This is an intimate little community theater. They have limited parking if you're going for a…read morebigger show. It's not a fancy theater and it has seen better days. However, the show was great and the sound was perfect.

If you're claustrophobic, this is not the place for you. The seats are very close together and it…read morewas too warm in theater. That combination gave me an anxiety attack and had to walk out.

Came here for the first time for my son's school JamApp event…read more The place is clean including the bathrooms. The lobby to the auditorium is small. The auditorium itself is a good size. The presentation was at the gym. The only drawback was the way they covered the flooring was not secured. Saw a few people tripped , thank god nobody fell. They served appetizer outside the auditorium, it was not practical in the cold weather. It should have been in the lobby. Yelp.Com/list/yelp-100-challenge.

We came here to see Beauty and the Beast, which was very well done and we enjoyed it a lot…read more However, the process of entering the theater itself and some of the employees brought down my score significantly. They opened the doors very late, and in consequence, the entire lobby was absolutely PACKED with people, and you couldn't even move. Plus there were no seats, so my grandma who has a hard time walking had to stand for more than 20 minutes and was visibly in pain by the end of it. On top of that, a certain gentleman who seemed to be the lead of the employees was extremely rude when showing us where are seats were, and would even go down each and every aisle harassing people who still had their phones out. He would even stand there and stare at you until you put it away, even if it was 5 minutes before the show. Is that really necessary? Can't you just make an announcement over the PA like a normal theater, and if you still see people, then by all means... Go ask them to POLITELY put away their phones. Also, the narrator in the beginning of the play was incredibly difficult to understand with all of the music, they should put it together better. Overall, I'm sure they do some other amazing shows and it's worth going, but we felt management should know about these complaints.

I am a huge Avenue Q fan and I have been trying to catch their show but I missed them the last time…read morethey were in town at the Pantages Theatre. This year I was on top of their schedule and I was pleased to discover that they would be performing at the Claire Trevor Theatre at UC Irvine. I was able to purchase tickets for the event online and the tickets were mailed to me within a week. There are discounted tickets for military, seniors, students and of course ALUMNI!! Zot Zot!! If you are not familiar with the UCI campus, I recommend parking at the Mesa Parking Structure (4004 Mesa Rd, Irvine, CA). Level 3 has a bridge that connects the structure over to the Arts Plaza. If you don't see a map, just keep an eye out for building #711. If you see box office windows, you have successfully located the Claire Trevor Theatre. The Claire Trevor Theatre was originally known as the Village Theatre. It later became renamed after legendary Emmy and Oscar Award winning actress Claire Trevor. Not only was so talented in the arts, but she was also a philanthropist. In her retirement she spent a lot of time with the UCI School of the Arts and their students. Upon her death her family donated $10 million to the school and thus the school had the money to rebuild the theater and to rename it in her honor. If you are not familiar with Avenue Q, they are a Tony award winning musical that is an adult version of Sesame Streets. Their performance addresses real social issues that we face in our lives. They addressed controversial issues like racism and homosexuality and how things would be better if we were honest about our feelings. They question one's purpose in life and how to deal with disappointment. Most importantly they stressed out that helping others is a reward in itself and it can bring you fulfillment when you are feeling lost. The performance was spectacular!! It was beyond the scope of my expectations. I am trying really hard to sensor myself to not ruin the plot for anyone who has not seen it. I just want to commend all of the cast who were SO TALENTED!! They were able to make the puppets portray real emotions and real arm movements all while singing and being in complete sync with their character. I have the upmost respect for their skills and passion for the stage. My favorite character and the character I relate to the most is Kate Monster and I wanted to cry during one of her songs, "There's a fine, fine line between love... And a waste of time."

I would admit it that I have never had attended a play before, but as of tonight, I would be a fan…read moreof it. A play called living out at UCI school of Arts. An illegal alien mother tried to blend in this society by getting a job as a caretaker so that to earn enough money to bring her other kid from Guatemala over. Her husband also worked odd jobs so they could save the money. In the end , by saving her employers child but could not saved her own. The actors of this play were awesome and well prepared and professional. The storyline was excellent and easy to comprehend especially with today's climate and political highly unpopular. This was a very interesting story with people from different backgrounds and customs, it was an excellent writer and also superb acting by the cast members, also with that people the scenes...

Both of our children have made lifelong memories and friends at Top Hat. Shannon and James are…read moreunbelievably dedicated to providing a quality theater performance experience. They are fun and extremely patient in their direction. The cost to participate is much more affordable than other companies we've experienced and, quite frankly, the experience as a parent is much better. Much less stress in their never ending accommodation. Thanks for all you do!

Excellent example of teen theatre at its best. The acting, singing, and choreography were all first…read morerate. Couldn't have expected better if it were a college production.

Garden Grove has a brilliant Shakespeare Company bring well staged modern versions of the…read moreplaywright's ancient classics . Your high school play is a poor comparison and so would be most of the stodgier tradition stuff that you would imagine. The Tempest in this version takes place on an exotic island perhaps in Asia and performed with music, dance, rhythmic drumming and imaginative staging as with most of new theatrical companies. I can not say that I am a fan of Shakespeare's art but I enjoy good live performances of all types of theatrics & music. This Shakespeare Company does do that very well.

Amazing inexpensive Shakespeare, right here in downtown Garden Grove, CA of The OC…read more I have seen super star Hollywood actors plus actresses perform a radio show here. Then we went to their phenomenal production of William Shakespeare's Midsummer's Night Dream featuring a local OC-based Thaitian dance troupe. Pluses: An abundance of FREE Parking! They only have a very small dedicated parking lot. But no worries. You can readily park on the street for free all right within 1 block of the theater. Bring a picnic lunch and get here early. You can spread out and enjoy it on the grass of the park which is right outside of the theater. They sell beer, wine, and soda. Bring some singles with you. You won't be disappointed.

Orange County's annual new play festival. Invariably I get to see some wonderful new short plays…read more This year there are also some full-length plays, "Fabulous Monsters" and "Grace Note." I'm familiar and a fan of Chapman University's Prof. Tamiko Washington's varied work. So when I heard she was staging a variation of "Hamlet," I knew I wanted to see it. This is an annual late August festival.

This was an amazing experience for my 3 year old son. He was able to see his 1st live show and ALSO…read moreinteract with them afterwards. He was talking about Ariel and mermaids the entire way home so I know this will be a permanent memory that we all can cherish as a family. Place holder for a longer review.

Broadway on Tour is the best community theater in Orange County. Their kids are top notch and the…read moreshows are titles everyone wants to see. Looking forward to seeing Sweeney Todd opening this weekend.

I went for the Glass, he went for the Kafka…read more May 5. While apparently the rest of the city was freely downing Cinco de Mayo tacos and tequila, we attended the final performance of the production of the opera In The Penal Colony at The Studio Theater CSULB. This is a fine small auditorium, well planned and comfortable. That comfort is essential for full attention to be given to the many aspects, somber and sober, of this excellent (with caveat) production. First, the raison d'être for my attending. I find that this opera is one of Philip Glass' most stunningly beautiful. The string quintet, though mounted out of sight, was the engine for this brilliant study of a killing "machine". The strong voices of tenor Doug Jones and baritone Zeffis Quinn Hollis were superb. I consider this an important work well developed and well measured by conductor Andreas Mitisek. I would not want to engage in criticism out of my realm. The book of Kafka's short stories is bedside awaiting me to pick it up. Somewhere along the line in the twentieth century, opera went slightly mad in its desire to stage productions that meet modern needs. (Next season's King Arthur [as a comic book superhero] by Henry Purcell in collaboration with whimsically juvenile-loving Musica Angelica arouses much curiosity. Get ready kids.) Kafka wrote of inhumanity and absurdity of humans over a hundred years ago. The added text from the student's ensemble personal incarcerations diminished that theme. There was an important point to make, no question, but youth personalized stories led to unanswered questions and reduced their message. Corral students freedom of speech, really? Really that's the kid's sugar treat. Poor staging revolved around stomping students many with muddy line delivery. Stage direction to place them behind a stark curtain (à la Julie Taymor, à la wayang kulit) and silent for ultimate expressiveness was inspired. Poorly developed as a Greek chorus but when given the opportunity to act, Morgan Pimental, John E. Pizzini, Matthew Limas and especially Mark Oliver ably shone through the ponderous choreography.

Long Beach Opera is a small company. Size doesn't matter. Most of the voices are good and the…read moreorchestra is stronger than their size would indicate. Their venue (the Terrace Theater) does not have the best acoustics, but they are doing edgier productions that what you see at the neighboring Los Angeles Opera. I am a fan.