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    Orpheum

    4.4 (68 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    commencement grad ceremony
    Nat L.

    the orpheum is the most beautiful concert hall in vancouver. i've been to the orpheum to watch the vso perform, attended handel's messiah, and today, as a proud aunt of a 2024 high school grad. what a classy venue to celebrate a graduation commencement ceremony. the concert hall is opulent, it's ornately decorated with gold accents, red curtains, and sophisticated lighting. this venue is elegant and grand, with an intricate ceiling featuring a large, circular central design with ornate patterns and a magnificent chandelier. surrounding the central design is a colourful mural depicting various figures and scenes, adding a vibrant and artistic touch to the elegant architectural details of the ceiling. the lighting highlights the artwork, enhancing the overall splendour of the space. there's two large tv screens on either side of the stage for close ups, seats, however, could use an update.

    a group of people standing in a hall
    Mike T.

    I visited The Orpheum to see a performance (Kathy Griffin's Laugh your Head Off stand up comedy world tour) back in June 2018 and wrote this review at that time. First of all, The architecture inside is really amazing. Almost feels like ive been teleported to an old European city theatre from downtown Vancouver. Kudos to the building designers. The location of the theatre is great. It's 2 city blocks away from the mall. Paid underground Parking is close by. I came to see a stand up comedy show earlier this year. They got one guy at the front of the door to check that you actually got a ticket, and another person that's just inside the doors to scan the tickets. The lobby is very large and feels like a ballroom in a fancy rustic European hotel. There are some fancy chairs similar to ones in palaces placed around the area. When you sit in them your body will literally sink because there is so much cushioning. It feels marvelous. I wish I could get one for my home! There are Huge hanging chandeliers on the ceiling. They are stunning. Overall the lobby Is really nice and just a Great place to take selfies! There are a few concession stands in the lobby. The prices are fair. The prices and snacks are similar to what you find to a movie theatre except they have liquor as well. The washrooms are roomy and can easily take dozens of patrons after a performance. Design wise, Its kinda bland compared to the rest of the building. There was a lack of paper towels unfortunately. Surprisingly The ushers are mostly very elderly people. Think grandmas who should have retired a decade ago. They are sweet though. I asked a kind usher some basic questions about the upcoming performance but she strangely drew a blank. Guess they don't know everything! The actual auditorium design inside is breathtaking. The ceiling has a beautiful mural design you'd think Michaelangelo painted it himself. You'd be admiring the intricate design for a long time. A couple negatives though. The stage acoustics are not very good for monologues. On this visit I was watching a stand up comedian, Kathy griffin, and some of her words were lost to the echoes to the stage. Perhaps the acoustics are not very kind to nasally voiced comedians. Also, The floors were kinda sticky. As I lifted my shoe under the chair my foot was a little stuck to the ground. The seats in the auditorium also could be more comfortable. They are fabric cushioned and the legroom could have more space. but it was good enough. This particular performance lasted a whopping 3.5 hours with no intermission and I did not have any discomfort on my caboose by the time it was over. Overall, the orpheum is an awesome and unique building in Vancouver and I hope I get the opportunity to visit it again. 4.5 out of 5 stars rounded up to 5.

    The Struts

    First time I've been to the Orpheum. Was really looking forward to this concert. Had front row tickets. The building itself on the inside is stunning. But I found it was a really good thing. I knew all the songs, because you could not understand anything anybody was saying or singing. My poor husband was his first time hearing the band didn't know the songs and was completely lost all night. Very disappointed in the sound quality considering this was the home of The VSO.

    Tonight: Michael Bolton
    Gayan P.

    As far as I know, this is one of the oldest and most ornate theatres in Vancouver. Being a young city, we are eclipsed by the historic buildings of much older cities, but the Orpheum takes you back to a time of grandeur that you won't see in its contemporary counterparts.. As the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), there are events taking place at the Orpheum year-round. If you're a lover of the orchestra, stop by the box office to try your luck at scoring rush tickets to an event happening on the same day. If you prefer to make plans, book your tickets online or join the VSO mailing list to find out what they have coming up.

    Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa
    Shonah M.

    Saturday night on the Granville Mall can only mean - show time! The Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa are here at the Orpheum performing on their tour of North America. This venue is classic, beautiful, crisp, lively, great sight lines to stage, bright clear lighting, with all its splendor - has stood the test of time (even with various renos over the years). It is an eclectic walk into a different time when you enter the Orpheum! I could go on & on but you get the picture - it's an amazing venue for live entertainment! Home to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, whom I have yet to see, the Orpheum has hosted countless gigs over its stellar career. I can remember Public Enemy performing here way back in 1990!!! 'Yeeeaaahhh boooyyyyy' ..... yikes! At capacity it holds just under 3000 people & it was full house tonight! I had not seen the SGC since 2004, so I was so looking forward to tonight! It was an amazing trip in harmony & the choir took us in spirit - back to South Africa! Their deep soulful sounds brought back memories of growing up in Africa! If you get the chance to see them on this current tour - do so!!!

    Eliza L.

    Went to the Orpheum for the first time last night for the Marianas Trench concert. I can't believe how gorgeous this venue is! I love how it has such a grand "regal" feel as soon as you walk in. The smell of popcorn in the air also just made me so happy. The staff here are such a delight when they greet you at each check point. There's someone to make sure that you get to the right section, the right door, and then another one to make sure you get to the right seat. How great are these guys? Love them! We had a seat in the orchestra section which gave us a perfect view of the stage and it felt like we were still very much a part of the "vibe" even thought we were maybe 15 rows back. Would be so happy to come back here for another show!

    VSO season opener
    Joanna L.

    I go to a lot of VSO concerts, especially when they feature soloists, mostly violin. It is an older venue and I have nostalgic memories from my childhood. There was one concert here that influenced my decision to pursue violin performance as a career. They have featured many great artists here such as Pinchas Zuckerman, Lang Lang, Karen Gomeyeo, Tasmin Little, Chad Hoopes, James Ehnes, Juliette Kang, Judy Kang, Emmanuel Ax, Yo-Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Augustin Hadelich, Philippe Quint, and many others. I had many enjoyable nights at the Orpheum and for that reason, it holds a place in my heart. They have an awesome program for students who are 35 years and younger. It is called the TD all-access pass. You can get up to 2 tickets for $15 each, plus admin fee of $2. So if you want a spectacularly cultural experience, why not check it out?

    Melody M.

    I had the chance to come to this venue to watch Star Wars while the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra played the music. It was such a treat to see a full orchestra play and the sound was amazing. The venue had beautiful chandeliers and intricate paneling from the walls as well as the ceilings.

    Whoever does their lighting is outstanding and was born with a gift. If I had not had to turn my phone off...
    Mar K.

    Bria Skonberg, songstress and trumpeter, together with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. And a drummer who was extraordinary.

    Here's my view sitting near the back of the bottom section.
    Simon K.

    There was a comedy fest here and one of the comedians said something that always brings me back to another time, which would be high school, yes my convocation was here, hours of waiting in a black gown with that square hat while you wait for your name to be called up, and seeing all the parents and family members sitting in the crowd, that is the sense I get everytime I come here, of yesterday, and even today things in here haven't changed, maybe a new coat of paint but other than that, not much. It's a classy place, and you wouldn't think of it if your weren't from this city as it leads out to what people call clubbing district! Home of the VSO, this place is great for music/sound, it was built for this. I have been here for many types of shows ranging from stand up comedy, speeches, Christmas specials and concerts and it's a great place to catch this kind of stuff, even sitting up in the rafters there are some good views wherever you are sitting. There are multiple entrances either on Smithe or Granville, and I can say that the Granville entrance is definitely more regal, you'll know once you go through that and compare it to the other. One warning I have to give is for the washrooms, especially if your a woman, prepare to wait, if there is a break between whatever show you are attending, just go, it maybe a few flights of stairs but plan your route to the 'loo'! This is still a premiere venue for anything with sound/music, way above places like Rogers Arena.. that were built for sports. It's not super big, which plays to the audiences benefit on seating, your never too far from the stage. There's a good outer area before, and in the middle of the show for drinks and to mingle to stretch your legs. It's a classy venue, and even if your not enjoying whatever event you are at, look up at the ceiling and enjoy the architecture of this place.

    Denise W.

    Been here on different occasions either for my sister grad or even my own graduation cermony to performances. The surround sound of the place is good. The seats are not that comfortable but really depends on how long you sit. The AC is on pretty high in the summer or spring time and the heat on moderate in the winter time. The place is very artistic and detail. If you look carefully at the design and pattern, you can guess it was hand carved on the spot not machine made. But I guess back then there wasn't machinery. There are a few wear and tear in the inside. Orpheum is quite nice and yes it does give you that fancy feel.

    Leonor M.

    I love the size of the venue. It is intimate and there's not a bad seat in the house. The sound is great. The decor is charming. Lots of wandering space to stretch your legs during intermission.

    Teresa V.

    Went here for the VAN's carnival of animals. Safe to say it was superb! The place itself was very grandiose. The stage was very eye catching and pretty. I like that the snack/beverage bar is fairly big to accommodate for large crowds, same goes for the washroom.

    VSO getting ready to perform.

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    Review Highlights - Orpheum

    Eventually, the multiplex closed in November 1975 and re-opened in April 2, 1977, and became home to the VSO .

    Mentioned in 14 reviews

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    Rio Theatre - From the balcony of the Rio Theatre for Petunia & The Vipers Dec 27, 2024.

    Rio Theatre

    4.3(101 reviews)
    4.2 kmGrandview-Woodlands, Kensington-Cedar Cottage

    The Rio Theatre, located on Broadway at Commercial Drive (which is extremely transit convenient),…read moreis a fixture of the Commercial Drive neighbourhood. I don't know the entire history of the theatre, but apparently it was built in 1938. The Rio is known for screening cult classic movies and live shows, and in 2012, it fought the outdated BC Liquor board so that movie theatres could serve alcohol -- a big win! In the past, I have gone to a handful of shows (mostly movies showing at the Vancouver International Film Festival), but I didn't go often for two reasons: many of the movies I was interested in started way too late for me (such as at 9:30pm or 11pm), and years ago, I had a really negative experience. I don't recall when the incident happened -- perhaps it was after they had acquired a liquor licence -- but you had to be 19+ to go (that's the legal drinking age here), and while I was much older than 19, apparently I looked young, so I used to get so much shit for my appearance. Shortly before the event, my ID had expired and I was waiting for a new one to come in the mail. In the meantime, I was using my passport as ID. The person at the door was extremely rude and aggressive and made a big deal of specifically asking ME for ID -- from his tone, I think he didn't expect me to be of age. I pulled out my wallet from my purse to grab my ID, then remembered that I didn't have it as it was being renewed, so put it back into my purse and reached for my passport. As I was reaching for my passport, the rude and aggressive employee sneered, "Oh, you forgot your ID, I see, huh?" Yes, even thought this was nearly 15 years ago, I still remember this incident, and it always upset me. The guy was so fucking rude. Also, they used to insist on stamping your hand, and I hate having the inside of my wrist stamped because the ink rubs off on the side of my shirt, so prefer to have the top of my hand stamped. This guy was also rude about this. Anyway, due to events not working with my schedule and my encounter with the rude employee, I had little interest in going to the Rio unless it was for the film festival. However, recently, there have been several events I have been interested in: a screening of The Shawshank Redemption with a Q&A with Gil Bellows in July; a screening of The Room presented by Greg Sestero in August; a screening of Clue in October; a screening of the original Carrie presented by Mike Flanagan in October; and a film festival movie in October. And each time I had a great experience -- no more rude and aggressive employees! The most recent event I went to was John Waters live on December 3. My husband is a huge John Waters fan, so I bought tickets for his show. However, I had only bought the regular tickets, and my husband then told me he would have liked the VIP tickets (better seats, a signed poster, a post-show Q&A). On the Rio website, they clearly state that all sales are final and that tickets cannot be returned or exchanged. So what did I do? Emailed them asking if I could exchange the regular tickets for the more expensive VIP tickets, despite their policy. Their answer was an enthusiastic "absolutely!" and it was easy to exchange the tickets. Amazing customer service! I am a fan of the Rio and I look forward to seeing more shows and events! [Yelp collections: Theaters]

    One of my favourite classic theatres for classics and oddball films! They do shows too but I mostly…read morehere for the movies! Theatre is old but very maintained. Definitely a visit if you are looking for a good classic movie to watch!

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    Rio Theatre - December Highlights at the Rio Theatre

    December Highlights at the Rio Theatre

    Rio Theatre
    Rio Theatre

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    Centre For Performing Arts - jesse cook, captivating a full crowd with his performance

    Centre For Performing Arts

    3.5(18 reviews)
    0.3 kmDowntown

    we got tickets to the jesse cook show at the centre in vancouver on 777 homer street, which feels…read morepretty new and sleek. the moment we stepped inside, that curved marble staircase caught my eye, it was elegant and dramatic, with mirrored panels that bounced reflections around in such a cool way. the venue itself is small, it seats around 1800 people across three levels, with great acoustics and comfy purple chairs. during intermission, i was surprised to see there were no long lines at the washrooms, there were plenty of stalls, the concession stand was actually a lot longer. you can bring drinks into the auditorium, but note, there are no cup holders. jesse cook's performance gave off the gypsy kings energy, upbeat, rhythmic, and full of flamenco and andalusian flair. he's not only a talented guitarist but also a natural storyteller. between songs, he shared little anecdotes about how he met one of his bandmates or what inspired a particular piece of music. he was accompanied on stage with four other band members. there was lots of hand clapping along with the rhythm, and toward the end, he invited everyone to get up and samba. it gave the night this warm, easygoing energy.

    First time watching Bini, and it was at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. The venue is…read moresmall, and my seat was on the 3rd floor, making it hard to see the performers. I could've used a telescope! This was Bini's first big sold-out performance, and when I booked my ticket, I didn't realize how confusing the seating would be. Although I had a wonderful night, the height of the second and third floors wasn't ideal for those who want to be closer to the stage. By the time I bought my ticket, most of the seats were already gone, even though I booked as soon as they went on sale. Still, it was worth it!

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    Centre For Performing Arts
    Centre For Performing Arts - Curved marble staircase with mirrored panels

    Curved marble staircase with mirrored panels

    Centre For Performing Arts

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    Pyatt Hall - Art Willms Salon

    Pyatt Hall

    4.0(2 reviews)
    0.1 kmDowntown, Granville Entertainment District
    $$

    Very intimate recital hall next to VSO. The design is like…read moreCollegiate Gothic "light" (reminds me of Barnet Halls) but this was built within the last 15 years. The layout as a guest heading in to the hall as one circles the staircase was a bit odd/like a school multipurpose room. As a performer, it's also odd as the washroom and halls leading backstage is all the same corridor- no elements of grandeur/ privacy/zones hence what I meant about a multipurpose room. Attended a masterclass here recently and the guest was amazing, however I felt the layout was just odd and too casual. Considering this is next to VSO and part of the VSO Academy, I dare say it needs improvement.

    I would never have known about this jewel concert theatre had I not attended the most magical "Vino…read more& Forte" performance by Orianna White and Ivan Tucakov last night. The venue is exquisite. Once in the glass doors off the street, ascend the staircase to the spacious and comfortable landing on the second floor. There's a wine bar counter and ledges to set your wine glass during the reception between performance sets. All is in cool grey and natural wood and black granite, perfectly appointed. The theatre itself seats about 120 in "theatre" format with the stage large enough for a grand piano and the highest of hi-tech precision sound balancing beams of wood all around the room allowing for configuration of the beams to provide ultimate acoustic experience for various types of performances. It's a very intimate venue and the plush red covered theatre seating and chairs are high quality and very comfortable for the one, two or three hours of sitting during recitals and performances. Apparently, the theatre is multi-functional, whereby the floor can be configured with theatre seats, or chairs in different arrangements, and allowing for many different configurations. The performance we saw last night was AMAZING. I highly recommend following Ivan Tucakov (http://tamburarasa.com/shows.php). In this show, Ivan brought his guitar genius and sounds of eastern and western Europe (Spanish, variations of Flemenco, Fado... fused with Balkan traditional sounds and beats) and blended playfully in a duet with traditional and classically trained Orianna White on piano. The interplay was moving to say the least, and the overall performance was pure MAGIC. The performance was greatly enhanced by the venue where, during intermission, we sampled wines brought in especially for the performance and lingered and mingled with friends and the performers.

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    Pyatt Hall - Pyatt Hall

    Pyatt Hall

    Pyatt Hall - Lobby

    Lobby

    Pyatt Hall

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    Orpheum - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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