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The Aud is your one stop shop for all things touring Broadway, comedy, and MORE! I so enjoy every trip I take this Rochester gem. From a seamless ticketing process to plentiful parking choices on show nights, the whole experience is very thoughtfully executed with a staff of rockstars. I enjoy their basic food and beverage offerings (a house glass of wine will set you back only $6 AND you can bring it in), especially the ginormous cookies and containers filled with cheese. I was a season subscriber with a friend in High School and I cherish those memories of seeing so many amazing broadway tours. I've sat all over the house and had enjoyable experiences no matter what - but the orchestra level does provide a little more detail in terms of view. They are always bringing in an eclectic mix of shows and I just love how gorgeous the interior is. Would absolutely recommend!
3 stars for the show itself. Hamilton was amazing. Would give 5 stars if it was solely based on the show. My husband and I had tickets for a Thursday night show that appeared sold out. Yay! Great for the organization. We were seated in Balcony J101 & J102. These tickets were expensive. The view from the seats were fine. My complaint is that the seats are so small and uncomfortable. It's worse than plane seating. I was seated in J102 and next to a larger man. He was constantly hitting my shoulders and legs. I kept scooting toward my husband and didn't have use of any arm rest. This gentleman should have purchased 2 seats. On top of that discomfort, the building is old and the seats are super uncomfortable. The reception area is well run and has lots of space. The beverage area is well run and efficient. Plenty of options.
I came once before for War Horse. This time I came for Hamilton. This venue is very nice for plays and musicals. It was constructed in another era of spaciousness and elegance. The lamp scones denote Art Deco Design. It seems it was renovated since I was last there. It seemed brighter and the carpets were newer. The first time I sat in the Orchestra as an invited guest. Now, I'm in the Balcony and the view and acoustics are better if not greater than downstairs. The stair Ms are step in the Balcony., going down they make one dizzy. There are Bars at every level for snacks and drinks. Parking lots around the theater at $10 are not bad.
This is nice place to see a show. I like to have good seats, and it's usually pretty easy to get seats in the first few rows at this venue. I've seen several shows here; Daniel Tosh, Dancing with the Stars, Derek and Julianne Hough, Maks, Peta and Val Confidential, etc. If you're on the floor, even if you're in the front row, you're looking up. And if you're a few rows back, it may be hard to see if you have someone taller in front of you. The front row of the balcony has actually become my favorite place now because of that. No one can sit in front of you and block your view, and it's great to watch any show from the center. This video is of the Dancing with the Stars tour from the front and center of the balcony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7sG8ghLZSA Another great thing about this venue is the parking. You can arrive like 45 minutes early, and have plenty of places to park, and not too much traffic to deal with. And when you leave, you can get out easily in like 15 minutes, unlike places like Darien Lake, for example, where you sit there for over an hour! There's plenty of bathrooms, and not a long wait for them before shows either. And if you go downstairs, there's never anyone in line for food or drinks before the show. This really has become my favorite concert venue for all the reasons I mentioned above.
Love this old beauty. This is my first season of having season tickets to RBTL and I'm hooked. There are plenty of women's bathrooms so the line goes very quickly. The refreshments are reasonably priced and the parking around the back of the building is only $6. That parking lot has its own back door entrance. There's usually plenty of staff, which makes entering the theater pretty quick and painless.
Full disclosure: I won free tickets through Yelp to see Blue Man Group at the Auditorium Theatre, but nobody is pressuring me to write any review of any kind. I've been to the Auditorium Theatre three times now and I'm always impressed. The venue is clean and professional with absolutely gorgeous architecture. I've seen countless shows on Broadway and this place really does hold up! As far as I'm concerned, the interior is every bit as nice as those of theaters in New York. This particular show had an elaborate set (see the attached photograph) and the theater didn't seem to have any problems supporting it. I'm not sure that could be said about every venue. The Auditorium Theatre regularly gets popular shows and, between you and me, some of them actually play better than their New York City counterparts. (Not for nothing, but Book of Mormon was funnier in Rochester.) We're lucky to have the Auditorium Theatre. After this experience, I think I'll visit more often.
We paid a lot for center loge seats. No complaints about the seats or show. As hosts, the Auditorium, failed to provide an essential amenities to its women patrons. The line for the woman's restroom stretched across the entire loge foyer during intermission. UNACCEPTABLE! The men's room had no line. Immediately I can think of three recommendations. Both restrooms on that level are for women and one men's restroom is located somewhere in the facility . Also, attendants should be employed to " direct" traffic and make sure stalls are not empty. Occupied/vacant indicators on stall doors help traffic flow. Please do something about this insensitive situation. Karen White 5857034649
I love this theater with it's beautiful old world charm and architecture. I'm always inspired to pull out my best threads when attending a show here because of this. My most recent visit was on a pair of complimentary tickets to Blue Man Group however that did not change the consistency that I am used to from this venue. Security is quick and friendly. The box office, will call and usher staff are all very helpful. The bar has a pretty inclusive menu in that there is likely something for everyone and the prices are more than fair. I sat in row O this time and the seats were great. No issue seeing the stage while seated and no trouble with being blocked by the guests in front of us. I would also like to note that the ASL interpreter was very easily visible from the stage area as well. As others have noted, parking around the theater is usually $10 which isn't too bad. I went to this show with a friend so we dined at a near by restaurant before. This allowed us to walk over and skip the cost of parking as we left our cars in their lot. If weather and time permits, you may be able to find a near by spot of the street which is free.
1 year ago
RBTL's Auditorium Theatre is always a wonderful location to see a show. The theatre is currently under construction and some of the outside areas were fenced in. One exciting edition I noticed on this visit were working elevators. In the past they did not have elevators which was difficult when I came to a show with my mother who has limited mobility. Very pleased to see this has been addressed by the venue. Check in process is quick. Scan your tickets and move through the security screening line. The bar had speciality drinks for the musical we were seeing, Back to the future. We purchased some candy for the show, $3 a piece. Cookies and cheese & crackers samplers were also available for purchase. You can also purchase merchandise for the show on the first floor. The theatre is gorgeous with molded ceilings and stained glass light fixtures. We were seated on the main level and the seats are comfortable. I did feel packed in at times but overall comfort was good. I would order aisle seats next time, as this is my preference. Bathrooms were very clean though the lines were crazy during intermission. I went to the lower level and it was chaos with no clear direction for the lines. I did not want to wait in this line, so I walked up to the second level. The line was shorter and the bathroom had an attendant directing the line traffic. The second floor also had a photo op area for the show and the rbtl staff took a photo for us. RBTL does a great job bringing exciting productions to town. Very happy to have the opportunity to see broadway shows in Rochester. read more
10 months ago
This historical theater with beautiful architecture (art deco design) has been a staple of Rochester for many years. With so many amazing Broadway shows making this a stop on their tour it's a must for any theater/musical lovers. Lot's of parking in nearby lots, pricing is usually around $10. Unless you arrive super early park and go to dinner :) I've seen so many shows here starting out as a kid with school field trips to an adult appreciating the productions even more. Some of my favorite have been Miss Saigon, Jersey Boys, Beautiful the Carole King Musical and Summer the Donna Summer musical. I usually get my mom tickets to a show and enjoy the night out. Since we're both a little on the short side we always sit in the front section of the balcony called the lodge. Each row is raised up so everyone can see, with only four rows they go fast. These seats are worth every penny! Check out their upcoming schedule and go enjoy a show. read more
The Aud is your one stop shop for all things touring Broadway, comedy, and MORE! I so enjoy every trip I take this Rochester gem. From a seamless ticketing process to plentiful parking choices on show nights, the whole experience is very thoughtfully executed with a staff of rockstars. I enjoy their basic food and beverage offerings (a house glass of wine will set you back only $6 AND you can bring it in), especially the ginormous cookies and containers filled with cheese. I was a season subscriber with a friend in High School and I cherish those memories of seeing so many amazing broadway tours. I've sat all over the house and had enjoyable experiences no matter what - but the orchestra level does provide a little more detail in terms of view. They are always bringing in an eclectic mix of shows and I just love how gorgeous the interior is. Would absolutely recommend! read more
3 stars for the show itself. Hamilton was amazing. Would give 5 stars if it was solely based on the show. My husband and I had tickets for a Thursday night show that appeared sold out. Yay! Great for the organization. We were seated in Balcony J101 & J102. These tickets were expensive. The view from the seats were fine. My complaint is that the seats are so small and uncomfortable. It's worse than plane seating. I was seated in J102 and next to a larger man. He was constantly hitting my shoulders and legs. I kept scooting toward my husband and didn't have use of any arm rest. This gentleman should have purchased 2 seats. On top of that discomfort, the building is old and the seats are super uncomfortable. The reception area is well run and has lots of space. The beverage area is well run and efficient. Plenty of options. read more
I came once before for War Horse. This time I came for Hamilton. This venue is very nice for plays and musicals. It was constructed in another era of spaciousness and elegance. The lamp scones denote Art Deco Design. It seems it was renovated since I was last there. It seemed brighter and the carpets were newer. The first time I sat in the Orchestra as an invited guest. Now, I'm in the Balcony and the view and acoustics are better if not greater than downstairs. The stair Ms are step in the Balcony., going down they make one dizzy. There are Bars at every level for snacks and drinks. Parking lots around the theater at $10 are not bad. read more
This is nice place to see a show. I like to have good seats, and it's usually pretty easy to get seats in the first few rows at this venue. I've seen several shows here; Daniel Tosh, Dancing with the Stars, Derek and Julianne Hough, Maks, Peta and Val Confidential, etc. If you're on the floor, even if you're in the front row, you're looking up. And if you're a few rows back, it may be hard to see if you have someone taller in front of you. The front row of the balcony has actually become my favorite place now because of that. No one can sit in front of you and block your view, and it's great to watch any show from the center. This video is of the Dancing with the Stars tour from the front and center of the balcony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7sG8ghLZSA Another great thing about this venue is the parking. You can arrive like 45 minutes early, and have plenty of places to park, and not too much traffic to deal with. And when you leave, you can get out easily in like 15 minutes, unlike places like Darien Lake, for example, where you sit there for over an hour! There's plenty of bathrooms, and not a long wait for them before shows either. And if you go downstairs, there's never anyone in line for food or drinks before the show. This really has become my favorite concert venue for all the reasons I mentioned above. read more
Love this old beauty. This is my first season of having season tickets to RBTL and I'm hooked. There are plenty of women's bathrooms so the line goes very quickly. The refreshments are reasonably priced and the parking around the back of the building is only $6. That parking lot has its own back door entrance. There's usually plenty of staff, which makes entering the theater pretty quick and painless. read more
Full disclosure: I won free tickets through Yelp to see Blue Man Group at the Auditorium Theatre, but nobody is pressuring me to write any review of any kind. I've been to the Auditorium Theatre three times now and I'm always impressed. The venue is clean and professional with absolutely gorgeous architecture. I've seen countless shows on Broadway and this place really does hold up! As far as I'm concerned, the interior is every bit as nice as those of theaters in New York. This particular show had an elaborate set (see the attached photograph) and the theater didn't seem to have any problems supporting it. I'm not sure that could be said about every venue. The Auditorium Theatre regularly gets popular shows and, between you and me, some of them actually play better than their New York City counterparts. (Not for nothing, but Book of Mormon was funnier in Rochester.) We're lucky to have the Auditorium Theatre. After this experience, I think I'll visit more often. read more
4 years ago
We paid a lot for center loge seats. No complaints about the seats or show. As hosts, the Auditorium, failed to provide an essential amenities to its women patrons. The line for the woman's restroom stretched across the entire loge foyer during intermission. UNACCEPTABLE! The men's room had no line. Immediately I can think of three recommendations. Both restrooms on that level are for women and one men's restroom is located somewhere in the facility . Also, attendants should be employed to " direct" traffic and make sure stalls are not empty. Occupied/vacant indicators on stall doors help traffic flow. Please do something about this insensitive situation. Karen White 5857034649 read more
7 years ago
I love this theater with it's beautiful old world charm and architecture. I'm always inspired to pull out my best threads when attending a show here because of this. My most recent visit was on a pair of complimentary tickets to Blue Man Group however that did not change the consistency that I am used to from this venue. Security is quick and friendly. The box office, will call and usher staff are all very helpful. The bar has a pretty inclusive menu in that there is likely something for everyone and the prices are more than fair. I sat in row O this time and the seats were great. No issue seeing the stage while seated and no trouble with being blocked by the guests in front of us. I would also like to note that the ASL interpreter was very easily visible from the stage area as well. As others have noted, parking around the theater is usually $10 which isn't too bad. I went to this show with a friend so we dined at a near by restaurant before. This allowed us to walk over and skip the cost of parking as we left our cars in their lot. If weather and time permits, you may be able to find a near by spot of the street which is free. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
View from ORCHR row N seat 26 on 12/26/2019 Lion King. Your typical theater mayhem from entrance (1hr early)to finding your seat. Food menu is cheap and that what you get. Pretzels were hard and stale. I asked for a replacement and woman yelled NEXT. Was charged more for the type of beer I ordered and no change was given back. Weird way to do business.... read more
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7 years ago
So much fun! We had a blast at Summer:Donna Summer musical at RBTL. We won tickets via Yelp elite! So glad we saw this show. The staff at the theater is always friendly and the quality of the performances are second to none. The crowd was on their feet at multiple points tonight. A Rochester gem! read more
7 years ago
I attend shows and plays here about once a year. The theater is beautiful with ornate ceilings and architecture - very classy. It has tiered seating so the stage is visible from everywhere and the ushers and staff are friendly and helpful. The bars are stocked with all the essential liquors and have tasty snacks like cheese, crackers and cookies. It's a great place for a date or a fun night out. read more
This is a a true treat. Beautiful theatre! We were lucky to see a few shows here; most recently The Sound of Music! It was great! Most remarkably, even with the large capacity, the theatre clears out quickly! We sat right up front so you would think it would take a while to exit but the ushers do a phenomenal job. There was no chaos during intermission either! Being 32 weeks pregnant, I naturally had to take advantage of intermission and run to the restroom. There were quite a few people ready to use the restroom as well but there was no wait! There were ushers in the restrooms!!! Helped escort people to the open stalls so there was no waste of time! Snack bar is reasonably priced too! read more
7 years ago
Went and saw Donna summers musical and it was amazing! They put on a great show. Their vocals gave me chills every time they sang. I went to the 630 show on Sunday September 29th and we were only the second group to see the show. I would definitely recommend going to see it while it's in Rochester. It tells such a great story about a great legend. read more
12 years ago
This is among the beautiful venues in Rochester. It's a wonderful space to see broadway shows and performances. Take a minute to look up and admire the beautiful architecture of this space -- it's not often you see that anymore. Row Q: depending on the show, prices drop considerably and you still have an amazing view of the stage. Truthfully, there's no bad seat in the house, but if you're aiming to get bang for your buck, I think we nailed it with middle of row Q. Lots of folks get dressed up for the show, which adds to the fun flair of the experience. Arrive early to enjoy a drink at the bar. They offer light snacks for purchase too -- primarily candy and cookies. Also, bar is cash only -- there is an ATM onsite. I tend to make a night of it and grab a drink and appetizer at a nearby restaurant before the show. Lots of options in NOTA. Parking can be challenging so leave a buffer of time to arrive before the show begins (start time is as indicated on the ticket) so be in your seats before then -- show at 7:30pm... get there at 7pm. If you can't nab a free spot on the street, most lots along E. Main and the side streets charge $5 (cash!). It does get hot inside in the summer so dress accordingly. read more
At the Auditorium last night to see Shen Yun for the 3rd time as it comes through every year. This theatre is beautiful on the inside so fun to look around, it's kind of old, but I think it's neat. Pricing for shows always seems to be on par, acoustics are ok, parking is limited so I go early and park at the Red Cross. It's a secure lot and although I have to pay to park, I prefer it to parking on the street. A/C in the Summer is not great so dress accordingly. The RBTL wants to build a new modern venue, I am not sure Rochester can support it though. In the meantime if you want to catch a show here, this theatre is a nice, clean, reasonable option. read more
10 years ago
I like the auditorium ..seating was good..sound sounded great. Unfortunately Elmo live was a bit lame for children. My son (2yr) was happy for the first 30 min then was like ok either lets go onstage or we can leave . It wasn't interactive enough for small children and passing around cotton candy only makes it worse. What child on sugar wants to sit and watch a show?. I was also appalled at some of the peoples behavior . Some people actually booed after a song. Like really? Is that necessary. read more
10 years ago
love coming here because its place where broadway shows come. its one of two places in rochester, but seems to be the main one. i have been here many times and each experience has been good. the only thing i would fix maybe it to renovate the place and fix the stairs on the outside. the theatre is definitely out dated. its a decent size and everywhere that i have sat i could see just fine. the prices vary depending on the show you are going to see and generally cheaper in the balcony. actually, i try to avoid the very back of the balcony as well as the back of ground floor. so you really pay for what you get, its just not horrible. the lobby area on the ground floor can get congested because its a little on the small/medium side. however each level has its own conession stand so thats good read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
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More info about RBTL's Auditorium Theatre
885 East Main St
Rochester, NY 14605
Neighborhood of the Arts
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(585) 222-5000
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http://www.rbtl.org
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