A lot of the reviews point out the deteriorated seats and the last time I went here that was…read moredefinitely true. I was in theater 4 this time and they have recently replaced all of the leather on all of the seats...brand new-ish! I asked the staff about it and they said all but one theater had its seats refurbished with the remaining one to be done soon. I did see several people having issues with the recline function on their seats so they didn't repair that on every seat so I think it's luck of the draw. The recline worked fine on our seats. Food comes with an automatic 19.5% gratuity and you pre-pay for it. There are no "server buttons" on the chairs like at other full service theaters to where you can request a refill. Once the movie starts you are on your own for all of that. All of the food is pretty much $25 no matter what you order...salmon, cheesesteak, hamburgers...all priced the same. Desserts are all priced around $12 (I am including gratuity in the prices). Appetizers $17. Drinks are $8.50 and you have to get your own refills!! Popcorn is a ridiculous $16 once tip is added to it!! Movie theater prices are insane. The food here is actually phenomenal. I got the cheesesteak this time which is a short rib cheesesteak with two pieces of slow cooked short rib, kind of like home cooked roast beef. It was amazing. I'd get it again. I paid like $1.50-2 for upgraded truffle fries which were pretty good. Last time I got the crispy chicken bowl and it was good but not a lot of food. We've had the salmon and it's just okay as well as the burgers. Dinner for two with an appetizer and dessert can easily run you over $100. Add in the ticket costs which were $40 and it's a pretty expensive date night. They do have gluten free buns available and the menu has GF indicators but they can't be trusted. We went to order the fried green tomatoes which are labeled as gluten-free only to find out that they aren't...that's no bueno. Food comes out whenever. Get there 30 minutes before your show and order quickly. If you get behind a crowd during say an opening movie night of SpiderMan then you're getting your food brought to you in the dark and you will eat it in the dark. Get there early. Look at the menu ahead of time. Order as soon as you sit down.

DO NOT GO HERE. Arguably the worst cinema experience of my life. The theaters are in horrible…read moredisrepair with the seats literally falling apart. Peeling leather. Broken features. The lack of a call button or service app ending up making our experience even worse. We ordered one soda and one beer and AN HOUR into the movie everyone else in our row had been served full meals and I was forced to leave the movie to go find my server. I would have let it go but this place makes you PRE-PAY and PRE-TIP for what ends up being horrible service. At the service window I found my server and let him know it had been an hour and he said "we are trying to get drinks out" This was followed by snide comments from another server from within the stand. I'm sorry but if I don't have my order one hour into a two hour movie you have completely failed and shouldn't be marketing yourself as a food-based cinema experience. To make matters worse my seat was completely broken. No recline. I would have brought this up if I had seen my waiter at all in the first hour. Finally, for me the worst part of my experience is that they had glitching and stuttering on playback multiple times in the first and second reel. The one thing they should be flawless at is projecting a movie and they can't even do that correctly. I will NEVER be back to this theater. This is why theatrical attendance is down. This is why movies are dying. People can have a better experience at home. Congratulations on contributing to the death of the theater experience.

I've walked by this building many times and often forget that there is a small theater in there. I…read morewas even in the lobby area for an open house event but it wasn't until recently that I attended an event in the actual theatre. Seating is limited but seats are comfortable and spacious. I know they have occasional free screenings here but I'm not sure where those are listed. Nice reuse of industrial space. I'll have to research this venue and its offerings more closely.

Full Frame Theater is a place for LOVERS! Located in the heart of American Tobacco Campus, you…read morecan't help but notice the old fashioned, neon-at-night, knockout sign including lightening boltZ and POWER PLANT blazing bright along the top along with the black-and-white FULL FRAME THEATER text. You should know, going to see a show at Full Frame is rather difficult to do during the year. The building itself, which houses offices on the top floors, an impressive boiler room and a LOVELY art gallery next door {Power Plant Gallery} is open to the public during the day for typical office hours. It IS WORTH IT just to stop in during the day, because the building is AMAZING! Truly one of the MOST spectacular sites to see in Durham, this old power plant has been converted into a fully functioning theater, venue and office space. Besides its use of the theater for special events, it also houses the Full Frame Film Festival offices [a WONDERFUL annual international event dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of nonfiction cinema. The festival takes place from morning to midnight every April, showing 100's! of films, discussions, panels and brings in people from all over the world to experience Durham hospitality at its finest!]. But Full Frame Theater is MUCH MORE then just the film festival, they show FREE documentary screenings May through November, although typically only once a month on Durham's Third Friday Art Walk. Tickets are free, but you must reserve a ticket the morning of, beginning at 9am. The theater itself is a DREAM. State-of-the-art projectors, HD resolution, surround sound, comfy seating: amazing, amazing, AMAZING! When you think of a refurbished power plant theater, you might think: OLD fashioned, restored, not great quality BUT lovely space. Well, Full Frame is not only an amazing building with lots of history BUT a great theater as well! You walk through the front door of the theater, and immediately are located in the old BOILER Room of the power plant: hard to describe because it's just so impressive, but think brick exterior, massive windows, polished concrete floors; contemporary while in a historical setting. This building has been standing since the 1930's and should be celebrated along with its partner and Durham icon: the Lucky Strike Smokestack and Lucky Strike Water Tower! So visit with lovers, visit with friends, visit with family, just VISIT this iconic site. AMERICAN TOBACCO CAMPUS: rendition by your's truly [Rose L.]; of Full Frame Theater! __________ I_ _I I L I I U I I C I I K I I Y I I I OO I *o* I OOO I * * I OOOO I S I OOOO I T I OOOO I R I OOOO I I I ___OOOO___ I K I I FULL I I E I I FRAME I ___I______ I_______I THEATER I ____ I I___________ I I I ___________ I I I I I I I I * I * I I I _I_____I_____ I_ I

This is one of my favorite movie theaters to go to. They have a nice size theater that can seat…read more460 people or so. Do you want to know what makes this theater so great? Are you listening? Well here is my opinion. 1) You can bring your own snacks, popcorn, drinks, Bojangles, or Wendy's and they are not going to kick you out. 2) They sell concessions dirt cheap. You are actually willing to buy stuff. You can get a drink and popcorn for under $3. Doesn't that beat a $12.50 combo at other theaters. 3) The ticket price. $2.50 for non students, and $1.50 for students. I am not sure if that price is just for NCSU students, or all students. 4) If the above mentioned price is too much, then check the website. They show entire series of films for FREE. If they show a never been released advanced screening of a movie, it will always be free. And many times they will have the director, actor or somebody from the film there. Zach Galifianakis showed up for one of his screenings, after all he did go to NCSU. 5) You can take your kids to the movies there for all of the family friendly movies. 6) All the movies are free during the summer. You know where I will be. Grab a pillow and blanket, head to NCSU and get comfy for your movie. Really, I have seen people walk into the theater with pillows before. I check out their schedule at least once a week, since they do add stuff at the last minute some times. If I am in the area, I will walk in, and check their table in the front lobby. They often place free goodies and promotional items on it. Even free passes to other movies will be placed on the table, so it is worth checking out.

Witherspoon Cinema is the best deal in Raleigh for a movie. There is a guaranteed 2 films a week,…read moreshown on Thursday's and Saturday's. The movies are free and there's free popcorn. Lately the theater had been getting crowded again which really brings back a fun atmosphere to the theater, people clap, and shout, and go along with the movies. The schedule for films can be found online: https://orgs.ncsu.edu/uab/films-schedule/

The entire experience was fun: great setting in the park and wonderful performances by the cast…read moremembers!'n

This is such a hidden gem in Raleigh. It's a tiny theatre that produces live plays and…read moreentertainment. They post their schedule online and have flyers at the theater. We came here to see multiple plays such as Dracula, Santa land Diaries, and Hair. You can book your tickets online. They do offer military and student discounts. You just have to show proof that it applies to you upon arrival. They tend to sell out of most of their shows. They have an adorable concession stand that serves refreshments inside the lobby. There are quite a few great restaurants nearby, so this makes for a great date night!

Some of the most memorable evenings begin in places you could easily drive past…read more That was our experience at Burning Coal Theatre. Tucked inside the historic Murphey School building in downtown Raleigh, the theater's exterior carries the quiet charm of a former schoolhouse with hints of an old church. It's understated in the best way. A bright red door and simple banner signal that you've arrived somewhere special, where the performance not the façade is meant to take center stage. Inside, the atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious. The lobby feels welcoming rather than formal, and before the performance began, one of the staff members struck up an easy conversation with my husband that immediately made the space feel like a neighborhood gathering place instead of a traditional theater. The intimate performance space wraps seating around three sides of the stage, creating remarkable proximity between audience and actors. There truly isn't a bad seat in the house. We attended *Shadows in Red Light*, a concert presentation of a new musical by Roné Sargent set against the backdrop of New York City's AIDS epidemic. At its heart, the story follows a mother who believes she is placing her infant in temporary foster care and the daughter who, years later, searches for the woman she believes abandoned her. It is ultimately a story about hope, sacrifice, belonging, and the many ways love can endure through unimaginable circumstances. What impressed me most was how little the production relied on spectacle. There were no elaborate sets or dazzling lighting effects competing for attention. Instead, the performers carried every emotional beat through their voices, expressions, and presence. It was a reminder that exceptional theater doesn't require excess it simply requires extraordinary storytelling and gifted artists willing to trust it. During intermission, I noticed the same level of care throughout the venue. The facilities were spotless, the bar offered a thoughtful selection of beverages, and the overall experience felt relaxed and intentionally curated. We skipped drinks only because we were excited to get back to our seats before the second act began. Parking was plentiful, the staff was warm and welcoming, and every detail contributed to an evening that felt both intimate and unforgettable. In a city with an ever-growing arts scene, Burning Coal Theatre remains one of Raleigh's quiet treasures. If you're looking for theater that values substance over spectacle and storytelling over production value, this is the place. We'll absolutely be back.

This theater is special! Not only does it have an amazing history, it's just really intimate and…read moredifferent. I really love how you're sitting around the stage and thus feel part of the play/performance. All great vibes! Parking lot is small but free. There are adequate bathrooms and i believe they sell concessions all the time. They did for the patty I attended.

the people working are incredibly rude. I am waiting on my license to come in so I tried to use my…read moretemporary license to get in and the lady in the front says I can't use my temporary so I pull out my old license and then she says "oh I can't take it because it's expired" like what?? I already paid for this event how am I going to get in if I can't use my temporary id nor my old id not to mention the lady was incredibly rude about it! seems like she loved taking out her frustration on all the people coming into the event not just me.

The bathroom situation is the worst iv'e ever been in. Midtown seems very underprepared with the…read moreamount of traction they get. I waited in the line for the bathrooms for an hour and the next time I had to go I tried the portapotties because the line was shorter... still waited 30 minutes... and there was no toilet paper. Ladies had to "drip and dry" because no one comes to maintain them. Next is the lines for drinks: They are about as long as the bathroom lines. You might as well get 2 drinks for yourself and hop back in line to get 2 more and you would finish the 2 you previously got while waiting. The music and atmosphere is fun overall but when you add drinks into the mix.. people got to go. We spend more time in lines than actually enjoying the music with our friends. Overall, midtown needs to add more bathrooms and porta potties overall.. it would be more enjoyable for everyone.

I am pleased that the city of Raleigh has a family friendly, alcohol free event on New Year's Eve…read more Over the years of the event, they have excelled in making it an interactive event with a great variety of arts and entertainment. The kids event start in the mid afternoon, and include the full New Year;s Eve countdown treatment at 7pm (12 midnight on Greenwich Mean Time) with the acorn drop and fireworks display. Ever wanted to be in a parade? You have your chance with the people's procession. Lots of paper mache animal heads and shapes are made available for use in the parade, or be one of the many walking the huge puppet named Rhea down the parade route. New for this year was a phone app that made it much easier to see what activities where happening at any particular time. Do be aware this is a popular event and can get VERY crowded, especially at the main stage for both the 7pm and midnight acorn drops. Traffic and parking can be quite difficult, especially for those not used to downtown parking. I have been many times since this event started iver 25 years ago. I have always found it to be an enjoyable way to bring in the new year.

This place is hot, on a whole new level though. It's a bit off the beaten path from the usual…read moreRaleigh nightlife spots, but it's worth it. It's the best karaoke bar Raleigh has. Cheap drinks Diverse crowd Laid back Cheap eats Fun

I have been to this venue a few times and it is definitely one of Durham's true crown jewels as a…read moreevent soace. Definitely would recommend it. .

If seeking EDM culture- stay clear. I won't be returning after last night (my first time attending…read morethis venue) and it's a shame bc I was really looking forward to it too. We went to see one of our favorite house DJs- Cassian. Extremely underwhelming to say the very least. I genuinely feel embarrassed for him and his team that they had to play a set in front of a half filled warehouse with absolutely ZERO EDM culture- literally sad. Especially bc Cassian typically plays in front of packed crowds all over the world. Durham did not show up for him. Visuals: The light production in this venue was less than mid, literally just one black light on the ceiling, which is super embarrassing for an EDM event. My college fraternity could pull it off better and we were some 18-21 year olds. There was one girl spinning her LED hoop which seriously made my night, I was dancing with her the whole time in the back bc those were the only flashing lights in the damn place. Idk if I had the wrong expectations but that should be a given for an EDM artists. Alchemy in Raleigh gets it. Safety: No metal detector when walking in either- which i was on edge about the entire night (not saying the crowd made me nervous or anything, but that's a huge safety concern). Drinks: Bartender ran out of crown apple when making my drink so she said "wait over here" (to the side) and started making someone else's drink who was in line after me- ok what the actual ****. Never in my life has a bartender stopped mid drink and moved to the next person in line. even worse, she pulled out the crown peach after and finished making my drink with that, and tired to pull it off hoping we wouldn't notice. that's one of the corniest things i've ever seen a bartender do lol.