We were there for Onco Ballet on October 17, 2026. We are always impressed with the theater, the staff, the setup, and the overall experience. This year a couple of staff members, Vyyy and Britelle, provided extraordinary service Vyyy was very cordial and attentive, even noticing and reducing the risk of a program pamphlet from falling from the upper level to the lower level. Such attention to detail was impressive. After the performance, although we were some of the last people to leave, Vyyy, Britelle, and other staff members were very accommodating and even offered to take our photos. I was also impressed with the speed and efficiency of the take down by the staff. The only complaint I have is with the parking entering from Pereira. There is always a traffic jam. There is no clear signage that there are 2 lanes that can make a left turn into the parking lot, so people in the leftmost lane have a longer wait. There is also on-coming traffic that slows down the process. Cash payments can be handled earlier and more quickly. Perhaps having a cash only line with proper signage will help? Despite the parking shortcomings, Vyyy's attentiveness trumped everything, and we left feeling great about the overall experience. read more

My family and I attended an older, classic rock/orchestral event at this venue. Located on the UC Irvine campus, this theatre is very nice and modern. The lobby was very clean and shiny, and the restrooms were large and clean. The theatre's interior was very beautiful and comfortable. Every comfortable seat in the theatre offers a perfect view of the stage, and the sound system was perfect. The employees were all very friendly and professional, and they assisted anyone and everyone who needed help. Though the music was a tad different from what we are used to on the radio, the performers worked hard and did a GREAT job of keeping the audience engaged and entertained. read more

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Our seats are on the top level dead center. I was looking forward to a wonderful experience, Then a large lady wearing enough perfume to choke a horse sat next to me. I hadn't realized that I was going to cough all night. The show was excellent. Carole King on piano and James Taylor on guitar were played by British actors who sang and played all the hit songs. The show was very entertaining and enjoyable. Lots of familiar hits. read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - Before the start of the show - sign above the stage. - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

We have been here a few times and the last visit was for a screening of National Theatre Live: Dr. Strangelove. Being a huge fan of the film, I rushed to get tickets thinking it was actual live stage performance, then come to find out it was just a screening. Oops! Don't rush, take your time when purchasing for a show. The screening itself was adapted from Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece. Nothing can replace the original cast of this iconic film; however, the stage version was pretty impressive with the handling of the changing of stage scenes. It was highly abbreviated though, in my opinion. Tickets were for General Admission so we chose our seats upon doors opening. Every seat (approximately 750 seats) in the house seems to have non-obstructive view. We went for the first row center on the balcony level. Love this view. If you need a snack, there is wine, beer, water, soft drinks, and packaged snacks like cookies, chips, and candies for sale. Parking is in the structure right next to the theatre. (US$10-15) Ushers and all staff were very polite and courteous. Enjoy! read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

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It's been a while since I've been to the Irvine Barclay Theatre. The facilities are spacious. The chairs are well-maintained. There's a bar within the foyer. The only drawback I have is regarding the parking in the parking is a teared structure and it's uphill going towards the front of the theater. It is a great venue for a concert. read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

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We have been fortunate enough to have seen a handful of shows here. It's an excellent theatre. The seats are great, the acoustics are great, it's very nice. It's located on the UC Irvine campus, right across from the UTC. We usually see the show at the Barclay and then head over to the UTC to eat dinner and talk about the show. Eureka restaurant is a favorite and it's open late. Treat yourself, go see a show and eat some good food. read more

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Enjoyed this theater a lot. Very small and itinerant and you just felt like you're interact with the performers. I had been here a handful of times over the years and looking forward for more. Easy parking, $10 ans walking within 5-7mins to the theater. Very clean and well organized with plenty of staff/volunteers to help you out. Modern basic structures both inside and outside with plenty of posters. Seats are very comfortable and big. Airy and well temperature setting. Only 2 floors and they do have elevators for folks if needed. Overall very enjoyable venue for infinite shows. read more

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We were in Irvine, CA this past Sunday, 10-19-25 to take in the charitable Onco-Ballet. Performed at the modest sized Barclay Theater, located on the beautiful campus of UC Irvine. The Onco Ballet is supported by the non-profit Onco Ballet Foundation. Providing low to no cost ballet classes to cancer patients and survivors. Stressing movement as a healing form of expression. Founded in Southern California and now branching out to other areas like New York City, Chicago, Seattle, and Houston. All performances are done by cancer victims. Some professionals able to continue their careers, others by participants making their first public stage performances. Which brings me to the one minor letdown. Being that this was a fund raiser, there simply were not enough ballets. Much of the time was spent with a panel discussion of cancer professionals. And a documentary sneak peek that should be out next year. But the dancers may have performed only four times I believe. And for mostly first-timers, quite well! There was a goal to raise $100,000 this night. Much of which would be donations sent in later. The theater only holds 756 patrons. The foundation's goal is to remain completely tuition free. Onco- Ballet Foundation, a worthy and moving charitable group. read more

For the audience: prepay parking in Student Center Parking Structure and walk to the Theatre. For Kings Return: Performers were outstanding artists. We would prefer more Christmas-oriented songs and wish that the show had ended with a rousing Christmas carol. For Irvine Barclay: liked the lobby displays, decor, and service! read more

I have absolutely loved my experience with the Barclay Theatre. I was able to attend The Nutcracker show this year. The staff is so welcoming and kind. I can tell that they're all very well trained in guiding the patrons. The show ran seamlessly. The transitions between scenes, the sounds, announcements, etc. The space was just wonderful and beautifully decorated. I loved all of the beautiful holiday decorations. It truly added to the holiday spirit. Thank you for such an awesome time! read more

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Easy to navigate and great seats at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. First time here and the students were very good about guiding us from the parking structure to the theatre. Very similar to our small city theatre, but with a more impressive calendar of events. Looking forward to seeing more shows here. read more

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I always love seeing any performance here because it's close to the Irvine Campus and there's lots of good food choices to get before the show and the theater itself is amazing. It's a small theater and I love it because it's small and intimate. Any seat is a good seat and has a good view on the stage. We saw a unique show, hypnotizing and improv. It was great. Some parts were a little too fast but overall I had a good time. read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

great small venue! since it is a more intimate theatre, there really doesn't seem to be a bad seat.

This is a lovely theater on the UCI campus! The seats were very comfortable!!! There were drinks and snacks available both downstairs and near the balcony area upstairs which were nice. My family and I saw Michael Carbonaro here and he was absolutely amazing!!! read more

Very nice theater. My seat was excellent, balcony center. Very good view of the entire stage. I watched the Festival Ballet Theater perform the Nutcracker. They did an outstanding job! I definitely recommend and I already plan of going again next year. I usually see the ABT perform the Nutcracker, so I wasn't expecting that much from a local group, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The Festival Ballet Theater brings in world class ballet dancers to dance the roll of Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. I saw Tiler Peck and her fiancé Roman Mejia dance. Wow! Talk about blowing everyone out of the water! The other dancers were really good, but you can't compete with world class talent, principal dancers of the NY City Ballet. This much be such a thrill for the young dancers. The ticket prices are super reasonable. read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - Festival Ballet Theatre with special gust dancers Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

Excellent place for performances. The theater is just the right size and the acoustics are amazing. The staff also is friendly when setting u read more

I've been working for UC Irvine for over a year now. I haven't had a chance to check out a show at the Barclay Theatre. A friend was having a concert there and I decided to check it out. Getting tickets was no problem with the staff discount code. If you're staff, you're expected to pay the full price for parking at student services. The structure not too far of a walk from the Barclay. I liked the service from the ushers. The venue is small but I felt no matter where you sat you could see everything and I don't think you can go wrong with whatever seat. The acoustics were really nice too! I also liked we had complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby Overall, I had a good experience here. read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - Barclay theatre by night - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

Firstly, no family restrooms. An event for special needs persons has no way for a mother to take her disabled adult son that needs assistance to the restroom. Secondly, after paying and directed to parking on the 4th floor and pushing my son's wheelchair mainly uphill to the event the attendants did not know where w/c seats were located. Thirdly, when leaving the event the only elevator to the parking was out of order. I would not recommend Irvine Barclay Theater to anyone with disabilities. read more

Thanks to a dear friend, we had the absolute pleasure of attending a lecture here by a Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, Dr. David MacMillan! We had a fantastic experience - surreal and totally amazing to say the least. The theater is a moderate size, but it does have a balcony area. It was very clean and the acoustics were excellent. Entry was simple and efficient. Staff are all very helpful and friendly. I asked one of the staff at entry if my camera was allowed, she didn't know, but she didn't stop until she found someone who did! Everything was very clean and they are extremely organized. They offer concessions at very reasonable prices considering it's a theater. The only rule is you can't bring anything inside the theater itself except water. There's plenty of parking in a garage right next to the theater. It's in the heart of the campus and there are plenty of signs to guide you - it was very easy to find. Everything is handicap accessible. Parking for the event was $10...but it was free for students I think. They have a website with a huge list of upcoming events and you can buy tickets online. UCI really did an awesome thing for their students by arranging this lecture - was SO INSPIRING!! Dr. MacMillan is a UCI alumnus. His lecture was about his life and his work- from childhood in Scotland, to graduate school in California, research work at prestigious institutions all over America, to winning the Nobel Prize! I was completely enthralled! Dr. MacMillan is extremely intelligent, inspiring, enthusiastic, and a total comedian!! We even got so lucky as to be able to shake his hand and have a (very, very) brief conversation afterwards. And Dr. MacMillan is so generous he even let my husband hold his Nobel Prize for a once-in-a-lifetime photo op! A truly unforgettable night for us at this theater! Will definitely be keeping an eye on their event schedule - what an awesome experience! read more

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Parking is $10 cash. We went to watch Preservation Hall Jazz Band at 8pm. The doors to the main building didn't open until 7pm and then the doors to the theatre, didn't open until 7:30pm, so lots of waiting! I did not appreciate getting there early and waiting outside in the freezing cold!! So i recommend staying in your car if you get there early. The students who staff the place are really friendly and helpful. The theatre itself is nice and has lots of bathrooms! The performance by Preservation Hall was outstanding and they let the fans come on stage to take pics and videos with them after. What an unforgettable experience!! read more

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Theater is very nice. Great acoustics for concert. Parking is not wheelchair friendly.

Wonderful concerts and acoustics, great place to see live music on UCI campus. Highly recommend

Thoroughly enjoyed The Makaha Sons performance here. The venue is nice comfortable facility with great sight lines. The sound engineering could have been tweaked a little to balance the music and the singing. I felt the music drowned out the singing. Other than that, the show was very good. The adjacent parking structure was a bit confusing if you didn't pre-purchase parking. However I would gladly see other performances here in the future. read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - Dancers accompanying the Makaha Sons - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

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What a fantastic time we had here! We saw The Nutcracker and it was a BEAUTIFUL show. We came with RCOC for the "Sensory Friendly " experience and we cannot wait to be there again next year! The dancers were phenomenal and we even got an opportunity to meet with the performers after the show! read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - Very entertaining. - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

First time here, came for a Contemporary Jazz concert. On the campus of UC Irvine. Parking garage right next door. Theater holds 750 people, no bad seats. Acoustics are great, seats are a bit dated. Beer and wine available and some snacks. At this writing, masks and vax cards were mandatory. read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

I have been to this theater many times and never had a problem before, but last week when I went to see Swan Lake ballet, I was really surprised that a man two rows up from me, I was in grow E, he was in row C, was holding up his phone and video taping much of the time throughout the performance. At intermission, I asked an usher to please speak to the man and remind him of the rules, but nothing was done and I couldn't enjoy the ballet. I was disappointed, and I think the handling of this will keep me from spending 85 dollars for a seat there again read more

So happy my husband and I both got to see Jake Shimabukuro perform at this theater tonight! He was amazing on the ukelele! I had heard of him from MasterClass and then he came to Irvine for a live performance, what a treat! He played 1 hour 45 minutes or so, and it was just himself in the beginning and then he added his friend Jackson to play bass guitar. The theater is cozy and only has 2 floors. We had great seats for the price we paid, and they checked vaccination cards upon entry. Fun times! read more

I was so excited when I landed tickets in the second row for my daughter's dance recital! However, I received an email an hour later informing me that the site had issues, so all tickets were refunded to launch a new sale date and time... UGH! During the new sale, I had the same seats ready to go at checkout and I could not get past the checkout screen, the site stopped working and then it put me in a queue so I lost my seats!! Now we are sitting in the 7th row versus the 2nd row. I am extremely upset!! I expressed my disappointment in an email, and I've received nothing. These recitals are not cheap and I was so excited that I was able to get seats close to the stage this time so my daughter could see us in the crowd and now that is not going to happen. read more

Love this place Great venue. Ushers great, parking great. Love the performances and selection of performers.

It was a awesome time looking at this group playing music they are good. Also the workers are very friendly and helpful on any questions you have. read more

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It's our annual tradition to see the Nutcracker ballet here every year. We've been coming here since the beginning. But this year's Nutcracker was beyond disappointing. It was dramatically shortened, missing many of the best songs & choreography. Sad to say, after 30yrs, we wont be going back. Too many corners being cut read more

My kids, both of them, grew up hearing the musicals of the 60's and 70's. The best, Man of La Mancha, is still one of our favorites. We still all know most of the words to all the songs. I know I am supposed to be reviewing the theatre and not the musical, but I cannot thank the School of the Arts, University of California in Irvine, enough for bringing this funny yet dramatic play back onto the stage. I had no idea how decent a production they could present. And so, with one of the cast members being a personal friend, we had to go. I was not sure what to expect except for her contribution. The cast were all students, the sets were beautifully done, the staging excellent, the orchestra outstanding. And although I was sometimes critical of the lead, Don Quixote, each character had very strong points. For me, some of the highlights were the character roles and ensemble numbers. The barber and Sancho developed such fun characterizations. Thank you to the Drama and Music Department for bringing back great memories and doing it with finesse. Based on this production, I would have to say you will be most impressed with the school's productions held here at the Barclay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsNJtTKdUec read more

Irvine Barclay Theatre - 11/22/2015 Last performance. Great musical! - Performing Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

Small venue but view from every seat is relatively good! Parking is easy with a less than five minute walk to the place. Workers were very nice and the restrooms were clean! read more

LOVE the Irvine Barclay Theatre!!! When I lived in Newport Beach, The Irvine Barclay Theatre was a great alternative to the Orange County Performing Arts Center...or having to drive to LA in order to see sophisticated entertainment. Now that I live in Long Beach, I still think that it's a great place to go. The Irvine Barclay Theatre offers a wide variety of entertainment throughout the year. From music, to dance, to opera, to a variety of plays. The theatre is located on the UCI campus, conveniently between the 73 Toll road and the 405 Freeway. The theatre has a large parking structure just feet away from it's doors, and the theatre itself is small, modern, and very beautiful. If you haven't been, check them out online, look at their calendar, order your tickets online, and enjoy! read more

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1. Awesome performances at a great price is the reason for my rating. I applaud the artists and bookings staff. 2. Sound quality isn't great. Definitely poorer quality than before their remodel. Quality changes radically depending on where you sit. For example, we sat near the stage and couldn't hear the instruments, only the drums. But then we sat near the back and it was better but the overall volume was low. They need sound checks throughout the theater before showtime. 3. Inadequate bathroom facilities for very short intermissions. Expect to wait in a long line and be late returning to the theater. And no, you won't have time for a drink and snack and bathroom break. 4. Very good parking situation. Overall location and facility is very very nice. 5. Poor air circulation. Wear lightweight clothing. It's very stuffy and warm. read more

Returned to the Barclay tonight for first theater experience in almost two years. I was so pleased that the theater required proof of vaccination. An important move to keep audiences and performers safe. I commend the Barclay's leadership!! read more

Came here on a Friday night for a friend's choir performance. It's basically on the UCI campus so it can be a little tiring to get to. I think I heard there was a structure nearby but I met a friend for dinner before so we parked in the parking lot across and took the bridge over. It's a VERY small theater w/ a tiny lobby where there were tables and booths set up surrounding. There were drinks available but there are so many restaurants nearby that I would probably give those a pass. The theater is very small but it does actually have a balcony. I took a star off because although I was super covered up, I was uncomfortably freezing... like it was actually inhibiting my ability to enjoy the performance because I was so freaking cold... and I wasn't the only one. I didn't see an option for blanket rental and honestly, renting a blanket doesn't sound fair either. I guess I have just learned my lesson that sitting in the balcony means you are directly under the AC vent and for me, that nearly ruined my experience. So anyway, cute theater w/ good acoustics/lighting supporting the arts and my friend by freezing from a $40 seat in the balcony was an A-OK experience. The proximity to the restaurants nearby for a pre-/post- drink/eat was a plus. I'd come back again... read more

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Wonderful evening here with Linda Eder. We purchased the VIP tickets with pre-show drinks and post-show meet and greet that included desert and munchies. Small but intimate the theatre has no bad seats. I am tall and my knees hit the seat in front of me but I adapted and loved the show. The area around the theatre gas plenty of shops and places for a bite to eat as well. Overall great evening. read more

Great intimate venue. Varied programming. Unique for sure decor and lobby layout. A great alternative to the standby performing arts centers that surround the OC area. read more

I definitely recommend everyone to check out the Barclay if you're in town! They have a variety of shows for people of all interests, from Jazz to Dance to Country to World shows and even film screenings. If you're a student, they often have student discounts as well as group discounts so that's always a plus to use! The tickets are all decently priced so it's definitely worth it. They also have special packages online, so if you like a specific genre, might as well buy multiple shows and get those special discounts! For their NTL events, they screen British theatre productions with award winning stars such as Benedict cumberbatch, Andrew Garfield, Patrick Stewart to name a few... Since the theatre is not enormously big, every seat in the house is a good seat. There's perfect acoustics all around as well as a good view of the stage! No need for binoculars! Friendly staff, clean environment, enjoyable shows, the Barclay is the place to go! Bring your friends and family for a night to remember :) read more

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