I attended a comedy show (Nurse John) there. The show was funny and enjoyable overall. The opening act was okay but wasn't really my taste. Staff were friendly and helpful. The event was well organized. Entering was pretty quick. They will check your bag when you enter. Also, you can bring an empty plastic water bottle and fill it at a water fountain inside. It's a little be out of the way (at least from when you are at the entrance of the building). read more

Huge spacious hall with good management. Checking in and out was smooth. Good sound quality. read more

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I came for a Korean Expo that started with an exhibition on all three floors and culminated with a concert in the evening. I liked that there were stairs in addition to escalators to move from the ground floor to the one above. Having water refill stations located around the venue was also a plus. The line to get into the venue for the concert was long but moved quickly. Once inside, finding my seat was easy. I liked that the floor had a slight slope for better viewing of the stage. Even so, if there's a tall person sitting in front of you, your view will likely be blocked in some way. read more

Saw the Cirque du Soleil show "'Twas the Night Before" in December 2024. A charming show and the venue was good. Pretty comfortable setting even for tall people like me! Very festive and would definitely go to this venue again! Easy to get to at Yonge and Front Streets. read more

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Location is 10/10, right by Union Statio so it's convenient. Ushers are super helpful and nice Very clean professional and sound systems are nice ! Amazing venue ! read more

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I came here for the Lord of the Rings show. The show itself was fine, but my experience with the venue was negative. Most disappointing is the fact that there's not enough bathrooms for the audience. Lineups for both men's and women's bathrooms were incredibly long, causing people to be late to the show and after intermission. There also wasn't enough concessions support, which led to the same problem. Lastly, I feel that the ushers could direct people to their seats so that late comers don't struggle in the dark and interrupt the experience for everyone else. read more

Meridian Hall - Taken from Balcony 9 - Performing Arts Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The location is good. Little walk from Union station or king station. There is face painting, coloring activities, and a special pre-show chat with Frozen composer, Christophe Beck. I have so much fun in the performance. I really enjoyed and have an amazing experience. read more

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This was my first time attending an event at this theatre, and my seat was in Orchestra 3, row CC on the left side. I thought the seats were comfortable and there are cup holders for your drink, which is always a plus. I was there to see Jim Jeffries. My seat was close enough that I was literally about 10-12 feet away from him for a good part of the show as he walked back and forth from side to side as he talked. I don't know how I'd rate the theater if I was sitting near the back, but from where I sat, it was great. I wish I could have taken a photo, but it was prohibited at this show. Oh well. The downside was the line to get into the theater. There was only one entrance and it was moving ever so slowly. I didn't purchase any drinks, as the line was too long, but it's nice that you can take your drink in with you. Security check was quick and painless, and staff were quite friendly. I'd love to see a concert here. read more

Meridian Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Came for the Dora awards. Easily accessible with union station close by and many parking lots close by. Large open theatre with 2 bars on main level. Washrooms on lower level. Friendly and helpful staff. Comfortable seats with cup holders (yay!). Great venue to watch a show. I sat in left orchestra and the view was fine. read more

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Been here many times for different types of concerts/shows. I love the seating here, super comfortable and just enough space... but can see how it might be different for tall people that require more leg room. I've never been on the top floor yet so I can't judge their view... But the view on the bottom no matter where I sat is good! The only thing I dislike about this place is the lack of female washrooms... The location of the washrooms and how expensive anything is! (I don't mean the merch for the show) read more

Meridian Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Absolutely amazing experience coming in to see a comedy show at this venue. I unfortunately needed accommodations as I was recently put into a wheelchair, I was answered after multiple phone calls from the box office, and they share with other venues, and once connected everybody was absolutely pleasant to deal with. Everyone was extremely prompt letting me know my options, and as well completely fixing The problem I had with my current tickets. On the night of the show, the ushers were able to notice my wheelchair and were able to get me in sooner to then get me seated or give me extra time if I needed for beverages or the washroom, overall great experience and show. Do not have any worry if needing extra information or guidance with regards to this venue. Someone will be able to answer! read more

Meridian Hall - Bert Kreisher, December 10, 2022 #themachine - Performing Arts Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This theatre is quite good. I was here last weekend for Shen Yun and although I didn't care much for the production, the seating was great and they had a nice elevation. We were in the centre orchestra section so you'd be hard-pressed not to have a good seat. The Sony Centre is easy to get to with ample parking and restaurants close by. I would definitely come here to see another performance. read more

Meridian Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've visited this theatre numerous times to watch different performances and have always had a positive experience. The staff are very efficient and help guests get into the theatre and through the doors very quickly. The concession lines are never too long of a wait and the prices are cheaper than buying drinks at a movie. The seats are pretty good but this is the theatres biggest flaw in my opinion. The incline the seats are on is so minute that your view will be impaired by the people sitting in front of you if you are 5'4 and under. During my last performance I had difficulty seeing past the 6ft man sitting in front of me. For this reason, I might recommend sitting in the first row of the balcony, so no one can impair your view of the stage. read more

both times that I came to this venue, I was BLOWN away, yes the price was a little bit higher then I would have paid for the "normal" concerts I go to, but a full orchestra playing video game music...not just any music, but the legend of Zelda? AWESOME the sound in this place is utterly amazing, and something about the sound hitting you're ears just brings a big smile from the depth and clarity of it all. the venue it self away from the inside is a little bit out of date, but not overly in a bad way, when you walk to the bathrooms, its a very dark ambience, which may seem unsettling to some people. the staff are super friendly and very eager to help out with any and all details brought to them, the drinks are a little pricey, but otherwise a stellar venue! read more

The last time I was at this venue was back in 2006. It was called Hummingbird Centre. It's now the Sony Centre with a few more words behind it! Back in 2006, I noticed that Pet Shop Boys were playing. I didn't know that the duo was releasing new material and decided to give the Fundamental tour a shot. I became a huge fan! Since then, I have seen many of PSB's shows, but bit in Toronto. Last night was my return. Sony Centre has excellent acoustics. All that wood inside helps! The restrooms are clean, and there are plenty of areas to buy a drink or many. The merchandise area is set up well. There are also additional staff selling tour books away from the main merchandise area. The show was amazing! So much energy. The sound was perfect. It was loud, but expected. I can see why the place offered earplugs for $5! There are drink holders in front. It held my cell phone just fine. Excellent venue. I parked across the street for $20. It was a flat fee. Credit cards with a chip are accepted only. Staff were helpful. (217) read more

Meridian Hall - Walking towards the venue along Front Street - Performing Arts Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I came here to watch the Lord of The Rings in Concert and had an almost perfect experience. The music was phenomenal, and staff was lovely and for these reasons think it's worth recommending. That being said, this place is so incredibly uncomfortable to sit in that my girlfriend and I were in so much pain by the intermission we chose to leave. I am 6"5 and was almost incapable of fitting in the seats. I felt like I was trying to sit in a kids chair at a daycare. I understand that sometimes venues aren't built for someone of a taller stature, and was willing to overlook this, but my girlfriend and other viewing companions who are all of societal "normal" size were equally as uncomfortable. I am still in pain the day after viewing and am incredibly sad to have had such a trivial thing almost ruin my evening. The music, staff, and performance all deserve a 10/10 but the venue seating itself has the potential to put a damper on your evening so you better be in love with the concert you're going to see read more

I saw a concert here and it was an OK experience. I'm rounding to four stars though because when rated on the fundamentals; the Sony Centre is a great place to see a show: SUMMARY: 1) Staff is friendly. 2) Bathrooms are accessible. 3) Acoustics are fine. 4) Coat check is $3; reasonable. 5) Drinks are $2 for coffee/tea, $3 or 4 for water and $8 or 9 for alcohol. I've seen worse. ~~~~~ The acoustics were decent and I had a good seat; security was fine; they did a decent job clearing the aisles and maintaining stability and decorum (which is good or bad, depending on how you like your concerts). Someone ended up taking my seat actually when I went to grab some water, but I rolled with it and found a better seat up front, so whoever took my seat; thank you! The coat check was $3 CDN which is pretty good, although they didn't have change for a $20 and didn't want to take my $2 (even tho that's like $2.50 CDN!) and wanted me to buy a concession and get change and bring it to them. That was a little annoying, it's not my fault you don't have change! Just take my $2, then; but it all worked out because Canadians are super nice and some guy just came by and bought my coat check for me. What a chap! :D There's a lot of seats and I can imagine this would be a great place for a play or a philharmonic show. Parking wise, I did a little research and parked in an underground parking garage on York & University. It's about a 10 minute walk away, but it was only $7 CDN and no hassle to find the spots. I didn't mind walking ten minutes and figured it would make it easier to leave the venue when the show was over. Drinks are expensive, but not absurd; I've seen way higher prices and I thought it was actually pretty reasonable for a stadium venue show. read more

Location is good 'cause as it's steps away from Union Station. No contest there. However, what is lacking are screens on either side of the stage for people on the Balcony. Prince was the size of a Lego figurine. I know the dude's short, but can we not have some sort of technology to project his face so we can actually SEE him??!! Very old school. I'm not a sound expert, but I don't think this place has the best acoustics. Very loud at times, but not entirely clear. Again, I'm not an expert in the field, so I'm just going by my concert-going experience. The Orchestra was general admission, re: you hafta stand, but I am not paying a premium to 1) stand and 2) just have some towering monstrosity of a human being stand directly in front of me...after I've paid the big bucks. Geez, I have enough probs with attracting #bigheads who inevitably sit directly in front of me! So depending on what kind of performance, I think your experience here will vary. I would NEVER see a ballet here, but a concert might be o-k. Parking was ridiculously expensive at over $20, but then again, look at the area we're in. read more

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I've been to the Sony Centre a couple times this fall since the renovations. I have to say, I was a bit underwhelmed. It is basically the Hummingbird Centre, except with Sony demo stations in the main lobby, nicer seating area at the bar upstairs, and cup holders in the seats. I kid you not. Cup holders. The theatre is still less than ideal -- acoustics are not great and the orchestra seating goes too far back (if you are in the last few rows, you will need binoculars!). Basically, it's the opposite of intimate. Since the National Ballet of Canada and Canadian Opera Company took up residence at the Four Seasons Centre, the Sony Centre has been having a bit of an identity crisis. I suspect the Silvercity-esque cup holders are meant to make the theatre seem less high-brow ("It's not art, it's 'entertainment'!"). At the same time, programming such as Robert LePage's "Eonnagata" isn't terribly accessible, judging by the abundance of empty seats when I was there. The programming, although admirable in its diversity, is pretty random -- from the Kirov Ballet to "Merchants of Bollywood". I feel like ticket sales have not been great this year, but hopefully with time this venue will find it's niche and an audience. In the meantime, I'm taking advantage of their $15 under 30 rush seats (they email you about 1 week before a performance and you can buy online or in person)! read more

Was here on Saturday for the Travis Wall Shaping Sound show. The show was really great. The sound was good. It was a little too loud for my taste but other than that the sound was crystal clear. The seats are quite squishy so tall people may be uncomfortable unless you're at the end of the row. I'm petite (under 5'5") and even I found it squishy! The cup holders on the back of the seats are nice. I will say that for those who need handicap parking you can reserve ahead of time and park right in front of the theatre. My father can't walk far so it was very convenient for us to park right in front. Plus there is a handicap washroom just inside the first set of doors to the theatre, and elevators worked smoothly and were spacious. The floor gently slopes downwards so there are no steps for people to stumble down for those who have mobility issues. Washrooms for ladies, there's always a long lineup. I wish they would make twice the amount of washrooms than there are currently. I think there was 8 or so stalls. One of the hand dryers wasn't working. And the sinks were clogged. But they fixed the clogged sinks at intermission. The staff at this theatre were all friendly and efficient. I really like that in a theatre. Despite the squishy seats i would probably come back here again for a show. I like the way this theatre is laid out. read more

UPDATE: I think there was an update to the audio system because it now sounds much better than before. Also, I can't believe I failed to notice this, BUT CUP HOLDERS! Nothing beats sipping on a beverage during the show instead of being rushed to finish it during intermissions! read more

Saw the wiggles. Kids were happy. Didn't break the bank doing it. Places is clean and well organized.

This was my first experience at this spot. Otherwise my main exposure passing by has been the driveway of this center being a food truck spot. Not an inviting site for a place that's dedicated to the performing arts IMO. The experience for performance itself will differ from person to person so I will just comment on the venue. Nice space though its more for sit down and enjoy kind for concerts etc. The acoustics were decent, the sound was a bit distorted at times though this maybe due to the equipment being used by the performers. The seating is decent and almost everyone gets a decent view of the stage provided someone very tall (or with a tall hat) isn't sitting in front of you. I wish they used sprung seat backs as one does get tired of sitting in the same posture after a prolonged period. The entrance got slammed though and the security was overwhelmed (no drinks or food from outside) only added to the issue as a lot of time was wasted just having people throw out water bottles etc. 3.5 Stars. read more

Meridian Hall - AR Rahman LIVE - Performing Arts Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Excellent concert venue with amazing acoustics. Seats are a bit small (I am not a big guy) and the cup holders are way to close to your knee so expect to have your knee deep in the metal wire (painful) a few tones as you stand up to dance to your favorite band but the acoustics of the hall make that an acceptable sacrifice. Very well organized entry and exit , no huge jams line in other venues. Sound system is respectable too. read more

I went to Meridian hall for the Rise conference. I had gotten general admission and arrived a bit late so was towards the back but there doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house. Clear views, comfortable chairs, extremely friendly staff, and good sound all come to this venue along with a convenient location to public transportation. read more

If you are under 5 foot 4 and weigh less than 120 lb then this is the venue for you. Aesthetically it's nothing special about it the sound is good but seriously uncomfortable if you're not a child. I'm a thin woman 5 ft 9 and my knees were touching the back of the chair in front of me and the drink holders were heading my thighs on each side....not acceptable read more

Been to this great venue twice, once for the tchaikovsky black swan Russian ballet, where we say upstairs on the second floor. The second time was just earlier this year at a concert for an international singer. The venue is beautiful and always clean, kept neat, with service representatives everywhere and ready to help. My only recommendation if you're willing to visit, is to book your seat on the main floor, where the seating area is much better, more comfortable and way more leg room compared to the seats on the second floor. I have been to other venues in Toronto and Mississauga, but this is definitely one of the best places in To. read more

I went to see Feist here a couple of months ago and the show was absolutely amazing. This place is much much smaller than the ACC or the Skydome but I think that's what makes it so fantastic. If you're lucky enough to get a big artist to perform in a small venue, it makes the show that much better. The atmosphere is very warm and intimate - people are quiet and sitting down and really enjoying the music for it's artistic value. I got the sense that I was in her living room just watching her jam on her guitar. The venue is steps away from Union station, there are several bars located on the top and bottom levels of the Sony Center. It's also right next to the esplanade, which means there are tons of great places to grab a drink after the show. If you can see an artist or performer here, I highly recommend it! read more

Meridian Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I attended Ken's Jeong's performance with my husband and a friend and our experience was completely ruined by the staff. We were seated in Sec Orch10, Row A, Seats 85-87 and could not enjoy the performance due to ushers and security congregating in the alcove next to us, and continually chatting to each other all throughout the show. They were not whispering, but talking at full volume and conversing amongst themselves. In particular two female members of staff proceeded to have an extended conversation, complete with smiles and laughter. When we attempted to make eye contact with them to make them aware they were disturbing everyone in our section, the blonde woman who was speaking continually met our gazes with disdain and a smirk, and continued to talk at full volume. At this point, it was incredibly hard to focus on the show as your staff showed zero regard for the us as paying patrons. This chatter continued amongst different members of staff throughout the rest of the performance. Why there needed to be upwards of half a dozen staff members congregated in the alcove during the show is beyond me. I used to work at a similarly sized venue, London's Southbank Centre, and this sort of behavior from FOH staff would never have been tolerated. When we went to the box office after the show to make a complaint, the box office manager had the FOH manager (Margaret de Gruchy) come speak to us and much to our surprise, it was the same woman who had been the worst perpetrator, talking and laughing to her colleague at full volume for much of Mr. Jeong's act. She refused to give us a refund, and was very obstinate when we asked to be put in touch with her supervisor or manager. She was in fact quite unapologetic about the entire incident, and blatantly lied to us about the nature of her conversation, referring to "an incident" during the show that needed addressing, when in fact she was just having a good laugh and a chat with another FOH staff member. Margaret clearly is unfit for her position as Front of House Manager as she doesn't care that patrons have paid quite a lot of money to attend a performance that she and other members of staff ruin by talking loudly. She seems to think she is beyond reproach and continued to act that way when confronted. It was an incredibly frustrating experience at a venue I used to enjoy very much. All of our emails and phonecalls to Samantha Berger, the Manager of Patron Services, as well as to the more general email address, (customerservice@sonycentre.ca) have thus far been ignored. All we want is a refund for a performance completely ruined by the venue's staff, and we are being frozen out. I could never recommend this venue to anyone as they have zero respect for their patrons. read more

This past weekend I was finally able to attend a show at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. It's a gorgeous building and being my first time here I was taken aback by what an amazing venue it was. The lobbies are on two levels, one for the Orchestra level and another for the mezzanine levels with both stairs and escalators helping to move patrons between them. It's a fairly modern looking venue, with comfortable seating and excellent views of the stage from now matter where your seats are. We were on the mezzanine level (front row) so we had a a great view of the discussion. On Saturday the two defense attorneys responsible for defending the now famous wrongfully accused Steven Avery gave a 90 minute discussion on justice as well as elaborated on elements of the case that people had additional questions on. It was a really different sort of performance with questions being pulled from audience members in advance with a local lawyer and podcast announcer moderating the discussion for the evening. My one complaint about the show and of the Sony Centre is what others have already mentioned - there are no supporting screens anywhere inside the theatre to help provide a better view (close up) of the performance. I can understand if this was a play or musical it might be difficult, but where the subject of the performance is stationary for the duration of the event, I don't see why they wouldn't have some A/V set up to help people follow along more closely. read more

HORRIBLE VENUE! AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!!! Saw the Shaolin Warriors last night and they were good given the venue they had to work with. The air quality in this place sucks. Be prepared to breathe in everyone's perfume and after-shave, the leg room is non-existent. Spouse asked if he could put his leather jacket behind me on my chair as he could barely move or squeeze his legs in to the ridiculous lack of space. Then they have some ridiculous cup holder sticking out at the back of the chairs in front of you - which limits your leg room even more. Bathrooms are clean - but I am not spending my concert or show time in the loo. Irritating place. read more

I really love the Sony Centre, probably because it is away from the hustle and bustle of the 'Entertainment District' yet it really holds its own. The location is unbeatable within steps from Union Station. Part of the reason why I love coming to this venue is the area, with the whole Front Street and the Esplanade...if I had tons of money, I would totally have bought the L-shaped condo being built now. The idea of going to St. Lawrence Market to pick up some artisanal bread with fine cheeses and cured meats and bring it back home with a glass of Port etc...I digress. I was here to see Cirque Eloize and my bf and I came an hour earlier. I didn't feel like rushing through a bar so we decided to eat and drink right at the venue. The main hall is quite small, with the lower level serving pizza slices and the upper level serving popcorn, candies and drinks. The seating area is pretty ample and they also serve wine and beer. In the middle, there was a Martini station of sorts which was pretty neat. You can bring your drinks inside, but no food which is so very nice. My bf purchased tickets at a discounted rate of $15/person which brought us to the upper level, Mezzanine. Can I just say those seats were REALLY GOOD! We had a great view of the stage and not as nose-bleed as one would think. Hey, for $15, I'll take Mezzanine anytime. I had such a fun time! 5/30 read more

Listen, this venue itself was nice enough, but the drunken yokels all over the place were not enough to convince me to want to come back for my $70 tickets for a culinary related speaking event on vacation. Do you know how many drunken/clumsy idiots I saw fall down, or fall up, the balcony stairs? Entertaining sure, but pathetic and sad. Most respectable venues limit the alcohol consumption to the bar/outside the performance space, and with good reason. read more

This is a wonderful venue if you're going for a concert or even just a show! The acoustics are fantastic, I was able to hear everything going on at the Avril Lavigne concert, and the seating is pretty good. Even though I was in the back on the main level, we had amazing seats. Definitely will be back here for an event because this venue was unbelievable. read more

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We went to see Jurassic Park in concert and it was an amazing show. It was a great time. Before the show we got there early to take a picture. There wasn't many people there yet and we asked one of the ushers (Rori was his name) to take a quick picture of us who was at the front doing nothing. He said " if you can't tell I'm working. So no I'm not going to. And there are 200 other people who could take it for you" and we were walking away and he kept going on about it and muttering under his breath. So unprofessional I couldn't believe it. He could have easily just said "sorry I can't I am working". It it very strange as he is working in the service industry with such a miserable and sarcastic attitude. It was a great night other than Rori but that put a damper on the night and my opinion of this theatre. read more

I've been here a couple of times and this time I was there for a theatre/ballet called "Love Lies Bleeding". I can't really rate this place on the plays and events that they run. This is rated purely on the venue itself. I will have to admit that it is pretty great place to see an event. The seats are comfortable enough to not notice them, which is a good thing. I hate thinking to myself that the seats are uncomfortable throughout an event and it really bothers me. The place is modern and loved the art displays, which made intermission go by quicker. The funny thing is I had trouble wondering what to wear at an event like this. I dressed up a bit but realized that there were a mix of people wearing from casual to really dressed up. So wearing what you feel like unless noted on the ticket or invitations. Only complaint is the parking. If you can't find street parking, then the only available place close by is a green P. The garage gets really packed because everyone at the Sony Centre is leaving at the same time. We literally had to wait for traffic to move out before they would let us out of the parking garage. I spent 20 minutes in the garage before I hit the traffic just outside of the garage. Next time, take a cab or get there early to find street parking on Front Street. read more

I have only been to the Sony Centre once to see a tribute concert which consisted of a partial orchestra and the band's instruments (acoutisc/electric guitar, a drum set and a piano). I am not an audiophile so I can't comment much on the acousitcs. But I thought the sound was pretty good. I guess it also depends what type of event you're attending (e.g. orchestral, rock concert, skit etc). The first thing that was a plus for me, was that we could actually bring our drinks/snacks purchased from the concessions stand into the auditorium. I like to sip my coffee, but when intermission only lasts 15 minutes, and there's a line up all the way to Timbuktu, I end up having to down it like a shot of hard liquor (and then hope and pray that my bladder holds out until the 2nd intermission or the finale). So it was nice that I could actually enjoy the refreshment that I just purchased, and the theatre no doubt made 5 times the cost in profits for. I have to agree that the interiors of the theatre are rather minimalistic, but you're not here really for the decor are you? I also have to agree that it does get quite chilly inside the theatre as it does have high ceilings. I saw in row V of the orchestra section, which is close to the back, but I disagree that you need a pair of binoculars to see the stage. Parking can be found on the Esplanade (and its only enforced until 9PM). So if you're catching a 7:15PM show (which seems to be the usual start time) so you can save a few dollars there too. Its refreshing that I don't have to be ripped off with "Special Event" parking prices (like I do when I go to the Four Seasons Centre). read more

Have been here for a couple concerts and shows, and do like this theatre. Nice acoustics throughout the space and good seats to see the stage from anywhere makes this one of the better theatres. Staff are nice and friendly, very helpful and efficient as well. The theatre and lobby areas are clean and well maintained, which is always a plus. Don't want to go somewhere for a concert and have the seats falling apart, or your shoes sticking to the floors. (Trust me when I tell you it isn't pleasant). Overall, a great place to see something more on the low-key side. Probably not the best place for a huge concert for artists like Lady Gaga, but does the trick for something more classical! read more

I went here for the James Blunt concert earlier this year. Pretty lovely theatre, seats are comfortable and nicely spaced out. I sat in the orchestra seating, so we were pretty close. The staff there were pretty accommodating. I can't really say anything bad about my experience. Except maybe the price of the snacks there. It's a classy joint, they sell wine, by the glass... hmmmmmm... Parking is a bitch there.. there's a lot of underground parking that's cheap after 6pm, and of course green P parking is free after 9pm. read more

I was here most recently for RabioLab, a spectacular performance in a decent venue. I have seen several shows here and find the acoustics muted and theater lacking in intimacy or any great warmth. It is functional but not an engaging space. That said, they do get some fantastic performances coming to the theater and it is a super convenient part of the city from a public transit perspective As an aside, watch for construction. It makes traffic a bit harry as of late. Take a bit of extra time and park away from the area. read more