Last evening, I experienced a beautiful concert presented by the Reno Chamber Orchestra in this…read morefantastic recital hall. The acoustics in this facility are beyond compare. There is no bad seat at this venue. I was so pleased that the temperature was perfect! There is plenty of parking, a short walking distance, at the Brian Whalen Parking Garage, and it was free at that time of night. If you don't want to deal with the stairs or elevator at the garage, follow the signage to go down to Level 1.

The official name is "The Harlan O & Barbara R. Hall Recital Hall". It is located in The Church…read moreFine Arts building on the UNR campus. This is, in my humble opinion, the very best performance venue in Reno in terms of acoustics, ambiance, comfort, and visual appeal. There is not a bad seat in the house and is extremely well suited for smaller musical performances. The space is both soaring and intimate. We have attended a number of performances here all were of stellar quality. Parking is available in the Whalen Parking Complex and is free after 7p.m. There is also a drop-off area on the VIrginia Street entrance to the Fine Arts Building. A calendar of upcoming events is available at: https://www.unr.edu/music/events Tickets can be purchased online.

3.5 stars I came here to watch "To Kill a Mockingbird." 2.5…read morehour show. The actors were good at taking on their role and they spoke loud enough for me to hear. I was sitting close to the front though. The costumes for the kids were cute. Some parts were funny. I enjoyed it. The theater is small. There are three columns facing the stage. I arrived before 7pm and most of the center column seating were not available. Most of those seats were reserved. There are limited bathrooms available due to renovation too. Apple square readers were available at the entrance to accept credit card payment. The play could have been a better experience if there were ushers to enforce basic manners from the audience. One person got up to go to the bathroom at least five times, getting up from the center section in the front. The bathroom is to the right of the stage when facing at the stage. There were seats available near that door so that less people are disturbed when nature calls! There were people late, 20 minutes late! One person from that late group was also late coming back from intermission. And that same person was recording the play with the light from the camera lit up for almost the entire 2nd half! Proud family member, yes. But very inconsiderate. And staff did not say or do anything. The vibe felt like parents watching their kids perform. It was worth $12, but if I had to pay more, I would rate this review much lower for lack of quality control. Great play. Bad audience.

The Laxalt Auditorium is basically invisible unless you're looking for it. It's inside the UNR…read moreNelson building where I know some of the community health people work. As a theater, it's decent. Think "High school theater where they care about their theater program." It seats about 200 people (I think, I'm terrible at estimating), and I know that the Theater Works of Northern Nevada run their shows out of there. The sound and lighting are adequate, not amazing, but not completely primitive either. On either side, there are doors that lead to either the parking lot or the rest of the Nelson building. These are a little loud for people coming and going during a performance, but overall not super distracting. The chairs and carpets are in good repair and it looks like they work to maintain a clean atmosphere in the theater. At the moment, the bathroom situation sucks. You have to go downstairs and down a hallway to find the one-holer (which, during a well-attended performance is a bear during intermission), but the woman who announced the show mentioned that this was unusual and that UNR had just begun construction on the same-floor bathroom. Overall, it's a nice place to see a show, but don't expect the pomp and circumstance of somewhere like the Pioneer.

This was our first time at a Good Luck Macbeth production. we were there for Dracula, a Comedy of…read moreTerrors. We weren't sure what to expect as we have seen shows on Broadway, and other larger theaters, but we also love local theater. I don't know why we have not been to one of these shows before, the actors were outstanding, the production was hilarious, and we had a great time. I highly recommend visiting this production company if you are in the area. We will definitely be back.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary…read more..... Oh wait, it was noon on a hot August Saturday, when a friend and I came to GLM. GLM was hosting the traveling production of Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy. A fabulous way to enjoy this early 1800's American writer. After checking in at the door we were directed into the theater, where it was open seating. I recommend arriving 20-25 minutes early to get the best seat. After seating the first cocktail was passed out and a welcome to the show announcement was made. The first poem was Pale Blue Eye paired with a drink of the same name, with a pale blueberry eye floating in it. Emptied were picked up and The Cat's Meow (a spin on EAP's favorite drink, brandy milk) was paired with The Black Cat. After the first two readings, I was getting the subtle hint Poe didn't know how to properly keep murders a secret. Next was the famous The Raven accompanied by nevermore. The final story was The Masque of the Red Death and to sip while sitting on the edge of your chair. The brandy milk was my favorite. It reminded me a little of a Brandy Alexander. The other three cocktails were good and great play on the accompanying story. Although they were a bit too sweet for me. The performances were fabulous, the tortured well portrayed. The stage with limited props and a magical backdrops was perfect. It drew you into his small dark world. The cast was your crew. Creating cocktails, picking up empties, and performing. An incredibly hard working small group. It is not all dark and dreary. The Poe puns will have you chuckling along, or maybe that the the fourth cocktail I had. Now I'm curious about other similar productions. I would love to attend more like this. Be considerate- the seating is a bit tight. Try not to come and go. Also watch your drink, I wore some of the person's next to me. Great theater. Deadly fun concept.

What an amazing experience! In the heart of downtown by the Truckee, the Bruka Theatre of the…read moreSierra is a treasure of a local theater in its 33rd season! From the moment you walk in, you're immersed in an eclectic, but cozy and welcoming, vibe. Decor leans on theater and nostalgia with a touch of humor (see the cat portraits on the piano). Check-in for your pre-bought tickets is by name, although you're sent a QR as well. Comfort continues as you're allowed to select your own seat: from the front-row fold-down theater seats to the tiered rows of soft but supportive 3- and 5-person couches. I'm pretty sure I've never been more comfortable watching a play before, which is nice when you're there for a 2.5-hour runtime. They recommend you arrive 30 minutes prior to show start to get the best seats, but in this intimate space, with seating in front of, and on both sides of the center stage, I can't imagine any seats without a good view of the action. The stadium levels mean you also don't have half a person's head blocking your view. Drinks and candy available downstairs, which is also where the children's theater and restrooms are located. Wide range of shows offered this season, something for everyone. That may also be the one lowlight, as Shakespeare and Buttcracker likely require vastly different skills to produce. TIP: Free parking after 5 at the courthouse parking lot (76 Court St, just a short walk across the bridge) or park at Parking Gallery on First and Sierra and they will validate.

I REALLY need to update this review! The one from 2012 certainly does NOT reflect my current…read moreopinion of Brüka after attending numerous performances here. Looking back I still agree the welcoming atmosphere, comfort of the seats and ease of viewing the stage, and ease of purchasing tickets. Shout out to Holly for being a great box office manager on top of the other 5,000 duties she has with Brüka. Over the last 11 years, we have attended some amazing productions of traditional, familiar works to cutting edge topical pieces and the hilarious local-centric productions. Some plays are funny, some are hard to watch, some are thought provoking and some are just flat-out enjoyable. Do I like all the plays? Not always. However, the consistency of good actors, creative staging, and brilliant adaptation of a "black box theater" makes it what makes the magic of theater . . . . . magical. I apologize for the negative review based on one show. I should have taken a step back and looked at the big picture. Brüka is a stunning example of community theater at it's best. Thank you Mary Bennett for your vision and artistic direction in providing high quality theater for the Reno community.

This was my first time at the Reno River Festival and I had a good time. The vendors were nice,…read morefriendly, and genuinely passionate about their craft which was very refreshing. The live performances were fun, and I can definitely see this becoming a staple for Reno Events. I didn't expect to pay $20 for entrance which was a bummer as we were going to bring more family and friends but the entry cost was a little too high for bringing kids. There were a nice set of carnival rides, but I was discouraged on buying tickets as we had already $40 to get into the event and wanted to save some of our budget to buy things from vendors. We went on the last day of the event, in the early afternoon and it was nice to see more locals enjoying themselves and it wasn't too crowded which was a plus in our book! My fiancé and I loved that dogs are welcome to join us as some other outdoor events do not allow us to bring our puppy. Overall, the variety of food, atmosphere, and performances were awesome! I only wish the entry price was reduced as I would've brought more people and would've had more money to spend on the vendors. Final verdict... I would definitely come back, but only if the entry prices come down or are removed. If this is your first time attending the event, the $20 is not so bad to see the art installations and see the live performances. I would recommend this for first timers.

I hadn't been to the Reno River Festival in along time. I remember when it was free to go and it…read morewas in Winfield park. I have to say it sure has grown into a top notch event! I really love the new location at Idlewild park! There were many Vendors, Food and Drink Choices. One of my favorites is Mr Margarita. I love to mix the two choices together $9. I was starved and I had a $5 hot dog that hit the spot. Then my husband tried a hand dipped foot long corn dog which I had a bite of and it was tasty. What's not to love at the festival, I think any choice is a win! The musical was good, I found it interesting you can now purchase VIP tables each day. What a nice added touch to the event. There are many add ons you can purchase as well. Something for everyone, craft beer tasting, rafting, golf, rock climbing or just sit back and listen to the entertainment while taking in the beauty of your surroundings. If you haven't gone to the festival I definitely suggested going, you can take blankets, low back chairs, but no pets or outside food or drink. General admission is a weekend pass only $15 no exceptions.

I have not been to the Rat Theatre for quite awhile and this play interested me! I saw it on the…read morethings to do yelp page. I enjoy going by myself, and meeting intriguing people. The lady I sat next to tonite was there with her Mom and family and flew in from Pasadena, had dinner and came to the show to see their sister/daughter perform. They were fun to talk to. The play was truly a great experience for women and it reminded me of Menopause the Musical they have played 8 shows with the last one tomorrow night! I almost want to go see it again, but because it will be no more. It's too bad these ladies couldn't take their play on the road, I think they do very well across the country the performance and the singing was amazing!!! Thank you for the laugher!!!

Almost, Maine…read more Running the first two weekends of August 2024. A play based in a small town called Almost. It's several romantic events that all are actually happening at the same time. The cast of six mixed and matched, playing all the characters needed. In the one and a half hours, you went through several emotions with the characters- sadness, heartbreak, love, realization, and happiness. The minimalist set allowed the audience to focus more on the actors to tell each short story. This wasn't my first experience at RAT, I have seen a handful of productions here. It's a great small theater with individual tiered seats. A very enthusiastic staff. And easy parking. Still time to catch this show.

A Sparks community resource, open to the public with a nominal admission fee. Offers a history…read morepodcast and a community space for groups to use.

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the Sparks Heritage Museum is one of the most amazing places to learn…read moreabout Nevada history. Within its walls stories of the cities, founding life in the old West, the people officers and firefighters who protect us are all shared here. It is at this museum where you can feel like a kid again and learn about the amazing history of Sparks Nevada. It is here where you find traces of Giants that once called downtown Sparks home( PS if you're wondering what I mean by giant I mean Bertha, Tina and Angel, the elephants that ones lived at the Nugget Casino) Even the very building itself is history with it being built as a library and courthouse in 1931 and functioning as the first official public library for the city of Sparks. If you are a resident of the Truckee Meadows or any kind of history enthusiast, I highly recommend visiting this museum, as well as checking out Last Chance Joe the 30 foot prospector next-door to the museum as well as the two parks that surrounded ( Sparks Memorial Park and Lillard Park) combined all three of these locations. Tell the story of Sparks, Nevada, and how it was started as a small railroad town that was literally transported to where it is now by rail to the growing city that it has become since it's founding in 1904. Additionally Details; The museum is going through some changes currently, but it still has some truly amazing displays and it will be celebrating its 40th anniversary on April 1 of next year and they have told me that there is gonna be some truly amazing surprises in the near future . Again, if you are a lover of history or just a local resident with some time to kill, I highly suggest checking out the sparks heritage museum. It is a hidden gem in the Truckee Meadows.

This was such a fun event. I wish I had taken more pictures. Everybody was dressed up and looked…read moreamazing! The mansion was beyond beautiful and each room featured a cocktail from four different bars. They were all delicious and perfectly crafted, it was so hard to choose a favorite. Our night ended with a little crafting where we got to decorate our own candle holder. I hope there's another event like this one. 10/10!!

We came for the free event last week sponsored by Nevada Arts For All. Our 3 yo got to create…read moreseveral Christmas themed art projects, got a free Christmas themed book, and told Santa what he wanted for Christmas. We had a great time watching our boy learn to create, without spending much money. I really love this organization and location and encourage parents to check out their offerings. Truly a blessing to our community.