This Sunday afternoon, we went to Symphony Space to see "Set Your Heart Ablaze: Music from the Many Worlds of Japanese Anime" performed by the Queer Big Apple Corps Symphonic Band. The concert was fantastic and included songs from Demon Slayer, Kiki's Delivery Service, Naruto, Porco Rosso, Cowboy Bebop, Ponyo, The Wind Rises, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. (They even thew in a deep cut encore song). The concert was held inside the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, which has great acoustics. The stage accommodated the 145 musicians. I thought the seats were pretty comfortable. Everyone working there - from the box office, ticket collectors, and ushers - was friendly and professional. read more

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I just saw the Shana Tova show that was performed by Jewish artists on broadway. Some pros are that the tickets were affordable, there is no specific limitation as to how big of a bag you take, and that no matter where you sit, it's great sound and view. One negative is that the chairs are so uncomfortable. Both my husband and I were struggling, and he had to pull me up from the chair because I was in so much pain after sitting for so long. Fyi, there is a second bathroom on the lower level that you can go to during intermission. read more

I lived five blocks away years ago; had I not read that this is the site of the former (and wonderful) Thalia Theater, I don't think it would have registered. Symphony Space is a lovely theater with a stage large enough to accommodate a full orchestra. Acoustics are great, seats are comfortable, and legroom is better than what one finds in Broadway theaters. Easy-to-get-to as well, with the westside IRT outside and the north and south Broadway bus stops a block or so away. The lobby is minimal. On a frigid day I was happy we could wait inside a half hour early. But there are no seats, and theater-goers are advised to stand as close to the wall as possible. I was there for the Queer Big Apple Corps Symphonic Band. The program, "To NYC With Love," celebrated diversity and the sounds of the city. Fabulous musicians, a joyful afternoon. read more

Symphony Space - Stand back from the doors; they open outwards - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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I came here for a private event and it's a great event space. The staffing is another issue. While attempting to scan my ticket for entry the staff ignored me. I approached a staff member at the stairs to ask if I'm in the wrong area and she said no and I needed to scan my ticket and pointed to where I just left. I went back and approached a different window and this person scanned my ticket but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Being rude is such a bad quality. read more

I've been a member of Symphony Space for years. Their programming is amazing. If you enjoy Selected Shorts on NPR or on Apple Podcasts this is where the majority of live ones are recorded. They also have wonderful programs around film, literature, art, theatre, music, and dance. read more

Symphony Space - Selected Shorts Program - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

Surprisingly a venue I've never been to before. The staff was kind and accommodating during Cynthia Erivo's event. We were waiting for one friend to arrive by car and we were getting stressed about them making it in time, but they assured us that we could go ahead and the latecomer would still be allowed in. The venue seemed to have a lot of standing room available and there were many people lined up at the side. I like how the crew was listening to Cynthia as she asked for the lights to be turned on so she could see the audience and dimmed it back again when appropriate. No issues with sound. My only request was that we were seated orch stage right and it seemed like a person kept going in and out of the curtained off room (this is not a Wizard of Oz joke) and would let a lot of light in. Additionally, there was an older man who was apparently FaceTiming his friend who was at home? Right in front of security? This seemed really inappropriate and while I feel bad if they wanted to attend the event but couldn't for whatever reason, it was really weird to see this man face the audience wit his back towards Cynthia so his friend could see Cynthia on stage. He did this for most of the hour long event. And when I say he was in front of the security guard, I mean he was literally right in front of the guard. And I wish the guard told the usher or something if he himself was not allowed to say something. But otherwise I'm impressed with the staff and space. read more

Symphony Space - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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These guys are fantastic! Wonderful shows and excellent customer service. I recently needed help in registering with NYCID and Melanie and BJT in Customer Support got the job done in record time. I urge everyone to check out Symphony Space. Friendly with cutting edge cultural activities. Peter read more

I haven't been here in ages but had fond memories. So when a talk that included Ethan Hawke was happening, I snagged a couple of tickets. "Avant- Garde" is what comes to mind when I think of Symphony Space. I enjoyed the talk and the space was fine. The staff were helpful and down to earth. A very good experience and I hope to come back soon. read more

I've visited Symphony Space for a few events and the space is always well maintained with excellent acoustics. The seats are clean and comfortable and you will never have a bad view. The ushers are very nice and the lobby is large enough to gather before and after an event. Symphony Space is super accessible by train and bus, 96th St (1) station and the M96, respectively. There are also tons of great food options you can go grab a bite before or after your visit as well, though my favorite is Mama's Too on 103rd. read more

I've been to Symphony Space a few times for the free The Orchestra Now (TON) concerts. It's a little disorganized; at first I was told I didn't need a ticket and then I had to wait on a long line a second time to get one. The crowd skews to older (say retirement age) and entitled UWS types, but there are young people and middle aged folks too. All of the orchestra seats have good views and the acoustics are fantastic. I've only sat at the floor level, but the small balcony looks cute too. The bathrooms are clean and the line moves surprisingly quickly. It's a great space to hear music. read more

Symphony Space - TON at Symphony Space - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

I love Prince and recently went to the Symphony to experience Wall to Wall Prince. The event is completely free but to keep the theatre going it's helpful to donate. I had a wonderful time in a space that is clean with staff who are great at accounting their guests. read more

Saw a lovely concert by Judy Collins. Beautiful space, excellent sight lines. The concert was more or less ruined by the endless photographs, including flash lights in my face & endless streaming. This widespread bad audience behavior was bad enough, but worse no one from Symphony Space tried to police the misconduct. Instead, their inaction helped create an anything goes atmosphere. A Keith Jarrett concert would've ended w/ the 1st flash, nevertheless, Ms. Collins kindly soldiered on. read more

I came for a folk music concert, it was a more casual event and everything was fine. There was an opening act by a "radical" singer that spoke the politics so directly as to take any poetry or spirit out of anything artistic, all the right words without the right way of saying them. The space is boxy and not overtly attractive but it's a relatively intimate space where you aren't too far too see the performance details up close. read more

My Grandfather Leonard Harper got inducted into the Tap City Hall of Fame. All had a wonderful time. Great Tap dancing. I wished the night could go on with the fascinating rhythm. read more

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Good event venue where only a stage is needed. the staff that work there aren't that kind but i guess it's not a high end space so they feel like they don't have to be. might i recommend selling food and snacks? i assumes they would have it but didn't. was kind of let down? read more

Theaters one and Theatre two have poor air-conditioning ! An employee told me they get many complaints about the bad A/C in theaters one and two ! read more

Symphony Space is a wonderful not for profit venue. They hosted a special performance I attended. What a wonderful evening. The employees were organized and on schedule for our large group. The lobby and theater are beautiful and clean. You won't see dirty seats with tatters here. Very well maintained comfortable environment. I was so relieved during the performance that the theater was a perfect temperature. I was afraid I would either freeze, or worse, burn up from the heat. Seating is perfect for viewing a live stage performance. Not that I'm an expert. I was there early and found a great seat. My daughter joined me and conveniently sat in the aisle seat. When the show was over the isles are spacious enough that we quickly exited to the street. The seats are not like a Broadway Theater, where you're cramped. It felt like a comfortable movie theater. I was really pleased with my evening at Symphony Space. I'm looking forward to attending more shows. I'm sure I'll check their web site for other performances. Symphony Space is right on the corner with easy access to the 96th Street Crosstown Bus and the Subway at 96th Street. After the show it was a short walk to the corner and we were home before we knew it. I highly recommend attending shows here! read more

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This is an intimate theatre with no bad seats! I was sitting in the front row and there was plenty of leg room and the view of the stage was unimpeded. The lobby is small so I think it would be tough if the show had an intermission. It is a great venue! read more

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Beautiful space! There's also a bar located within the auditorium that has a good specials. The box office was smoother than most Broadway shows (which helped because I got tickets last minute). read more

We bought our girls tickets to some French Canadian Cirque du Soleil type show and it turns out that a semi significant snow storm occurs on the day of the performance. The question was, do we venture to the Upper West Side for the show or do we eat the tickets. As we well know, I am allergic to cheap, but throwing money away makes me downright sick! So we went and I'm glad we did! The show was pretty good, lots of acrobatics, juggling and magic. The seats were comfortable, the acoustics were good and the ticket holders line moved fairly quickly. The only real negative was the bathroom, it was way too small for the size of the theatre. It had a fair amount of stalls, but I only saw 1 sink. There was a significant line...for the sink. I would definitely come back for other shows. read more

Eclectic, interesting programming with bang-up ticket prices. What you find here you probably won't find anywhere else! I've yet to be disappointed by this place. Symphony Space is well-known for its performing arts, but not many people realize that it's also a great place for film screenings. Skip the commercial movie theater and head here for some more interesting films at cheaper prices. read more

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Why is that when people review a music venue or museum on here, they feel it necessary to name drop the band they saw, to note their vast knowledge base on the history of said venue or museum, to ramble endlessly about their view of the implications of an acoustic atmosphere on music ... blah, blah, blah ...? If you like pretentious reviews, mine isn't one of them. I don't even feel the need to name drop the artist I saw or document a theory on acoustics and their implications to the survival of our species. If interested, I saw the Paper Bag Players - worth looking up. This is a divinely novel group whose simplistic and playful nature allows one to lose themselves ... I"m just kidding. This place is great for several reasons. It's easily accessible by train. It offers a wide array of events; the pretentious Brooklyn hipster and realist Queens girl can both be satisfied; though the hipster will still complain. Symphony Space has a great lay out; none of the seats suck. The staff are really nice. There are plenty of bathrooms and they are clean - with motorized napkin dispensers which I love. There is a darling little cafe, always open to the public with or without tickets to an event, it's less known and I've never seen it too crowded though I hope they get that kind of business soon, and it offers a large open window. Even the good reviews on here have less than 5 stars - it's not a performance review on your employee and with the struggle businesses have surviving; it seems irresponsible to give less than 5 stars when satisfied even if you have a sound system theory that you want to espouse. Enjoy. read more

I recently went here for the Manhattan Film Festival. We got there about an hour before the show started and it was very dim inside. I almost didn't find the box office (which is literally right there) simply because it was so dark. When we returned right before the show began, we found it was brighter and the air conditioning was blowing. We were directed downstairs to where the Thalia cafe is. Very cute bar/cafe. The screening room was right next door and closed off until 5 minutes before the show began. We finally got in and found a few rows of original movie theater-style seating then padded folding chairs leading to the small screen in the front of the room. Very small space and the layout is a bit odd, especially with the different kinds of seats, but still a very nice intimate place to catch a movie such as the one we watched. The staff is also super-friendly and helpful. I would like to check out some other events here. read more

What a great not-for-profit theater! I recently attended an event that rented out Symphony Space. We had the pleasure of meeting and conversing with Marsha - the house manager, and Iman - an usher. I cannot say enough amazing things about them. They were so kind and helpful. You could tell they love their jobs! The venue is very cute and during the summer people from the neighborhood donate books, DVDs, and CDs to the theater to sell for close to nothing. I highly recommend checking it out! We got to browse the books while waiting for our event to start and they had some really great options! Also, there are no bad seats - the theater is very intimate! We are now considering becoming members! If you ever get the chance to check out Symphony Space and add some culture into your life - do it! read more

I saw Jocko Willink at Symphony Space in January, 2019. The place is an excellent place to see any kind of performance. Easy entrance, easy exit, adequate facilities and a close intimate environment. Seeing and listening to Jocko & Echo met all my expectations of listening to one of the great speakers/leaders/motivators of our time. "Let's go get sum'". read more

I wish I could leave negative stars. We had tickets to see Helen Jane Long tonight but were turned away at the door because my wife and I aren't covid boosted. We booked tickets for the show two months ago and at the time only being vaccinated and wearing a mask was required. On March 1st they updated their policy to require the booster however they didn't have the decency to notify anyone of the change, so we were turned away even though we had our vaccine cards and masks. Masks and vaccines are no longer mandated by NYC so I don't understand why they would require a booster even though it was never required by the local health department. We are sorely disappointed to miss the show and will be filing a complaint about the failure to notify us of the policy change with the better business bureau. We are disgusted with how this was handled and will not be back. read more

Not a high end space but a nice place for certain venues. I wish the AC would kick in a little bit more - it ended up being kind of hot, but not unbearable. They do have a bar so that does make everything so much better! read more

A very nice venue, right across the street from the 96th St. Station (if you're driving, and get lucky, there is on street parking, but Broadway itself is metered parking 1 Hour only, until 10PM, so not very useful to evening event attendees), a great sound system, and intimate enough - where there's really not a bad seat in the house. If you're thinking of going here, many of the concerts are sponsored by separate cultural organizations, who are also selling tickets, visit their websites first, as tickets might possibly be had at a substantial discount over the Symphony Space prices. read more

If you had dyed-in-the-wool liberal parents growing up, there's no doubt you spent a considerable amount of time listening to NPR/PRI like me. If you grew up to embrace Public Broadcasting, you must be a fan of "Selected Shorts" and the familiar voice who emceed the show: Isaiah Sheffer. Symphony Space is the theater and performing arts organization Mr. Sheffer directed and made famous with the weekly short story readings by big-named NY celebrities. I grew up coming to this theater for Selected Shorts readings, concerts, black and white movies and various other performances. The theater was renovated in the late 90s and no longer has the original Art Deco interior, but it maintains its devotion to top-notch performances and cultural arts projects. read more

Once upon a time, there was a renowned little theater on the UWS called the Thalia. Immortalized in Woody Allen's classic film Annie Hall, the Thalia was an art house that showed classic, foreign and avant-garde film. It closed in 1987. Fast forward to the 21st century, where the efforts of Symphony Space and a significant infusion of capital from the erstwhile Mr. Spock led to the renovation and reopening of the theater as the Leonard Nimoy Thalia. The original configuration of the space has been preserved, though the actual seats and screen are new. The mix of films is delightfully similar to the old mission of the theater: upcoming weeks include Godard, Charlie Chaplin, and contemporary documentary. Do check the website for the schedule before you go, as it varies daily. A true, neglected gem. read more

Symphony Space is the venue most often used by the Irish Arts Center for larger productions that are not hosted at the Center. I recently had the pleasure of attending a performance celebrating the music of Harrigan and Hart on the 100th anniversary of Harrigan's death. The show put together by the might Mick Moloney was fantastic, performers top notch and the accoustics great. Only unfortunate par was my seat was off on the left hand side obscuring my view of the slide show that was projected behind the performers. I was glad to be in the house, but would have preferred to have known that the seat is "partially obstructed" or permits only partial view of the stage. Another thing to note is that the theatre is very convenient to public transportation, with a subway stop on the 1 line right outside the theatre, and plenty of taxis available which can whip you back to Penn Station to catch the last train. Public restrooms are small, so expect to queue up at intermission if you bladder beckons. They do have a bar for patrons that I did not take advantage of. read more

An often overlooked neighborhood gem with all sorts of random movies showing from time to time. The selection is eclectic to say the least; they show a ton of classic and obscure foreign films, most of which I've never heard of. There aren't many showings for each feature, but if you can catch a movie here, it's a great venue. read more

There's something special about Symphony Space. So special, that I even cross the park from the UES to get there by subway and bus. My first experience here was Dar Williams and I had a third row seat. What I really love about this venue is the readily available single seats for a solo audience such as myself. Since then, I've become turned on to the Selected Shorts series. An opportunity to hear literary readings performed by actors is delightful and outside of the norm of the typical interview style event that I catch at different venues throughout NYC. The crowd is a bit stuffy, but the entertainment is top notch. read more

It's hard to give Symphony Space less than 4 stars. Even it's located a bit far north on the UWS, the 1/2/3 trains are right near it, so the geographical inconvenience can be overlooked. I recently came here for a NY Philharmonic concert, and the auditorium had the capacity to host an eager audience and capability to provide the infrastructure for superior sound quality. Although we didn't go to the bar downstairs, it looked like a charming and low-key place to enjoy pre-show drinks. Symphony Space lives up to its name. I'll be back. read more

I'm a fan of Sympathy Space. It's been awhile since I've been here. I went on a whim; I decided like 2 hours before the Broadway Beauty Pageant started that I wanted to go to it, so I quickly bought tickets and booked it to the west side. The same night I went here was the same night I first tried the Key West Diner, which has become one of my favorite places in NYC. I'm sad I haven't gotten another excuse to go here- nothing super appeals to me in their upcoming programs when I check. If there is something I would have liked to attend, I find out I've missed it by a few weeks usually. Hopefully, the Broadway Beauty Pageant will be held here again. The Pageant - which is essentially a male beauty and talent contest from gay boys in different broadway companies - had Ana Gasteyer (from SNL fame) as one of the judges and Tovah Feldshuh as one of MC. They were my favorites. The only one I wasn't rooting for was the kid from Billy Elliot, since he was too old and admitted to not being gay in a room full of gay people voting for you. He was married to a lady. And talked about it way too much, like he didn't want us to get confused. Well, eff you kid. I voted elsewhere. The kid from "Hair" won. He was the most entertaining. Also of note, Hedda Lettuce (who I recognized from Project Runway) was in the audience- you could tell from the gigantic green 'do. I would like to go to something like that again at this place. My evening truly was fabulous. read more

Getting to Symphony Space from NJ is a hike, but I've been here about a dozen times! Why? Because their Selected Shorts series is one of the most unique live events I've ever attended. It's a real treat for someone who's an aspiring writer like me. Through the Selected Shorts series, I have discovered many new writers, and I love the fact that guests can buy the writers' books. You can even have them signed by the writer if he/she is present! I really enjoy the fact that you can buy a beer or a glass of wine at the bar and then bring the drink to your seat to enjoy throughout the performance. Also, I once attended a reading discussion group in a smaller theater room at Symphony Space and loved the intimate feel of it. The best part about Symphony Space is that it's in a great neighborhood! It's close to trains and some great restaurants/bars so that you can enjoy a drink or a meal after the show! read more

Definitely a nice space for concerts and readings. Not so large as to be not intimate, but large enough for orchestral presentations. Shows here seem to be exciting, fun, and audiences are generally hip, eager, and attentive. The location is accessible by 1/2/3 and downstairs is a post-show bar / lounge. read more

This is a nice space, but in my one visit they had a lot of technical issues. I recently went to a talk with some authors promoting their new book. Right away they had problems. The mic was not on and/or was having issues with reception. And in the middle of the talk one of the mics dropped out and no one on staff could make a change on the fly. What kind of theater space does not immediately correct this? The staff never came out to get another working mic out or to try to fix the problem. They just left the presenters out there to deal with it. The space otherwise is nice. It's not huge and has some balcony seating. But otherwise it's a cozy theater. The rake of the seating should have been made a little steeper because you have to look around people quite a bit. Ticketing was easy and they have an 'under 30' program for cheaper tickets to the young folk. Will call was easy and the ushers were nice. I would come back for another event. read more

Nice venue to see a show. We went to one earlier in the week & they had air conditioning in the theater along with helpful staff. Plus, it's clean inside despite people bringing drinks in from the bar. Didn't really go into the bar but it also looked nice. The ladies bathrooms were also spacious & had more functioning toilets than some places I've been to. read more

I guess this used to be a movie theater that was pretty grungy back in the day and someone took it over, really beautified the place and made it into a theater space geared toward musicians (but I hear holds events for all of the performing arts). The place still holds it's charm while being modern, clean, and a great place to see anything. The stage is about 50' wide making it ideal (I would think) for any performance. They also have a bar/lounge on the ground level which looked like it was closed for a private event when I went and it wasn't clear to me if it was a separate business or not but it also looked very nice and I hope to check it out if I come back here. The only negative I see to this business is that the bathrooms are in an awkward spot were you have to transverse through a series of stairs, levels, and turns in order to find them. The location is really easy to get to (just a few short blocks from the 1,2,3 train) and I hope they keep up the good work and keep the theater open for a long time. read more