I had the absolute pleasure of attending the opening night of the 30th Anniversary run of #ChristmasCanteen at @aurora.theatre, and let me tell you--it was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season! I am truly so glad I got to experience this festive masterpiece. From the moment the curtain went up, the production was pure holiday magic! The set, the dazzling lights, and the powerful live band were incredible. Major kudos to all the unseen heroes behind the scenes--the stagehands, lighting designers, and choreographers. Every single detail was so meticulously crafted and flawlessly executed! The Cast and the Heart But the cast... wow! I've never witnessed such a large ensemble be so flawlessly in sync with each other. As someone with a background in theatre, I was actively counting beats as each performer hit their mark--it was a true masterclass in ensemble precision! What truly touched my heart was the moment the ensemble chose to honor our vets--the genuine respect and beautiful fashion in which they did it was unlike anything I have ever seen on stage! It's a moment of profound gratitude and connection. Behind the Scenes Dedication Even during intermission, the spirit of excellence continued! Every usher and server handled the busy crowds heading to the snack bar and bathrooms with such pride and professionalism. It's truly wonderful to see a team execute their jobs with such care. A special note: while this is Ann-Carol Pence's last time performing, she remains an intricate and cherished part of the company and isn't going anywhere! Her legacy shines brightly throughout the show. I had the most incredible, heartwarming night out! A huge thank you to @auroratheatre for the gracious invite. Get Your Tickets Don't miss your chance to see this spectacular holiday tradition! #ChristmasCanteen runs now through December 21st. Get your tickets and explore their other outstanding upcoming shows at auroratheatre.com. I'm not always great with words here, but I'll have a few more festive details in my upcoming blog feature! Stay tuned! #ashsaidit read more

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Amazing place and many plays staff members are very friendly meet lots family and friends keep up us up to dates with new shows a plays

This was simply an Amazing theatre. I Saw Wicked on Divine 9 night and it was top notch for a such small company. I will definitely be going back and checking for more shows. read more

Went to see the Wiz, EXCELLENCE in every sense of the word. Every corner of this new building is immaculate. Even the bathrooms are amazing. Considering the yearly membership, we were so impressed. Highly recommend! read more

JGS Enterprises is a great business, and I highly recommend them! They replaced wood trim that was rotted all around the exterior of my house, installed new gutters, replaced my fence, and replaced an exterior door, all the weather stripping on my windows and doors, screen door, and the screens on my porch. Then they painted the entire exterior of the house. It looks like a new house now! I have had so many compliments on the new look from neighbors and family. I am very pleased! Communication was excellent, and Greg was on site every day to make sure everything was going smoothly. I would absolutely use this company again! read more

Came here to see the one-woman show, Knead, which was fantastic! The Metro Waterproofing stage is a fairly small theatre, but the set was so cozy and felt like home. On top of that, they even baked actual bread during the 90-minute show, so the smell of freshly baked bread was awesome near the end of the show. The only issue I had was with the seats. They were super uncomfortable and could use some upgrading. However, this is overall a great theatre! read more

Saw the play "Knead" in the Metro Waterproofing stage, which is my very favorite stage because it feels like home! This one woman play was EXCELLENT, and bread was actually baked during the production! It lasted roughly 90 minutes with no intermission. Not only did the set look great, but the smell of baking bread was wonderful! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I didn't get to taste the bread . read more

Beautiful new theater. Not a bad seat in the house.! Beautiful clean bathrooms. Seats are comfortable. Wish they would've given you a little more room so you could get out if you need to nice Bar . Lots of great restaurants nearby. This place is a win will be back. read more

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Went with my son's kindergarten class today to see the 3 Little Pigs. It was so cute and the facility was nice and well coordinated. We didn't have any food so no services were needed. The actors were phenomenal and the play was adorable and perfect for this age. read more

The theater is nice and the performances are professionally produced. It is overall a very pleasant experience and we typically enjoy going to the shows. However, please be aware that all of their shows are NOT family friendly. We have been to two shows that included very adult themes. One of the shows we actually got up and left half way through because of the graphically depicted sexual portrayal. The most recent show was morally deficient and used a lot of unneeded profanity and sexual depictions which included acting out multiple scenes of adultery, including once scene that depicted oral sex. At one point there were three pairs of characters on stage engaging in some sort of adulterous sexual act depiction at the same time in some sort of theatrical orgy . The sad thing is that none of the language and the explicitnesses were necessary and actually detracted from the story. The moral take aways from the show were adultery is ok if you aren't happy in your marriage and everyone is doing it, it's ok for a married doctor to have intimate sexual relationships with an active patient, and if you do all of these things you will inherit a diner from a nasty old man when he dies and everyone will live happily ever after. The one virtuous thing that was present was that the main character didn't have an abortion when she found out she was pregnant and didn't want the baby. This is all so sad for an otherwise quality venue. read more

We went to a Christmas performance of a Christmas carol. It was the most bizarre thing, It was basically a one man show. He attempted to play every character in the story. It was odd, probably won't visit again. The biggest letdown is that they're bringing all these drag themed events to the community. There's a big screen outside advertising a few Drag events on a pretty frequent basis. If you want to keep those things out of Lawrenceville and Gwinnett as a whole, avoid this place. read more

Went to see the Color Purple on 8/17. It was amazing. The cast, the choreography, the music, vocals, everything was incredible! Everyone put their heart into this show and it was amazing. The theater is beautiful and the seats are comfortable. You can see from every angle. There are great restaurants around so grab a bite before or after the show. They sell snacks and drinks at the theater but if you're looking for "real food", grab something before you go. I can't wait for my next event! read more

Attended the Motown Musical at the Aurora Theatre. It is a very intimate theatre where the seats are plush, comfortable, and you can see the show. read more

Aurora Theatre is located on Pike St. in Downtown Lawrenceville. They opened their doors in 2007, and the building used to be a church. You can still appreciate the architecture, and style. Aurora Theatre has become the largest arts organization in Gwinnett County and the fastest growing professional theatre in the state of Georgia. They do great seasonal shows such as Lawrenceville Ghost Tours for Halloween or Christmas Canteen for Christmas. This is such a nice, and cute idea for a date night, and it's perfect for kids too. I love the fact that they're Atlanta's only professional Spanish language theatre. How cool? They have a full bar inside, and also offer soft drinks, coffee, tea, and some snacks, but do not offer any food services. However, there's so many good restaurant choices walking distance from the theatre. There's also SO much free parking around the area, either in the City of Lawrenceville Parking Deck or near the Pike street entrance as well as free parking throughout the downtown square. I totally recommend checking them out. They have so many shows from different cultures, and themes. The actors are very professional, and the staff is super friendly. ESPAÑOL Aurora Theatre se encuentra en Pike St. en el centro de Lawrenceville. Abrieron sus puertas en 2007, y el edificio solía ser una iglesia. Todavía se puede apreciar la arquitectura y el estilo. Aurora Theatre se ha convertido en la organización artística más grande del condado de Gwinnett y el teatro profesional de más rápido crecimiento en el estado de Georgia. Hacen grandes espectáculos de temporada como Lawrenceville Ghost Tours para Halloween o Cantina de Navidad para Navidad. Esta es una idea tan agradable y linda para una noche de cita, y también es perfecta para los niños. Me encanta el hecho de que son el único teatro profesional en español de Atlanta. Tienen un bar completo en el interior y también ofrecen refrescos, café, té y algunos bocadillos, pero no ofrecen ningún servicio de comida. Sin embargo, hay muchas buenas opciones de restaurantes a poca distancia del teatro. También hay MUCHO estacionamiento gratis alrededor del área, ya sea en la Cubierta de Estacionamiento de la Ciudad de Lawrenceville o cerca de la entrada de la calle Pike, así como también estacionamiento gratis en toda la plaza del centro. Recomiendo echarles un vistazo. Tienen tantos espectáculos de diferentes culturas y temas. Los actores son muy profesionales y el personal es muy amable. read more

Absolutely love this venue. We are season ticket holders + The List subscriber for the first time this year. We have been to several shows and have loved all of them. The theatre has always been well kept when we were there. read more

I saw a Donna Summers show here and it was excellent! I would not recommend their Motown Christmas show.

Great local venue in downtown Lawrenceville that is only going to get better. Tonight, Valentines Day 2020, my wife and enjoyed some cabaret music by these very talented ladies who played some music from the band Heart. read more

Aurora Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrenceville, Georgia

First class in every respect! All the seats have good views of the stage. Prices are very reasonable for the excellent quality of the performances. Twice a year there are musicals and the rest of the season has good variety. Free parking in the adjacent garage. Restaurants nearby for a before-theater dinner or after performance drink. The best part is the quality of the actors and actresses and the professional performances. The Autumn, 2017 musical is Hunchback of Notre Dame and it is fantastic. The set and costumes are Amazing. Special prices for seniors and for people under 35. Different surprises on week nights, from free tacos (Tuesdays) to wine and beer(Thursdays). Matinees on weekends. read more

Aurora Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrenceville, Georgia

This aurora theater is a gem to the lawrenceville area. It's nestled right in downtown near the government building and all the food options. I loved the covered parking and walking up a short flight of steps to come into their side entrance. Parking is free! The aurora theater is an old church, with some of the pews still used for their snack bar table. It has a grand theater, which seats roughly around 200+, and a smaller stage area with seating around 75+ max. The grand theater has the most comfortable seats in it! This time of year, Christmas, they host trees sponsored by different companies in the community. So before you walk in to catch your show, you can view 25+ different trees in their lobby. It's a really nice set-up. They also have a full bar and the prices are not crazy at all ($9 for a double gin and sprite in a talk cup is really great). There is also a snack bar, coffee and non-alcoholic drinks. Pricing on shows isn't bad either, considering some shows they have are right off Broadway. They are currently offering a deal on a mini-season pass too where you pay $74 for 3 shows (value of $250 I believe). We went to "12 Dates of Christmas" in the smaller stage room. A little more intimate and close up. I was expecting the show to be more comedy but it was a narrative with some comedy mixed in (a chuckle here and there). I liked the part where she got people up on stage with her bc that was less scripted and more improvised. I even got called up. I think the actor was very talented but could have used more comedy in it. Otherwise a decent show. The staff was very friendly as well, and the bartender was extremely nice. Check out their website if you are close by. They have some great professional shows and it'll save you from going downtown. I know we'll be back to check out some more of their offerings. read more

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This was the greatest time it was such a blast. This band was incredible. They just had a ball up there on stage and they brought us all with them. It was the Earth wind and fire show and I would go back and see them again not a problem. read more

WORTH THE SCHLEP! What a lovely venue! I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. In November we bought last minute tickets to their 'Christmas Canteen.' With nothing to do that day, we assumed it would be a mediocre cruise- style production. Wrong! It was great!!! Talented cast, choreography, singing.... we loved it. In fact, we thought it was such a professional performance that we ended up buying a mini subscription to the spring season.... and Lawrenceville is hardly around the corner. Last weekend we saw their production of the comedy, "Bob.' With quick and clever writing and spot-on performances we again were surprised that this appeared in Lawrenceville, of all places. But it did. And it does. And it's here. And if you like theater, you should check this place out. It's worth the schlep. read more

We've been fans since Anthony and Ann-Carol were at the Duluth venue and now have season tickets again. We saw Sweet Charity on Saturday afternoon and enjoyed it. Just before this we saw Fox on the Fairway, an excellent production. read more

Aurora Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrenceville, Georgia

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Go Lawrenceville. A very nice facility that puts on high quality shows. Small so all the seats are good. Many sell outs so plan ahead. Good acoustics. Restaurants are close. Enjoy your evening. read more

The show was fine, but this was the worst management experience I've ever seen with a theater. The parking is a BIG PROBLEM: the main parking deck gets filled to capacity, and there's no easy way to turn around. That is, the top of the deck does have a couple of parking spaces grid-lined "out" to for drivers turn around in, but sometimes people park in those; the lowest deck doesn't even have that...so, if the deck is full, prepare to be stuck. Once I finally extracted myself from the deck and looked for an appropriate spot nearby--ah, Saturday matinee, the Post Office down the street should not complain about a car in their empty lot, right? Wrong. After circling three sides of the Aurora to finally find glass doors that opened, I was told the P.O. does not appreciate theater-goers' cars in their lot. There are, however, two satellite parking lots--7 minutes' and 3 minutes' walk, respectively. After relocating my car and reentering the building, I was directed to the older theater at the back. I told the receptionist the performance "couldn't" be there as I'd tried all the glass doors in that direction as I came in earlier, but she replied that "It's open now." Turns out, there is a small, very well hidden door past a brick corridor in the alley/courtyard between the old theater building and the new. No signage at all. Once I got there, the people at the front desk directed me back but the ushers had long retreated. I have never had a badly mismanaged theater experience. It doesn't take much: (1) Really, FIX the first parking deck to have cones edging proper turnaround spots that no one can "commandeer" as a spot. Use red or yellow paint grids to make demark it. (2) Ensure every emailed ticket and order confirmation contains the street addresses of the theater AND the THREE parking lots. (3) NAME each theater and/or building and put the name, along with a map sketch, on the tickets /confirmations so that people know which one they are going to. (4) OPEN ALL the main doors that lead an active stage, and have signage on all adjacent areas indicating which direction to take for each stage. (5) If the performance has started and the ushers have moved on, the reception desk should hand out programs. In the end, the audio in the theater had not been set up properly, and the background music was drowning out the singers through the whole first half. Meanwhile, I had arrived very frustrated and over half an hour late for the performance. I can't imagine the circumstances when I would willingly return to the Lawrenceville Arts Center. read more

UPDATE TO PREVIOUS REVIEW: I recently wrote a negative review detailing an poor customer service experience with the theater. However, within three business days, I was contacted by the Box Office Manager who was most apologetic for the misunderstanding and made a true effort to resolve the issue to my satisfaction. I truly appreciated their attention to resolving the issue and once again feel confident in recommending the theater. read more

Don't let the small size of this theatre fool you--it packs a powerful punch. I have a coworker who gets season passes to the shows here and she has been raving to me about it for a while now. So when she had an extra ticket to a show, I tagged along. It was for a performance of "In the Heights." It was my first time seeing anything at the Aurora, and I must say that I was impressed. While the theatre is on the smaller side, I didn't experience any issues with sound, sight, etc. even though I was positioned on the last row against the wall. The set was really awesome too, and they did such a good job with the space they had. They had rooms that opened walls up for a peek inside, a two-story house where people danced on the "fire escapes" or balconies, and just a generally really nice set for such a small space. The blocking was also very tight, as the whole ensemble would come out and dance and sing and move and interact very fluidly. I found my eyes darting rapidly back and forth in an effort to take in everything that was happening on the stage. PARKING/MISC. DIRECTION TIPS: There is a free parking garage located behind/next to the theatre. It's not necessarily signed well, but I was thankful that free parking was available. If you go past the building and loop around to the other side where the garage is located, there is a one-way "road" that is running the opposite way of how you want to enter. So you'll want to enter near the sign, and drive back past the building to find the parking garage. PROS: -Creative with their limited space. The set was really awesome! They even had "lamp posts" situated around the entrances to give it a more urban feel. -Acting and singing was wonderful. -Small, intimately sized theatre. -Acoustics were clear and easily understood. -Not a bad seat in the house, despite the fact that I was sitting in the further seats against the wall. CONS: -Parking is a bit confusing, and I drove past the lot the first time. -Really far from where I live... I was in the car over an hour. THE VERDICT: I loved the smallish, intimate-seating situation. Despite being literally flush with the wall, I had no issues hearing or seeing anything, so I'm pretty sure there's not a bad seat in the whole theatre. "In the Heights" was an excellent show, with wonderful acting and singing. The guy playing Usnavi sounded so similar to Lin-Manuel that I was surprised. Spot on enough for me to do a double take when he first came out there. While the parking can be annoying, at least it's free. Honestly, the only thing keeping me from frequenting this theatre more is that I live so dang far. read more

A sensational Five-Star Theater Experience ... (and it's in "Lawrenceville, Georgia" --- of all places!) Yes, it's true... Lawrenceville has a performing arts complex in the heart of the "city" that rivals the best theaters in New York and beyond. First class all the way... consider it off-off-off-off-Broadway... After having been to some of the finest theaters in metro Atlanta, We were not expecting much from Aurora's new space. We had been in their last space in Duluth and found it charming but this current space blows the old one away... The lobby is well-appointed and spacious (though still small enough to get clogged as people meander around and gather in the "right of way"... [SIdebar: Please People! Take your chitty-chatty selves to a corner and get out the bloody way!!! Have a little of the common courtesy you were taught in kindergarden! End Sidebar] The seats inside the theater are all well-situated affording excellent sight lines from any angle. The balcony is a charming place to sit and has a fully functioning elevator to get you up and down, besides stairs. There is a bar as well, with full libations but they are "NYC" pricey, though you cant fault them since that's obviously a trend... A free parking garage is attached to the complex, though be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the signs leading you there... in actuality, there appears to be enough street level parking serving the downtown L-ville area to allow you to skip the garage... If you've ever been on the fence about attending a performance at Aurora, don't hesitate any longer ... this theater and it's company are professional, trendy and fabulous. read more

Attended a showing last night of the play "Split in Three". I had some difficulty hearing everything that was being said. The actors were good and the story was interesting. I thought the acoustics were lacking and the sound system could use an upgrade. read more

I absolutely LOVE this place! The first time I went to Aurora was the first time I'd ever seen a play and I was very impressed. The theater is perfect, there is not a bad seat in the house and the actors and actresses are outstanding! I saw Betrayal in October 2012 and went back recently to see their comedy show on a Saturday. The comedy show was also amazing and I enjoyed it thoroughly! It is so nice to be able to see a comedy show or a play locally without having to travel downtown! I would recommend Aurora to anyone looking for a good time! It's good for dates or families and all ages from children to elderly! They even have a bar so you can enjoy a glass of wine, beer, or a cocktail while you are enjoying a play or comedy show. I'm thinking about getting some season tickets! read more

Had a fabulous evening at the opening of Maytag Virgin! Congratulations, Aurora Theater company, on yet another sensational season of performances! It was really great celebrating opening night with you at Oyster Bay, one of my favorite seafood restaurants. read more

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Beautiful place to see a play or concert.

My wife and I enjoy the Aurora Theatre and so we invited another couple to see This Wonderful Life with us this past Saturday. We were all blown away by the show. It's a Wonderful Life is one of my all-time favorite movies and Jeremy Aggers brought it to life in a moving and powerful way. The set, the effects, and the overall production values were high quality. It's no wonder Jeremy won the Suzi Bass. We'll definitely be back for more entertainment at the Aurora! read more

I'm surprised I can't find other "YELPS" for the Historic Downtown Lawrenceville Ghost Tours... Perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place(?) but we had so much fun on the tour I felt the need to YELP about it. We took the tour Halloween weekend, so we were already in the "spirit". Our tour guide wore traditional garb from the 1800's and carried a lantern. He started the tour in front of the Aurora Theater on the square. He remained entertaining throughout the 90 minute tour and it clearly was a "vocal chord workout" for him because some of the stories are told right on the sidewalk, along side the busy street traffic. I'm not sure how much of the tour includes actual facts about Historic downtown Lawrenceville, because every story seemingly includes a spirit of a past Lawrenceville resident or founding father. If you believe all the stories, then you have to accept virtually every building on the square is haunted! This tour is great for families. The stories are "clean" enough for little ears, yet "tawdry" enough to to keep the adults interested. Lawrenceville has a very interesting history (I didn't know Larry Flynt was shot on the square)... The tours are limited to about 30 people. This is real life "live" acting by the tour guide on an active street (which is quite different than stage acting), so if you like the theater, you will enjoy this tour. Value = The total cost for my family (2 adults and a 10 year old) was $42.00. Not bad for 90 minutes of entertainment. The fact that it was a chilly autumn evening only added to the experience. Give the tour a try! read more

Dont judge a theater by its location. We walked up to the front door, and the building didnt look like much, but it was beautiful when we walked inside. A younger lady welcomed us and asked if we were there for the ghost tour, we were so we walked over and signed in. The decor inside was very warm and inviting. There was a medium sized concession in the lobby and seating. Im assuming they do the local plays and concerts there? Our ghost walk met up in the lobby and then our themed host led us off into the darkness to learn about the spooky town and its history. Id reccomend it , we had a great time and learned a bunch of town history. read more

We saw the Saturday Matinee at the Aurora Theater on December 9, 2017. It was absolutely spectacular. The cast is phenomenal, especially Lyndsay Ricketson Brown, Jen Macqueen, Chani Maisonet, and Christian Magby. I hope that there is some talent scout in the audience for at least one of the Christmas Canteen's performances so that Christian Magby can be "discovered." He is absolutely amazing. If you are a talent scout reading this, it will be worth every penny you'll spend on a ticket to watch these four actors do their parts in this performance. The entire cast sang, "Hallelujah," and it was a version written, I believe, for this show. I had tears running down my face throughout the song because it was done with such genuine feeling. Thank you Aurora Theater for choosing these castmembers for this show. I truly could sit through it at least five more times! :) read more

Very nice theatre. Friendly people and very helpful. Took in a few shows and enjoyed it. I also stopped by for information and was greeted with a very friendly and informative person. I'd recommend taking in a show here. read more

You must do the ghost tour with this theater group. This is a great date night, walking tour "story telling" of chilling tales of the spirits that are in limbo of Lawrenceville. This is great for older kids to adults who can walk a mile or so without issue. Interweaved amongst the tales are information tidbits of the rich history of the city. Our guide for the evening was madame Mecabra, and our intimate 7-person tour was a night well spent walking around hearing the stories she told as we hit certain points in the city. read more

Aurora Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrenceville, Georgia

3 stars just because it's so far from Smyrna were I live! Otherwise, nice, affordable theatre experience! I went with the picky lil' girl for a Junie B Jones production. Super cute! She loved it! Trying to get her more exposure to drama, since she voiced interest. Used a Groupon which was a plus!!! Can't beat mommy/ daughter days!!!! read more

A CUTE DOWNTOWN PERFORMANCE VENUE! This little theater is very cute and was once a church. When I visited recently, it was decorated in holiday decor and accented with close to thirty Christmas trees. The trees are part of a local drive to support Toys for Tots and the local food bank. We arrive at the theatre well in advance of the play that we were scheduled to attend but there were two different performances scheduled at the same time, so check your ticket carefully. We discovered that we were in the wrong theater before anything started but that was close! When you enter through the main door you have a performance room on the right which appears to be the primary performance space as it is larger and has actual theater seats. It is very comfortable and there is not a bad seat in the house. The performance room on the right was a more intimate space with cushioned metal chairs that needed to be cleaned. The play that we saw was performed by one man and we were not aware of this prior to attending. We actually misread the program. The actor was phenomenally talented and fully engaged the audience. However, this was just not our cup of tea as we simply missed seeing an ensemble cast. If you go, it is best to dress in light layers and carry a wrap because the forced air is either very cool or very warm. There is no medium and it is just convenient to cover up with a wrap and easily remove it. Although this was not our ideal experience, we will be returning to check out other performances in the future. 12/18 Okay guys, I didn't disclose the following initially because I was so embarrassed but if it will help someone else, I'm willing to disclose it. Here we go: That intimate room has seats that can be seen and visited from the stage. There is no where to hide and you can't quietly leave or enter after the production has started. When I said that the actor engaged the audience, I mean he literally came into the audience while in character and interacted with the members. Now, it is general admission and I happened to get the top seat that was front and center. We were literally eye to eye the entire time. However, I spent the entire time fighting sleep and just trying to stay awake because I was exhausted. Consequently, I received three visits during the performance, once was face to face dialogue, once was to toss glitter on me and others and again just to let me know, he was watching me. I simply whispered to my husband that I was being punished for nodding off but I sucked it up and took it on the chin! So, The moral of the story is that you should not forget to take your nap before the matinee and handle all personal business prior to entering the theater so that you are not a distraction to the performer or others. Sorry, lesson learned! read more

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This theater is a treasure in Lawrenceville! I bring my 10 year old hear many Saturdays out of the year to enjoy Children's Theater performances. Tickets are always only $7 and you can buy punchcard for $50 that allows access to 10 performances. (Well since I can share the punchcard with my daughter so $50 gets the two of us into 5 performances). It works out great. They have a nice little concession stand and you are able to eat snacks in the theater. The shows so far have been AMAZING! Our favorite to date was Cinderella: The Remix. It's a must see! Oh and parking is free which is always a plus! read more