This review is for the beginner adult ballet class that I took through SweatNet. The Grand Rapids…read moreBallet is the only professional ballet company in the state of Michigan, which is so amazing to me. I have only ever been to one performance at the ballet, but have always been interested in seeing more at this theatre. I grew up taking dance, including ballet, and have always been interested in dance. Plus Center Stage was one of my favorite movies in the early 2000s, haha. The Grand Rapids Ballet also includes a ballet school for students ages 3-19, plus adult and Adaptive Dance classes. The beginner adult class is open to anyone and you can request a complimentary trial class. Beyond that, classes are usually $15 for drop ins, or you can get a 10-class punch card for $120. Classes are on weekday evenings from 6:30-8 pm. They also offer adult intermediate classes. Parking is limited in their lot, and the night I went there were lots of parents picking up kids so I ended up parking on the street. The class was taught by Attila Mosolygo, one of the instructors at the school. We started with warm ups and lots of barre work, focusing on strength, lower body movements, and flexibility. There weren't a ton of modifications given but with my limited knowledge of ballet I made it through as best as I could. We ended with a bit of floor work, including practicing chene turns and lots of jumping. My quads were definitely working hard and I worked up a sweat. I had a lot of fun and would go back for another class in the future.

From the start, the entryway of Grand Rapids Ballet shows you just what you'll be experiencing! The…read moredoors are lively and inspirational, and, once inside, the soaring, light-filled space, decorated with a large-scale photo of a dancer, fills you with joy. That's just a taste of what's to come. The most powerful, moving, and extraordinary dance I've ever seen? Aquatic hypoxia, choreographed by Nicolas Blanc, and part of MoveMedia: handmade... 7 new, original works, all world premieres. If this is the caliber of GR Ballet's shows, this company will go FAR. The dancing and choreography talent is tremendous. There is a spacious coat room, a closer men's bathroom, and a women's bathroom at the far end (why? I wished there was a closer handicap bathroom for either gender). The seating is pleasing, with plenty of leg room and comfortable chairs. I sat at the end of the row, and perhaps 10% of the stage was obscured by the side curtains. Luckily, most of the dancing occurred in visibility. One very smart thing inside the theatre: the lighting on the stairs is very clever. It is covered, so not obtrusive, but definitely lit up the stairs if you needed egress during the snow. Thank you! There is a parking lot in front (with 2 handicap spaces, so get there early if you need it), and a city lot across the street. We attended this as part of an official Yelp event, and I am SO glad we drove from Kalamazoo in a crazy winter ice storm!

We went to see the pianist Tiffany Poon at the St. Cecilia Music Center. It was my first time at…read morethe concert hall and I found it a very pleasant experience. The interior of the building is quite pretty and the moong around the stage is lovely. Tiffany Poon was absolutely lovely and the acoustics were very good. We noticed that the piano sounded a little out of tune as the concert progressed, making us wonder how they were storing and humidifying the piano. Unfortunately, sound can be fickle during these intensely fluctuating temperatures but it was noticeable. There was a free coat hanging area in the front and before entering the main music hall which was a nice addition in the winter months. There is a small lot for parking so we ended up street parking a couple blocks away. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience and first time.

Our wedding here was amazing! The building is gorgeous and Nadine was super easy to work with. We…read moreused the projector in the ballroom to play MarioKart which was so fun! It was also very convenient to have everything in one place; two suites for getting ready, a room for the ceremony, and the ballroom was the perfect reception hall.

Today's experience at celebration cinema was not great. Our movie was set to start at 11 so we…read morearrived early to park and get concessions. We didn't realize the movie theatre doors would be locked until about 10:50am so we waited outside for another 10 minutes beforehand until we were able to get in. Once we were inside, the employee was visibly frustrated as the server was down. She informed us that she could not ring any concessions up so she offered a small boat of popcorn instead; she was certain the servers would eventually be back up... we decided to try ordering via the QR code in the theatre since she said online orders would work... well that didn't work because it never made it to them since the server was down... so we walked to the concessions area and showed our receipt to retrieve our water and popcorn bucket. As we made it back to our seats we noticed others appearing in the theatre with their popcorn boats for each person along with drinks... I guess we should have just asked for free drinks instead of paying for concessions today. What an overall bummer. On top of that, my daughters chair never heated up no matter how many times she tried pressing the button. I think we will probably steer clear of first of the day movies at studio park from here on out. I did put a complaint into the guest relations and got an AI style response offering a $10 voucher to use within 90 days. Cool but that doesn't really help with the cost of today's messy situation. They mention they can't refund fees (which - ordering online was literally the only way to pay for anything and they charge you for "convenience") ... how ironic. So $10 was their token of apology? Sorry, but I think this just further adds to the reason I don't venture to the theatre much anymore. Our grand total for 2 tickets, 2 bottles of water and a popcorn bucket was $49.62. That price would have been fine if everything was properly working but when systems are down and chairs are broken - what a bummer.

What a fun event space! Whether watching a movie, hitting up a concert, grabbing a meal, or…read moreattending one of their many events in the beautiful promenade outside, you cannot go wrong by going to Studio Park! And make sure you ask to have your parking validated!

I consider myself super lucky to have Broadway Grand Rapids as an option for the arts. My parents…read moretook me to lots of musicals as a kid and I grew up playing in the pit orchestras of several musicals throughout middle school and high school. My love for theatre runs deep, so I'm happy to be able to support the arts and be entertained through a season membership to Broadway GR. The caliber of shows is incredible and I've seen so many favorites right in our city including Lion King, Hamilton, Wicked, Fiddler on the Roof, Hadestown, Six, and Come From Away, just to name a few. Renewing season tickets is generally very easy and the local customer service department is super helpful. I've had to exchange some tickets for different dates and it's a simple process through the website or the Ticketmaster app. As a season ticket holder, you get some perks including first access to additional shows (like Hamilton) that may not be included in the season ticket package, discounts and deals at local restaurants for the night of your show, and discounted parking in a nearby parking garage. Currently as of 2023, only small clutches will be permitted at performances (no larger than 12" x 9" x 3"). Masks are optional and there is no covid vaccine or negative test requirement. Once inside, you can purchase beverages and small snacks and now beverages can be brought into the auditorium. The lines for the concessions and bars can be quite long. I also wish they offered a water dispenser, as I tend to get really thirsty during the performances! Otherwise your options are a pricey bottle of water or the communal drinking fountain. The restroom situation is much improved as they've added more women's restrooms so the lines move a little quicker. I haven't noticed the theatre being quite a warm lately, which is great for me but consider bringing layers in case of fluctuating temperatures. I get excited every year when the lineup is announced and hope to continue to support the arts for many years to come.

I love Broadway Grand Rapids! I'm so thankful for the high quality shows they are able to bring to…read moreGR! As a former choir kid I love musical theater. So to be able to see some of my favorite musicals in my own hometown is incredible! We just attended the opening night for Hamilton which I have wanted to see for years. It was amazing. So much talent! We've previously seen The Lion King, Wicked, and Phantom of the Opera. Every time is a great experience DeVos place is also a great venue. They run things very smoothly and there really isn't a bad seat. Purchasing tickets is fairly easy through Ticketmaster. Cost varies depending on the show. Currently you do have to show proof of COVID vaccination or a recent negative test to get in. They are also requiring masks while in the venue.

Circle Theatre is such a little gem in our community. I recently attended Girls' Weekend, which was…read morea super fun comedy. There are no bad seats as it's in the round, and when I ordered my tickets online there was plenty of availability. When we arrived, we were greeted at a podium and just had to give my name. We got a cute brochure with our seat numbers written on it and then got in line for concessions. They serve alcohol at select performances, and ours was one of them, so we got a couple drinks and some snacks. I was hoping for popcorn, but they didn't have any so we got Cheez its and some candy. All the employees we encountered (I think mostly students) were very friendly and polite. Once the doors opened, friendly ushers helped us find our seats. The theatre was comfortable and the rows were short, which is nice so you don't have to climb over too many people to get to your spot. The play itself was hilarious and so much fun. I'm looking forward to seeing more shows at Circle Theatre in the future.

We visited the Circle theater to see the play "A Few Good Men". We loved the atmosphere and the set…read moreup of the theater. Anywhere you sit in the theater has a great view. And the local actors did a phenomenal job! We decided that we would definitely be back!