Attended a silent movie showing and was pleasantly surprised of the experience. They explain a…read morelittle about the movie before it starts and had an organ player for the entire film. Only drawback is the parking situation.

The historic Balboa Theatre in the Gaslamp district on 4th is a landmark to the city of San Diego…read more The Balboa first opened in 1924 and then closed in 1986. It remained closed until 2008 where it was restored and now it full of performances from comedy shows, plays and music. On this first time visit I came here to see Bobby Lee's stand up performance. Our seats were in the balcony level way above. At this level it is a little diffcult to see the stage as you have to angle your head down wards to see the stage. Viewable but its very far. The seats are very tiny and it difficult to walk across as every inch is used up in the theatre. Acoustic were great and the overall detail and restoration is amazing to look at. Great theatre venue overall but would recommend not sitting in balcony.

I've been to several musicals here and the experience is always a great one…read more Last night we saw The Sound of Music. The performance was wonderful and the voices of the cast were absolutely beautiful. The theater itself is large and you can see very well. I'm not very tall and even though people were seated in front of me I had a perfect view of the stage. The seats are comfortable and the ushers are very helpful. I believe there are concession stands on every floor as well as bars where you can get soft drinks or alcoholic beverages. The concessions are quite expensive but you expect that when you're at a theater of any kind. Very easy to find parking in the area. There is a large parking structure right next to the Civic Center as well as different parking lots where you can easily just park and walk across the street to the theater. The only rule that I have seen is that you do not bring in a bag that is larger than 12 in by 12 in. You go through a back check and walk through a metal detector but that's pretty common for any type of concert as well. Inside is very comfortable and I always enjoy coming here for a performance.

I've seen several shows here in the past 3 years, and have enjoyed the lineup they offer. Most…read morerecently we saw MJ the musical which was such a great show. This being downtown San Diego of course you need to plan ahead for parking, but there are plenty of Lots nearby and walking distance, one of them that leads right into the parking lot of the theater. One of the positive aspects of being downtown is that you have plenty of options for dinner before or after the show. Of course you may want to make reservations ahead. They always offer concessions, of different alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as little charcuterie board type items, and candy, Etc. Of course just like any other venue of this type, it is priced above what you would normally pay for those items. I always try to sit in the orchestra section because I feel there is more leg room, and I hate to feel cramped. The seats also seem a bit more comfortable in that section. I will say I honestly don't think you could have a bad seat in this theater though. The sound is usually fine, but I will say for Moulin Rouge I had trouble hearing what they were saying especially during the songs. I love that everyone is always so helpful when trying to find your seat, they will walk you to your section and show you exactly where you need to go, which is nice because it can get chaotic with so many people ushering in. Overall this is a great location and the shows they have are amazing. Definitely reccomend looking at the season and seeing what they have to offer, they're is usually something for everyone

The Old Globe in Balboa Park is a must-do for lovers of live theater. Its exterior architecture…read morewas inspired by Shakespeare's original Globe Theatre in England. The size and shape of the orchestra and balcony brings the audience close to the actors for a great experience. Acoustics are excellent. Earlier this month, we saw Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" here with Katie Holmes starring in the title roll. She was terrific. Our seats in the 4th row were We arrived early with friends and enjoyed the outdoor patio area before the doors opened. Every staff member we encountered -- from ticket office to ticketed to usher -- was personable and helpful . The Old Globe sits behind the Museum of Us. There's valet parking, but self-parking is a 5-10 minute walk away. Restrooms in the theater are on the lower level

I had the pleasure of attending August Wilson's "Fences" Theatrical Production here on 05/02/2026…read morefor the 2p matinee showing. Our 4 person group was super excited about the show. I arrived at 1:15p and it took me 35 min to find parking. As a SD Resident, I had to go online to apply and purchase a $5 Residential Parking permit. It took about 5-6 mins on the website from my phone. In the meantime, while waiting on approval for my residential permit. I had to pay $16 for parking for 2 hrs and 10mins. The show was awesome. The seats were comfortable and we were seated right in the middle of the theatre. The sound, temperature, lighting, and ambiance great here. The only issue that I have is that the 2p show attendees are not allowed to order food at intermission. Food orders must be made on a mobile app prior to going into the theatre for the show, then they are able to pick up their orders at intermission. Overall, the show was wonderful and we were able to meet the cast afterwards as they had to come out for their dinner. We tried not to hold them up, so we just sort of made sure that we let them get going after about 5-7mins. We were able to take photos. I took a star off because of the long stairwell and slow elevator to get to the downstairs restroom. Also, the food situation is a bit disappointing. Luckily, we made reservations at The Prado restaurant after the show.

It was my first time seeing a performance here! It was outstanding! The level of talent was off the…read morecharts! The whole family loved their experience!

After a long pandemic pause, my return to the San Diego Musical Theatre reminded me why I fell in…read morelove with this gem in the first place. Somehow, it's even better now! There's literally NO bad seat in this intimate theater. I'm not exaggerating. While the balcony seats at the downtown Civic Theatre might leave you squinting at tiny figures at premium prices, here I felt like I was practically part of the show regardless of where I sat. And at these super reasonable prices? It's almost criminal how much value you're getting. Walking into their production of "Hello, Dolly!" I was immediately struck by how the modest stage might compare to larger Broadway venues. This is a place where size absolutely doesn't matter here. The creative team masterfully used every square inch of that space, with choreography that had me wondering how they fit so much spectacular dancing into such a cozy setting. Those dancers deserve medals for their spatial awareness alone! What truly sets SDMT apart is the caliber of talent they attract. This isn't just "good for local theater"--these are performers who deliver professional-quality entertainment that had me smiling from the opening number to the final bow. The acting was so engaging that I completely forgot there wasn't a traditional orchestra. Did I miss it? Not for a second. The performers commanded the space so completely that any potential limitations simply vanished. While here are no actual curtains, it didn't detract from the experience, this adds to the intimate, immersive quality that makes this theater special. You're not just watching a show, you're part of its world from the moment you take your seat. For North County residents, this place is a revelation. The easy drive and FREE parking situation (though come early, as spaces are limited and you might need to street park) makes this infinitely more accessible than the downtown venue. No parking fees, no traffic nightmares, just straight to the entertainment. Walking out after the show, I found myself repeating "wow, wow, wow" like a happy theater mantra. I'm already excited for their next production.

Intimate theatre with terrific productions and friendly staff…read more PROs There's not a bad seat in the house. The productions have always been very entertaining and well-produced, the caliber of actors is very high, and tickets are reasonable. I once made a dumb mistake--showed up on the wrong night, but the friendly person in the box office helped me avoid spoiling date night by exchanging my tickets from that night's performance. CONs Many shows don't sell out, so you may be disappointed if you're expecting a packed theatre. Personally, it's never bothered me and the audience has always been enthusiastic. The SKINNY I've been to many shows over the years and I've never been disappointed.

It's crazy that we lived less than a block from this theater for over 7 years, yet never had an…read moreoccasion to go inside...until we snagged a couple of tickets to an author panel at the Horton Grand during this year's Comic Con. We honestly didn't get much time inside the theater itself; the panel was an hour long, and they ran a tight ship. But, I will say that I loved the feel of the space. It's a smaller, more intimate theater than some of the other performance spaces downtown, and it doesn't seem like they have a "bad seat" in the house, just based on the layout. The acoustics were good so that we were able to hear all the women on the panel, even if they weren't so good at using the microphones. The seats were comfortable, and there was enough leg room for people to scoot by to seats in the middle of the row without having to step, trip or stumble over those who were already seated. All in all, I liked the space a lot, and am now trying to figure out when we can visit for an actual performance (not that I didn't love the panel, but theaters are made for performing arts, and I so want to see a show here!)

Went here one time to watch a play named "Tres Camarones" great show and the theater is cool and…read morebeautiful being underground.

I have been going to the Lyceum since Horton Plaza was still around. This place specializes in a…read morelot of original plays, and if you got a season pass, you're in for a treat, a lot of local SD artists performed here, you never known whom you ran into because some of them had moved from theater to Hollywood movies. The last play I saw was Viet Gone, and the first play since COVID was The Great Khan which I got a pleasure to attend. If you enjoy performing arts, come and see it for yourself. I wish I could take some shots during the performance, but it was strictly prohibited. The facility was designed very unique, you get to walk down and even further deeper down to reach the main stage, yet everything else got pretty well maintained except for the construction next door right now, I really don't know what they're going to do with the old Horton Plaza, although it was dearly missed. Parking was easy, some meters are expired after 6 PM, if you don't mind walking a few blocks like me, some expired at 8 PM, then you might have to put in a few bucks, but that's downtown for you, I think everyone else would rather pay valet and enjoy their sit down during the show, am I right?

Wow! The Liberty Station space is BREATHTAKING! So massive, clean, and state of the art. Everything…read moreis new and fancy. Stunning venue and they must have some magic up their sleeve because I couldn't hear the airplanes fly over which is a miracle. Those planes are so freaking loud. The bathrooms are immaculate! I would rather see a show here than the Civic. Parking is easier too than downtown by the Civic. Probably safer as well. You will get more bang for your buck at Cygnet and most likely have a better experience which is all we really want when going to the theater.

Enjoyed my first time here on the day of their last show on this stage before they move to liberty…read morestation. I saw Oklahoma for the first time. The musicians on stage were fantastic and made the show magical. All the actors were amazing and the dancing and singing was great too. It's nice to come see a wholesome show and have a fun time. I'm excited to see you at your new venue!!

Oh what a night! It's an absolute must!…read more Absolutely love this comedy show!!!!! I've come here regularly over the last 10 years or so and have seen amazing comics such as Mark Christopher Lawrence, Jerrod Carmichael, Anjelah Johnson, Cheeto Santino, Jonny Loquasto, Michael Kosta, Melissa Villaseñor, Alonzo Bodden, Shawn Pelofsky, Tony Baker, Adam Ray, Jesse Egan, Zoltan Kaszas, Mal Hall, and so many more! For the price, it's priceless. No drink minimums, stellar atmosphere, and just an overall great place to bring a date, a friend, or even your parents. I've seen bachelor/bachelorette parties, coworker gatherings, and a slew of birthdays all being celebrated here. Honestly there's not a lot of better places to spend 7-30pm-9:30pm on a Friday night (shows are typically once a month on the last Friday of the month). Head downtown, grab some dinner, come to the show, and then you can party the night away in the beautiful Gaslamp Quarter. If you're up for a night of LAUGHS come here and you won't be disappointed! Check online below for details and tickets. I think the next show is 09-24-21. https://malhall.com/gaslamp-comedy-show HUUUUGE thanks to Mal Hall and The Tipsy Crow.

Super funny and unique comedy experience located in the basement of the Tipsy Crow…read more I caught Mal for the first time as the opener for Anjelah Johnson and my whole group was laughing so hard that we cried. I've been wanting to check out another show with him for awhile so I was excited when I saw The Gaslamp Comedy Show featured on his Instagram. We had a rotating group of fresh, upcoming comedians who were working out their material. We were an intimate group and it was a different experience watching them quickly pivot or adjust based on how the crowd was interacting with the jokes. 5/5, we'll definitely be back.

He was a great performer and entertainer, we all enjoyed that he interacted with mort of the people…read moreI invited to the party. For sure I will hire him again!

I had the pleasure of working with Cirque Quirk at big corporate Great Gatsby Gala in San Diego in…read moreDecember 2025. They were truly top notch in all regards: professional, punctual, enthusiastic, kind, funny and uber-talented performers! Their newsboy performers were a total riot and delighted the guests and the Jay Gatsby / Leonardo DiCaprio impersonator was a total dead-ringer for Leo. All of the guests wanted to get their photo with him and his performance on the mic announcing the raffle winners was spot on and very entertaining. I highly recommend booking Cirque Quirk for your next event!

Attended a matinee 2:00 showing yesterday called A View From the Bridge yesterday. What a…read moreterrific, intimate, and clean theater. Located right of off Highway 5 (exit Lomas Santa Fe) in the Lomas Santa Fe Shopping Center. They have concessions and the chocolate chip cookie was amazing! The production and cast of A View From the Bridge was stellar. Thank you North Coast Repertory Theatre for an entertaining Sunday afternoon.

Intimate theater with about six rows of seats in three sections. The actors are very good and the…read moreproductions well directed. Make sure to order intermission drinks ahead of the performance. We had a great time and have already purchased tickets for next production.