Let me say this, I have lived in the Valley all my life. Yes, I am a full fledged native. The City…read moreof Chandler has rapidly grown over the years and this was my first visit to Chandler Center For The Arts. On this Saturday night the artist performing was Pat Metheney. At the onset before the performance we were told that this would be the last concert of the season. The Chandler Center is going to get a renovation and probably will not be open until late October or early November. This Center houses a large venue and on this Saturday night it was pretty much a sold out crowd. When Pat Metheney came out he didn't waste any time and just started playing. The crowd was really into the music and so was I. The place has provisions for the handicapped and does allow for drinks during the performance. I really don't know what else to add other than the place is impressive. When it opens up again in the Autumn maybe take a look at what they have in the concert venue. I guess we got lucky to attend their last concert of the season.

As the self-appointed king of events, I'm back at it with another venue review. I have been to the…read moreChandler Center For The Arts twice: once for a UB40 concert and once for a screening of a Louie Armstrong documentary (live jazz ensemble included). Located in a nice part of Chandler, with lots of cool bars and restaurants within the vicinity, they do have a complimentary parking lot. For one of the events, I was able to find a spot without much trouble. For the other, I had to park on the street a few minutes away by foot. I guess it depends on how popular the event is. The venue itself is beautiful. Clean and modern with nice amenities. You get a program once you enter the theater, which I always appreciate. It's a good size-venue, but still small enough that it's intimate. My only real complaint? The seats are packed pretty close to each other, so you don't much shoulder room or leg room. A little too snug. Outside of that, and parking being a bit of a wild card, it's a phenomenal venue.

I had the opportunity to visit the concert side of the Hale Center Theater and was thrilled with…read morehow cozy and pleasant the experience was. The entire space holds maybe 250 or so people and each seat has a good view of the stage. The performers are fantastic (I was there for the Yacht Rock show) and I loved how enthusiastic and expressive they all were. You can purchase snacks from their portable concession cart either before the show or at intermission. If you have the chance, be sure to check it out!

My parents, especially my dad, are huge Bee Gees fans. So, when I saw that Hale Center Theater was…read moreputting on a tribute show while they were visiting, I knew I had to get tickets. We purchased tickets for the Thursday, January 8th show. We arrived a bit early on the day of the show. It was our first time at Hale and we wanted to be prepared. We were directed to a side entrance where they usually have their music shows. I knew the theatre was small, but was still surprised to see how intimate it was. I didn't mind it. The theatre sells concessions before the show and during intermission. We didn't purchase any. The show was phenomenal! The band and the singers were very talented and put on a fantastic performance. They nailed the original voices, which is not easy, and even hit some of the high notes. It took us back to the disco days of the 70s. We can't wait to catch another show at Hale Center Theatre!

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

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

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

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

We attended a performance of the Phoenix Gay Men's Chorus at this location. It was our first time…read moreat this venue and we found it to be very comfortable and clean. The parking was easy as there is a garage nearby and the staff at Tempe Center for the Arts were happy to validate the parking voucher to waive the fee. The sound was great and we thought the seats were very comfortable. We would definitely return to Tempe Center for the Arts for future performances or events.

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

Went for the Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky concert, my first symphony. I didn't do much research into…read morethe actual music itinerary, so I was sad to not hear the classics (Swan Lake, Cinderella, or Romeo and Juliet), but they were absolutely perfect and it was so beautiful. They don't enforce dress codes but everyone came nicely dressed anyway, so it's a nice, comfortable setting for those who stress about dress code. There are plenty of places to get decent priced alcohol and espresso. Some snacks are available, but they aren't allowed in the main hall. There is a bag size policy that applies to non-seethrough bags, so be aware of that. Our bag was less than half an inch bigger than the limit and they were pretty set on denying entry. I didn't see it in the FAQs for dress code, but maybe I was looking in the wrong place so that's on me. Highly recommend, they were beautiful.

My girlfriends and I have a tradition of taking our daughters to see The Nutcracker every year…read more Over the years, we've seen it several times at the Orpheum and also at Arizona Financial Theatre, but this was our first time experiencing it at Phoenix Symphony Hall. The venue itself was lovely and felt very festive, especially with the large Christmas tree welcoming you as you entered the lobby. According to the ticket information, concessions were available, though food wasn't allowed at your seats. Unfortunately, the only food option offered was cookies. The girls were hoping for a few more candy-style snack options to enjoy during intermission, so that was a bummer. We ordered drinks when we first arrived, and the staff member helping us suggested ordering our intermission drinks at the same time so they'd be ready for pickup later--such a smart idea. We did exactly that, and it saved us a lot of time. Restroom lines were long during intermission, so being able to walk up and grab a pre-paid glass of wine without waiting in another line was a huge plus and made it easy to relax and enjoy the start of the second act. Seeing The Nutcracker performed with a live orchestra was very cool and added an extra layer of magic to the experience. The ballet itself was wonderful, as always, and made for a special holiday tradition.

Chandler Opera Company Veteran's Day Concert 2024…read more Emily Morgan Gibson and Richard Gibson have brought us another spectacular concert for the Chandler Opera as co-directors. Richard Gibson who was a serving marine absolutely feels his patriotism deeply and is the perfect person to direct for Veterans Day. The concert was free but money was raised for US Vets Phoenix Chapter to help house local homeless vets. Grammy winning Dr. Isola Jones, guest performer at The Metropolitan Opera, was a featured guest star. Carole Fitzpatrick and Stephanie Weiss were also Guest Soloists. The Marine color guard presented the flag for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. A 46 voice choir was backed by Jeremy Peterman on the organ/piano/ and guitar and Jerry Peterman on the snare drum, Timothy Moke on the trumpet, and Neil Erickson on bagpipes. Definitely a stadout performance and a big help to the veteran community.

This concert was so enjoyable. A real triumph. The string quartet and piano accompaniment were…read moreoutstanding. Dr. Jeremy Peterman has played piano at every Chandler Opera Company performance since its founding. Dr. Peterman opened the second act with an inspired duet with Double Bassist Catalin Rotaru. All in all 16 musicians, all excellent. The two arias by Emily Gibson were highlights as well as 2 arias by John Pierce Kraft. The next production is A Buncha Broadway August 29 and 31.

I've been working with Stephanie for a couple months now and I absolutely love it! I love that she…read morefocuses in on technique and your authentic style first before working on transferring those skills to whatever songs you want to sing (aka she sets you up for long term/more success!!). I originally came to her because I know that singing can transfer into speaking skills, and I speak and teach all over the country. I've already noticed a huge improvement! Thank you so much, Stephanie

I signed up for lessons hoping to correct a speech impediment I have had since middle school. They…read moreswore this was absolutely possible. After about a month or two, I was getting the wildest compliments during lessons "you're going to be a star" and "embrace the fame thats coming your way" "you are about to be on TV" I didn't understand what was going on or even what this TV show was. I was humble and didn't want to ask questions. Before one of the showcases, I was even supposed to have a private meeting with one of her "producers" to record. After long, I realized the same eager crowd that showed up at these "producer showcases" to perform & impress were mostly the same ones coming to lessons. I was told things like "you'll have album in three years" and because of her connections with music stars.....maybe even a collab with Carrie Underwood. There was also *tremendous* pressure to come online and leave a 5-star review. I felt uneasy that things which seemed private and confidential about other students were shared during lessons. I also realized that she seemed to share things about me that I wish she wouldn't have. I wish that I would have walked away when I got to the point I was at...and never got involved with her "showcases" and her producers. I wish I would have trusted the bad feeling in my gut about all of it. It felt like mind games, with the wild promises, and the producers, and how they never talked to me directly about what was going on. I would be ashamed to talk like this to my voice students, and Mr. Riggs probably wouldn't approve of this business modality either. Now, I am trying to find myself again after the grief this has caused in my life. Which is far more than can be fit in this review.

https://youtu.be/wWwH7NWOAl4…read more 1.5 hour show. Great for adults and kids. Located McDonald and Scottsdale in a small theater. The Davis family makes you feel welcome with cookies and bottled water. The show was above my expectations. My kids 6-13 loved the show. Pass the word. It is the best hidden gem in Scottsdale!

It was my family's first magic show and it was everything we expected but a little more...there was…read morehumor, singing AND belly dancing !!! These 3 entertainers put on one great show ! We were hesitant because the only seating left was in the back row when we purchased the tickets but still bought them hoping for the best and were very happy about it because we could stand if we felt we were missing something on stage due to someones head in the way but honestly it was only to look at the floor stage otherwise you can stiil have a great view from the back row ! Cattle ranch is a little tricky because the street its on is not very lit, in a neighborhood and there is a small sign in the drivway that says circus of illusion that canbe easily missed. Its a very small and intimate venue but it definitely works. They even offered complimentary water and cookies ... Great night for the family !!

Well this place was a treat. I saw Hamnet here yesterday, and had a really good first experience…read more The seats are assigned, so that's nice. They also have a nice rock to them and the arm rests can be moved up and out of the way. As this is a dine in theatre, there are little tables set up for plates and drinks. Speaking of food - they have a pretty versatile menu! I splurged and went with the sampler - you get to choose three things, and I went with mozzarella sticks, fries, and chicken tenders. Solid food! The service was awesome. My server was attentive and kind, and made sure I was set throughout my visit. 10/10, no notes. This was a really rad lil time and I'm sure I'll be back :)

Our family went there last night and it was the worst service we have ever had any where!…read more 1. The theater makes it very hard if you want to pay cash. You would think cash works. It would save them2% of what credit card companies charge businesses, 2. My husband accidentally spilled his soda and we tried to alert one of the servers because it was a bad spill it was on the floor and I was concerned that the staff would fall or even a patron could fall. No one seemed to care. So I went to ask for a manger and the manger was extremely rude to me. I explained to her about the spill and concern that if it's not cleaned up someone could slip and fall. She didn't care. Did she want a law suite? So she finally came with a terrible attitude. She wiped the floor and with the same towel she used on the floor she used to wipe the table where food is served to you.. How gross! I couldn't even finish my dinner!!! 3. When we used their site to request our refills no one came. So I had to go and find someone to get our refills. I brought the refills. Our server never came. 4. Then I had to hunt someone down to get our receipt so they could use the gift card you have to use if you use cash. Which is a pain! Then the server had the nerve to ask for a tip! She didn't do anything! She didn't bring any food to us someone else did, I had to go and get my own refill and she wants a tip for what? We will never go back there again!!!!