A renovated church tucked into a sleepy street in the South End, this cultural center/performance…read morespace has retained some serious spirit, and has hosted a myriad of cool, underground community events. Because of the sheer openness and shape of the space are acoustics are solid. The pulpit was converted into a sizeable stage with a broad audience area where the pews once were. There's also excellent views from the expansive two tiered balcony. When I first visited for Soul Revival in 2001 (a now defunct deep house party) the ceiling was painted midnight blue with stars, and people came together once a month to relive the reverence of its foundation through movement and sound. It was consistently one of the most beautiful experiences of my lifetime. Keepin' Jeebus proud, folks. I only wish they kept the organ.

I think this is an old church, which is now converted to a…read morerental space. ATMOSPHERE: Simply stunning space... the SPIRAL STAIRCASE that curves you from the top to the bottom floor makes for perfect photos! The STAINED GLASS windows are striking as well. THE DEAL: This is a hidden gem in Boston's South End. You can rent this superior space reasonably for the area.

It was our first time going to a ballet - the Swan Lake at the Opera house was such a magical…read moreproduction. The costumes, the set, the dancers, the orchestra - just everything, was so impressive. The Opera house was a perfect setting as well. I'm now definitely a fan of the ballet now :)

What a show!! You…read morecan always count on The Nutcracker to put you in the holiday spirit. The lobby alone will do that for ya. I mean look at this lobby! Christmas trees, chandeliers, nutcrackers, lights, balconies, ugh I just love the elegance and quintessential Christmas energy. Talk about TALENT. This show is no joke. This is ballet at its truest and finest form. These artists make ballet look easy (and it is far from it) so I applaud every single person in this show. Boston Ballet performers are absolutely phenomenal. What's so amazing, aside from the show, is watching people file in and noticing the crowd ranges anywhere from 7 year olds to 70 year olds. Anyone can come, watch, and enjoy. Truly a perfect outing for you and your whole family, with friends, or solo! Highly recommend catching The Nutcracker!

Cool place, I love the wood structuring! The bathrooms are the reason this did not get 5 stars. The…read moreevent quality and service care doesn't seem to match how shabby the bathrooms are. They are clean yes, but chilly and industrial-looking.

Have been to many functions in this building... Its a cool building and soo funny to see how it has…read morebeen set up in soo many different forums... Good location if you dont mind public transportation, but for someone who drives parking isnt the best... But its doable!

A fun time a Jacques is an understatement. Great host and queens. Drinks are strong and atmosphere…read moreis lavishly seedy. Enjoy

I came to Jacques last night for my birthday with me and my group of friends. I'm no stranger to…read moredrag shows so I had high expectations. The show was not only fun but also interactive too. The Queen's brought audience members on stage for talking portions part of their routines and overall just made the night so much fun. I will say the music is very very loud but I think that is my only downside next time I would bring earplugs lol. The drinks are strong as other reviews have mentioned overall my group had so much fun and it was such a fun way to spend a birthday. I would definitely come back and recommend it to any group that is looking for something fun to do. It is cash only so keep that in mind but they have ATM

I had the pleasure of attending Boston Circus Guild's "Reign of Revelry" for my birthday, and I was…read moreawestruck by the creativity, soul, and talent among these performers. Boston Circus Guild is not your usual circus; they offer up a whimsical story of mirth laced with mischief as they weave together scenes from our humdrum lives, but then give their own twist when housewives, bored businessmen, and even a shy girl in love transform into engaging, silly, and mesmerizing performers. "Honey I'm Home" brought us housewives in the midst of daily chores, brought to life by a mischievous clown and turned into bellydancers. "Writer's Block" followed a frustrated writer through her thought process, which took her into the air with gorgeous aerial acrobatics. "Passing Time at the Office" went from death-by-paperwork to crazy juggling antics and one very surprised boss. Of course, laced throughout the show was a brouhaha of Revelers, all lending their own manic joy to some of the acts (and helping with the seamless transition through the journey). Live music performed by Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching band brings the performances to life, and sets the tone of the circus perfectly. Spot-on timing brought another dimension to the performances. ENSMB is something to behold in their crazy, eclectic genius! "Reign of Revelry" is at the Somerville Armory next weekend as well, with shows on Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 PM, with a family-friendly matinee on Saturday at 2 PM. Information is at www.bostoncircusguild.com. After enjoying such a cool show, I look forward to seeing more of Boston Circus Guild!

I cannot recommend Boston Circus Guild enough! I was tasked with planning our annual company party…read moreand we went with a circus sideshow theme. A colleague knew a few guild members and suggested I call. They were essential partners from the beginning, helping with venue selection and brainstorming ideas with us. For a very reasonable price, they created an evening that blew our guests away. Odd, fun, joyous, crazy, inspiring...everyone was transported to a unique and magical place. Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band is brilliant. They even connected us with a great DJ. I'm kind of in love with everyone. My only sadness is that it all ended far too quickly. If you want to create an event that people will talk about for a long time, you can't do better.

I had the opportunity to check out Shakespeare on the Common w/a friend this past weekend, and it…read morewas wonderful! Lots of space/options to choose where to sit and view the play. Coincidentally, I was fortunate to see this year's show, Much Ado About Nothing, at Central Park's Delacorte Theater a few years ago and--it was a treat to see Boston's rendition this year. It was a perfect Boston summer evening (aka not totally roasting w/100% humidity, haha) & one of those nights when you think to yourself--I love this city. Moving forward, I'll be sure to try and check out the summer show each year--it's spectacular.

After a stint of lazy three years, finally I got to witness the beautiful Shakespeare play -…read moreCymbeline. It's a great thing to offer the play for free. I will definitely watch them again next year. Amazing actors!!

Wow what an evening after a warm welcome at the Union Club we rushed to the Citizens Opera House …read more This was elegant Boston evening at the historic Citizens Opera House! I was graciously invited by my dear Boston hostess to serve as the date of an esteemed Harvard Business School professor. Yep the husband does not care for ballet. The avant-garde 05/07th performance was magnificent: bold choreography, and moments of genuine artistic brilliance that reminded us why live performance still matters in the digital age. The splendor of the Opera House itself only elevated the experience -- one of Boston's true architectural gems. The evening then continued with a quick walk through downtown Boston to the legendary Ritz-Carlton, Boston to celebrate the nomination of the new chairwoman. A fitting conclusion surrounded by thoughtful, and delightfully company. This is Boston society at its finest: culture, intellect, elegance... and an interesting question what was a Texan Frenchmen from El Paso doing there? Well, i had a blast....

If you get a chance to see a show - either a ballet or an off broadway show - at the Citizens Opera…read moreHouse, 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.

I'm totally biased because 1) I write queer theater, 2) The Theater Offensive produced my queer…read moretheater, and 3) The Theater Offensive practically raised me, short of actually changing my diapers. With that said, I'm not embarrassed to admit that I'm biased, because the Theater Offensive actually really really REALLY kicks ass. Anyone will attest to that. From their annual "Out on the Edge" festival in the fall filled with a variety of hilarious, powerful, and eclectic works, to their spring season, when they produce plays on a larger scale, there's always something fun that you will enjoy if you are a queer artist or ally. They are also all about doing work for the community as well. Their True Colors Out Youth Theater Troupe is comprised of at-risk youth who come together to share their experiences being a young queer teen, and create pieces that they take to schools to educate other youth about their lives and struggles. A Street Theater Named Desire, their guerrilla safe-sex theater troupe, teams up with Fenway Community Health to bring theater, free condoms, and free testing in the Fens - a popular gay sex cruising spot. They also have an annual PlayLab which is a development program for young queer playwrights. They are always enthusiastic and encouraging towards women and artists of color, which is definitely a breath of fresh air compared to other theater companies, and just theater in general, which traditionally has been a very white artform. The Theater Offensive, though small, does great work for our Boston community, and there's no other theater like it in the country.

Theatre, like art and music in Boston, is largely conservative. The Theatre…read more Offensive is one of the few groups to bring edgy, experimental, modern, and queer theatre to this vibrant city. Don't miss their Out on the Edge festival every October; it includes both productions and readings of works-in-progress. It also provides an opportunity to learn about their outreach programs, namely the "True Colors" youth theatre group, and their safer-sex education improve troupe, a "Street Theatre Named Desire," which ambushes cruising men at 3am in parks throughout the city. One of the most worthwhile artistic causes in the city, don't miss these guys.