Here to see revolution a Beatles experience with my husband. Always a nice venue and very polite staff. read more

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Awesome local venue for our area. Free parking is always a plus. If you're going to a sold out show, arrive early or you'll be stuck paying $15 plus tip for valet service. The ushers are very helpful in locating seats. There are several concession stands with beer, wine, liquor, and snacks (popcorn, chips, pretzels, etc.) stationed throughout the venue. One of the best things about this venue is that concerts start on time here. If your ticket says 8, the event will start at 8. No waiting around forever hoping the band or artist will appear. The acoustics have always been good here for concerts. Not the best I've ever heard, but above average. I generally am excited when a band or artist is playing here. I'm looking forward to seeing what other up and coming acts play or perform at this venue because it's always a great experience. read more

Enjoyed the show I attended at the hall. The seats were comfortable and the ushers were friendly and helpful. Would definitely return to Ruth Ekerd fir future events read more

We went to see The Fray. It was the first time I have been to Ruth Eckerd Hall and I really was happy that the acoustics were good. At no time during the show did I feel I couldn't discern the vocals from the bass or other instruments. The seating is crappy, typical of any "Hall". There are 90 seats to a row and no center aisle. This leads to MANY, MANY "stand up.. sit down" sessions. This is the curse of sitting on the end seats, such as we did. Parking looked as though it could be problematic but we had no issues whatsoever. I still don't care though, we had a blast and the staff were friendly. They serve alcohol and popcorn. They don't have ANY Coke products which is sad as I abhor Pepsi. Go to Ruth Eckerd... have fun! Who cares about the rest of the semantics. read more

This review is from the perspective of a performer at Ruth Eckerd Hall. I've performed on stage here and for the people who have to be on stage, it was a great venue! My first time at Ruth Eckerd, I watched a dance performance and fell in love with everything! I participated in that show for the next 3 years, even making it to rehearsal every weekend my last year despite the fact I had moved to Miami. The stage has ample space, which is incredibly important allowing a lot of us to all fit on stage comfortably without looking crowded. The stage has high curtains which gives more room to elements in the air, which provides more visual interest to the audience. It also felt great to move on stage, not sure what type of flooring it uses but it works well! Being able to hear music at good quality is pretty important to dancers. I don't recall any music mishaps where we have to play it off and keep moving, no faking it til you can make it. I couldn't see crap when looking out into the audience, but it really depends on the lighting. They also seemed willing for community involvement by working with us to perform there for so many years. The years have passed and now the show is performed at the Mahaffey Theater, but I still am very appreciative of every moment spent on stage here, and behind stage for that matter. Great lighting in the dressing rooms and plenty of space to prep for the show! read more

This is a large approx 4000 seat hall. Fairly easy access from main streets with ample parking The first problem is the seating. There is no middle isle. There are no isles at all. The rows have almost 100 seats which means if you have seat 50 you have to climb past about 50 seated patrons if you get there a bit late The big problem with the show we saw ( Nashville Live) was the sound . The singers words were totally unintelligible. With almost 40 rows it's easy to be be far back without much of a view. There are no video screens as larger halls have. If you like the act, spend extra for seats in the first 15 rows. From row 27 it was awful! Food and drink prices are outrageous . $10 beer!! read more

I would highly recommend seeing a concert at this venue. There isn't a bad seat in the house! The acoustics are amazing, no matter what you are there to see you'll get amazing sound quality. I recently saw Electric Light Orchestra here. My seats were right in the middle of the venue. There isn't a middle stair way though, so you will need to go in front of countless amounts of people to get to and from your seat. Knowing what I know now, I may opt for an aisle seat next time I go there.. The ushers are all very helpful if you don't know where to go. The have laser pointers to point you to the right aisle. Ruth Eckerd Hall has been around for a long time and they've definitely perfected their trade! read more

Ruth Eckerd Hall - ELO! Awesome show!! - Performing Arts Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

Recently saw Chris Janson along with Travis Tritt. What a horrible experience. I have heard better sound in garages. You should stop selling tickets until it is fixed. In addition you should refund everyone who went. Count me out for going back ever again. read more

I think Ruth Eckerd is an awesome venue. They have ample parking (even when you arrive late to a sold out show) all of which is just a short walk from the entrance. I've always been able to get in and out of will call very quickly as well. It is the perfect size venue and there are really no bad seats. It is kind of a pain if you are in the center of one of the rows, as it is orchestra style seating with no center aisle, but most people are polite and understanding. I appreciate that they are active on Yelp and have a Yelp check-in special (BOGO snack bar item!). I think it's kind of congestion-inducing to have a drinks bar in the main lobby, but I guess that helps cut down on the lines in the snack bar area. I have seen many shows at Ruth Eckerd, both children's and adult's, and always enjoy going there. read more

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I recently saw a live podcast at Ruth Eckerd Hall and overall it was a great experience. I actually found the parking very easy and painless. I had been warned to park with leaving the venue in mind and it worked out very nicely. I barely had to wait to get out of the lot. The venue itself is nice, I sat up front so I can't speak much to the views from the higher seats. The staff was very friendly, from will call to security to ushers. The only small frustration I had was that I was sent multiple emails stating that doors would open at 7pm (for an 8pm show) so I plan accordingly and arrived just before 7pm. I was able to quickly pick up my tickets, get through security, and pick up the merchandise included in my ticket package. Around 7:15pm I walked towards the doors and we were told the doors would open at 7:30pm. Not a huge deal but I wouldn't have rushed around to get there with extra time to spare if I'd known that. read more

I absolutely love the venue of this place. It's an intimate setting and there's really no bad seats in the House. That being said my only pet peeve with Ruth Eckerd is the cost of a beverage. They charge $9 for a can of Miller Lite. 1 round for my boyfriend and I is $18. It just seems so crazy. I love their popcorn too but again it's$4 for a small popcorn which probably cost them about a quarter to make. And then of course you also do have to tip the people behind the counter and that also includes the beers remember. I just think it's so over-the-top and wish you would please just lower your prices a little bit. We used to go there quite frequently but have cut it down because the tickets are not cheap to start with and then once you add the beverages on it's quite expensive for one night of entertainment. read more

This is a really lovely auditorium. We've attended several events here. The parking is plentiful and they seem to be well organized with directing traffic in and out of the lots. The waiting area seems to be a bit small and you could easily lose people in your party, especially for larger events. The auditorium itself is lush and the seats are as comfortable as you could hope for in a closely packed location. The only way in/out of the auditorium is through the side entrance with the rows extending all the way from one side of the auditorium to the other. This would be my only complaint since it seems you have people regularly crossing by to get out for refreshments or the restroom. There is just not much leg room to sit, much less have someone crossing in front of you during the performance. Overall, I judge it to be a very nice addition to the community for events. read more

I decided to drive all that distance to see Jeff Beck for one reason: in my estimation, the seats here by the time I got around to getting tix were not very good but still costly. Well as it turned out, row EE seats 3 & 4 isn't what you might describe to a casual bystander as prime real estate. REH is situated in a nice campus in Clearwater, not that hard to find. Parking is OK, until it comes time to leave (more later). The food and drink are both expensive but ordinary, and another minus - cash only, no credit cards. What - Dave Ramsey's running this place? I also don't care for the policy that allows patrons to bring drinks into a concert hall - do they do that when the symphony plays? Seats are a bright green, and pretty comfortable. It's hard to evaluate acoustics when the volume on those marshalls is cranked to 137 DBs. One more negative - no cell phone reception when you're in the bowels of the waiting area. As hinted at earlier, leaving after the concert was a bit of a nightmare. Only 3 feet to account for the first 10-15 minutes. Funny thing though: while waiting, dude comes running over, holding his cell phone up for me in the dark of the night to see the picture on the screen, saying, "See -my sister has the same car as you!" That was pretty cool, which probably helped REH up from a 2.5 to a 3. read more

A great venue to see the stars! We are dating ourselves but have always loved Johnny Mathis. He still sounds wonderful! What a great night! read more

Ruth Eckerd Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

I have subscribed to event notifications here as was excited to get a text for a special to see Tori Amos. Picked up our tickets at will call which was a breeze. Upon entering it was chaos. There were many greeter yet nobody offered help to say which side out seat were on. Straight ahead is odd and to the right is even. Long drink lines (20+ people) so we headed up stairs and had no wait for a beverage. The tickets I purchased online were for two end seats however our seats we in the middle of the theatre. Great to view the concert but not ideal if you want to step out for a bathroom/drink break. Acoustics sounded good and there isn't a "bad" seat in the house. After reading other reviews stating departure was terrible, we left immediately following the encore. Had no trouble getting out. Tori Amos was as fantastic as I had hoped & it was her birthday! Eclectic crowd however it was a great vibe. Will visit again to see a show! read more

Ruth Eckerd Hall - Tori Amos playing the piano & keyboard. - Performing Arts Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

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The staff was absolutely rude! They did not accommodate my father who is disabled. We had tickets for the handicapped section and were told it is booked. They sat my father just above the disabled section with an oxygen tank in tow and his wheelchair put in the hallway. On the other side of the theater, a woman in a wheelchair was lifted by four people and placed in a seat because the disabled area was full. NOT ONE person was placed in these sections. read more

Ruth Eckerd Hall is a great place to see a show or concert. They list the capacity at 2180 and it has been a Clearwater performing arts staple for 35 years. There are no bad seats because of the layout of the theater so even if you are up in the balcony, you still get a great experience. I have seen concerts, shows and comedy events here. The most recent was Ron White. I have to give huge kudos to Ruth Eckerd, they still have free parking for their patrons unlike other Tampa theaters. And they have plenty of parking. They are undergoing a major renovation and addition so there's a bit of extra traffic but they have plenty of people there to help guide you where to go. Friendly staff as well, great place in Clearwater to see a show. The acoustics and sound is excellent as well you can hear everything. The crowd is also of all ages, even for Ron White, that actually surprised me but I ws glad to see an all ages show of this hysterical comedian. The only recommendation I would make is to make an aisle in the middle because if you are in seat 30 you have to go across seats 1 to 29 to get to your seat disrupting other patrons especially during the show. read more

Decent venue, but reminds me all too much of my high school performing arts center. Although the seats have ample cushioning, prepare to feel like a sardine if you're 5' 11" or above. Also, as others have mentioned, the fact there are no center or left-center / right-center aisles makes for an inconvenient experience at best while trying to enjoy a performance. I'd give the sound 7/10, and the sightlines about the same. read more

The Book of Morman is hysterically funny but the venue itself is dated. With no center aisle, you will have everybody walking past you, even after the show starts, which is incredibly rude. A/C by the snacks was barely operating. This was February. I imagine in a warmer month, you would probably pass out. read more

Ruth Eckerd Hall - Book of Morman - Performing Arts Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

Parking is a 2, but the theater itself is a 5. I read all the reviews about parking. I looked at google earth view above the streets leading to the parking lot to understand the layout. I tried to find a map of the parking lot, but no dice on that one. Anyways, the idea is simple - since there is only one street leading to Ruth Eckerd Hall, you should park in the first parking spot you encounter in the first parking lot on your right. Therefore, you'll be closest to the light to get back to McMullen Booth Road and consequently can get out lickity split. Will you have to walk more? Well, yes, but really not substantially more than if you drive all the way to the theater and then try to find the closest parking spot. Since this is a smaller theater, the parking lot really isn't that big. But the payoff is huge. You can get out in 5 minutes instead of 30 minutes! The people who park around you are definitely parking veterans. Most of them even backed up into their parking spot for a quicker exit. Do your future self a solid; get to the theater early, grab a back parking spot, and you'll be home before you know it. I had to address parking first, because everyone who gives this place a negative review often references the parking. If the parking situation was easier, I think people would love this place. Since it is a smaller theater, there really isn't a bad seat in the house! Most recently, we got the cheapest tickets to Sleeping Beauty Ballet and still felt like our seats were great! The seats are super comfortable. They are plushy and my butt thanks whoever chose those seats. Before the show, they serve alcoholic beverages and there is a concession stand with basic choices. They basically serve the same food that you would find at a movie theater (e.g. popcorn, pretzels, hotdogs, etc.) Honestly, I found the food choices a little strange, since many times you are about to watch a singer, musical, ballet, etc. and you can munch on popcorn as if you're in the movie theater or at a baseball game, but I haven't tried it so I can't knock it. They have a fun variety of acts that come to this theater. Notable future shows I want to go see are Kinky Boots, Idina Menzel, and Jerry Seinfeld (even though he isn't on the list, he seems to come back every year). This is a gem of a theater that I'm glad is close to where I live. read more

Nice building & good venue. Box office personnel pass out misinformation regarding refund policy. Postponed show garners you a credit, not a refund. In addition, you are penalized, through no fault of your own, the "convenience" fee! So when you go to redeem your credit vouchers, you will once again pay the "convenience" fee. It doesn't seem that convenient to me!! Box office rep Carol was kind and sympathetic but could furnish no relief. I'm writing a letter to Susan Crockett, who I'm told is the GM. It's not the end of the world but I'm weary of being mistreated. It's not just here. It's the current culture of "good enough". I've had it! read more

What a wonderful night I went to see Dave Koz perform last night at the Ruth Eckerd concert hall. It was my first time attending a show here. The concert hall itself wasn't huge, but occupied a decent sized audience. The seats were comfortable yet narrow. In the lobby next to their beautiful Christmas tree, is a "bar". They offered white wines (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and a Riesling) and red wines (Merlot, etc.), as well as beer and liquor. I don't believe food is offered here, so eat beforehand. The theater as a whole looked well maintained and clean. Valet is $15 dollars. Enjoy xo read more

Parking was free and easy. We were able to arrive 15mins before the show with plenty of time to make it through security/ticketing, use the restroom and grab a cocktail before being seating. read more

Their "Customer Service" is the WORST!!! I bought tickets to Jersey Boys in the beginning of January and the show was postponed, until May, due to COVID. Did I complain? No, because I am understanding of the times we are living in these days! A few weeks ago, I purchased 4 tickets for a show that was playing today. My husband and I woke up this morning, running fevers and feeling deathly ill. The other couple in our party attended the show. Once I was physically able to get out of bed and make a phone call to Customer Service at 1:20pm, I was told that in order to receive any kind of refund or credit for the 2 unused tickets, I should have called prior to the show starting....It was a 1pm show. I explained that I was physically unable to do so and called as quickly as I could. No sympathy whatsoever and no credit or refund given! This is beyond wrong and I WILL be pursuing this via every channel possible to shed light upon their awful Customer Service and plan on getting Channel 8 on Your Side involved! Apparently, if you are sick, you should still get yourself to the shows because you won't get any type of refund and I can assure you, THIS IS THE ONLY VENUE THAT PRACTICES SUCH NONSENSE!!! read more

This stunning 2,180-seat auditorium, recently renovated in soothing shades of teal and cream, is part of the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts, and is considered one of the premier concert halls in the nation. Each year it plays host to approximately two hundred events, including Best-of-Broadway productions, performances by pop stars and stand-up comics, and orchestral recitals, plus special low-price programs designed for seniors and families with young children. Sightlines and acoustics are excellent, seats are comfortable, and ample leg room allows patrons to move across the wide rows - there is no center aisle - with relative ease. The Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute provides private instruction and group classes for youngsters and adults interested in dramatics, dance, visual arts, and voice, both contemporary and classical. read more

Ruth Eckerd Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

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BIG BIG disappointment. Spent $400 via STubHub to sit 10 rows from the rear for the Carol King Show. Good idea and well produced but the venue disappointment was big time. Frankly I do not know how anyone without hearing aids can have anything nice and positive to say about the acoustics. Broadway it isn't. read more

I had a fantastic experience at this little venue. Normally, Atlanta beats Florida for the purposes of hearing great music. Unfortunately, some people (I'm looking at you, Vedder) skip over us in their tours and head for where the beaches. But if I like you enough, I'll come down, especially if you play a nice venue like this. And what a venue it is. I cannot countermand some of the complaints made by my fellow yelpers. Well, mostly. It only took me 10 minutes to get out of the parking lot, which seemed like a long time but was not bad, really. At least not as bad as what I am used to, wherein I pay a bunch of money to park and it takes three times as long to get out. Chalk it up, I suppose, to me coming from a metropolis to a smaller town and enjoying the difference. Coming to a place like this for music, there's one thing that counts more than anything else: acoustics. And I think no one can disagree that the auditorium is phenomenal. I haven't heard vocals that clear in a while. My experience was a largely acoustic performance, and even the smaller instruments, such as the ukelele, were clearly and wonderfully heard. My expectations were raised by some local friends, and all I can tell you is that, at least in this milieu, Ruth Eckerd will not disappoint. I had a terrific view of the stage, and the way the auditorium is built, I doubt there's anywhere in the place that doesn't. And my ever older legs appreciate being able to sit down for a while and still being able to see. I would like to share a short anecdote about the box office, because they treated me very well. I bought my ticket, and about a week before the show, realized I could not find my ticket. I sent them an e-mail, and they responded within 1 day, were very understanding, and mailed me a replacement hard ticket at no charge. That, friends, is good customer service. I recommend ordering your tickets directly from them, if possible, considering the level of service I received. Speaking of service at the event, I found it to be excellent. This is one of those theaters where volunteer seniors seat you, and they were quite nice and helpful with directions. Indeed, they were given a rather difficult job for this performance. By artist request (and I fully support this) no cell phones were allowed to be out in the theater. So these folks had to keep explaining this to people, and at least in my section, did it with every courtesy and fair demeanor. Great job, folks, and it was nice to not have people constantly raising their cell phones in my face to snap pictures and shoot video. Concessions were decent, and not so badly costed. Beer (a surprising variety) and wine were served, although I did not have any. Be sure to check in and receive a nice promotion for being on yelp. At a place like this, I expect to pay about $3 for a soda, so they met expectations, with an extra star for throwing in a cookie, popcorn, or even a small sandwich with my yelp certificate. So, to sum up: free parking, slow to exit but what else is new, normal to good concessions, yelp promo, great sound, great customer service both before and during the event. I had a feast for my eyes and ears, and if I was a local, I'd definitely look into what they have coming up in the rest of their season. read more

This is a GREAT venue. Easy to find, FREE parking, and smooth access to your seats with many entrances. Buying tickets to a show they don't require you to purchase from Stub Hub or another ticket re-seller. No extra "service" (bogus) fees to mail you a ticket. Beyond that every seat has good visibility and the acoustics are great. We recently saw Earth, Wind and Fire and they were (is there a word better than?) FABOULOUS. This is an original act filled with talented people. If you like music you will like EWF. We may be living in the 70's and 80's, but good is good. And they are better than good! The other benefit; you're only seven miles from Delco's Steaks and Hoagies in Dunedin. Please see my review and I DO know what I'm talking about when it comes to real Cheesesteaks. Take your significant other/best friend/spouse to Delco's and then to Ruth Eckerd Hall for an evening. If they don't like it, call your nearest divorce attorney! read more

This review is for Phyllis. This morning we were sold seats at the ticket booth. We had a long discussion about my grandmas limited walking abilities. We were assured my 92 year-old grandma would be able to take " 5 tiny steps" to get to these seats. When we arrived we realized that there were several sets of steps, none were tiny and it was absolutely not an option for us. My grandma had actually fallen here in the hallway several years ago, breaking her pelvis. We were here to see American Idol live, my grandma's favorite show and it was going to be extremely upsetting if we were going to have to cancel. Phyllis showed up and after explaining the situation she gave us several options of seats in the back row and checked for us if they were available. They were, and my grandma was able to maneuver into the seat easily so that we could watch the show. Not only did Phyllis save our evening, she was extremely kind while doing it. Without her, either we would have had to leave or my grandma would have been sore for days or even weeks after. I appreciate Phyllis, and I would consider her a true asset to Ruth Eckerd Hall. Numerous people attempted to help and all were very kind and considerate. Thank you all!! read more

Glad to see I'm not the only one who isn't a fan. Came here for Hall and Oates last night. Tickets said doors at 6 pm so I left right from work. Go to walk in, "7:00, guys." Slightly different! Ran to get food and came back. We weren't allowed to enter the auditorium until 7:30 - are you kidding me? Luckily there were a few tables nearby, I've never heard of such a thing. The concert itself was solid, because I love me some DH and JO. Their faster/poppier songs didn't sound anywhere near as good as their slower stuff though. This could just be the band and/or the sound guy, of course, but I really feel like Ruth Eckerd's acoustics are not that good. Can't complain about parking, it didn't take me any longer to get out of there than any other event I can remember. The impression I left with was this: Ruth Eckerd is exactly like my high school's performing arts center, except it seats 2,000 people. That's not a putdown, per se, but it's not a compliment. I'd come here again. read more

This venue has seen its heyday and that day was sometime in 1984. I saw Dave Chappelle here and although I enjoyed the show, the logistics of parking, seating and exiting were just too egregiously awful to ignore. First, the parking situation is horrific. I did one lap around the lot, saw the carnage, then pulled into VIP and dropped $25 on valet to avoid the chaos that was occurring around me. Luckily for that price, the valet gave me my keys back so I wouldn't have to get his attention later and parked me right up front (pretty shrewd considering this makes his job easier too). This warranted a one star bump. Upon entering, the drink lines were at least 20 people deep everywhere and the concession stands look like a piano with an awning. I skipped the lines and went to find my seat. The oddest thing about Ruth Eckerd Hall may be the seating. There is no center aisle and my seats were right in the middle. Even though I was a little early, I had to make that decision of whether to stick my front end or my rear end in the faces of the already seated patrons while scooting by them to get to the seat. The aisles allow just enough room for you to pull this off, but it's way easier if everyone stands, which is annoying. The show itself was great, but since this isn't a review of the show... Leaving the REH was pretty bad even with the prime parking spot, so I couldn't imagine the people parked deep in those lots under the trees. My main tip from this review is to not get cheap with the parking. If you can afford it, valet. All day. Everyday. In all, this place is a pretty terrible place to see a show and I will likely not be back, even though some of my favorite comedians tend to come here. read more

I see several shows here a year and even though there are some things that bother me it is my favorite concert venue in the Tampa area. It's the only one I go to (and like) enough that I pay to be a member. Their online ticketing system has improved so much recently. It used to be you just picked the general area you wanted to sit in then just crossed your fingers as they randomly selected seats for you. Normally I like sitting in the center of a row for shows, but not here. The rows here are enormous. If for some reason you have to go out to the lobby during a show you have to awkwardly fumble past forty people in the dark if you're in the rows further back. I absolutely love that their online system now lets you select exactly what seats that you want, which helps avoid this. All the shows I've been to have sounded great and the seats are so comfortable. Even if you're in the worst seats in the house you still have a good view of the stage. I've been in seats at the Straz where I felt like I was in a different zip code than the performance. They used to charge for regular parking (not valet) but they don't anymore. Not sure why but I think that's great! Finding a parking spot is never an issue for me. I've arrived 10 minutes before showtime for a sold-out show and had no trouble finding a spot. When the show is over I have three words of advice for you: "RUN FORREST RUN". Seriously. Run for the parking lot immediately. There is only one small, long road for the entire audience to leave the theater. Can we say 'choke point'? If you don't get out quickly it can take up to forty minutes to get out. read more

Thanks to suggestions by fellow Yelpers, my wife and I arrived earlier than usual for the show we attended. We parked very close to the entrance, and enjoyed everything thereafter. The staff were very friendly and helpful and we found our assigned seats without a hitch. The seats are very comfortable with plenty of legroom to allow those that get more exercise during a concert than in a gym to pass by time and again. The sound is excellent and I think every seat has an unimpeded view of the stage. A very nice place for sure. One special note: at the intermission, I struck up a conversation with E.Z., from the security staff. I mentioned this was our first time at the hall, and he told us about some of the long list of past and future shows there. We ended the nice conversation, and, minutes later, he returned with two programs and information about the future lineup. We were nowhere near the exit, so he went the extra mile to show how important customer service is, and how much we appreciated it! read more

This has to be the worst venue that I've ever been to! If you're claustrophobic, skip this place. You have less room in your seat than the cheapest coach seats on a 3rd rate airline! Wow! And to think that I spent the price of an airline ticket for my seat! $220! My hands were numb by the end of the show from having to lean forward because of the closeness of the seats. I could not sit back and fit my arms in without rubbing up against the people sitting next to me. Disgusting! I can't believe that this place hasn't been shut down by the fire officials! There are no aisles so you must excuse your self past 40 or so people to get to your seat. Or if you're really unlucky, you'll have an end seat that comes with an endless stream of people trying to slip past you in the impossibly narrow row. Or you'll have the people who think that logically there must be an isle somewhere halfway through, so they try to walk through a few rows down only to find that they will have to either climb over seats to get to theirs or turn around and try going up the correct row! If there was a fire here, I shudder to think about how long it will take for egress. The hallways are crowded, the line for the restroom or snacks at intermission was impossibly long. So good luck redeeming that free snack for checking in! Speaking of... Prices are ridiculous! I don't know how much the food was because, quite frankly, I couldn't get near it because of the lines and the people blocking the narrow hallways. A 16oz beer was $8, a 24oz was $14. That's just insulting! Alcohol was $9 for a 1 shot drink. A 16oz water was $4. I couldn't get close to the wine bar. Then let's talk about getting out of there after the show. There's only one road out. That's it! There are people directing traffic but not well. My advice is get there early so you can park closer to the exit, and to leave before the end of your show so you don't get caught in a huge bottleneck. The good? It was very clean and the chairs had pretty upholstery. The ushers were friendly and helpful. It had more of a high school auditorium feel than a professional venue, although it is pretty plush and decorated nicely! The show was good but not worth the price or the aggravation of being stuffed in there like a sardine. Never again! read more

I've always loved Ruth Eckerd Hall. However, very disappointed with this year's performance of "The Nutcracker". I was not aware when I bought the tickets that the music would be recorded (past years the Florida Orchestra performed). The lighting did not dim until AFTER the overature played, so many in audience did not realize the performance was starting and continued to chit-chat. The lighting during the first half was dark, especially during the scene where the toy soldiers battle the mice/rats. There did not seem to be a full complement of adult dancers All the above lead me to the conclusion was that the "Tampa Bay Ballet" that performed was not really a professional ballet troupe. Since the ticket prices were the same as I've paid to see Nutcracker at Ruth Ecker in past years, I wasn't very happy. My other complaint is the theatre policy of allowing patrons to take their seats with food and beverage in hand! I understand the need to add to theatre revenue with beverage, but it should stay in the LOBBY. This is not a movie theatre, it's a performing arts center. Smelling popcorn? Yikes. Perhabs the 'lady' who sat behind us wouldn't have gotten drunk if she hadn't been allowed to bring a drink to her seat during the 2nd Act. (Did I mention I took my granddaughters to the performance? She make a very crude remark to one of the girls on the way out....not Ruth Eckerd Hall's fault for that, but since I'm complaining. The one bright spot were the children who danced. They were all great, so bravo to the young dancers and their instructors. read more

Ruth Eckerd Hall has the worst exit policy of any venue I've ever been to. When the show was over you must exit. No bathroom use, no getting water, no merch to buy. Then they close almost all the vehicle exit points and funnel everybody into one unmoving clusterfuck. You suck REH read more

I visited this location for a concert a few months ago. Unfortunately the good seats were sold by the time I got around to purchasing my tickets so my view wasn't great and the lady who decided to sit on the arm rest instead of the chair in front of me made it that much worst. It has a big parking and they offer valet but If you don't want to get stuck on your way out you need to leave the show just when it's about to finish. Overall not a bad experience but I would rather go to the Forum or the Straz, better seating and sound. read more

A throwback, bomb shelter style venue with poor sound, a seating chart that is utterly inefficient and maddening, and a parking lot that guarantees you're going to be waiting a while. Never again. read more

Welcome back! A very good facility with a great stage and worth every penny for our first post COVID concert.

My family attended a concert at Hard Rock Live on 10/11, and enjoyed it so much we saw it again at Ruth Eckerd on 10/13. The shows were both good, but enjoyed the RE show so much more! RE is a fantastic place for both performance and comfort. HR got nothing on you!! read more