We went to see Disaster at this theatre. It is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen! Corny…read morebut quite amusing!!! The theatre staff is very friendly and helpful. The quality of the performances is not quite at the Broadway level, but the prices are good and the theatre is quite intimate. Snacks during intermission are only $1, which can't be beat. And they have a nice selection of food and drink. Parking is not easy, but it ends up manageable. I highly recommend becoming a member of the theatre, as the yearly membership price is comparable to the cost of one ticket. There are many opportunities for volunteers to usher or help out in other ways. There is a handicapped bathroom on the main floor, but it seems that it would be difficult to maneuver a wheelchair or walker in the tiny aisles.

I have been a patron of Somerste Valley Players for years and am never disappointed. It is a small…read morecommunity playhouse that is reasonably priced and provides an excellent performance. For those of us who enjoy good quality community playhouse productions, this theater group does an outstanding job. What I like most is that they give an opportunity to community members to tryout to be part of their productions. The results are always good.

Had the incredible privilege of seeing Sweeny Todd here today and can't come up with enough…read moreaccolades. Villagers Theater is a small venue, seating at the most 250 people. If today's performance was any indication of the quality of what goes on there, I am going back a lot. Community theater is alive and well in Somerset. The acting, vocals, music, sets and costuming was beyond. I have seen many, many Broadway performances and, quite honestly at $20 per ticket and avoiding the schlep into Manhattan, this offers as much if not more entertainment value. It certainly equalled or exceeded anything I have seen at Bergen PAC or Papermill. If anyone reading this review is even remotely considering attending a performance at this gem, I recommend purchasing tickets now. What a terrific way to spend a Sunday afternoon. 5 enthusiastic stars. Amazing. Really amazing.

The seats could definitely be more comfortable. There was nowhere near enough knee room, and we…read morehad an aisle seat. However, there isn't a bad seat in the house for a good view. And the quality of the Avenue Q production was well over the top!!!!! The concession stand is inexpensive, but they were out of many things on the menu. The lobby was very small, so people had to wait outdoors to get in. The weather wasn't too bad when we were there, but if it were cold, hot or inclement, it would have been a problem.

This is why movies at home are just better now. Chairs are…read moreworn out, so is everything there actually. Popcorn isn't even made there, just warmed up.

This cinema is a wow! Clean and spacious! Even the restrooms smells good! The recliners are…read morecomfortable as well! Defined would be watching new movies on this cinema again.

As much as I love movies, I haven't been to a movie theater in over 10 years. Last movie I saw in a…read moretheater was "Black Mass" with Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger in South Orange with my oldest friend and a relative (who is a former San Quentin inmate and looked like he should have been up on the screen performing instead of in a seat, watching). Why the long gap? Partly because of the movies they make nowadays, which seem designed to appeal to children, childish teenagers still in love with comic books and anime, and the addle-brained. Other reasons? I dunno...maybe just because. I'm older now and watch old and new movies on my blu-ray from the comfort of my dilapidated couch. Have I been tempted to go back? Yeah (especially back to the bygone days when I'd see a movie in the Hudson Valley whacked out on Vicodin or Percocet. I had long since stopped drinking in situations where I had to drive, but I figured the opiates were medicinal and wouldn't impair me. I stopped after 1 trip where I became sick during a viewing of "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines." The pill hit me badly and instead of staring in mezmerized adoration at Kristinna Loken on the screen, I broke out in a cold sweat, was nauseous, and had to use every fiber of my being to keep from vomiting on the floor. The sick feeling eventually receded, and, in my stupidity, I figured if I popped another pill after the movie, I'd be ok to drive home. Instead, I was confused by the darkened, unlighted streets leading off from Rt. 9, and as I approached the Bear Mountain Bridge, a torrential downpour descended on me, making the drive even more perilous. I said aloud, "If there is a God or a Heaven, get me home in 1 piece, without killing myself or someone else, and I'll never do this again." I still don't know if there's a God or a Heaven, but I got home in 1 piece, and I never did it again. Anyway...back to the review...) I took off July 4 (last year, getting out of Hoboken where I work was a nightmare and I vowed never again). I hadn't seen my old narcissistic friend in a while, and since he was off on Saturdays, we got together. He suggested a movie. Given we were in the middle of a fierce heat wave, I figured an air-conditioned movie theater might be just the thing, and I wasn't all that interested in what we'd be seeing. In all honesty, I was "jones-ing" for movie theater popcorn, along with a box of cookie dough candy, and a large Coke. My friend mentioned Reading Theater in Manville, and I was game. We had once talked about going there when they were showing "The Exorcist" (a favorite for both of us), but it was only for 1 night, and we couldn't make it. I drove. Even though I'm not all that familiar with Manville, the drive was not too far from where I live. We pulled into a large parking lot and entered the theater hastily to escape the soul-shredding heat. Inside, the theater was enormous. My friend had ordered tickets on-line, a procedure I'm not familiar with, but I was told you can pay for your tickets the old-fashioned way if so inclined. I ended up ordering a large vat of popcorn with butter (I remember being told that the next vat was free, but I responded that if I return for another vat, call 911). Cookie dough candy. A large Coke. I was in pig heaven. Prices for everything seemed fair. There are 6 theaters, if I remember right. Someone had recommended the movie we were to see to my friend, and I believe it was in Theater 6. A large room, with many empty seats. We went to seats that weren't assigned to us (at my friend's suggestion) only to be displaced by the people who had actually reserved them (we were all polite to each other, but...seriously...in a huge empty theater, you HAD to have those particular seats!?! Anyway...) The movie was "Obsession" which I took to be a "cute" Rom-Com film for whatever they're calling young people these days, and I made an exit for the bathroom, which was clean and spacious. When I got back, the Rom-Com had transformed into a horror movie. (My verdict on the film? Ambivalence. The plot seemed a steal from the old E.C. comics or an episode of Twilight Zone, but it was pretty effective, and special kudos to Inde Navarrette for making a very difficult, implausible part plausible and frightening. Anyway...) There was a built-in tray by each seat for foodstuffs, which I appreciated. Previews for movies I have no interest in seeing. Then the movie itself. Any downsides? I don't know if it was just for this particular movie, but anytime there was a "got-cha!" moment designed to startle or frighten the viewer, the sound system let loose what I can only describe as a sudden, booming explosion that left my nerves frayed, but probably not for the reason the film-makers intended. Overall? I enjoyed myself. I'd like to see another movie here in the not-too-distant future. Recommended. I hope in future they show more old movies like "The Exorcist," or maybe even "High Sierra."

July 4th movie 2…read moresenior tickets with small popcorn - $32 Friendly service Comfortable seats

This theatre is Piscataway's best kept secret. I saw Disclosure Day with a friend. The tickets cost…read more$23 and concessions cost $18 - for 2 large fountain drinks, a large popcorn and a box of candy. Not to mention the popcorn and drinks are refillable (for free)! It's the cheapest movie experience you'll find in the area. And no, there isn't an IMAX screen or reclining seats, but the 3 screens are grear quality and the seats are comfy, padded leather. Very intimate cinema experience and highly recommended.

Rutgers Cinema is my go-to movie theater. With unbeatable prices (I believe lowest in the state)…read moreand the most newly released films, it's really a can't miss spot. If you have any Rutgers affiliation- current student, alumni, professor, staff- just show any proof of affiliation and you'll receive a discount for you AND all the guests with you (even if the guests aren't affiliated with Rutgers). I recently visited to watch Reminders of Him and the cinema worker said even showing an email from Rutgers would suffice for the discount deal. Love this spot and being that it's on Rutgers' Piscataway/Livingston campus, it brings back so many memories of being a student there. You can buy tickets on their easy to navigate website (added fee) or in person. I've never experienced them to sell their tickets out, if you're wondering whether to buy in advance or at the cinema.

Saw a play called Chicken & Biscuits tonight. This was my first time back since the major…read morerenovation and merger with New Brunswick Performing Arts Center a couple years back. The stage play area itself is now called the Arthur Laurents Theatre. The room is very cozy and intimate. It feels a tad smaller than the old Crossroads theatre but not by much. It was a great show. Lighting and sound quality are top notch and seating is very comfortable. I recommend supporting this company because the production quality has always been high and because it is so important to support the smaller, local theatre scene.

Amazing one man show masterfully performed by the son of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee! Highly…read morerecommend!

Beyond personally experiencing the abandonment of delightful local theaters like the Utopia in…read moreQueens, I'm infuriated by events like New Haven, population 135,081 per Google, losing its only theater. The Cranford Theater is an honorable holdout in the war against AMC nonsense, even more important because of its relative proximity to the nauseating Route 22. A ticket to The Holdovers was a reasonable $13.75, and it's delightful to see a place that avoided the pointless reserved seat bandwagon. The young guy selling tickets was quick and friendly. Fellow explorers of inner-ring suburbs should note that Cranford is closer than you might think and the theater is minutes away from the train station. (For my next coffeehouse open mic performance I plan to read the first two sentences of this review in the voice of the Paul Giamatti character from Holdovers).

The New Branford Theatre was opened on November 29, 1926 and over the decades its ownership and…read morename have changed several times. Eventually it settled on the name "Cranford Theater". In 2017, New Visions theaters took over and it seemed like it may have been a bright new chapter in the theater's history. However, in September 2019 the theater was unceremoniously shuttered and many fans of this wonderful downtown area in New Jersey were left to wonder if their beloved theater would ever play to audiences again. Fast forward to November 8, 2019 and the Cranford Theater has reopened! This time out it is owned by the folks who own the property. They did not just dust off what was there and open back up. Instead, the entire theater has undergone a renovation. New lighting, projectors, seats, carpeteting, a new concession stand and even a "mobile" box office station are all part of this treatment. The blue, gold and silver colors incorporated into the theater are intended to align with some of the colors that represent Cranford itself, making for a theater that truly wants to be part of the community. The theater is full of friendly staff and courteous, local patrons who all seem to know each other (I have watched entire rows of people chatting with each other like old friends). The new seats are very comfortable and have a nice high back. There are several screens divided in a space that once only showed one movie so this is not the place to look for an IMAX or Dolby experience. However as someone who goes to movies often I had zero problem with the screen size and sound quality. You may not want to see "Star Wars" here, but a film like "Joker" or "Last Christmas" is just fine on these screens. I am very happy Cranford Theater has made a return to the neighborhood and I have every intention of supporting it as much as I can.

Thinking high flying burlesque circus that's freakish and slightly demonic. The concessions are…read morecash only.

I came across Paranormal Cirque while scrolling through Facebook and I am so happy that I did…read more This is by far one of the best shows that I have ever seen. 10/10! I bought my tickets using their website - paranormalcirque.com and it was very easy to maneuver. I do not suggest buying tickets from third party websites because of the scam potential. *TIP* use FACE5OFF when you checkout for $5.00 off your purchase. I sat in Section #1 and my seat was pretty close to the stage. It was perfect for me as I am terrified of getting pulled up on stage / volunteering during acts. I'm not going to go into detail on the performance to avoid spoilers but, they are all really good. You will not be disappointed and there is something for everyone. The show is rated R and is definitely targeted towards adults. If you are over 13 and under 18, you have to be accompanied by an adult. They sold common snacks and drinks. They did not have any shirts or general merchandise for sale however, they did sell spooky face masks. Prices are what you would expect from a circus / event. For example, a large lemonade was $10.00. Nothing crazy but, definitely higher than it should be. They only accept cash so, be sure to bring some! I recommend this show to anyone interested. You will not regret it!