What a great venue. Intimate but still big enough to really get a crowd going. Loved having the…read moreoption of seats vs standing. Solid acoustics. The snack/bar area is limited but not a deal breaker for me. Parking was tough, I wish I would've read reviews before heading there, being totally unfamiliar with the area I was a bit nervous to just park on a random street. We were able to find a spot within a few blocks walking distance.

Rio is a great place to see a show in Santa Cruz. And they get some great names of performers I…read morereally want to see. Plus, I love a seated show (versus standing for three hours). But, beware the bait and switch. You pay a premium for shows here and they'll switch the venue to something less inviting (and standing room only) without giving you the option for a refund. Don't worry... if you have a coveted (even more expense) Gold Circle ticket at Rio- they'll throw in a free poster at the new venue. Tsk. Tsk.

West Theater has been a life changer for my teenager. He has attended Harry Potter camps on up to…read moreimprov groups. They are kind and talented instructors and the curriculum is stellar. This program has given my son a sense of confidence and that is a gift that will last a lifetime.

This little gem of a studio offers classes for all ages and performances year round. I love the…read moreofferings, like improv and playlabs..I need a boot to the behind to motivate myself to attend but once there it's pretty magical. Attentive to details, the staff seems to have as much fun as the students. Makes me miss the SF art scene less and less. SC has the bright shiny shiny right here in my backyard..Lucky us.

Last night, 15JUN26, Kuumbwa once again showed why it's a world class jazz club. Jason Marsalis and…read morehis band laid down the vibe while the sold out audience dined on delicious steelhead and cherry tomato kabobs on a bed of basil pesto rice or a bowl of superb chili. Just another killer show.

Like most locals who value the performing arts, I've attended many shows here over the years. Each…read moretime I've been greeted warmly by staff and felt appreciated. A small venue, there's not a bad seat in the house, but I've found the stools just to the left of the sound mixing boards the best place to be for a complete visual and audio experience. Was no mistake these spots were the first taken on a recent night. Because the venue is small, off stage sounds are obvious and can be distracting. Therefore besides announcing the no photos/video policy, they should also remind patrons to keep conversation to an absolute minimum during the show. Same goes for the employees in the kitchen area clanking utensils - high frequency sounds are especially noticeable. And there's always one goofball who starts applauding before the song has even finished. Re the dinner plates served, quality has dropped a bit over the years. They're still good, just not great like it used to be. Quality counts since venues make their profit off food, drink, and merchandise as ticket revenue go to the artists. Their carrot cake is the bomb so save room for dessert!

At the Colligan Theater to see the play, Sylvia a modern…read moreromance comedy about marriage and their dog.

This is a great company! You really don't have to leave Santa Cruz to experience excellent theater…read more The choices of plays are varied and imaginative-from comedy to serious dramatic, historic, obscure stories. Lovely staff- incredibly helpful-clearly devoted to bringing their passion to Santa Cruz. Beautiful theater space, snack bar. Just a wonderful way to spend an evening or afternoon.

Watched Disclosure Day this past weekend at the Landmark Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz. Before the…read moremovie, I was looking for an outlet to charge my phone and found one next to the elevator near the theater entrance. Standard food and drink offerings were available at the concessions stand with no lines on a slow Saturday afternoon, and a few small tables with seating in the lobby. The auditorium opened about 25 minutes before the listed showtime, then 12 minutes of previews before the start of the feature film. For a non-busy day, auditorium 1 wasn't cleaned very well. Found popcorn and crumbs on my seat and the one next to me, even on the one in front of me, as well as on the ground... not a lot, but it was noticeable. The elevation is minimal, so if someone was sitting in front of me, their head would have probably blocked my view. I did however appreciate that there was ample space between rows. No reclining seats, but they were comfortable and in good condition, with cupholders. No problems with picture or audio, and perfect comfortable temperature inside. A no-frills theater with old school charm and lovely artwork and decor to add a nice touch to my viewing experience. And the movie I saw was out of this world, just what I would expect from Steven Spielberg.

One of the classic theaters still remaining in Santa Cruz and is a wonderful treat to witness a…read moreshow or performance if you have the choice. I've seen a few movies here and each time have had a good viewing experience. They usually offer both popular hits as well as Indie films that may just be starting to gain some traction. Widescreen theater with ample, comfortable seating and pretty good sound system. The interior of the theater is beautiful and really takes you away from the outside world for just a bit. Staff here were friendly and the restrooms are clean. Can't really ask for more! Tip: You likely don't need to pre-order tickets especially if you're not watching during premier week.

This review is focused on the Actors' Theater inside the Arts Center…read more This is a cozy and petite community theater with intimate seating. The stage is close to the audience, which seats around 40 people. This means that there there is not a bad seat in the house. I recently saw a play there titled 8 Tens @ 8, Part 2, which consisted of 8 plays each lasting 19 minutes. I really enjoyed this production and now want to see more plays. In auto the Actors' Theater, there are some sone other shops/offices here that were all closed when I visited.

This is more than just a theater: it also has several small boutiques that sell locally made…read moreartworks, including art quilts, nature-themed sculptures, and so on. The location is fairly convenient, too.

This is actually "Daughters & Sons of the Beach" ukulele club (basically a gathering of locals who…read morelove the nimble sounds of this stringed instrument). We attended the Ukele Jam, which according to their website, occurs every Saturday 10am-12noon behind Crow's Nest, but more accurately behind Java Junction which is perfect for enjoying the entertainment while sipping on your favorite beverages. Seating was easy to find in the back patio of the cafe right in front of the music taking place on the sand. This is a cute and casual event, where the musicians seem to all be having fun. And they don't just play ukuleles, there were other instruments being played as well including the kazoo, upright bass, mandolin, keyboard, bongo, and guitar. This past weekend, they performed songs including Three Little Birds, Twist and Shout, and Have You Ever Seen the Rain. They post their upcoming set list online early in the week, so you can actually see this in advance. This is great free entertainment on the beach if you like live music and are looking for a positive carefree environment to spend time with loved ones.

We saw The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Sunday matinee. The staging was incredible and the…read moreperformances were good. With the exception of Quasimodo (sp?), I did not think that the voices of the leads were as strong as I have seen at other performances. The story as presented was dark and I did not think suitable for grade school children. This was deceiving as it had been advertised highlighting the Disney association. I will, however, to continue to support this wonderful organization

Small theatre , we have seen several musicals here and thoroughly enjoyed them…read more Comfortable seating.

Cute theater highlighting local actors and writers…read more This is the second time I've enjoyed local theater in Santa Cruz. This particular show had 8 ten minute (ish) plays. It's fun to see the creative process at work. Amateur actors mixed in with veterans of the stage are all here. Please note the theater is located in one medium sized building just beyond some businesses and an office or two. I recommend you come and see some of the shows. Support local theater!

Engaging live theatre. The annual 8 Tens at Eight has everything a theatre goer would want…read more.. drama, humor, pathos. It always sells out.

It was my family's first time and I wish we went my toddler was a baby. This place was so cute and…read morehad a lot of activities for kids and adults too. My 4 year old loved the different zones and kept jumping from one section to another. While we were there we joined the science activity and my toddler made an interesting airplane. It was a little busy in the afternoon on a Saturday mainly due to birthday parties. They only have one bathroom so be aware that you might have to wait in line especiallyif theres a party. Other than that, for $10 my kid had a great time for a couple of hours. We'll come when we visit Santa Cruz again.

My kids love this place! It's in the Capitola Mall and easy to get to with plenty of parking. There…read moreis a lot of variety here and plenty of chances for the kids to use their imagination. There were plenty of things to do - a play kitchen, arts and crafts, dinosaurs, cars - it really tailors to a wide range of children. My daughter (6) and my son (3) were never bored - with a daypass, we had access to the facility all day and we actually came back later in the afternoon! I would say one con was that there was only one bathroom (not stalled bathrooms), so depending on how busy it is there may be a wait to use. We were there Saturday morning and it wasn't too busy but when we came back in the afternoon, there was a birthday party and it got busier. The museum closes at 5pm. Definitely a must-visit for when we visit Capitola again!