The Olney Theatre What an absolute gem of an institution nestled in Olney, Maryland. It's a shame it took me this long to discover such a local treasure. A couple of friends and I attended a performance of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to this wonderful theater. The Roberts Mainstage seats just over 400 patrons, creating an intimate atmosphere where every seat feels surprisingly close to the action. I purchased our tickets rather late, so we ended up in the last row of the mezzanine. Fortunately, the theater's thoughtful design meant we still had an excellent view of the stage. We could clearly see the actors' expressions, and their powerful vocals carried beautifully throughout the venue. The theater also offers an on-site concession counter with a selection of beverages, cocktails, and snacks. Although I didn't take advantage of it, I liked the option to preorder drinks for intermission and appreciated that beverages are permitted inside the theater during the performance. The production itself was outstanding. The set design, costumes, and musical performances were all beautifully executed. The talented cast delivered exceptional performances, supported by a small orchestra tucked into the pit that added richness and energy to the entire production. The entrance to the Roberts Mainstage is located off the rear parking lot, just a short walk from the parking area. There are a few outdoor tables and chairs, making it a pleasant place to relax before the show. Inside, the lobby is bright, welcoming, and well maintained, although it is relatively compact and can become crowded before sold-out performances and during intermission. The theater is accessible, with elevators and designated wheelchair seating. However, navigating the lobby during busy times could be challenging, so arriving a little early may make for a more relaxed experience. We attended a weekday matinee and had a wonderful afternoon. Between the quality of the production, the intimate setting, and the welcoming atmosphere, I can certainly see why Olney Theatre has earned such a loyal following. I look forward to returning for many of their upcoming performances throughout the year. read more

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Came here to see the musical - A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. On the day we visited, the theater was showing 2 different performances at the same time (different shows and different rooms). I made sure to get there early. They do have a lobby area with a few seats located near Roberts Mainstage. There is also an area where you can purchase snacks and drinks - I did not check to see what they had specifically as we had eaten elsewhere before the show. The tickets show a QR code and as we entered the theater, someone scanned our tickets. As we entered, I saw there were ushers available to guide us to our seats - so helpful. We sat in the Orchestra section and the seats were amazing. I liked that we were able to see the musicians play in front of the stage - at times they were part of the show as well (so cool). The musical was great. As each person sang, I heard their words clearly. It was a great performance overall and the local actors were excellent. Can't wait to go back to see another show in this theater. read more

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I visited the Olney Theatre Center for the first time this past weekend for a performance of "Some Like It Hot" at their Bernard Family Theatre. The performance was great. The theater isn't large, but they had plenty of bathrooms, a bar selling alcoholic drinks, and another area that had coffee and ice cream and other treats. Their staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. And the theater? Recently renovated, the theater was great; they had it set up to allow for cabaret seating around the stage - we sat there and it made a musical like "Some Like It Hot" even more special! They have at least one other theater at the center - the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab - and put on some performances at Round House Theatre in Bethesda. That means that they put on quite a few productions each session! We live in Baltimore and were happy to make the trip to see a production at Olney Theatre Center, but Olney residents are lucky to have it so near! A great regional theater. read more

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Nice venue! It was my first visit and a pleasant one. I was there to seeChef Carla Halls "Please Underestimate Me". The open set design combined with the intimate seating style made for a fun experience. The venue is on the small side, so there was no dining services option, but there was a selection of snacks and event themed beverages with or without alcohol. There was a small gift stand for theater merch. There is plenty of parking and the surrounding neighborhood is quiet. read more

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Comfy seats (with good space between rows), modern auditorium, beautiful outdoor space, easy parking. We came here to see Synetic Theatre's acrobatic dance mime performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The place has a community center vibe (where people from the community gather). The size of the venue is on a very human scale (not crowded either but not so huge that you are lost). Clean toilets but funnily there's a random sofa right there outside one of the stalls. We loved that they sold thematic drinks to commemorate the show, such as The Fairy Circle and Cupid's Arrow. read more

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Olney Theater does it again with another incredible show. Little Miss Perfect should be headed to Broadway - literally a perfect show and incredible performers. Guessing we're going to see this show in all the local high schools as well in 3-5 years. Olney Theater continues their streak of picking winners - wow, blown away!! read more

Olney Theatre Center - Row C in the main theater for Little Miss Perfect - Performing Arts Near Me - Olney, Maryland

Olney theater is not only newly renovated, but their programming promotes impactful and inclusive theater for diverse audiences. We came here to see Sleepova which is about 4 black British teen girls who are coping with disability, religion, family, and other issues as they embark on their senior year of high school. Next, I'm looking forward to seeing Kim's Convenience, a comedy about a Korean immigrant family that struggles with whether they should sell their family store and the opposition they face as a family. Olney theater also has community engagement talks and activities surrounding their plays, many of which are free. The lobby has a concession stand that sells snacks, beer, wine, and coffee. The staff is nice and accommodating. There is plenty of parking. The theater design is streamlined and modern. I love theater and I will enjoy coming here in the future to see more of what they have to offer. read more

Olney Theatre Center - Stage design for Sleepova - Performing Arts Near Me - Olney, Maryland

This theatre is such a gem. I have yet to not have fun at a great show here. So far I have seen the following: -Kim's Convenience (awesome!) -Beauty and the Beast -Elf -Ahvaz I'll let you in on a secret, sometimes we like to take a half day off on a week day and take in a matinee. Not only are there more affordable tickets, I feel like you get a more intimate experience. Today at Kims Convenience we sat so close it was so awkward for me cause they were literally singing in front of my face and could give an accurate description of their dental work, I was that close. At Ahvaz, a one man show, I had a chat with the director/actor pre show cause he just sat next to me to talk about fashion (specifically eye wear). I don't think you get the same experience at more crowded nighttime shows. The daytime crowds tend to be a bit older (walkers and canes everywhere) but it is a lively crowd. At every show which we saw in the theater lab today they tend to have show themed drinks or souvenirs available. Programs are also usually available to purchase at about two dollars and specialty beverages are around $10. The shows that the theater hosts have a diversity and community engagement focus, which is great to see. Especially now. Please note they're undergoing construction so they'll send you parking instructions before the show to give you the best route to whichever theater you plan on going to . We definitely plan on coming back for some summer concerts outdoors this summer. I love this small theater. read more

Olney Theatre Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Olney, Maryland

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What's there not to like. I'll never venture downtown for a show again. Now that the renovations are done, it's a beautiful grouping of performance venues. Pay no attention to the older reviews as most were complaining about issues relating to a recent construction project, which has now been completed. read more

First here at this theater. It was easy to find. Had a great spacious parking lot. Arrived approximately 30 min before the show. We came to see Frozen. It was absolutely wonderful! The performers were all fantastic. Loved the mixture of original songs and new songs. Stage props and costumes were phenomenal! The seats were also comfortable and roomy. I'm 5'9 and felt comfortable. Would highly recommend this show and theater! read more

Olney Theatre Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Olney, Maryland

Went to see The Gentleman Guide to Love and Murder. What a GREAT show!! Everything about it was outstanding. The theater is lovely and we will return very soon. The following is a review of my ticket purchase not the Olney' Theater. Hoping this serves as a warning to all. This review is ONLY about buying tickets!!! Somehow when purchasing tickets for a recent show, I ended up on a site GoTickets. Bought the tickets for 2 and only when I printed them did I see that I had paid $244 for tickets that the face value is $54/ea or $108 total . So I spent $136 more then priced!!! Talk about feeling like an idiot! So .... I have no problem with companies making money. But this is ridiculous!! BTW the performance was not sold out we were the only people in our section. So Buyer Beware. The theater is lovely. read more

If you're not making plans to attend the sterling production of A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder, you're missing the boat. The hilarious plot, the voices, the costuming, the orchestra--perfection!! I may have to go back for another round, this time with family members. I also highly recommend Carla Hall's Please Underestimate Me. I saw it twice, once with my husband and once with my daughter and would happily go back a third time. Lots of laughs interspersed with emotional vulnerability. The show has been extended for two weeks, which should tell you all you need to know. read more

I loved the Olney Theatre. It was very nice inside. The staff was friendly and helpful. We saw a Saturday matinee, so the lobby was quite claustrophobic, but it made for a lively, buzzy atmosphere, which I love about theater. I understand there are plans for renovations. Seating wasn't comfortable, but usually isn't. We didn't partake in any concessions. The outdoor area looked nice and I would love to see an outdoor performance. I look forward to returning. read more

Edited: Wonderful theatre in the community. I saw Kim's convenience it's last weekend. It was a sold out show. The actors did the play well. I really enjoyed the QnA at the end of the show. The theater was easy to navigate to and easy parking. The interior was new and spacious and open. The actual theater set was done very true to the show. The seats were extremely uncomfortable and I was hurting after sitting few minutes. I appreciate that the theater allows you to bring your own water bottles. The bathrooms were clean but only two stalls for women. Hopefully this theatre can continue to showcase more culturally diverse shows in the future. read more

Do NOT go Olney Theater until they finish construction! There is no signage, telling you how to get into the theater. There's no handicapped parking where there aren't steps to get into the theater. It was ridiculous! We saw "Senior Class" for their last show. The show was really good...terrific dancing, the leads who played GB Washington III and Alize Dorsey were AMAZING! I'll be back when the construction is done! 4 stats for the show...0 for the experience getting in to see it! read more

We saw "Hello Dolly" at the Olney Theater Center last week and the caliber of the actors and the production team were remarkably good. If we lived in the area we would attend every event. read more

Olney Theatre Center - Waiting for the curtain. - Performing Arts Near Me - Olney, Maryland

I am a person that loves a good play. There is no way I would see Hello Dolly. Well, we had family coming in town and we believe experiences are priceless. I went. Hello Dolly (this was not my first time at Olney) was equal or better than anything I have seen on Broadway. No drive, hotel or meals, priceless. Ms. Payton is a star, such a great actor and could sing like an Angel. I will not take one thing from the cast. Everyone was excellent. Thank you, Olney. read more

This is a great venue and the show I saw was thoroughly enjoyable: Beautiful, the Carole King tribute. Beautiful building, comfortable seating. If you get there late you may have to park off-site and take a shuttle like we did, but that was fine. They had a lot of people directing us. The acting and singing were really great. I would definitely like to see other plays here. read more

We just saw Kinky Boots at Olney Theater. An amazing & hilarious British comedy drama with music & lyrics written by Cindy Lauper. The show was awesome , the acting & singing magnificent! The two lead characters, Charlie (played by Vincent Kempski) & a drag queen, Lola ( played by Solomon Parker III ) were astounding and gave such a memorable performance! The rest of the cast did a wonderful execution of the whole play as well. Bravo to all !! This was so very entertaining and delightful! We've gone to this theater a few times before for different performances & have always come out so very satisfied. It's small so there's never a bad seat. read more

Parking is a little rough (not enough handicap spots especially) - but, once parked and inside, what a lovely venue with friendly staff. For community theater, it is well priced, and the show we saw (Beautiful - Carole king tribute) was top-notch professional and enjoyable. They now have an outdoor area for in-season performances as well. read more

Olney Theatre Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Olney, Maryland

I like coming to this theatre due to the variety of productions that are offered. I went to the opening night premiere of the critically acclaimed book Long Way Down adapted into a play. The play was great, staff was friendly and the cast was phenomenal. Treat yourself! read more

When they first re-opened after COVID-19, they had given away a few free tickets for some of their shows, and I was one of the lucky ones that was able to snatch some tickets! My friends and I had attended their Beauty & the Beast show. The actors and actresses were a million times better than we had expected, especially for free tickets! Jade Jones (Belle, left) and Evan Ruggiero (Beast) were both excellent singers and actors. A lot of emotions went through both of their characters. The funniest actor was the self-centered Gaston who would do these obnoxious stretches/exercising (instead of dancing) while singing. I was absolutely laughing to death at that part since I was not expecting him to do that. In the middle, they had to stop the show for a little bit and the actors professionals walked off the stage. They were having some issues with the mic. In the downtime, people used the restroom, got up and stretched their legs, and there were two people in the crowd dressed up as Beauty and the Beast characters (understudies or audience members?). Belle was singing happy birthday to someone and trying to cheer up/entertain the crowd in the meanwhile. If she was an understudy, it would have been great if she started singing songs from the Beauty & the Beast. Overall, I had an utterly fantastic time. I'm curious what other plays they have! read more

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Beautiful theatre easily accessible from Howard County (I took backroads there with ease). The artists employed by OTC put on a spectacular show but the stage crew, musicians, and thespians. Parking is ample, there's limited seating the atrium area but that's easily forgivable as there's a full bar complete w snacks and merch. My daughter and I joined another mom-daughter duo for a date night to see Disney's Beauty and the Beast. We'd heard about there being an inclusive cast (Belle cast by a Black American, plus size actress and Beast, cast by an amputee) and this automatically drew us there to take in this awesome production. The girls had a ball and the mom and I enjoyed a wonderful signature cocktail. Proof of vaccination was required at the door and pricing was up there, but it was all worth it. I'm now on the email list and cannot wait to return for another show! read more

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The locals call the Greater Washington area the DMV, a cute and cool acronym for "District-Maryland-Virginia" which is a term that (according to the Washington City Paper) I invented a couple of decades ago. Anyway, the DMV is one of the top theater scenes in the nation, with loads of talent and lots of great theaters and playhouses all over the area. And Olney is by far one of my top picks from all of the jewels that the area boasts. It is an intimate theater, easy to get to, free parking, a bar with cheaper booze prices than 99% of all other area bars, and a constant rotation of talented artists, emerging, mid-career and established, which are always a sure bet for terrific shows. Wanna hear something that takes a lot of gonads to admit? Sometimes I enjoy going to Olney a lot more than going to the Kennedy Center... there, I said it!! read more

Love love love this theater! My husband and I became members this year because it is a local theater and the shows are great with Broadway caliber actors! They have two different theaters, one with broadway style shows and one with offf-broadway shows...the Lab (as they call it). Even the shows I didn't know a lot about and didn't have high expectations for entertained me...and more importantly, my husband! My husband is not a theater type but he has found all of the shows quite good there! And we make it into a date night/day which makes it even more enjoyable! Oh it let's not forget the biggest perk of membership...10% off food and drinks!!! A alcoholic cider is only $4...what?!?!? That is unheard of at a show!!! read more

I appreciated Olney Theatre Center adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. It was beautifully done to represent society norms today! Belle was a beautiful woman of color and the Beast was an amputee. I loooooove the representation that this play showed. My daughter and niece really enjoyed the play and was engaged the entire time. The music was great and the play ran smoothly! As a fashion designer, I loooooved the innovative costumes. Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts and Chips costumes were nicely done and I appreciated every detail such as the hands of Lumiere that actually lit up and the gears that was sewn into Cogsworth's vest. Amazing! If you're in the DMV, please go see this play. read more

Fela was fantastic! Almost as good the production on Broadway. The venue is bright and beautiful. I'll be back.

We have been to 2 shows. This time it was A Christmas Carol. It was fantastic. Bravo. I want to go every year to see it. The seats are not incredible comfortable, but I think we've become too acustomed to lazy boy recliners and VIP seating at movie theaters. I'm on the way home and guess what, I'm fine. Pun intended, grow a backbone. The seats aren't as bad as some people seem to claim and seats at most older theaters are much worse. read more

The Olney Theatre is a newly renovated suburban theatre. It is large, spacious, and well staffed. There are two theatre's showing performances at the same time. I recently went to see, " In The Heights", the music was written by Lin Manuel Miranda. The show was very good and like an opera, it was done in song. I can really see the beginnings of Hamilton, as I listened to the play. Our seats were in the balcony, but we could see perfectly. The theatre is designed in an interesting geometric shape and has lots of wood accents. My only criticism, wasn't really on the theatre, but this particular show, and that was about the choreography. It needed a little work. The acting and singing were great. So, if you don't want to fight traffic down to DC and you want some reasonably priced tickets, this is the place to try. I am looking forward to taking my granddaughter to see Annie. Enjoy! read more

Olney Theatre Center - From the set of In The Heights. - Performing Arts Near Me - Olney, Maryland

I am a huge fan of plays, as is my wife (one of our very first dates was a series of one act plays more than 20 years ago). 1. We love to attend plays at Olney. The shows are always of high quality, the actors are professional and the shows are amazing. 2. Olney represents a mix of the old and the new- that is also both interesting and reassuring. Parking is easy (they have a huge lot). Food, just across the street, decent! Traffic, well not always optimal, but not horrible. Overall this is the best regional theater in the Maryland area. The theater is comfortable no matter where you are sitting. The upper balcony seats have a great view of the stage and the sound carries perfectly. read more

what a (not so) hidden gem in Olney! I saw a performance here a week ago. The performance itself was Broadway quality, but the seating layout could be improved. One of the ladies in my party couldnt see the stage at all due to the placement of the projector in front of her seat. I imagine that she's not the first person in that seat to have that issue, so that seat really shouldn't be sold at all and should be left open so all patrons can enjoy the performances. The rest of the ladies in our party enjoyed Singing in the Rain, but knowing that one of our friends couldn't see the show put a damper on the whole experience for me. read more

Were in the "old theater" for Hedwig.. seats are small, on the website it said seats were separated so there was an empty seat in between, not the case... thankfully I was sitting with family as there is not staggered seating as indicated. the show was great, but the attitude of the front of the house folks when checking Vax cards was out of line and the seating wasn't as advertised is a put-off. this is probably my 3rd time to this location, I have been in a different theater each time... this old stage was by far the worst of the lot. read more

I have been here twice for Avenue Q and Little Mermaid shows. I didn't know what to expect as I'm used to going to National Theater, Kennedy Center for shows. It turned out great! The theater is close to GrillMarx and right across the street is Olney Ale House. Two good places for pre theater dining. They have two free parking lots and quite large parking area too. The room has good acoustics and their actors are quite good! The theater was quite larger than I expected and good sight lines (sat both at mezzanine and orchestra section) and actors are real close to you, unlike the larger theaters like their outfits and set props from both shows. They serve snacks (can't eat I'm theater, just lobby) but you can bring drinks in (they sell beer and wine!). Check out Goldstar as they often sell almost half price tickets to events at Olney Theater. read more

The Fela performance was very lively and should have been wonderful to enjoy. We purchased special tickets, at a premium price, to seat in the section next to the stage and be a part of the show. We sat on the side next to the stage, but unfortunately, the strong lights on the opposite side of the stage were BLINDING, and we could not see the performance or action on the stage. Further, the performance was projected outward to the center of the audience and they were mostly to the side and beyond our side/back perspective. All four of us were looking forward to a potentially great production. We felt misled in the description of the special seating, with accompanying maximum pricing, but more importantly we were not able to enjoy this Olney Theater production. We are exceedingly disappointed!! read more

Went to see Singing in the Rain today and it was a fantastic play. The dancing was fabulous as was the singing and acting. Was happy to see Rhett Guter in the lead, I saw him perform in Mary Poppins and really enjoyed that show as well. So it was a nice surprise to see him in this play, what an amazing performer. They all did an amazing job and there isn't a bad seat in the house. What a wonderful afternoon. read more

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I have seen Elf the Musical and Matilda the Musical here, and both experiences were absolutely amazing. This is such a great facility with easy parking and wonderful seating for a reasonable price. The production quality and acting is as good as, if not beyond, much of what I have seen at the Kennedy Center. I wish it weren't so far away in Maryland because we have nothing like this in Loudoun County. This is not amateur theater -- it is some of the best of the best!! read more

We had great fun with visiting The Hypocrites Theater's production of HMS PINNAFORE, August 8th 2018. A mix of sophistication and silliness. Their vocals harmonies were outstanding. The theater lab provides a "theater in the round" experience. Highly recommended this production. read more

Olney Theatre Center - Hypocrites Theater production of HMS PINNAFORE. We saw this with my parents, Happy Birthday Dad! - Performing Arts Near Me - Olney, Maryland

Went to see a one man A Christmas Carol show, based on the Dickens Novella of the same name. This show exceeded all expectations. It took place in the tiny Lab theater. I will return to see this show as long as the actor keeps it up! The theater had ample parking and made my ticket pick up very easy. read more

I came here for the Peter Pan feature. The facility is clean and modern. It looked about twice the size of the Wooly Mammoth downtown DC but still retains a good placement that lets the balcony and main audience be within relatively close viewing distance to the stage area. As far as production goes, the show was modern and abstract without the grand scenery of big productions. But it was very entertaining and the children in the audience were very much engrossed given their responses throughout the plot. read more

The Olney Theatre Center has been around since the 1930s. It has two theaters inside - one was recently added a few years ago. I've only been to two productions here and though I enjoyed both, I will try to stay on course with a review of just the theater... I have not been inside the older theater, but the new one has stadium seating and a nice inviting atmosphere. Sitting in the orchestra, it's as if the actors are talking right to you. The balcony seats provide a pretty close view of the show, whereas in many other theaters, you can feel a mile away. My experience with the staff has been pleasant, whether it was over the phone, at the ticket counter, or at the door helping people find their seats. They do give discount tickets for students, if you happen to be bringing kids, even college aged, or a class of students. read more