Saw John Butler and Band 4/29 at the Lincoln Theater and I just had the time of my life not only because of the show, but also because of the venue and staff. The venue is very intimate without feeling claustrophobic. I don't think you can get a bad seat. I was surprised that the cost for an adult beverage was only $11.50 (before taxes and tip). Now on to the staff....they were all so friendly professional. They truly went out of their way to make your experience exceptional and smooth. Shoutout to Bernard for his kindness, humor, and just plain overall charisma. Instead of making me throw away some snacks I had he had it secured in the office for pick up after the show. He was so funny and easygoing about it all and he and other staff went out of their way to not make me feel bad or stupid for the faux pas. The bartenders in the foyer were awesome and patient too when I wasn't sure what to order. They also served my drinks neatly and their welcoming demeanor made me go back for another. If you are attending an event at the Lincoln Theater know that you will be taken care of very well and that your event will run smoothly. It's a beautiful venue and I hope to be able to go to another concert again soon! read more

See all

I recently saw another performance at the theater. The performance was amazing. It's seems like this venue gets rented out to various organizations. There isn't consistency in having a plan. I was with an influential family in a box suite (with extra seats in the row behind us). One of the sponsors asked a family member (who had just sponsored the vip reception we attended) to move. The sponsor did not seem to know who the person was. The family was incredibly gracious about it. The venue is great for plays, Q & A's and screenings. There just needs to be a better plan. If you have different staff for each event, it is really hard to look professional. The theater is directly across the street from U Street Metro. read more

Pick your seat wisely, it reminds you of a smaller DAR Constitution Hall. It has those hard wooden seats.

Nice venue but as usual concessions are a rip off. The bathroom looks like it hasn't been updated since 1981, and it's fairly small. The side "box" seats looked awfully uncomfortable, you would have to lean forward the whole time. The left orchestra seats in row F were nice. Not too crowded, but it's not the Strathmore. read more

See all

I saw perfume genius perform in concert at the Lincoln Theatre in early April. The acoustics were fantastic and it was very easy to get in and out of the venue. I thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

A deeply historic theater, Lincoln Theatre opened in 1922 during segregation. Along "Black Broadway," it was one of the few theatres that the Black community could enjoy. After the Riots of 1968, it closed, reopening in 1994. Today, it's a theater again with three levels of seating in a grand space. My friends and I went to a concert of Mustafa the Poet. The seats are old school theater style, which was nice. It's a great concert venue! Parking can be hard to find, but the U Street Metro is across the street as is a Capital Bikeshare dock. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Man I haven't been to this theater since. I used to work on Connecticut Avenue back in the day. This theater a deeply historic theater, Lincoln Theatre opened in 1922 during segregation. Along "Black Broadway," it was one of the few theatres that the Black community could enjoy. After the Riots of 1968, it closed, reopening in 1994. Today, it's a theater again with three levels of seating in a grand space. Also it's kinda hard to find parking, but the metro is directly across the street . I have been to this theater for numerous of occasions for different events back in the day. read more

See all

This is a nice theater. It's not the latest and greatest, and the facilities were a bit dated, but it served its purpose. I came here for a concert and the acoustics were excellent! It's also at a super convenient location, directly across from the U Street Metro Station (metro is the way to go for this venue), with plenty of dining options around. For our show, tickets were general admission, which I thought was a funky setup for a seated theater, but we planned accordingly (got there a little before doors opened) and were able to get great seats towards the front (people who paid for VIP had early admission and snagged the first few rows). Seats were cushioned and comfy. People will definitely get there on-time to find seats! Even the box seats were up for grabs. When the show starts and the lights go out, good luck finding seats that are still together if you come with a group when GA is involved. I will note, however, that when the headliner came on, people from the back started moseying on up to the front in the aisles and were allowed to stay there. You're allowed to bring bags into the theater, which is nice. They do have a bag check and you walk through metal detectors before entering. Even though the queue went around the corner and down the alley before doors opened, security moved quickly. They were selling merch in the entrance way after you scan your tickets. With the flow of traffic, it was tight for space in that area, but with the narrow theater layout, there are limited options. There are a few bars to buy drinks and snacks around the theater. There was a bar in the back of theater which got a little noisy during the show; the loud chatting carried down to the front during quieter moments. You are allowed to bring the food/drink you purchased to your seats (no outside food/drink allowed). They also had water cups available on the counter to quench your thirst from their water fountain. Overall, the event was well-managed, the atmosphere was pleasant, and I would recommend this venue. We had a lovely evening at The Lincoln Theatre. read more

Old place but the view was nice and the staff was accommodating. Drinks were pretty watered down and they don't take a moment to clean the sticky counter in between serving customers. read more

Really great venue. Staff moved the line of people waiting to enter very quickly and were helpful with directions. Love the open seating policy, made for a very relaxed show. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The show was great, the only issue I had was there AC in theater didnt seem to be working. Luckily it was a cool night. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Was here last week to see Kumail Nanjiani (the early show). When I arrived, the line for check-in went all the way down the alley, which was a little bit intimidating, but it moved pretty quickly. I think part of the issue is that as soon as you walk inside the lines for the bar start so it was sort of a little bit of a cluster. We waited in line for a drink, but luckily they have a cool tab system via QR code so you can pay from your phone. Our seats were on the balcony in row B and they were great! The acoustics were awesome and the energy was fantastic. read more

See all

Lovely evening at Lincoln Theatre watching a screening of Nosferatu with a live accompaniment ! The experience, from buying the ticket ahead of time to arrival and being seated, was totally seamless. Pro tip: As a gal who absolutely *despises* unnecessary services fees and big corporation (looking directly at you, Ticketmaster), I *highly* recommend purchasing your ticket ahead of time in person at the box office if you can. This avoids any service charges you accrue from ordering online AND no tax included, just the flat ticket price. Plus, Lincoln Theatre is apart of a local conglomerate of venues (9:30 Club, Merriweather Post Pavilion, The Atlantis, The Anthem), meaning you can buy tickets to shows at anyone of these venues and avoid forking anymore money over to Ticketmaster (seriously, they suck). Lincoln Theatre is a beautiful historic theater with lovely ushers and classically glamorous theatre atmosphere (aside from the creepy, hyper realistic Lincoln head in the front, who's the guy behind that idea??). read more

Came here for the first time to see Roy Wood Jr which was being taped for a comedy special. We arrived about 30 minutes ahead of time and there was no line to get in. The bathrooms were small but moved quickly - we were told we could not get up once the show had started. For a cocktail and glass of wine it was $23. We were sitting in the left orchestra row P which was not a bad view. Really nice experience and I'd come back! Also easy to access with the metro across the street. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Lincoln Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

I saw a hip hop orchestra performance at this theater -- it was my first time! Getting inside was seamless -- we showed our tickets and walked right in. Didn't need to use the bathroom or grab anything, so we went to find seats immediately. My friends and I were sitting a bit high up, but it was still enjoyable! The seats were comfy and the audio was clear as it should be. When it comes to the bathrooms and the bar, now, you need to be strategic, because those lines can get out of control. That's nothing new, but it does tend to be a damper on experiences like this. I need to check the schedule to see what's coming up soon -- maybe I'll see another show! It's a solid and well-decorated venue! read more

The on line information for the the Lincoln Theater said bring a light jacket the Theater gets cold. Unfortunately that was incorrect, we saw Henry Cho on July 21 at the theater. Henry was wondering as always, his clean comedy was great and very humorous. The issue was the Theater was so warn / hot ot almost made my wife and I pass out from the heat. We were sitting on orchestra l in the rear of the theater and it was close to 90 degrees inside the the theater. Everyone around us was also complaining about it being extremely hot inside the Theater. Even Henry Cho had made an on stage comment about how warm it was. Becasue of the inside temperature of the Theater I would not reccommend seeing any shows there from late may until Oct when it is cooler weather. I love the theater a rating of 2 stars becasue of the lack of air conditioning read more

What a beautiful old theatre. We came here for the Pod Save America podcast. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the seats. They were roomier than I expected and we had a decent amount of leg room. There are two bars that flank the lobby and one inside the theatre. All the way upstairs is a vendor who sells amazing popcorn. They also had Swiss cake rolls but I can't speak to it since we just had the popcorn. My only complaint is the lack of bathrooms. Just a couple in the first floor and the line grows quickly. I would definitely see another show here if I'm back in DC at anytime. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a beautiful venue, and the sound has greatly improved from what it was several years ago. The reason for four stars rather than five is the smell. It's a combination of old popcorn and feet. Get some incense or Febreze up in there! it's a very old building, so maybe it just needs a deep clean.... read more

Classic theatre! We went to see The GIZ (Go-Go Wiz) Excellent show! Theater was good, good seating, wide aisles, restrooms were decent (I guess, considering...) Located on busy U street, plenty of places to eat and roam before and after! read more

See all

Came to see Mocheeba. A nice theatre with classic style (no assigned seats, but rather first come first served; comfy seats if no row in front of you). No air conditioning. No fresh air (yup even after Covid, no lesson learned?). 4 stalls in the toilet, and there was a line even during the show (not during intermission). Toilets were generally clean except for no toilet paper (a roll was on the back of the toilet, half used; nothing in the holder where toilet paper rolls should go). U Street is an interesting neighborhood though. read more

See all

Nearest street EV charging is at U street and 14th. That's also a convenient parking garage under the municipal building. The theatre underwent an expensive restoration maybe 15 years ago, and is a real treat to see an event here. read more

We saw Guster here a couple of years ago and it was such a great experience. This theater is exactly what you want an old, historical theater to be. Every corner seems to have a story to tell. The staff was nice and efficient. read more

My friend and I went to a Charley Crockett concert at the Lincoln Theatre a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it as a venue! We didn't arrive early enough to get seats, but the aisles were wide enough for standing and dancing! The venue is beautiful! My only complaints are about the long lines at the bar, too few bathrooms, and tight are for merch sales. But those are pretty typical for all venues, and the Lincoln makes up for it in character and beauty! I'd happily see another concert or performance at the Lincoln. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Charley Crockett, 11.18.2022 - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Very Nice Theater! Good location for restaurants before or after performances. We saw Grace Musical! It was So good! We had great balcony seats( section R, row B) which had excellent volume stage. It was also close to the Box where Pres Lincoln sat. Very Nice and professional staff! We went in April 2022 so Covid 19 protocol .was in effect ( we Appreciated that precaution) This was a good treat for our DC Visit read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

A nice old theatre in a relatively safe area. The green lune metro station just in front of the theatre. I went to one show and everything was organised pretty good. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

My husband and I had tickets to see Rob Schneider and had really good seats in Row E. I like the fact that this theatre is located directly across from the metro station. It's also a nicely sized little theatre! Great venue all around! read more

Came by here a little too late to try to catch a service for National Community Church. But got to check out the theatre a little bit. Neat place. Next time we'll make the service on time read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was my first time visiting The Lincoln Theatre and I have to say I had a great time. We went to see artist Corrine Bailey Rae on Sept 6. . Getting there was so convenient. I highly suggest taking the Metro train to get there and once you get off at the U street corridor, the theater is right across the street. There are plenty of places to eat before you go in including the iconic Ben's Chili Bowl and The Nextdoor restaurant.. highly recommend. Just know that there is no assigned seating so it's first come , first serve. The doors usually open an hour and a half before the show starts so you have plenty of time to get to your seat. The sound was amazing and the ambiance was great. I'll definitely be back to see another show. read more

See all

Came to see a friend of mine playing in Grease with a side of Mumbai sauce part of DC Black Broadway. The theater is nice for its age! It few great to sit and watch where so much history was made. There was good drink options and the scan tab made it easy to pay. My only draw back was the popcorn situation I do think there should have been more than one older machine it created a line that was pretty long. Other than that the play was amazing the venue was great I wouldn't mind returning to watch more shows read more

Enjoyable place to see and hear music. Great acoustics and comfortable seating. Right across the street from Metro.

The show was great! We enjoyed the laughs and loved we were able to witness Martin Amini's First Special! (Special = Filming takes place, and audience cannot get up during the show for the bathroom, drinks, etc. You may also be expected to participate in retakes, I.e. his team had him reenter the stage 3x before finally getting the look/style they wanted). The lobby was tight but it did have two small bars to order drinks from, on the first level inside the auditorium, there was another bar.. but all of the bars went down when we tried ordering and cashless purchases was not an option. A handy tip: The Franklin D Center Parking Garage is a 5-min walk to the theater! read more

See all

adding a review because a very kind staff member really helped me out on new year's. the bottom of my boot split off, all the way down to the arch of my foot, causing me to almost fall down the theater steps. i knew it wasn't going to be safe to enjoy the show, given that I am very clumsy even when sober in proper footwear. I asked the doorman with the blue dreads and glasses if he had anything i could use to hold my boot together so I didn't trip and hurt myself. he went out of his way to go get stage tape for me, which absolutely saved my night. the venue itself was cool but a somewhat awkward setting for general admission to a rock show. everyone was standing, but of course there are permanent rows of seats that we had to be crowded around. but it was still a great show and I am very grateful to the staff for helping me start the new year without any serious injuries read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Honestly, this is one of my favorite places in DC to see a show. The sound is generally good and it's fun to be on U street for a pre-show dinner or post-show drink. The sight lines for a shorty like me are also good. So why two stars? NO AIR CONDITIONING! At a recent show we had to leave early because we were so uncomfortably hot. I mean like our shirts were all damp and our eyes were burning because sweat was dripping into them. Even the performer complained about the heat in the hall! Sadly, this makes an otherwise great music venue pretty awful. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Corinne Bailey Rae - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I recently had the good fortune to catch one of my favorite bands (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) playing at the Lincoln Theatre. I have seen them perform in 2 other venues, but this was by far the best. Providing my ticket for scanning was easy as was purchasing a drink from the bar. Bathrooms were close by and seating, even in the balcony, was easy to negotiate. There were ushers nearby at all times in case we needed help. The interior style of the theater was elegant and innovative. I had the best time dancing to the tunes I know and love and the Lincoln Theatre was a big part of it. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

First visit to the Lincoln ever. Went to see Sparks with my son and a friend of mine. I had no idea of the rich history the theater and neighborhood with the African American community. I read U St NW was once known as DC's Black Broadway. The Lincoln served as a venue for live music and movies. DC's own Duke Ellington was among the artists gracing the stage. Sparks gave us a great show. Can't believe the Mael brothers (Sparks Brothers) are still going strong with their eclectic brand of music and humor. The Lincoln staff was accommodating and friendly. My only beef? Cut the vax passport and ID nonsense. Unnecessary and bad for business. My son left his ID at home and that requirement wasn't listed by the venues agency. I'm boycotting establishments with this requirement moving forward. Time to move on. We ate at The Saloon which is a few doors away. A funky and eccentric joint. Ben's Chili Bowl, a DC culinary landmark known for their half smokes since 1953, is next door. I hope to visit the Lincoln again soon. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Sparks! - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is a beautiful mess. In theory, it would be awesome to see a show here or so I thought. Recently went to see The State and sat in the balcony which isn't sloped enough so it is nearly impossible to see the stage. We moved all the way into the back and the row in front of us was empty and we could pretty much see at that point but I still had to sit toward the end of the seat and I'm over 6ft tall. Secondly, the sound is atrocious. There are no additional speakers on the balcony so what you're hearing is coming from the stage area and that sound system isn't anything to write home about. So glad I missed seeing Nick Cave here and will not be returning unless I have a front row balcony seat. read more

Lincoln Theatre - I had to stand up to take this picture or else it would just be a crowd photo. - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came to see a comedy show. Customer service was good. The drinks were also very good. Really no complaints but the lack of AC.. it was a bit warm in there. read more

We came here for a 10pm show for Pete Davidson. As soon as we got there, staff were waiting outside to organize the line and overall entry, even though the first show hadn't let out yet. The staff outside were very friendly and engaging with those of us waiting. They came around to see our seat numbers and write them on a paper for us, since phones had to be locked up. Getting inside was very easy and quick. Once inside, we found our seats which were quite comfortable for a theater seat. They are staggered to prevent anyone from having issues seeing, which I thought was great, being that I'm short. The theater inside is absolutely beautiful! We got drinks which I expected to be pricey, but was a little shocked by paying almost $50 for 2 rum and sodas and then $5 for popcorn (a small movie theater size bag). Since it's a theater in a popular city, I didn't mind paying it, but there just weren't prices listed anywhere. Once the show was over, exiting was easy, but there were a lot of people, so it was cramped. I'd definitely see another show at this venue overall. It was a pain to find parking, so be sure you get there with plenty of time. read more

Went to a show here recently. The theater itself is nice. For my situation, the Ticket Master app screwed up when adding the event to my calendar and we showed up for the earlier show instead of the later show. Despite this, the staff was really helpful and found available seats for us even though we were arrived at the wrong time. This saved us from having to come back 3 hours later. We really appreciated everyone's help and would definitely come back. read more

Went to see Dave Chappelle last Thursday and Dave and his opening acts were nothing less than great. NOW... WITH THAT SAID! The Lincoln Theatre needs to invest in quality seating arrangement. The seats are not elevated properly. You can't over the ppl in front of you. By the way, 5.11. My wife and I were pissed and felt robbed because we spent a significant amount to be there. They also need a more professional staff. We had to damn seat ourselves. The staff inside were inattentive, doing there own thing. Finally, if they don't invest in renovations to the seating then get monitors. people must SEE the entertainment they paid fir read more