The Empty Space is one of my favorite places to be in Bakersfield.. Scratch that. The Empty Space is one of my favorite places to be period. I've caught at least a dozen shows here since finding out about this local gem in high school. From musicals to plays, every show has been amazing. They can make me crack up laughing, want to boogie on down with them during a dance break, and maybe even shed a tear. I can confidently say I would go to any show they put on. A friend could ask me if I wanted to go to the Empty Space tonight, and without knowing what was playing I would say yes. Consistently very talented casts! Phenomenal stage design! Great directing! Fun choreography! Lighting and audio teams always do a great job! It is always clear the whole team are fully invested in the material and bringing out the best in each other. Top tier local talent all around. The Empty Space is more than a place to catch amazing local theater. They also showcase art from local artists in their art gallery which acts as their lobby. I recommend getting there early to enjoy the artwork and grab their super affordable snacks. After being away for a while, I was excited to attend my first show at their new location, Dracula: A Comedy Of Terrors. And a bust out loud comedy it was. Phenomenal show as usual. I'm not sure I could've gotten a better welcome back to The Empty Space. Thank you to the whole cast and crew who made that show happen. Their new location is super nice and spacious. The old location had its charm, but their new location is much larger and the seating has extra leg room, which is always appreciated. Many longtime fans of the Empty Space will recall how the old building immersed the audience was in the show due to the close proximity to the performers, and how many of their productions would utilize the space in creative ways for stand out moments. I'm glad to say they do a great job utilizing the new space in a similar manner. When you walk into the theater you actually walk onto the stage initially which provides an all encompassing immediate immersion into whatever world you're about to enjoy an awesome story in. For those thinking of auditioning to be a cast member, I actually had the pleasure of being in their 2016 production of "In The Heights" which took place in their previous location and highly recommend it. It was a super fun experience. They're very kind and welcoming. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE The Empty Space. I've only started going this year (2025) and so far have not been disappointed. The location is easy to get to and parking is plentiful. The lobby is nice and cozy and the staff is always super nice! The concession stand is reasonably priced with a good selection of snacks and drinks. I enjoy the custom cocktails they serve. The theater seating is good with good views no matter where you sit. The cast is always great and super talented. I highly support local theater and have been recommending The Empty Space to all my friends and family. read more

The Empty Space Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Went to watch the play Lucha dora One of the plays they had there. It was an amazing performance and the actors were great. The mask maker was fantastic and every other actor and actress was fantastic. The seating are a bit tight but they take a break so you can stretch get something to drink or restroom break. It was $25 for a ticket not bad it was my first time going to a play. I would recommend coming and checking out the other plays they're having each month. It seems like not many people know about it but it's a great experience to check out on a Friday or weekend for a night event. read more

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This is such a fun spot for a date, evening with friends, or even time with family. The shows I've seen are excellent, and the actors are extremely talented. There's a little snack bar to buy (duh) snacks and drinks, including alcoholic beverages. I also love that there's a gallery with local artists and different pieces for sale. Intimate setting. Impressive sets. Lovely. read more

I recently attended a musical performance and enjoyed it so much. This venue had a welcoming and cozy atmosphere. Carrie was a highly engaging show, part horror and part tragedy, peppered with enough comedic moments to stop it from feeling too dire as the catastrophe unfolds. The energy, enthusiasm, and overall diversity of talent that the cast had was incredible. I love how the Empty Space has beautiful art displayed. Another nice touch was having drinks, popcorn and snacks available. I highly recommend this venue. read more

First time here at the Empty Space Theatre! And ohhhh wow, did they knock my socks off! I was fortunate enough to catch the Full Monty Musical. It was an amazing show! The cast was incredible! Full on singing, dancing, humor and just spectacular talent! The staff was kind and friendly. Must be vaccinated and show proof (love that!) and yes you wear a mask during the show (not a big deal at all). Must protect guests as much as possible. They serve local beers and even some hard seltzer's. I can't wait to see what's in store in future shows! I'll be back. read more

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I didn't know what to expect as I've never been to The Empty Space Theatre for a show before, and that was at an old location. The new location is in an industrial area and is in a warehouse-style steel building. Once we figured out that the entrance is on the side, we lined up to go inside. Apparently, we arrived earlier than was really necessary. We showed up at 715PM for an 8PM show. The doors didn't open until a little after 730PM. The interior of the lobby is cute and has art for sale displayed on the walls and on tables. The art I saw was beautiful. Around the corner, is the concession stand. They had reasonable prices for what they offered: sodas, water, candy bars, and other small snacks. As for the theater itself, seated in the front row, we were inches from the cast at various times. This made the show more fun for my kids and me, though I was worried at times about my long legs tripping the cast or crew, this never happened. The show we saw was Peter and the Starcatcher. The show was well-performed in every way. Based on this experience, I'll gladly see another show at this theater. The pricing was very reasonable. I believe adults were $25 for this show, and students/seniors, were $20. I assume that is a typical price for this theater, but I am not sure about that. read more

I had just left pizzaville U.S.A., and I was walking back to my car when out of no where a snake came slithering right towards me. A FUCKING SNAKE!! I backed away, not really knowing what to do, but the snake kept moving towards me. This snake was not huge, but bigger than any I had ever seen, which is not many, for I don't live near any place snakes would be. Which is why this was a bit shocking to me. Then as I was backing away a man came out the building I was next to (The Empty Space Theatre), he had broad shoulders and once he saw what I was backing up from he yelled "Get behind me!!" And I did. The man stretched out his arms and yelled with a deep voice, "Or not to be!!". The snake then slithered away. The man's name was Bob, and when I asked him where he learned how to handle snakes, he said he never did.....he was acting. My jaw dropped to the floor. I had heard of acting before, but I had never seen it up close. He invited me in, they had snacks in the lobby, and I watched a play about a sad man. The acting was great, and the snacks were great, and the best part, you guessed it, no snakes. 5 STARS!! read more

Okay, I'm a little biased because I used to be on the artistic board at The Empty Space... but they consistently put on some of the best theatre in Bakersfield. And even if it's not the best theatre, TES dares to produce works that no other local theatres will touch. It's an intimate little blackbox with an attached art gallery, and it was my second home for a good two years. Once considered the "edgy" theatre in town, TES has inspired other theatres to begin offering more thought-provoking and avant-garde material -- and any Bakersfield artist will tell you how important that is. The theatre has branched out to include Shakespeare classics, professional puppet shows, late-night sketch comedy, family-friendly works, black comedies, experimental new plays, traditional musicals, unconventional musicals, music festivals, poetry, film and documentary screenings, gallery exhibits, stand-up comedy, karaoke nights, improvisational theatre, fairs, fundraisers, and more. Though the "TES community" has gone through dozens of transformations, the artists are generally good people who try to make do with a very small budget, rough space, and few resources. The theatre has its faults, of course, but I know firsthand how hard it is to run the place, so I have to extend kudos to everyone involved. I've also had some of my best show experiences at this place, and now that I'm no longer there, I understand how many truly fantastic opportunities I had and how unique the theatre really is... even living in SF, there are few theatres quite like TES. read more

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The Empty Space is my favorite live theater in Bakersfield. It's small; it's intimate; it's daring; it's vibrant. I can't find enough adjectives to encompass all the ways it is ahead of its time. They do classic plays from Greek or Shakespearean eras; they do edgy, independent productions; they do musicals. They've done Bent and Rocky Horror Show; they've done Twelfth Night and Avenue Q. They are constantly evolving, bringing in new talent and directors, while our favorites appear several times a year as well. They have been huge supporters of Eve Ensler's Vday, helping to raise thousands of dollars for the Alliance Against Family Violence. Most shows are free with a suggested donation of $15, although they sometimes have special charity nights where it's a flat $20 at the door. The have Square now so they can take credit & debit cards. Late night productions tend toward raw & bawdy stuff, often extemporaneous comedies where the actors are basically making it up as they go. It can be hilarious, but it's not for youngsters or uber-conservative types. If you don't mind sex jokes, dildo jokes, hairy armpit jokes, late night is the way to go. For $5, it's a steal! Stop by the gallery as you enter and you'll see works by local artists or photographers, sometimes sculptures, too. The concessions are simple, candy, popcorn, sometimes baked goods, sodas, water, sometimes beer & wine. One nice thing about the Space is if you are strapped for cash and want to see a play, they will often trade tickets for volunteers at the concession stand for the night. This is maybe 30 minutes of easy work, and you get to see a great show. You do need to call ahead to make these arrangements; if they already have volunteers, you'll have to choose another night, or go ahead and donate. read more

Plays and art !! Just watched ( wait until dark ) what a great show... 1. It's donation based (free) SO DON'T BE CHEAP EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS 2. the artist are good at what they do 3. It's clean small but plenty of seating (you can make reservations) 4. They have a snack bar 5. The bathrooms are clean women and men share (they have the soft toilet paper ) 6. Friendly staff and you can meet the actors after the show.. read more

The Empty Space Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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What is there to say about live theater other than... KEEP IT ALIVE!!! if you get a chance to catch a live performance here, do it! Whether it be a original piece or a classic, something about watching a story playout in front of your very eyes is very entertaining. read more

The Empty Space Theater is everything local theater should be. The space is intimate, the performance was donation based (yes, "free," but you should pitch in a couple bucks), and it featured great local talent in a hilarious show. I was really nervous and excited to check out this venue for the showing of "Avenue Q." This was also my boyfriend's first theater experience, so I wanted it to be a good one. When we parked, we really didn't know what to expect. After we made our donation, we walked into the performance space. I literally mean, walked INTO the performance space. The black box style theater was so small, we had to walk across the "stage" to grab our seats. The seating is set on the perimeter of a rectangular room in 3 tiers: ground floor, middle, and top. The show was fantastic. "Avenue Q" is light-hearted, comedic, and nostalgic. The actors and actresses did a great job interpreting the script and bringing this wonderful musical to life. Kudos! read more

After looking through some old reviews, I stumbled across one of my first which was for this place. It is extremely outdated, and I would like to say that I still love the Empty Space but for different reasons. I love the shows at this theatre. And I don't mean I always love the productions (some are amazing and some miss the boat), but I nearly always love the plays that are chosen. It has its niche in Bakersfield theatre and it lives up to it consistently. The shows are somewhat edgy and full of heart. The actors at the Empty Space live and breathe theatre and their commitment to their 2nd home is endearing and enriches the shows they produce. It's also cheap. With the economy as it is, most people are not willing to spend more to see a play than a movie. This is also a reflection of the the culture of Bakersfield, but it is the state of things, no matter the reason. The Empty Space has continued to offer up their primetime shows (8PM) for free (hoping for donations, obviously). While they do charge for their latenight shows (11PM), it's only $5. This is the greatest deal in town, and in this town, you do not necessarily get what you pay for. I've spent over $30 to see some pretty rough shows. At least if I don't care for an Empty Space show, it hasn't been a great investment. And typically, when I've seen a show I really enjoy at the Empty Space, I feel like donating much more than a standard show ticket because I believe in their cause. read more

I've mostly watched their children's productions when my kids or their friends perform after a workshop session. Cute little theater... very intimate & interactive theater experience. There aren't any bad seat in the house! Most shows are free and ask for a donation to come watch. Also watched V-Day here. This theater totally support a lot of good cause. I have yet to come see their Rocky Horror Picture Show when they have them again! Heard it's so much fun! They also host art shows supporting local artists. Definitely a great place to go if you are looking for some night of entertainment! read more

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I love smaller venues and this theatre is perfect along with fair pricing. There is even a bar and private seating, can you believe that!(?) read more

Fabulous little spot that puts on very entertaining shows! Cabaret was absolutely spectacular! Not a whole lot of space, but the intimacy really adds to the experience. Definitely a fun night out! read more

A great place to take a date. With new art in the gallery every month and new art on the stage every weekend, this place truly is a treasure. read more

The Empty Space Theatre - My First Time. ThisSeptember at the Empty Space. - Performing Arts Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Love the Empty Space! Great theatre, art shows, Rock Fu, Comedy, summer young actors workshop and inexpensive 1 night theatre rental... Not to mention opportunities for local writers to stage their work and develop their voice. We saw the first shows ever staged at the Empty Space. It has been wonderful to see it grow into a theatre that so consistently gives back to the community. read more

Intimate and full of creativity. The Empty Space is everything a theatre should be.

I, like Sam, might be slightly biased because I served as a member of The Board of Directors at The Empty Space Theatre..... and basically lived there for a good portion of time. BUT, I have taken a large break away from working at the Theatre and am enjoying being a patron and occasional actor (or director). The Empty Space is the only nonprofit, non government funded Theatre in North America. I am so impressed that the Theatre is still open after 7 years (which may not seem very long for a Theatre but when the only thing keeping it's doors open are the donations from the patrons and the fund raising by the seemingly tireless B.O.D., it's nothing short of a miracle)! I think the Empty Space is Bakersfield's best kept secret. In any given season you can see cutting edge dramas, Shakespeare classics, over the top comedies, original pieces and an occasional musical. The variety is something that no other Theatre in Bakersfield has. For the most part I am incredibly impressed by the talent on stage and the direction and ideas of the directors. I really wish more people would attend the Bakersfield Improvisational Theatre (B.I.T.) shows, every Saturday at The Space. It's a great family friendly, audience involved event that too many people constantly miss out on. Its not perfect: Yes, it is hot in there during the summer time and I have been in that small Theatre when it was 85 degrees..... But most of the time they don't put on 3 hour shows during the summer so you don't have to worry about spending too much time in the heat. Not all of the shows are good (and of course Theatre is all based on opinion so there wont be 100% agreement all the time). I guarantee though, that most of the time they are putting on standing ovation worthy shows. The Gallery is hit or miss and seems to have gone from all types of art to just photographs (albeit, gorgeous pictures!). I miss the sculptures and paintings that seemed to add to the quirkiness of the small, funky, black box Theatre. If you have never gone, give it a chance! With the donation only door there really is no excuse not to try it out. And kudos to the constantly growing Board of Directors for the energy, devotion and love! read more

If you're looking for a piss-poor menagerie of terrible "actors" and even worse "entertainment", you've come to the right place. Come one, come all! Witness this endlessly repetitive exercise in futility, in which your hard-earned money is pathetically begged out of your hands, only to be ushered into a room full of awkwardly crass "actors" that look like they work at The 'Vu's Love boutique on the side. Non-sequitur trashy humour and startlingly poor "acting" consistently graces the walls of this potentially decent venue, only to continue to uphold the Bakersfield standard. Kudos. read more

Such a wonderful intimate experience! This is a rather small theater that is seriously ran. I recently caught Cabaret and it was an excellent show, very entertaining. The actors were great...the snack bar was reasonably priced and everyone involved was friendly. The only need I see is a need for more shows :) read more

Wow--the actors do an amazing job in a small space. Really a great experience. We saw Arsenic and Old Leave, and LOVED it!!

A must-enjoy place! Recently, Quality of life made my hubby and I shed tears.

Watched Rock of ages, what a great performance. The small theater atmosphere really adds to the. Would see it again. Make reservations and make sure you get a seat before you get here read more

I love this theatre!! I have been seeing shows at The Empty Space since it opened. So for ten years I have been a fan! Their shows are quality, the stage is intimate, the gallery in the lobby always has beautiful artwork and being donate based makes it even better!! read more