating, the location of the auditorium just off of Foggy Bottom Metro is great, and the bathroom lines move pretty fast. Besides, any discomfort I felt was quickly forgotten when the performance began, so kudos to Lisner for the outstanding selection that makes you forget your grumbles. **They offer GW student/alum discounts for most performance, so if you don't already have a friend from GW, a good reason to make one! read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came here for the 2nd time to See Yamato, the Taiko drummers of Japan. The first time was to see Rex Navarette, a Filipino comedian, and that was a few years ago. Not much has changed. Obviously it's located in the heart of GW University. Driving around it's bustling pedestrian traffic can be a little annoying. The locals act like they own the streets and will just walk right out in front of you as if you didn't exist. Street parking is scarce. The good news is there is a 24hr parking lot right around the corner from the entrance to the auditorium. http://www.parking.gwu.edu/ If you buy your tickets online, you can print them out and then you're good to go. Once you arrive, walk straigt to the doors leading in the theatre and show them to the ushers. Or you can have them waiting for you at will call, which during our event was organized in two lines: A-L and M-Z. The wait was not long at all. Once inside, they'll have a couple of push-cart bars serving gin and juice and bottled water. No alchohol allowed in the auditorium, but you can bring the water. Pre show and intermission was me and a buddy pounding down a couple of brewskis. Restrooms. What everybody needs, but seem to be afraid to talk about. There are a couple of hybrid male/femail/handicap 1 roomers on the sides of the entrance. Or you can go downstairs to the mini art gallery basement and use the full multi urinal and bowls restrooms. When using, I try not to look down. I like seeing butter on my toast, not the rim of the toilet bowl. The Auditorium itself has a big stage. Accoustics are pretty good. Lighting is pretty cool. The seats themselves, well, I think that no matter where you sit, you'll have a good view of the stage. The seats are a little tight, really close together and leg room was not a forthought when constructing this place. My knees were practically rubbing against the shoulders of the guy in front of me. Hey dude, free creepy massage. Just sit there and go with it. The somewhat smaller capaciity of the theatre allows for a quick getaway when exiting. Like Whodini, you're out in a flash. Extra note abou the performance: The Yamato drummers gave a kick-ass performace. Not only did they dazzle with the rhythm and beats of their drums, they performed with vocals, some kind of miniature cymbals and guitar-like instruments. They were animated, comedic, graceful, and demonstrated some athleticism that would make Tony Horton of P90X proud. They even got the crowds going with audience participation. It was a very powerful show. Glad I was able to see it. read more

Every time I go there, the air conditioning seems to be turned off. Even though they put millions into refurbishing the place with really nicely recovered seats, new paint, and new lighting, it would be nice if they could anticipate the temperature for a performance and, actually give the guests a reasonable temperature. read more

Lisner auditorium has been a staple at George Washington University. It's been ages since I've been back. Anyhow, I got to see Jose Gonzalez (well known Swedish Argentinian guitarist) along with Y Music. The acoustics in the auditorium are good and although I usually go to standing venues like 9:30 club, it was a change of pace sitting in seats. Anyhow, this was the last leg of Jose Gonzalez's tour and it was awesome. He and the supporting sextet, Y music, performed a couple of encore songs. The highlights of the day were "Crosses" and the cover of Heartbeats (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxJhYpTIrl8). Good stuff! read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

At first glance this seems to be a nice venue, but in the details it's awful. There's very little signage in the lobby so as I stood by the concession stand an endless parade of people came up to ask where the bathrooms were. Speaking of concessions, it consisted of average everyday candy like peanut butter cups for $2 cash only. There was a beer/wine stand, but I didn't venture there. No signs labeling sections to help you find your seat, but at least the ushers were nice and friendly. Once you find your seat, except something smaller than an elementary school chair with zero legroom. I'm 6'2" and was in excruciating pain the two and a half hours I sat there, constantly trying to find a way to get comfortable without imposing on my neighbor. I seriously could not sit with my knees forward, I had to contort and splay my legs just to fit. The lack of amenities and signage would be fine if the seats weren't so awful. I seriously can't understand how they thought the lack of leg room would be okay. If you're over 5'5" prepare to be uncomfortable. It's too bad as this could be a convenient location with a garage across the street and the Foggy Bottom Metro just blocks away. read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - a large audience at a conference - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I am more than confident that George Washington students get angry about how much tuition they pay to have such a sad auditorium. Unfortunately, as long as people keep renting it, I am sure it will not get updated. The stage seems to be OK enough for your standard concert, but as others are saying, the seating is terrible. I am an exceptionally slender 5'7" female, and I could not fit in the seat. My knees are covered in bruises from trying to fit in the seat, but there is no leg room. You cannot enjoy a concert when the seating is that tight. The only good thing is that the backs seats are raised significantly so no one is blocking your view. The front of house staff was a disaster for the event I attended, with ushers yelling at 100 year old ladies to go through the main doors and not the will-call doors. Look- old people just go to the closest door and/or with the biggest line. If your structure is so bad that everyone is going through the will-call doors, then you are doing something wrong. Now you are also irritating me, as someone who needs will-call. These same staff members then walk through the audience at intermission selling candy for $2 but require exact change. In the days of Square, is that still real? I don't know. There is also no signage for stage doors or bathrooms. I wouldn't pay to come back here for any event- as it is just an unpleasant experience on every level. However, they do seem to have a lot of interesting events here. read more

Despite multiple doors all leading to the same place, an usher requested we enter through one door and wait in line. Luckily, the lines moved fast, and I made my way through pretty quickly. There was no intermission so attendees purchased drinks and snacks up front. There was also a coat check for those interested. My colleague had arrived early and saved us a seat right behind the reserved seating section. It was fantastic to be so close to the stage because as I would later learn, when it was time to get our books signed by Bill Nye, they started with the rows in front. Seating is a little cramped, as my colleague warned me it would be. Otherwise, I thought the ushers did a pretty good job handling crowd control. The lecture was part of Smithsonian Associates, and this is the first I've attended from them. Restrooms are downstairs, where there is a second station to pick up drinks. read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I watched Margaret Cho at the Lisner auditorium and overall it was a pleasant venue. Close to the metro, on the GW campus, and close to a few restaurants. There were many people working in the different booths and the lines moved quickly! Some downsides are the long lines for drinks and how tight the seating is! Thank goodness I am only 5 feet because any taller and my knees wouldn't fit. I will definitely be on the lookout for future shows! read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - a performer on stage - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went to see So You Think you can Dance show. These seats in this place are made children. They are so uncomfortable It's crazy. Why would anyone make a place wherever the rows are spaced 2 feet apart. If you are over 5' and have legs think twice before you go to this place. read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - Knees in the next row. - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Overall a good theater. I came here to see the Revels (which as a 5-star show by the way) and well, I greatly enjoyed it so I guess the theater is pretty good. The acoustics didn't sound off, the lighting was excellent (although that mostly rests on the master electrician and lighting designer), and the theater staff were friendly. I believe there's complementary coat check as well. I talked to the tech director after the show (he was my tech teacher in high school) and he said that all the tech stuff is really cool, so I'll take his word for it. My only complaint would be the rather cramped seating... I'm about 6'1" and it felt like an airplane seat. If they could fix that up it'd be golden. read more

Jamming out with a leg cramp. Yes, it is quality over comfort at the Lisner Auditorium. I saw the Magnetic Fields there last night (huzzah!) and though I was neither close nor centrally located the sound quality and visibility were both truly spectacular! 1) No matter how many times this whimsical man in a bright gold vest walked in front of my section, he never blocked the stage. 2)They did NOT have to adjust the sound levels every 3 seconds - or, they made these adjustments seamlessly - which, if you go to a lot of shows, you know is amazing and wonderful. Points for them! However - Wowza is it tight in there. Like, airplane levels of space. I elbowed the woman next to me while removing my coat - despite awkward shimmying, (though, she was singing along too loudly.) My (very short) legs were in noticeable amounts of pain by the time I left, and to use the restroom the whole row has to get up, move out into the aisle, let you out and then roam back in. Awkward. An artist about whom I am really excited would definitely draw me back - but the discomfort would absolutely prevent me attending anything of which I was only a casual fan. read more

Just a disclaimer: I totally agree with both reviewers (Katie F. and Andrew H.) about the auditorium. I was pleasantly surprised that Flight of the Conchords were playing so close and at a "relatively unknown" location. The biggest plus of the night is that the layout of the auditorium makes for great seats no matter where you're at. I was really happy about that because during the buying process, you couldn't pick where you wanted to sit. The Good: As previously mentioned, the view was great. There was a lot of space to move about the lobby. How they controlled the lights in the auditorium (I love love love dark venues). The Eh: Waiting in line to use the men's room? Come on guys, speed it up. As Andrew H. mentioned, the mini light-sabers the ushers used to direct people to their seats. Concessions. The Bad: I don't see how people taller than 5'4" were able to sit comfortably in their chairs. The decor. Seriously, there was absolutely none in the auditorium. Just beige paint. Yuck. However despite its flaws, I enjoyed myself and that is really what matters. I can't wait to see what other acts are coming there. I'm looking forward to returning! read more

I like the lisner. It's a good size and they do a good job. It's obviously not the Kennedy center and much of the staff is older and voluntary. Still a nice place to go for a show and usually at a better price that the Kennedy center. read more

I like: *that it is as dark a the belly of a whale *the eclectic shows they have, I just came from seeing John Mclaughlin, perhaps the greatest living guitar player (flames commence) I dislike: *the leg room designed for 6 year olds in the seats I can afford. there was literally less than 6 inches between the front edge of my seat and the back of the seat in front of me. I really hate: *the incendiary flashlights of the ushers acting like atomic bumblebees all over the freaking house during the first half hour of the performance. Please get some read filters or ask guests to arrive nearly on time or wait to seat them until between numbers. read more

I visited Lisner Auditiorium for "A conversation with Ferran Adria and Jose Andres" it was a sold-out talk. It was organized by the one and the only Prose and Politics - the awesome bookstore. Since i bought the ticket that included the cookbook, I went to pick it up they were well-prepared for this event having some books presigned by Ferran. I had an okay seat high up but it was not a big auditorium so it wasnt so bad. The only annoying part were these women who couldnt stop chatting even when the guests were talking and one of them took about 1 million photos under 1 hour. The flash went off incessantly. How rude. The seats were noisy they sprung off loudly when people got up of their seats. At the end I wanted to get another book and we got a glimpse of Ferran and Andres at the signing table. Very good event overall. read more

I visited Lisner last night for the first time, to see Anoushka Shankar perform. I have mixed feelings about the auditorium, so I'll list the pros and cons: Pros: 1) Good views. I was very pleased with my seats, which weren't even in the expensive section. I got a good view and the sound was perfect. I could see the artist really well. 2) Ease of entry. There are a lot of doors with efficient ticket checkers. I walked right up and within a minute was inside the venue. A+ for that. Cons: 1) The house managers. The people in the red coats who showed patrons to their seats were one of the worst parts about the whole night. Not only did they talk in very loud voices during the show, they have little flashlights which they used to sweep the auditorium and shine in our faces. I would say their flashlights hit my section about 6 or 7 times, and it really was distracting. I assume they use them to guide themselves in the dark, or to illuminate the ground...but these people used them to gesture up and down the aisles. I was really disappointed at their behavior. 2) The legroom. The seats in the terrace section were uncomfortably small, and I found it barely fit me - I'm 5'9". I'll go back, just because it's convenient and a good place to see shows. But I really wish they could train their house managers better to not interfere with the enjoyment of the show. read more

Came here to see a Jake Shimabukuro concert and really enjoyed myself. The staff were really nice before and after the show. They even pointed out where I could get a post-show autograph. Since it's relatively close to a metro, convenient, quick to get in and out of, I will probably come back for a future show. read more

Located in the heart of George Washington University this is a surprisingly roomy Auditorium. They happen to host some really fun and cool events here though sometimes they are fairly expensive. We went to see Kollaboration DC with some VIP tickets and had a whole two rows to ourselves pretty much. Wow! Also they seem to collaborate fairly well with food truck vendors to make them available during intermission, awesome! The seats and aisles are clean and comfy, though the place can get a little hot when crowded even with the AC on! Looking forward to more events here sometime soon! read more

Didn't quite know what to expect from this venue when I recently caught the Avett Brothers playing here. Overall it was a terrific experience. The band was outstanding, the company wasn't so bad, and the venue worked. There's something to be said about the perks and drawbacks here. Acoustics: Awesome! I couldn't have been further from the stage and it sounded incredible. In this regard there's not a bad seat in the house. Venue Layout: I can second (or third) the reviews that speak to the minimal leg room (at least in the nosebleed seats). You're more or less right on top of the patrons around you. Get cozy. But again, you can see the band and, more importantly, hear them rock the house! Overall Atmosphere: 3 stars. It didn't blow me away but I wouldn't refuse to return. I was unaware (and unprepared) for the lack of libations. I waited with the masses at the roll up concession stand for my two beers which I had to down prior to entering the auditorium. Guess it could be expected since it's on GW's campus, but I found it offensive because, well, concerts and beer are as correlative as PB&J. read more

Viewed the Christmas Revels with 3 of my good friends. There was a good view from where I Sat. The actors and actresses onstage did a superb job in showing off the traditions and music of the Christmas Revels. The public areas of the entire building and auditorium are clean and well maintained and the staff are friendly, cheerful and helpful with the Christmas spirit. I also honestly and respectfully agree with Jeremy F that the auditorium seats are way too close together horizontally and diagonally leaving only a cramped space for the knees. Yao Ming will not be able to sit in these seats because he is so tall. The horizontal Distance between the rows of seats seriously needs to be adjusted outward as soon as possible. read more

George Washington Lisner Auditorium - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Lisner was redone a few years back, and there is a special place in Heqq for whoever made the decisions about the seats. Many of the reviews have commented on this, but they don't convey the full suckacity of the seatage. Maybe the most expensive seats are better, but the midrange ones we sat in were shocking. The lousiest airplane seat you've ever sat in is a palatial throne compared to these. (And no; I'm not tall. 5'9" if I stretch.) Seems as though someone, somewhere, made a calculated and deeply sleazy corporate decision. It's true: I can save myself the legache by not buying a ticket. But for a University venue to treat its patrons with this kind of contempt is embarrassing. Shame on you, GWU! read more

1. Just saw Lucinda Williams at Lisner last week - great concert! Rates even higher except for point 2. 2. The redesign of the seats is truly horrible and embarrassing to me as an alumni of GWU. I am 5'4" and my knees don't fit in the seat and force you to sit sideways. I love seeing the Washington Concert Opera perform here but with the new seating it will be torture to sit through an opera performance for several hours. All the men nearby had their legs splayed apart in order to fit. Whoever decided to sacrifice the leg space to make more money deserves a special place in Hell. I feel sorry for the performers because audiences will soon stop coming to such an uncomfortable environment. Didn't anyone in charge actually sit in these before agreeing to this awful design????????? read more

Andrew's review below was very accurate. I did have an easy time finding street parking on a Friday evening before the show which was nice. The ladies bathroom and the venue as a whole was very clean, which was a plus. All the staff was very kind and helpful. read more

After hearing about this venue dozens of times over the years, I finally had a chance to attend a benefit concert here. It's very convenient, just three blocks from the Foggy Bottom Metro station on the orange and blue lines. Will Call was just inside the doors (on the far left side) and the staff was super-friendly. The auditorium is very beige, without any distinguishing architecture or decorative elements. The seats are comfortable... if you're under five feet tall. I'm only 5'4" and my knees were smashed up against the back of the seat in front of me. I don't know how anyone taller could deal with this. Fortunately, the concert wasn't full, so we moved down to some seats that didn't have any in front of them. The acoustics of the auditorium were decent. There was some bad mixing in the show, but I'd blame that on the sound guys. Overall, a good time, but I'd try to get seats with guaranteed leg room! read more

I came to this place for a book signing for Justice Sotomayor. The line was long but very well organized. Everything moved very quickly and we had our books signed in a very orderly manner. I thought it was going to be chaotic the place was full. Very nice Auditorium and very well organized. read more

There isn't a bad seat in the house. Even the cheap seats give you a good view of the stage. This is another theater it is worth it to splurge on the orchestra seats. The cheaper seats are so compacted, at 5'7" I had a hard time sitting comfortably. Just keep that in mind when you purchase tickets for a show here. read more

I was here for a performance over the holidays. It was a great show, medium sized theater. Staff (GW Students) were friendly, and overall a clean place. We were in the upper area and it was very warm, which wasn't comfortable, and they only had 1 bar area during intermission, so unless you ran to the bar at intermission, you weren't going to get a drink. I would go back. read more

Lisner's a good auditorium for pretty much any type of concert or show. It's relatively straightforward, with little non-functional decoration. It's got very good acoustics and is a decent size, but not too big that there are any bad seats. The stage is relatively deep. The volunteers are patient and friendly. The one 'negative' note for me is the bathrooms, which are very dated and relatively small and awkwardly shaped for theater crowds (narrow and wrapped awkwardly on short stairwells, making it difficult for people to move in and out or wait in the lines); however, they're clean, which is always important. read more

I'm a GW Alumni and I've seen plenty of shows here. YES there could be more leg room (and this is coming from a 5'1 midget like me) and I look forward to the day they finally renovate the auditorium (if thats even in their plans). HOwever, they have the best artists coming through this place and its location is perfect. You can grab dinner beforehand and still breeze on through to the auditorium without a hitch. You also can't go wrong with whatever seat you choose... unless you end up on either the far far far right or far far far left. read more

Worst concert venue ever. Seats are so small with so little legroom that even at 5'7" my legs spent most of the Jewel concert in painful cramps. So unless you're less than 5 feet tall, stay away. read more

I would definitely go back here for a show, but next time I'm taking an aisle seat. Pros: The theater is incredibly convenient to metro. I can't speak to the parking possibilities. There are good restaurants nearby for before or after a show. The theater itself is a nice size; even in the far back seats are good. The place clears out pretty smoothly after a performance. They have an eclectic series of shows. Cons: Being built in the 1940's does nothing for leg room. I am not all that tall, but found the lack of leg room painful by the end. The theater, at least the night I was there, does not have a set time to bring in latecomers. Ushers brought people in throughout the first performer's part. This was very distracting, especially when the ushers are using such bright flashlights. read more

Follow up after the show. Seats were stellar of course and frankly it appears that most seats in this compact venue are pretty good. I'm a tall guy and found the leg room pretty much normal and bearable. Met Laura in person and she was as upbeat during the turmoil of a show as she was on the phone. Thanks again to her. If you like a show there buy even the last available seat, you will enjoy it. Great staff, every person I met seemed to be in a good mood and unstressed. read more