From the moment we walked in--feeling secure with visible security and welcomed by friendly greeters--this experience was fabulous. Smiles were everywhere, setting the tone right away. My son and I went on a special date to see A Christmas Story, and it did not disappoint. The cast was incredible! Their energy was contagious and drew us into the story from the very first scene all the way to the end. I truly can't say enough good things about how amazing this show was. We will absolutely be back for more plays! read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre is the largest of more than 70 community theatres in Indiana and one of the ten largest of over 7000 active community theatres in the U.S. It is also considered the nation's longest continuously active community theatre. In operation since 1915, Civic Theatre offers 90 performances and 500 opportunities to participate onstage or behind-the-scenes in a professional theatre setting annually. Since its beginning, Civic has had five different homes. In 1915, it started at the Herron Art Institute before moving to the 240-seat Hedback Community Theatre in 1924. In 1973, Civic moved to the 645-seat Showalter Pavilion at IMA before relocating in 2004 to a 490-seat theatre at Marian University. Finally, Civic moved into the Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in 2011. The current theatre has 513 seats. Mainstage productions include everything from musicals to comedies to dramas with an average of 30,000 patrons annually. Education has also always been a strong component of Civic programming with education and outreach programs reaching over 20,000 people each year through classes, workshops, and educational performances for all age groups from toddlers through older adults. As someone who believes strongly in inclusive theatre (I was a drama minor in college myself), Civic does one of the better jobs in Central Indiana of addressing accessibility issues. They are known to offer sensory friendly performances, have offered audio-described performances (and have large print programs), and also offer accessible parking, accessible entrances, and accessible seating that can be reserved. They also offer shows with ASL and Assisted Listening. For those with disabilities, I recommend contacting Civic for more detailed information. I've seldom attended a show here without seeing other wheelchairs or individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. I've never been on-stage at Civic, but I have worked behind the scene in years past. Most recently, I've attended as both an audience member and media member. My experience has been that Civic leans toward more well known, fairly mainstream productions. For example, the 2022-23 season includes The Diary of Anne Frank, The Cat in the Hat, The Sound of Music, and Murder on the Orient Express. Jr. Civic is an amazing opportunity for the kids to get involved. Civic Theatre is definitely one of Central Indiana's longtime stage gems. With an outstanding group of professionals and volunteers, Civic offers consistently high quality performances and a great experience for theatergoers. Located in Carmel, it's an easy drive and a great entertainment in a beautiful setting. read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - 2022 production of Rent - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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I love the Tarkington! I've been here a few times, and each time has been great. I've only ever seen children's plays and performances -- I've seen plays about Elf and Peanuts and Cat in the Hat, each time with children in tow. The great thing about the Tarkington is that it's big enough to fit lots of people, but it feel intimate. There really isn't a bad seat in the theatre. I saw Cat in the Hat in one of the back rows and was able to see clearly, and I saw Elf in the front middle. It's a different experience depending on where you sit, obviously, but there isn't a bad seat. The Tarkington building is attached to the Center for the Performing Arts parking structure, so you can go straight from the parking area to the Tarkington. You don't have to walk outside through the courtyard, like you do if you're seeing a concert at the Palladium. There's a snack bar / drink bar that's open when the plays are going on. The bathrooms are always clean and open when the building is open, even if there isn't a performance happening. read more

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The Tarkington is a fine place to see a show and, from the other reviews appears to be an asset to the community. I can't say it will be memorable as a theater, but it has definite positives. Parking is straightforward and immediately adjacent with stairs and elevators making it easy to get to and from the theater. Staff is friendly and efficient. Everyone was very helpful. The lobby is small, but so is the theater so getting out after the show wasn't too bad. The space could use some decoration as it is pretty utilitarian. Only a large portrait adorns the lobby while the stage was a simple black and cream affair. For a community theater, its a great spot! read more

Well at $67 a ticket for a community theater they really don't scream of being for the community at all! They ought to be ashamed of themselves!! This shows they are out of touch with the community and not accessible for all as they claim!! This will be the start of their demise! Mr. BoothTarkington is turning over in his grave at what has sadly happened to his legacy. They should never have left Marion University. read more

This afternoon, our family enjoyed the production The Cat In The Hat, during an inclusive viewing time. It was an extremely enjoyable production and quite an enriching experience, for my young granddaughters and teen son alike. It really thrills me that the Civic Theatre offers inclusive performances. These adjusted performances ensure theatre access in a comfortable setting to all members of our community through accommodations for sensory sensitivities, mobility issues, and other special needs. Adaptations include keeping the house lights up, adjusting overwhelming sound effects, adjusting house rules to allow for talking and moving, additional seating options for those with mobility devices, and an American Sign Language interpreter. Some members of our family have sensory struggles or special needs that can make attending the theatre difficult. Having some accommodations was not only helpful for them, but as caregivers, we were also able to enjoy the experience more ourselves and not stress and worry about if some noises or movements happened that we would be judged or asked to leave. The Civic Theatre even created a social story about going to the theatre and seeing The Cat In The Hat and had an Adobe accessible link on their web page to it. It included pictures of the theatre and explained the entire process and experience very well and with great photos. I was really impressed with this and it was extremely helpful. Right before the play began, they talked on stage about what was about to happen. Actors and actresses came out and showed how they transform into character, and I think that was a fantastic way to help ensure no one in the audience became fearful of theatre magic. Because of inclusive shows, I can take my entire family to experience the joy of the arts, together. Finding activities that all of us can enjoy and participate in together as a family can be a challenge and I truly cherish when another experience can be added to our activities to share. read more

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I won a giveaway to see Matilda the musical shoutout to yelp indy. This was my first time in the civic theater & i loved every minute of it. everyone was so kind, getting my tickets at the box office was super quick & easy. the ushers were very helpful. we got front row seats & that was the best. the show was AMAZING. very heartwarming & super funny. the casting was perfect, the set design was gorgeous!!! this inside of the civic theater is beautiful, very comfy seats & the theater is huge. i grew up a theater kid so getting the opportunity to see this show was great. they have alot of upcoming shows: RENT 10/7-10/22 A Christmas Story 12/2-12/24 The Diary of Anne Frank 2/10-2/25 Murder on The Orient Express 3/10-3/25 The Sound of Music 4/28-5/13 i can't wait to see the next show at the civic theater! read more

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Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre is such a lovely space! I went for the first time to see a Sunday matinee of Much Ado About Nothing with a friend. There was plenty of parking available on my visit, which was nice. There's a public garage connected to the theatre, as well as street parking (free), and a limited number of theatre parking spots our front (also free, but with time limits on the signs). The exterior of the theatre building had me staring up at it for a long moment. It's beautiful! The inside is as well. The theatre room I was in was pretty large, but still felt really cozy. It's just a really nice space! Much Ado was a wonderful production. They did a great job with one of my favorite Shakespeare plays! We laughed a lot throughout. My first experience here has me looking forward to my next visit to the Civic Theatre! Hopefully it'll be sooner than later. read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Beautiful theatre! - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Well I love the theatre. I went here in late December to see Elf the Musical. It was cold and yucky outside. I very much appreciated the attached garage - the free parking is nice as well! The seats were comfortable. We had nice seats but as I looked around, I think everyone had good seats. The theater is a nice size of not too small and not too large. Getting tickets was a breeze. The actors in the musical were professional and did a great job. Loved it! read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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For the holidays, my family and I purchased tickets to the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre for the adaptation of "A Christmas Story" into an (spoiler alert) absolutely wonderful, musical. Admittedly, I went to the show with a solid bit of doubt at the infamous holiday story actually being able to be adapted to a musical, but I was game for the experience either way. To my giddy surprise, the show itself was quite frankly, spectacular. The musical interpretation was not only well written, but remarkably performed by a team of more than talented, talent. I highly recommend both the Booth Tarkington Civic Theater venue, as well as going to see "A Christmas Story" should you get the chance. Awesome all the way around folks! read more

We've enjoyed many fun shows in this theatre! From Hairspray to Grease and everything in between, we've enjoyed the beautiful lobby, comfy and intimate theatre, and talented performers (both students and pros alike). Parking is free on the street or in the garage, and the Civic Theatre is always offering a fun round-up of interesting shows. Word on the street is that Elf the Musical was wonderful and I hope it comes back so we can see it next year! Tickets are usually a reasonable price and the surrounding area is pretty and has several restaurants if you want to make an evening out of it. Besides the shows, Civic Theatre also offers open auditions, workshops, classes for small children, behind-the-scenes tours, and more. Check their website for the upcoming schedule and all of the fun, one-off opportunities! read more

Enjoyed seeing the musical Rent here. We sat near the front of the stage and on the far left side end seats but still had a full and fantastic view of the entire show due to this theaters design where every seat is a good one. The seats were very comfortable with space between rows so that you aren't on top of the person next or in front of you. Acoustics for the show were great - a clean sound and not too loud. No long lines or waiting for anything at intermission. The concessions had good variety and were well staffed. Multiple wash rooms were nearby and clean. read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - View from far left seats near front of stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I attended my first Civic performance (Hairspray) and was blown away! For being in a smaller, intimate theater these productions surpassed my expectations with the costumes, props, set design and most importantly talent! All of the actors are volunteers, at least at the production I saw - and they were so impressive. The venue is lovely since it's part of the Center for the Performing Arts and I didn't have any trouble finding free parking out front - not to mention, they have a free multi-level parking garage attached to the building. A great place to see a show in Carmel! Highly recommend checking out their productions. read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Lived in Carmel for almost 6 years now....first visit to Booth Tarkington. Located directly across from the palladium, easy parking out front or with a connected parking garage. I got to see the Importance of Being Earnest---sooo good! Loved the small civic theatre and comfy seats. They also have a bar and some Concessions you can purchase and take in with you. I've always wanted To see a play or a musical there so I'm very pleased with my First visit and am looking into their next performances. Go support local theatre and check it out ! read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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First time to attend a show here. Lobby area and refreshment stand was very nice and neat. Lobby was well lit and lots of tables. The inside of the theater was beautiful. Nice plush seats and well lighted. The ushers were friendly and made sure we found our seats. The show was great. The actors were flawless and really made the show pop. Stage scenery was great. This was high quality theater and very entertianing. I can't wait to return for A Few Good Men read more

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Great venue for the Indianapolis opera shows. Saw the opera Tosca. Presented in Italian with translation shown above the stage. Great acoustics and comfortable seats. Parking is in a ramp structure right next door with convenient elevator access. There are at least two theaters available. Very nice on the north side of Indianapolis and in Carmel. read more

The talent that comes out of this theatre is astounding. The sets and costumes are always wonderful as well and you get beat the booming location in Carmel. I only give it 4 stars because it is a bit too expensive for community theatre. read more

Won two tickets to go see Much Ado About Nothing! The show was very good and funny. So happy my fiancee and I got to experience this together. It will definitely be added to our book of memories! read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Highly highly recommend watching a show at the Civic Theatre. We've watched many shows from Mamma Mia, Much Ado about Nothing, and recently, Elf. Tickets are typically around $30 and you support an all star, crazy talented local theatre/ production. The theatre always puts their own spin on the productions and never disappoints. Great gift idea or date night option! read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I won tickets to The Importance of Being Earnest through Yelp. It was my first time attending a play here, and was excited to see the place for myself. Parking here is super easy, there is an attached parking garage or spaces right in front of the entrance. The theater is small and cozy. The staff did a great job of taking us to our seats and making sure we knew about there not being an intermission for this particular play. They do have a bar area in the lobby that offers drinks and snacks that you may bring into the theater. The play was very entertaining and the actors did a wonderful job. I look forward to attending more plays here in the future. Thanks again Yelp for this fun time! read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I won tickets to Mamma Mia through Yelp and it was such a good night! I was able to attend opening night and the entire musical went smooth and was super fun to watch. The actors were great and I will certainly be back for more performances in the future. In regards to the theater itself, it is beautiful! Parking was simple which I feel like is sometimes hard to find around a theater. Great restaurants around and the staff was super helpful! read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I went to see Exodus. The performance was awesome. I arrived early so I was able to park by the entrance door. The staff was quick to assist me when they realized that I was lost. The restrooms were very clean. I love the fact that they have a touchless option for the sinks, soap and paper towels. The theater was very clean and inviting. There are no bad seats in the theater. Overall, the facility is amazing. I can't wait until the next performance! read more

I saw Mamma Mia tonight and it was amazing! The cast was amazing and energetic. It was opening night and everything went so smoothly. Everyone in the theatre was treated to toast from the bar to celebrate the big day! I will note just so you're aware when you go, the seats are very tight and you are close up with the other patrons. Go check the season opener Mamma Mia before you miss it! read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I've been to four performances here so far, and am always impressed by how spectacular each show is! With the reasonable ticket prices and the fact that it is a civic theater, I had pretty low expectations for my first visit and was happy to be blown away at how well the first performance I attended (Beauty and the Beast) was executed. The venue itself is great as well and I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. I also appreciate how much stress-free it is to attend performances here. I loathe the logistics of going to plays and musicals in downtown Indy due to the long drive, having to find parking and the crazy traffic leaving after the show. Coming here is such a different experience than the downtown venues - free, readily available parking and no traffic jams when leaving. And, conveniently, there are two great restaurants, Matt the Miller's and Divvy, within walking distance, which makes it easy to pick a place to meet people for dinner or drinks before a show. read more

It's small, intimate, and doesn't have a bad seat in the house. There are a lot of civic, local productions, which are surprisingly good. I have seen a lot of productions on Broadway, Toronto, Vegas, etc. and the productions here are not exactly those but they are very entertaining and well done and cost a fraction of the big venue productions. The parking is also free in the parking structure attached to the same building. Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre is another reason why Carmel is rated as one of the best places to live, according to Money Magazine and others. read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Wizard of Oz. Green is for Emerald City - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Such a gorgeous theater! The addition of the parking garage makes things much easier. Productions are always professional and entertaining. Comfortable seating, enough restrooms and spacious lobby make intermission flawless. read more

Nice size venue, comfy chairs but a few drawbacks. We had tickets on the front row and our little girl couldn't see much at all. Also, there's no way to get from side of the theatre to the other so lots of people walked through in front of us, very irritating since there was no extra space for walking. For a brand new building it's surprising. read more

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

We've been here a couple of times and just love it! Recently we saw Much Ado About Nothing, and had a great time. The cast was hilarious, the production was on point. I work in a live production environment, and the tech crew did a great job. Mics were always on at the right points, mixed well. Transitions were smooth, which is huge. Stage design was great, and fit the mid century aesthetic they were going for. Honestly, all of the tech kind of fell away, which allows you to focus on the production and story itself. The staff was very friendly, and a very nice usher helped us find our seat. We didn't partake in the beverages or snacks they had for sale, so I can't speak to that. But overall, great experience. My wife and I are already talking about when we can go back! read more

A great way to see amazing productions right in your own backyard. These theatre is beautiful and there's really not a bad seat in the house. Take the family for their current production. You'll enjoy it! read more

We feel so incredibly lucky to be only a few minutes away from this fabulous venue. Every production we've viewed there has been top notch, and rivaled any touring production we've ever seen. And it's community theatre! There's some serious talent in this city! We've been blown away by Les Mis, Spamalot, Pippen, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wizard of Oz, and more. Most recently, we were there for the Jr. Civic production of Alice in Wonderland. What a great group of talented kids! The theatre building itself is beautiful, spotlessly clean, and well managed by helpful ushers. There's a bar where you can grab a drink or snack before the show or during intermission. Once you're inside, there's not a bad seat in the house. Take advantage of the theatre in your own backyard! You'll be impressed. I promise! read more

I love this venue! No problems with traffic. Parking garage was easy to get in/out, free, and the elevator takes you to the main lobby (you do not have to go outside at all). Drinks prices were high, but you are permitted to take them into the seating area. Seats were comfy and spacious-I always worry because I am larger, but I had no issues. Good leg room too. Clean and updated. Friendly patrons. Only complaints are the long bar lines, disorganized entry area, and trash visibly scattered on security's desk. Overall, we enjoyed our experience and plan to return. read more

For the first time for Mother's Day, my hubby took me to the Civic Theatre for Les Mis. I have seen it three other times and I was blown away! The theater is a great size and all the ticket prices were the same and somehow he managed to get us fabulous second row middle and I could see the lines in the actors faces as they sang my favorite songs. During the final scene when the rebels are killed, I was so close I could watch for them to take a breath (they didn't!). It was incredible how well done this show was. The sound was AMAZING, the orchestra blew me away and the intimacy of the theater was awesome! I would definitely be back to see another show. They host an amazing array of choices throughout the year for affordable prices and they serve snacks, beer/wine and soda/waters upon entering. It's easy to get parking and it's very simple to find. The theater have a program for kids who are interested in the stage and they offer local actors great opportunities. Other than being a little chilly (bring a sweater, ladies), it was a perfect experience. I truly think this is a great place for anyone to see a show live. It is accessible, easy and affordable. Don't miss out on this if you enjoy theater. I am looking forward to the next time... read more

My family and I saw Elf The Musical on Thursday night. The show was a wonderful way to get you into the Christmas spirit. This is a great place to see a show as there isn't a bad seat in the house. read more