I took my family (husband and two teens) to see Dear Evan Hanson at The Phoenix Theatre recently…read moreand had a great experience! The show was fabulous and we all really enjoyed it (even my teens who complained about going to a show in the first place) We found the theatre itself easy to access and scored a great parking spot even though we arrived just about 10 minutes before the show was set to start. It said 7:30 start time but probably started closer to 7:45. Tickets were waiting at will call as requested and all of the staff working that evening were super friendly. At the performance we saw, the role of Evan, normally played by Mason Ballard, was played by his understudy, Daniel Shain Graf and he did an excellent job as did the rest of the actors. We purchased some refreshments at intermission, which were very overpriced, but that is to be expected at all entertainment venues these days. Thanks to all of the companies and individuals who contribute to the arts to keep this theatre company going... we will definitely be back!

We went to see Million Dollar Quartet and it was amazing. These musicians killed it. The bass…read moreplayer almost stole the show. You really felt like you were in Memphis at Sun Studio with Elvis and the legends. Parking is free in adjacent lots. There is a bar with snacks and drinks open before the show, and if you want to order a drink ahead of time for intermission it will be ready and waiting for you. Great venue.

I checked out Herberger Theater Center for the first time for an event hosted by Fever: The Jury…read moreExperience. Located downtown, this charming theater puts on various performances (plays, musicals, and The Empire Strips Back (a Star Wars burlesque parody) to name a few. Parking is notoriously bad downtown but here's a cheat code: if you park at the Arizona Center's parking garage, the Herberger will validate your parking ticket for a deep discount off of the fee. It's not free but it's a deep discount. Just talk to the box office and they will take care of you. The theater itself is a charming, old-school theater. We enjoyed the event and the seats were relatively comfortable. We were on the upper level and didn't have any issues seeing the stage. In the lobby, you can find some concessions selling drinks and snacks. I went with a beer. You're allowed to bring it into the theater, but there are no cup holders. Upon leaving, I found out that for certain parts of the year, there are free concerts in the grassy area outside of the theater. I'll definitely have to check that out at some point, and also come back for another perfromance!

Not many styled shows make their way here that care to my liking, but recently I've seen an uptick…read moreand find myself looking more and more at upcoming events. I've been here recently now for 2 shows that I would call nontraditional, but man, they were great shows, and I had such a blast. The layout of the theater is great. I was on the 1st level for one show and on the 2nd level for the 2nd one. Despite being on the 2nd level, it still gave a personal feel and kept us engaged. If you don't like heights, make sure to arrive early to get in the lower level, as once you're on the upper level, it does go shallow & up. Getting cocktails from the bar downstairs typically has a long line, but if you go upstairs, there's usually another make-shift bar to help offset it. I didn't take advantage of any parking, as I used a ride service to the venue, as I just wanted to get dropped off at the door. It's hit or miss with parking, especially if there is something going on at the arena (basketball, concert, baseball game, etc...) Looking forward to the next event.

Hidden in downtown Phoenix, you will find The Rose Theater, where the production of Drunk…read moreShakespeare happens. In a small intimate theater, portrayed as The Library, one actor takes 5 shots of their drink of choice while still acting out the play Romeo and Juliet. It's a mix of comedy, improv, and ridiculousness that also allows for audience participation. The actors were amazing while being able to change the direction of the story. We had the convenience of ordering drinks and snacks right from our seats and having them delivered. We had a great time full of laughs! I highly recommend this hidden gem if you're looking to do something off the beaten path! Great for date nights, ladies night out, bachelor and bachelorette parties, you name it. If you're looking for something inappropriate, look no further lol!

Small cozy theater. You line up under the valet tunnel of sorts, and you offer your name once they…read moreopen the doors. No physical tickets. They offer you an optional shot once you come in, then usher you to your seats. You have a qr code menu to order any food or drink and it will be brought to you quickly. As for the most important part, the show itself. It was a fantastic mix of improv and classic Shakespeare. You will laugh and you will enjoy yourself. Highly recommended.

One of my favorite artists was touring with a Phoenix stop at Monarch Theatre. The show was delayed…read moreover an hour which didn't start the night off on the right foot. Additionally, it was very crowded and loud. Personally, I'm not a fan of this location and would only visit again if it was an artist I really liked (like Ekoh). I didn't see beverages/food, but it was extremely crowded and could have missed that being an offering.

I came here to see a concert last night. Worst club I've ever been to. The bouncers are rude, the…read moresound system isn't good. There were 2 bartends for a packed house. I lost my wallet inside and when trying to get back inside or communicate to the bouncers the issues, I was dismissed due to his "long line". Will I return? Never.

My most recent visit was to the Phoenix Theatre Company to watch Jersey Boys, and I must say, the…read moreperformance was truly electrifying! The talent, energy, and passion displayed on stage from the beginning to the end were incomparable. This has become one of my go-to places for entertainment...

Definitely an interesting experience, but I admit straight away that this experience is a little…read morepricey. I like the fact that there are daring enough to challenge the audience with nudity (both male and female) in a very tasteful artistic way and I'd give them high regard for that. It honestly reminds me a lot of what the Greeks used to do through the history of their plays and performances. There were a few minor things that I had disagreements about when I went. First off it may have just been that performance but the play I attended just didn't see them that well written. Again it could've been a bad play on this attendance and it doesn't mean I won't give it another chance to see if the writing of gotten a little better. On a positive side, it was good to see them use actors who are new to the acting experience to get them seasoning. So when you go you will definitely see local upcoming talent on stage. The other negative part I have was the sound quality. They had to use headset with microphone which I thought took away from the experience of watching one on stage. There are a lot of feedback issues, dropped sound quality, and the likes which took away from the experience. I think though this too could be rectified with a little work backstage for the next time. I would like to go again and see what they have to offer. Definitely This place gives you a whole new perspective to the idea of theater which I think is a good idea. It is a pricey ticket though so be forewarned.

What beautiful hall! I saw the holiday pops show a few years ago and most recently Madama…read moreButterfly. My first opera. I was impressed.

As the self-appointed king of events, I'm back at it with another review of a venue. This time,…read moreSymphony Hall. Located in downtown Phoenix, this venue, you guessed it, houses the Phoenix Symphony. Though that's not all. They also host ballet performances and opera performances, too. I've stopped by three times for matinee performances on Sunday: the Mask of Zorro (opera), a Dia de Los Muertos performance (symphony), and Rick Steves' Europe (symphony). Since this is downtown we're talking, parking isn't easy. You'll either have to park in a garage/surface lot or on the street. I'm morally opposed to paying for parking, but I've had to shell out a couple of dollars to use metered parking ten minutes or so from the venue. Minus the parking difficulties, the rest of the experience is pretty awesome. You go through metal detectors to get in, but the line moves fast. They have complimentary water, which is always a nice touch. There are multiple areas to buy refreshments and snacks (beer, wine, liquor, soft drinks, desserts, coffee, etc.). And most importantly, the theater is beautiful. Pretty much every seat in the house is solid. And the prices tend to be affordable. They also have a nice variety of performances throughout the year. As a lover of the arts, Symphony Hall will continue to be a frequent entertainment option for me. If you've never seen a symphony performance, ballet, or opera, I highly encourage you to give it a try!

A night at The Nash is the perfect date night for anyone looking for a classy, cozy place to enjoy…read morejazz, drinks, and conversation. This RoRo staple has gotten even better since the remodel a couple years back! We most recently stopped by for a free First Friday performance, when a lovely quartet took the stage. Seats cleared out quickly during the break, and we were able to grab a nice side view. The acoustics were perfect all throughout the room -- loud enough to be immersed in the music, but quiet enough for groups to easily chat. The gorgeous lighting and velvety curtains behind the stage really add to the ambiance. The staff was super attentive, walking around to take drink and food orders. The food isn't anything crazy, but I still enjoyed the charcuterie plate as little snack (and a way to support this amazing local venue during the free set!). Highly recommend this incredible jazz club!

The Nash is a cool experience, especially if you go on one of their reduced price events. It is…read moreamazing to have a live jazz venue with established, touring musicians, as well as local artists with real talent. Since the remodel, it has a really swanky vibe that gives you that jazz club feeling. (Just bring a sweater because it can get really chilly in there!) Unfortunately, the drink situation is a bit of a racket. You cannot get water without paying for it (they only will sell pricey bottled waters), and even if you're just getting soda water from the fountain, they will charge your four dollars for a refill! My husband paid $12 for 3 small cups of soda water with a bunch of ice on a recent visit. You can buy cases of seltzer for that price! Their cocktails and wines are on point with other local establishments, but charging $4 for water - especially in Phoenix - feels a little scammy.

After watching a show at Stand Up Live Phoenix, we stopped by the Copper Blues pub. It was honestly…read moresuch a vibe and the music performance was absolutely incredible. Service was quick and the drinks were great. I absolutely love it here. We were able to sit right up at the bar without having to wait or have a reservation. The bartender was fabulous. She was very prompt with service. The menu has a wide variety of drinks and food. Highly recommend it.

Note that you can get your parking validated if you park in the parking structure below this…read morerestaurant. This place has a very dark atmosphere. I tried out their steak nachos and deviled eggs. This cost $36.12 which includes tax and tip. I do like that they give a lot of nachos but they just weren't very good. The deviled eggs were nice. Service could have been more attentive since I was there at a time where there wasn't enough people.