My family and I ended up seeing the Holiday Extravaganza show on Saturday afternoon. It was…read moreprobably about an hour and a half. Overall, the show touched on all the different holidays this season. The show did a nice job in featuring most of the actors/actresses in different musical numbers. My niece had a great time and was singing with some of the songs. Some of the songs were a bit more interactive than others. The cast would walk in where the crowd was sitting and get everyone to clap. I would say they had great energy. I would go back and see this show again. Kelsey theatre usually puts on a nice production! After the show was over, they offered light refreshments in the lobby. Then you could also take pictures with Santa.

My first time there, I got to see my son star in Oklahoma as Curly. From the moment you walk into…read morethe theater lobby you notice how clean and bright it is. The Box Office and concession people as well as the ushers were super welcoming. Since we had almost an hour and a half ride, of course we had to hit up the bathrooms, which were super clean and updated. The tiered seating was ideal as I never had to have someone in front of me blocking my view. The seating was very comfortable with ample room so you did not feel squished. The stage basically floated off the first row of seating. I liked the intimacy of that. The stage setting for the show was just perfectly done. There was plenty of stage to move around for the actors whether it was during their dancing scenes, the wedding scene or the fighting scene, there was plenty of room. To the side of the stage, there was a separate "smokehouse room" which also provided a lot of up close and personal entertainment. We were right next to it during one of the best scenes in the show. There was a ramp way to get up to the first level of seating so if you have a hard time climbing stairs, I would suggest buying your tickets early. Speaking of tickets this Theatre and show tickets were half the price of other venues yet the show was just as professionally done as anywhere else we've been. Hope to return soon.

Theater was clean and well kept. The theater space itself isn't huge but sound for our kids' show…read morewas just fine, and seats didn't feel crowded nor did the kids seem to have visibility issues in adult chairs even when adults were seated in front of them. Staff were organized and friendly. I had my purse searched upon entry; all bags were looked at. My ticket was purchased through Vivid Seats, and apparently they didn't provide me a legit theater-issued QR so I had to visit the box office. They were friendly and promptly issued me printed tickets. Lobby was a con because it's just small and cramped. This old building probably didn't have to house as much food and merch purchasing back in its day but the multiple concession lines were blocking people from just getting to the theater and accessing their seats. They have tons of low quality junk food for sale. The huge group sitting next to us had chicken fingers, fries, a ketchup smell that wouldn't go away... it was honestly ridiculous the food they allow in people's laps just to turn profits. I was surprised these people were buying full huge meals (that had to cost $40+ each for junk) at 3:30pm to hold it in their laps for a 1.75h kids' show. Whatever. Point is, if you haven't eaten and want to pay $40 for crap that will linger in your body, you will not go hungry here. Clean bathrooms were the right size to allow a packed house to process themselves in the 20min intermission timeframe. This includes the ladies room, which always takes longer, and it was for a kids' show, which adds even more time. I recommend pairing your visit with the Rutgers Zimmerli Art Museum if you have time. They are open until 6pm most nights.

Great night at THE State Theatre! I won tickets for a Ladies Night concert with Raheem DeVaughn and…read moreEric Benét, orchestra level, row P, seats 109/110. Perfect view of the stage, but I don't think it really matters much where you are seated due to the design of the auditorium. The opener was a rising singer/songwriter named Aniyyah, born and raised in New Jersey. Aniyyah's DJ had some technical issues loading her music at the start of her set, but wow, she has a voice on her. She, along with Raheem DeVaughn and Eric made for a fantastic show. They are all extremely talented vocalists, but Raheem DeVaughn without a doubt stole the show with his stage presence. Eric Benét however truly surprised me. His voice is absolutely incredible live. The State Theatre did a major renovation back in 2020 and the interior was previously renovated in 2004. It's as if we have a piece of Broadway right in the middle of New Brunswick, New Jersey. I felt like I stepped right into the 1920s with their vintage design and architecture. The acoustics inside the theatre are phenomenal. I'm not sure if it was my seating, but the sound was so crisp and well balanced. I can understand why any artist would choose this theatre as their preferred venue to perform in. One important note is their designated passageway to the closest parking deck which would otherwise be a long walk in the freezing cold. We were able to use the enclosed heated hallway as a shortcut which leads directly from the garage to the State Theatre located on Livingston Ave. We almost walked right past the entrance to the passageway, so I wanted to make sure I shared it with anyone who has read this far into my review : ) It's been many years since I've come to see a show here, and I had an enjoyable experience. I look forward to checking out any of their other events in the near future.

I was lucky enough to score tickets for one of the final Rocky Horror shows starring Frankie…read moreGrande, and what an experience! This was my first time at this theater, and I loved the intimate setting. Every seat felt like a great seat. The set design and scene transitions were fantastic, and the talent on stage was absolutely shining. The audience participation was everything you'd hope for. People were shouting the classic one-liners, plus a few fun modern twists that had everyone laughing. The goodie bag with rice, a newspaper, and cards was such a fun touch! The best part came at the end when every attendee was invited on stage to "do the Time Warp" with the cast. It was organized, energetic, and so much fun! Frankie Grande was incredibly gracious, he met every fan outside afterward for photos and autographs, taking his time with each person. He was warm, sincere, and clearly grateful for everyone who came. I also want to give a huge shout-out to the theater staff. During "The Time Warp," a guest had a medical emergency. The house lights came on immediately, clear instructions were given, and within seconds, two doctors in the audience stepped in to help. The situation was handled with incredible professionalism and compassion. After a brief intermission, the show resumed, and we were later told that the guest was going to be OK, which was such a relief to hear. Thank you to the cast, crew, and staff for creating such a memorable and heartfelt night. I'll never forget it!

We're here to see "she loves me" They're very well organized! We came to get our tickets before…read morethe show started! Very wonderful staff helping us! Lots of wonderful staff have taken care of everything! Everyone did her job so well. This play was filled with excitement every second ! Such wonderful entertainers. The dancing was so magnificent! It was everything that you've loved in old movies! All the wonderful characters you get attached to!! The singing was so dreamy and so delightful!! Such wonderful entertainment again ! Thank you all for all your hard work. I had such a magnificent time in your hands.... (Jazz hands).

I was really thrilled to see the "Tiny Pricks" art project /exhibition come to Princeton…read more Only to find out that it originated here. It's nice to see so many community based activities happening and how celebrated wholeheartedly in this gallery. I'm a big fan of the tiny pricks project. And the opening of this show had presentations and speakers by the staff. Their style is very admirable. They seem to really cherish the local people who took the time to read such lovely pieces for this project. The pillowcases had embroidery. And it really told a little story of the artist. Perhaps it's something they appreciated in there in their hometown, or maybe it's some thing that concerns them , like the war going on in Uzbekistan, or the changing seasons, or concern for recent loss of Woman's Rights in The States. And it's embroidered so that seems so wholesome and so feminine and time engaging so every piercing of the fabric is so personal. Nice venue. Nice folks.

A two-hour perfect kids' birthday party experience including an one-hour sculpting and painting…read moreactivity led by two customer-oriented and friendly associates! You can rent a luminous spacious room with a pleasant view on the second floor of their building. You can bring your own food and beverages. You are free to decorate the soothing space as you like. You can park on the street for free or with paid parking (parkmeters) up to two hours.

My wife and I had a "free" night without the kids so we decided to try and hit a comedy show for…read moresome fun. We had a good time at Catch a Rising Star. The club really isn't a club, but a space within the Hyatt Regency in Princeton, NJ. It hold between 75-100 I'd say in mostly two-tops but they accommodate bigger parties by pushing tables together. As you can see in my picture, this will probably be the least dive bar-like comedy club you'll ever be in. It actually has carpet and comfortable seats! The outer tables are high tops. Our table even had a touch sensitive lamp on it. We didn't pay for VIP, just general admission a few hours before the show online so we got seated towards the rear but the sound system was fine and we could hear everything just fine. Our sight lines were ok if you got the perfect line between other patrons. The food menu was adequate, and drinks were on the reverse side. My jalapeño pineapple margarita really sucked. No balance, no finesse, no good taste. My wife's Cosmopolitan was almost as bad, so she ended up ordering another instead made with the stuff she likes. A little better, but not by much. We also ordered some fried calamari which actually were pretty decent. They came in a wire basket with some "fancy" sauce which also was good. We got to hear the host, an opener, and the headliner. Was just under two hours and my wife and I enjoyed the show snd laughed a bit. The room skewed older and was a bit difficult for the comics tonight. I'm guessing the costs per comedy show depends on the comics, but tonight was just over $60 for two general admission tickets. The three drinks and calamari with tax and tip added another $70. A pretty solid three and one half stars, but I'll round up for Catch a Rising Star. An added bonus was that the hotel's lobby where the club is located is beautiful with gorgeous water features, koi fish, an extremely nice bar, and pretty cool architecture to see how the rooms are laid out.

Went here with bestie. A little hole in the wall comedy club. Havent been here in years. Decent…read morefood awesome perfect drinks. Comedians were funny. Definitely a great place to go on a date and with a group of friends. Servers were kinds grumpy and inattentive but it is what it is. I will have to say bartender was spot on with drinks. Delicious. Reasonably priced, we were in a corner which had perfect view of stage and didnt feel claustrophobic, which is was quite packed. But you still had room to move around. Located in the Hyatt Regency hotel in princeton. Drinks and food were high priced but hey it was a night out. Definitely worth another check in.

Excellent job by the cast and crew. The venue was comfortable and easy to access and I'm looking…read moreforward to their next production.

From the owner: Sceneworks Studios, located in Paramus, NJ, is a dynamic production company that stages…read moreBroadway-scale performances each summer at the Ciccone Theatre. Known for its professional quality and dedication to the arts, Sceneworks recently produced Anastasia the Musical, which received outstanding reviews and delighted audiences with its captivating performances and top-notch production values. July 18th-26th, Sceneworks will present Legally Blonde the Musical, at The Ciccone Theater in Paramus NJ. . With a commitment to excellence and a passion for connecting communities through the magic of theater, Sceneworks Studios continues to set the standard in regional performing arts.

Very political with their casting, and their shows (especially their kid and teen shows) are…read moremediocre at best. Not a bad company, but there are definitely ones in the NJ area that have much more enjoyable productions and theater-going experiences than SMSTC. Plus, it isn't truly professional. It's in a pre-school day care

I loved this venue back in the day and was happy to finally check it out again after roughly…read morefifteen years. They remodeled after the hurricane, and the venue looks as good as ever. The bathrooms are spacious and clean, and I can't emphasize enough how important that is. My suggestion, particularly for sold-out shows, is to arrive early, like an hour and a half before doors, and park your car at the VFW across the street and pop in for a few three-dollar beers. The prices at Starland are considerably more ($8.50 for a 12 oz can) and the VFW is a great pre-game option. The sound in Starland is good, and their layout is one of their biggest strengths; pretty much anywhere you stand you'll have a good view of the stage. It never seems far away. I'm taking off one star, however, because the show I was at (Testament / Overkill / Destruction) was clearly over-sold. I moved around, checked out a few vantage points during the headliner and eventually found a spot with some breathing room, in a raised area by one of the bars. But man, just imagining some kind of emergency situation and the absolute chaos that would ensue with such a packed-in, oversold crowd, it makes a person nervous.

The place was clean and had a lot of bathrooms. I sat in VIP section and had a great view. However…read moreI felt the sound was way louder than it needed to be even with my ear buds it was extraordinarily loud felt like I wasn't wearing earbuds. The fact the music was so loud so many people were searching for earbuds but nowhere sold them other venues. I've been to the bar will sell them or give them out for free depending. If that so many people are looking for earbuds then maybe there's a problem as I've been to other venue for shows and have not experienced people meandering around searching for earbuds.

We love Princeton Summer Theatre! Despite being on the younger side of those in the audience, we…read morefind it a nice jaunt on a Saturday afternoon or evening to couple with a good meal in town. We have had the great fortune of seeing some good productions here and the process is very easy. The website is user friendly and there is always a smiling face at will call. There are snacks for purchase and two gender-neutral bathrooms in the theatre. Further, the next door dorm is sometimes open for overflow. The theater is cozy and there doesn't seem to be any bad seats. The set productions are top notch considering the restraints of a small stage. We are introducing some friends to the theater for a show in August 2019 as the box office was gracious enough to change our original two night performance tickets to afternoon and add two more. Plenty points for an accommodating approach to customer service.

Summer Intime is another whole live legitimate theater group than the yearly seasonal PU theater…read moremajors of Theater Intime. A few of the key differences: Well, the god awful non existent public parking remains the same. However, during the summer months, they branch out to the local patrons and volunteer community of Princeton. You might see a Princeton doyenne in a leading roll. Your high school student might sell you your ticket, while another rival school's student might take your ticket. Summer productions. Summer cabaret. It all varies each summer season.

I can't believe I have lived in this area for so many years and never went to the Newtown Theater…read more It's a pretty cool space with some unique events tucked away on State Street. They do have a bar area and a popcorn stand. I went for their 90 minute cat video event. During the preshow I learned that this is the oldest theater is America! How crazy is that! They have some fantastic shows coming up including many tribute bands as well as movie showings. I'm really hoping to get tickets see Joan Osborne singing the songs of Bob Dylan. If you haven't been here I'd definitely check out their website or Facebook page to see what they have going on that might be of interest,

We came all the way from New Jersey, and visiting Newtown Theatre was truly a pleasure from start…read moreto finish. Not only did we get to enjoy a night out in this charming town, but we also had the chance to be part of a place filled with history and character. Walking into the theatre felt like stepping back in time in the best way--warm, classic, and full of heart. The ambience was absolutely perfect. The cozy, intimate setting made the entire experience feel personal and inviting. From the moment we walked in, the energy was welcoming. The fresh-popped popcorn added that nostalgic movie-night touch, and the bartenders and staff members were incredibly friendly, helpful, and genuinely happy to be there. Their hospitality made the night even better. We came to see The Ultimate Doors, and what a show! The sound, the vibe, and the atmosphere all came together to create a memorable night. It's rare to find a venue that feels both historic and alive, but Newtown Theatre gets it right. We would absolutely love to visit again. If you're thinking about catching a show here--do it. It's an experience you won't forget!