As the self-appointed king of events in Phoenix, I've been to pretty much every major event venue…read morein Phoenix and surrounding areas over the past 10 months. And it's safe to say that Tempe Center for the Arts is one of my favorites. First off, you can either park in the parking garage a few minutes away from the venue by foot or you can park in the gravel lot that is a minute or two farther away. If you park in the garage, they will validate your ticket. Guaranteed parking is always a big win in my book. I've been to the Tempe Center for the Arts (TCFTA) twice. Once for a concert and once for a play put on by the Arizona Theater Company. Both have been A+ experiences. First off, the venue is located right by Tempe Towne Lake which makes for a picturesque location. The venue itself is just as beautiful with stunning architecture, both inside and out. It's clean. It's comfortable. The ushers are friendly. There is plenty of seating to hang out outside before the show, during intermission, or after. You can also hang out on the patio where there's a fire pit and seating. On a certain day of the week that's escaping me, they do an open mic night out there. I haven't tried any of the concessions, but they have a bar and some snacks. There's complimentary water. The theater is pretty intimate which makes for a better experience. It's designed well. There are even often some art installations you can check out. Overall, you can't ask for much better than this when it comes to an event experience! I've become a season ticket holder of the Arizona Theater Company, so I can't wait to be back!

This is an amazing facility. The design and lay out is quite stunning. The small cafe and outdoor…read moreseating area is grand to enjoy a snack and adult beverage before the show. The theater was comfy. We did not care for balcony 2 - if you have height issues might stick to main level. Parking easy and validated. Restrooms spacious and on 2 levels.

First, this place is situated a little weird. You can't really see the front of the building…read morebecause there is a parking garage immediately in front of it and immediately behind it. If you didn't know where it was you could miss it. That's the only negative thing I can say about this place. The lobby has plenty of seating areas with sofas, which is a really nice touch. There is a gift shop with many lovely gifts, and the concession stand with cocktails, wine, so does, and water is incredibly reasonably priced compared to other venues. What really makes this place stand out is that there is not a single bad seat in the house. The show we were at did not have a lot of choices left when we we're looking for tickets, and I was concerned that we would have bad seats. That is impossible here. This is a great venue and I'll be looking into more shows here because of the fantastic seating arrangement.

Derek the bartender is the friendliest face and warmest energy you'll feel when you step into this…read moretheater, whether you're grabbing a drink, a snack or simply saying hello. The shows are great, parking can be a challenge when busy but the garage just outside Az88 is a great option. Acoustics and theater layout are great.

I became a season ticket holder for the Arizona Theatre Company and it has been an amazing…read moreexperience so far. I've seen two performances at this point. There are a couple of reasons why I've been quite happy with ATC: (1) The venue: Performances take place at the Tempe Center for the Arts. It's a beautiful theater all-around. The architecture inside and out, how modern and clean it is, the free water you can bring into the theater, how comfortable the theater is itself, the patio with fire pits, and the art that's displayed. They validate your parking if you park in the adjacent parking garage. Coming from a guy who goes to a lot of events, this is one of my favorite venues. (2) The price + the perks: I thought the price for season tickets was fair. As part of being a season holder, you also get some awesome perks like a free buddy pass, 50% off tickets to bring a friend, and more. (3) Customer service: My interactions with them have always been pleasant. If you're unable to make a performance, they will work with you. (4) The shows: I've been impressed with the sets and all of the theatrical elements that are a part of the performance. The acting, overall, has been solid, too. I have three more performances left. I hope next season's line-up is just as interesting!

Blues in the Night @ the Arizona Theatre Company was a FANTASTIC show. The acoustics in the theater…read morewere great as well as the seating, very comfy. The whole theater is wheelchair & handicap accessible.There's a small bar area that has great views & all the staff is professional, friendly & helpful as you navigate your way around the theater.Plenty of parking in the garage a few feet away & make sure you bring your parking ticket inside so you can get a validated stamp. There are lots of shows & concerts through the year so be sure to go online & check it out.This would make a great bday gift, anniversary gift or a great date night.Enjoy & have fun!!!

Came here for the first time ever & oh it was wonderful! So beautiful & whimsical!!! I loved the…read moreperformances! The horses were pretty. Mostly white horses they had but it was like a dream. It's amazing how they can train the horses to do things and sometimes some of the horses don't want to corroborate but they help the horse to stay focus. They must train really hard for the performances and etc. it's amazing what they can do! There's aerobics, lovely music, horses & beautiful performances. Also the music is played live with the guitar, violin & the singing(I believe). The seats were really good better then concert seating with much more room. Any where you sit you have a great view. If you do sit all the way in the front you might get wet. Also they had bathrooms outside. They did have some portable bathrooms but they also had a trailer which was really nice bathrooms, with a sink inside. Bought tickets on Groupon. Saved a few bucks. Also you do have to pay for parking, it's $15. Definitely worth coming to see this show!

Total promoter/management fail.. we try to get the VIP tickets every time Cavalia is in town. Every…read moreyear it seems the VIP experience is watered down. This year was a total disappointment. We ended up waiting outside in cold, rainy weather because the powers that be decided to add 200 VIP seats but didn't plan for it! Due to scheduling conflicts we could not return another night, so we were stuck waiting in line as we watched the General Admission folks walk right in. Once inside the VIP tent, and finally receiving your VIP lanyard, there were more lines for the bars and buffet. So why the 5 star rating? Because the show is spectacular!! To witness these beautiful animals and so talented individuals perform is like slowly watching a memorable dream unfold... I have to agree with past reviews, and can't really add to the awe you will experience during the performance.. As if the performance is not enough, there is live music all around. Phenomenal voices, gifted musicians, matching mood lighting.. truly a wonderful evening.. So , In closing, someone at Cavalia needs to review the VIP experience. Don't let a black eye slowly be the one thing that attendees share with everyone else. If I was one of the 200 people who ended up paying VIP prices for seats that were GA before only to wait in the cold rain, I'd be really upset.. unfortunately, I was one of the poor saps that purchased 4 prime seats months ago. Only to wait on the cold rain..

Incredible evening with stellar performances! A magical…read moreevening filled with rollicking fun & excitement. They are Stars of comedy and improvisation. The ambiance was cozy and the food was incredible! If you are looking for a memorable evening, look no further! Would very highly recommend and can't wait to go back!

We went to Mystery Mansion Dinner Theater to celebrate my dad's birthday and it was such a fun…read morenight. The setting is intimate, which makes the whole experience feel really interactive and personal. We were laughing out loud the whole time. To quote my dad, "I've had a lot of birthday dinners I don't remember, and this one I will." That pretty much says it all. We'll be talking about this night for years. Highly recommend if you're looking for something different and memorable.

I have been to a few shows at gammage and each time I am…read moreso happy to have this in our backyard. I just watch Hells Kitchen which was amazing and I have seen a few more like The Temptations and Suffrage. Thank you Gammage for giving us the arts.

Dated venue. Carpets appear to be circa 1980s and the color scheme definitely needs a refresh, as…read morewell. This was our first time seeing a show here . . . Rubberband Dance - Every So Slightly. Very progressive show and when we got back home and I paid closer attention to the other show options offered on their website, realized this is prevalent from show-to-show. Performers, male and female, came out dressed in jumpsuits, the same you'd see 1) pilots of military fighter jets, 2) farm workers, 3) etc. wear. They were unisex by design as were their undergarments (tops and bottoms) and by the end of the performance, after having stripped themselves of the jumpsuits they each continued their routines with those same jumpsuits tied using the legs and arms of the jumpsuits into a bundle wrapped around their heads and faces. If you've ever seen the movie The Elephant Man, that is what they all resembled. Although The Elephant Man did not perform in their unisex under garments. Just wasn't prepared for that, finding it disturbing. Children (minors) were present in the audience.

The Stray Cat always provides an entertaining evening. But the latest production, FETAL, is…read moreextraordinary. Not only is it a look at women's lives under stress, but the humor and anguish is expertly portrayed. Each character has a story to tell, and did so as only the women experiencing the anticipation of a Supreme Court decision could. Kudos to the actors and entire staff of Stray Cat -- as in everything, it takes a village. And Stray Cat has a village and more!

Inexpensive great theater. Easy parking with a great variety of shows. Always good. Central…read morelocation.

I've been coming to the Mesa Arts Center for years! For graduation ceremonies of the university i…read morework at. The staff are friendly and helpful. The sound engineers are very knowledgeable. There are two green rooms we use - both have the space to accommodate approximately 40 faculty members who make up the stage party. I sing the national anthem for the graduation ceremony and let me simply say how amazing their sound system is. There used to be no sound delay. The sound is crisp. And I think the sound system makes me sound even better than I really am!! lol The lobby area is spacious and great for after-ceremony gatherings. It truly is a great place! I also have contemplated taking some of the arts classes they offer. I haven't found time in my busy schedule but I do know they offer a variety if classes. I look forward to when I can take a class!!

My mom and I came here for the first for the Shen Yu. Great event we go every year but this year we…read moredecided to try the mesa location. We chose the sitting on the higher levels which we liked but don't chose the edge of the row cause then you can't see the side of the stage. Choose more in the middle. I was not happy with the bathroom stall I used. It seems when so many other people slam their doors my door became unlocked and opened on me while using the restroom. The bathroom was very clean!! The other annoying part was there was only one person working the concession stand. So we couldn't get anything. Cause our intermission ended by the time we got to the front of the line.

We visited the Scottsdale Waterfront to see the annual Canal Convergence. Admission is free and it…read morewas teaming with people. There is an immersive light show at hourly times. The show is played to music. There are also several other light displays throughout the canal. It is a site to behold. The show will continue through November 16. Free lot parking in the Scottsdale Waterfront parking lot or street parking as well.

We had a good time, it wasn't a super busy Sunday night affair which was nice. However tents for…read moreactivities made for long lines that blocked sidewalks making it more challenging to move around the crowds. The show was fun as always!