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Madison Center for the Arts

3.9 (19 reviews)
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Energetic, precise and talented.
sandy b.

Accessible parking for all. Easy access to seats. Shows have been very enjoyable. There are some snacks for purchase. I look forward to repeat visits. I think it's been about 6 times.

Stage
Belle V.

Came here for a show called Yamato, Drummers of Japan. The place is really clean and located in Mesa, AZ. I didn't get a chance to check out their concession stand. The restrooms are clean. The seats are not very comfortable. They could have designed the theater better; seats in the back rows should be more elevated. The staff are friendly and ready to give directions.

Sonia B.

What a nice space! We went for a free symphonic concert and weren't sure what to expect. Parking was super easy and close to the theater (plus free and covered, thankfully). The lobby is a bit cold/uncomfortable if you're waiting to get into the theater. It's very open/spacious, but when we were there, it was freezing. There was a small concession stand, and some art to look at on the walls while you wait. But, there aren't very many seats! The theater itself is fine. Good sound, comfortable seats and a pleasant place to see a performance! It's not a deluxe experience, but it's a nice location in the center of town to experience art without much hassle.

Stacy M.

I didn't try the food. The bar only has one white wine (Chardonnay), one red wine (Pinot noir) and three beers that are lackluster choices. Service was good. Ambience is definitely cozy. Parking is actually great. They have their own parking structure and it's easy in, easy out.

Showtime!
Glen L.

I came to the Madison Center for the Performing Arts to see Zuzu African Acrobats (definitely catch this performance when it comes back into town!). I had never been to the Madison Center and was delighted to see that it's a short drive from Biltmore Fashion Park (pro tip: eat dinner here before or after your event). The Center itself was quite a surprise. Kind of a hidden gem in Phoenix and the exterior reminded me of Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. A free parking garage and free valet service were both available. Access was quick in and quick out. Maybe the only design flaw was that where the ticket takers stood, they sort of blocked access to the restrooms. You were able to use the restrooms without entering the theater, but you needed to wait for people to finish the ticket-checking first. Another opportunity area here would be to incorporate a little more art to warm up the space. It's nice and bright but slightly cold from an aesthetic point of view. They were requiring masks to be worn to enter. Once guests sat down, several took off their masks which seemed to be acceptable. The auditorium is large and the acoustics are wonderful. For most events, an orchestra seat will run about $80-100 so it means that you can get quite close for less money than other venues. ADA seating is available but needs to be arranged through the box office as opposed to buying off Ticketmaster. The box office opens two hours before performances. The Lobby opens one hour before the performance. Concessions, including beer and wine, are available before the performance and during intermission. The theater opens thirty minutes before the performance for seating. Large oversized bags and backpacks are not allowed in the building. You will be asked to return them to your car. Constructed in 2017 for the Madison School District which includes eight schools for elementary and middle-school students in the north-central Phoenix area, the Center cost $13 million and has seats for more than 900 people. At a time when too many schools are having to cut back on funding for the arts, it is inspiring that this school district made this investment. Not only do their students have a dedicated space for performances, but it's also available to the broader community, too. The calendar for the rest of the year looks pretty solid. The final Broadway performance of "Rent" will be coming. They also offer some free shows. Pro tip: sign up for their newsletter online to stay informed of upcoming events.

Lobby with bar stations, beautiful
Kris L.

Beautiful performance center with good acoustics and very comfortable seats. The venue is moderate size with not a bad seat in the house. The lobby and outdoor deck are very spacious and the restrooms are large and newly furnished. They were serving $5 beer and wine at the show we saw (the Hit Men) you could bring drinks to your seat such a deal!

Lobby area.

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

Great venue. Sound was really good. Clean and fun atmosphere Definite would go back anytime parking is also great.

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

Beautiful space and we will be attending The Nutcracker this year. Appreciate the Arts and the venue.

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Ask the Community - Madison Center for the Arts

What restaurants are close to this venue?

Rojkeri, Luci's Marketplace, Zipps, Richardson, Dicks Hideaway

Is parking free?

Yes, sometimes depending on the event they have free valet but majority of the time you can park in their garage.

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Review Highlights - Madison Center for the Arts

“Central Phoenix has long needed a first-class venue for cultural performances and this new establishment fulfills that need.”

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Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse

4.8(65 reviews)
21.4 mi

How could anyone not love this place? Yes, Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse is the actual name and no,…read morethis is not an outlet store where the pets have minor cosmetic imperfections and are 40% off. It's actually a little animal rescue tucked into the backyard of a private property, where you can visit rescued Highland cows, pigs, goats, donkeys, tortoises, ducks, sheep and assorted other members of the Island of Misfit Pets. It's completely free to visit. You stay outside the fence for safety, but you can still pet and feed the animals (and it's okay to get emotionally attached to them!) Sometimes Carl leaves food outside for visitors to hand out to the "damaged pets" or you can bring your own approved snacks like apples, zucchini, carrots and cucumber. Basically a very wholesome BYOS situation. I posted a photo of the full approved-food list so you too can trick some furballs into becoming your new best friends. You can also leave a monetary donation to help with the cost of caring for the animals. You can visit at any time, but remember this IS someone's private property, so obviously be respectful of the home and neighbors.

Finally decided to stop by and feed these cute animals! It was pretty busy when I stopped yesterday…read moreafternoon and many people were there also feeding them. I saw two turkeys, a rooster, ducks, goats, donkeys, a piggy, and a bull. *Free, just follow the posted rules

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Bam Kazam

4.5(305 reviews)
9.2 mi

AMAZINNNNNGGGG!!!!!! This is a multi-room place you can go and bring your friends for fun…read moreactivities. The rooms range from activities that have strength, brain teasers, teamwork, and more. It's such a great bonding opportunity and allows you to have fun with whoever you bring with phones down. Parking is NO issue at all at this location. They have so many spots available given the strip outlet location it's in. I do recommend not wearing any thick or heavy clothes and bringing as little items as possible, because you will be moving A LOT and sweating will be your enemy. They have a bar and restaurant as well, but we didn't get a chance to go. Definitely will be back, and next time need to go for 4 hours! I think we did 2 hours and it didn't feel like enough time.

We went to Bam Kazam on a Saturday at around 8 PM. There were 4 of us total, 2 have been there…read morebefore, but this was my first time. The premise is similar to an escape room, but there are several themed, interactive rooms that you try to progress through. Each room has a 3 minute time limit and if you pass the first challenge, a door opens to another room. Each themed room has 3 challenges total. We all had a lot of fun working together as a team. The rooms are hard to complete (at least for us lol) and some of the rooms required more physical ability. There are employees there to help you as requested, which helps if you get stuck on what you're supposed to do. The rooms are well put together, theme-wise, which adds to the experience of the challenges. There were a lot of people there, which meant a long waiting time. I feel as though we did more waiting than we did inside the rooms. Although, it didn't help that several rooms broke or weren't functioning correctly throughout the night. There's also a bar in the back where you can grab drinks and food, if you so choose. I would recommend waiting until after the experience since you have a 2 hour time limit. Overall, Bam Kazam is a unique activity to get a group of friends or family together for a night of fun and challenges! I would definitely go back again, but perhaps on a weekday or a time that would be less busy.

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Bam Kazam - Security dude.

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Castles N' Coasters - Desert Storm

Castles N' Coasters

3.4(497 reviews)
5.6 mi

Castles-N-Coasters has always been a total vibe in Phoenix. My only concern with this place is that…read morethe employees do not seem to care if people are buckled in or not. So I'm always very careful when I come with my kids, especially on the bigger posters. None of the rides are super dangerous, but I would hate for somebody to fall out! So thankful that it's still there and has survived all of the businesses closing around it. Will definitely be back.

So there we were, headed to Castles N' Coasters a wholesome amusement park in the desert... a place…read morefor families, laughter, and apparently, poor decision-making. Now my buddy this man reaches into his pocket and pulls out what I can only describe as a historical artifact. I'm talking a doobie so big it looked like Bob Marley himself rolled it during a greatest hits tour. I said, "Absolutely not. I am a grown man. I got responsibilities. I got a mortgage. I got snacks at home I haven't even finished yet." That didn't matter. Next thing I know, windows are up, car turns into a Dutch oven of bad decisions, and now I'm just along for the ride literally and spiritually. Somewhere between "this is a bad idea" and "why is everything funny," I lost control of the evening. We pull into the park around that magical time you know, that in-between hour... not quite day, not quite night... like God dimmed the lights and said, "Alright boys, let's see what happens." The whole place is glowing neon lights, arcade buzz, roller coasters rattling in the distance. Felt like walking into a carnival dream... or maybe a fever dream. Jury's still out. Now here's the thing about this place it's been around since the late '70s, sitting right there in Phoenix like a desert time capsule of fun. You got four roller coasters, including the Desert Storm, which sounds fun until you're on it reconsidering every life choice that led you there. Then there's the Patriot wooden, loud, and about as gentle as a bar fight. And somehow... SOMEHOW... we thought tequila beforehand was a good idea. So now we're buzzed, slightly baked against our will, and wandering this park like three philosophers who lost their notes. We're laughing at everything. Nothing's funny but everything's hilarious. A trash can? Comedy gold. A churro? Best thing I've ever eaten in my life. A child running past me? I'm emotionally invested in his journey. But I'll give credit where it's due the park itself? Clean. Staff's friendly. Nobody's judging three grown men giggling like idiots. It's got that old-school charm too arcades, mini golf, rides, the whole deal. You can bring a family here... or whatever version of a situation we were. Now the rides... oh, the rides. Let me tell you something nothing will make you rediscover fear like being slightly out of your mind on a roller coaster you thought you could handle. I got scared... not once... not twice... but a few times. The kind of scared where you start making promises to God you don't intend to keep. "I'll be a better man if I survive this drop..." Didn't mean a word of it. By the end of the night, we had the munchies, the laughs, and just enough dignity left to get back to the car without needing a group meeting. For a couple hours, though? We were kids again. No responsibilities. No stress. Just lights, noise, and pure, ridiculous fun. So yeah Castles N' Coasters might be a family amusement park... but under the right or completely wrong circumstances, it turns into one hell of a story. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just... maybe crack a window on the way there.

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Madison Center for the Arts - theater - Updated October 2026

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