I have seen three of their shows with my friends now and we have thoroughly enjoyed them all! Great…read morelocal theatre with a very talented and diverse cast and crew. I would highly recommend any show they put on!

This week Louisville is experiencing the ballet in Central Park. I was lucky enough to catch the…read moreperformance of Hamlet & Ophelia. Joining with the team running Shakespeare in the Park, we watched the dancer perform on stage surrounded by a beautiful backdrop of trees and walking trails. This performance was free and included younger dancers and apprentices during the production. The more seasoned performers kept you engaged with beautiful choreography and facial expressions. I appreciated the more casual setting of being at the park. This included the performers and their outfits. This was only the second time I've seen the Louisville Ballet and it was a unique experience compared to being at the theater. Check out the upcoming season which includes Dracula, The Nutcracker and Carmen.

We were so blessed to be able to catch the sold out choreographer's showcase here! I am a huge fan…read moreof The Nutcracker but I've been wanting to expand my horizons and add more beauty into my life. I signed up for the Louisville Ballet newsletter, and when I saw the choreographer's showcase coming up I thought this would be an awesome event where the choreographers and dancers wouldn't be limited to predetermined elements in their performances. The event exceeded my expectations! Everything, from the dancers, to the music, to the lighting, to the costumes, was so thoughtful. We really loved seeing what these artists could do when unbound. I hope to attend many more performances and continue to support the arts, really what makes life worth it. Highly recommend!

I've been coming for years and they NEVER disappoint. This is an event truly made for anyone in the…read morecommunity and the best part is that it's FREE! I recommend bringing bug spray, some water, something comfortable to sit on like a blanket, and a fan to stay comfortable in the heat and throughout the summer. I love going on Rep Weeks towards the end of the summer if there's a particular show I want to see. You don't have to be a Shakespeare expert to enjoy the shows because they give a great explanation in the program. The company is so committed to providing a great show for everyone, one time their power went out and they kept going as long as they could. If there are weather concerns they post updates on their social media and keep the audience informed during the event.

The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival is an awesome, FREE event that happens in Central Park every…read moresummer. They have a new season each year that'll include about 4 different Shakespeare classics. As big theatre nerds, this is such a blast for us. It's so much fun to bring some chairs/blankets, and just camp out while enjoying the show. These performances are also very well put together, and have professional actors that take the stage. If you're looking for food/drinks, they've got you covered also. There are usually a couple food trucks that'll be serving stuff to munch on during the show. This is always on my "To-Do List" every summer!

The Alley is a great little theatre. It's located right off Main Street in the heart of…read moreLouisville's Whiskey Row - so it would be super easy (and convenient) to get a bite & a bourbon somewhere within walking distance before or after the show. (highly recommend Dish on Market) Also, most of the performances are in the evenings -- which means meter parking is FREE! (woo-hoo!) The shows are all pretty low-key performances with a focus on the play's content, (really) creative use of props and often, audience interaction -- versus grandiose sets and special effects. The theatre is small -- maybe seats 60? 90 if they bring in extra seats.. which they sometimes do. (check out their Evil Dead Musical -- it put them on the map for me) The actors are typically not using microphones but they are easily audible from every seat. If you love to be in the middle of the action with an actor literally within reach (or blood being sprayed on you (evil dead musical "splatter zone") -- then sit on the front row, or at the end of a row. The $18 advance/$20 day-of-show price is pretty reasonable considering -- there are no bad seats in the house, the shows are highly entertaining and often involve some amount of pop culture relevance and improv. BUT -- if you love frequenting the Alley & saving money, they offer a "SIXTIX" card for $80. It gets you 6 tickets ($120 value). You can use it to redeem up to 2 tickets at a time to any show. You can do this online, by calling the box office or emailing them. If you don't use the sixtix within a season, no problem -- the 6 tickets stay on your card until you redeem; like rollover minutes (but without all the fine print & secret charges) The theatre company offers lots of variety in performances (musicals & comedies mostly), but most involve off-color, NSFW content-- so leave the kiddies at home. This is the cards-against-humanities of theaters -- wonderful theatre for terrible people (and alcoholics, hipsters and locals). The snack bar features really cheap drinks, a few snacks and $3?, unlimited refillable popcorn! Beers range from $5 Sam Adams & on draft pours to $2 PBRs (to feed the hipsters)... and if you're into knick-knacky, nerdy things or local art -- there is a gift? shop full of these things right off their entrance on Main Street. Take the elevator or stairs up to the 4th floor & you're in for a fun & fairly cheap 2 hours of entertainment!

I wouldn't take me places in public but Karen is a glutton for punishment so off we went to the…read moreAlley Theater to see, "The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged." Once you get over parking down town it isn't a bad place to be! You enter on a first floor into a gift shop and ride an elevator to the theater. I am not a fan of elevators; luckily Captain Awesome let me walk down on our way out. One should only push his luck so hard. Once on the floor with the theater you encounter displays of upcoming shows and programs from shows that have run their course, there is also a bin for the programs you'd like recycled. They also have clean bathrooms and a bar that provides appropriately priced beers, sodas, wine, and snacks. Dude, you can get popcorn with free refills. I was as hungry and hangry as a fourteen-year-old. Karen made sure that I had popcorn and beer to prepare me for CULTURE! The only thing I didn't like about the Alley Theater was the seats were tiny/close together and I was cuddled up to Karen who was clearly not into it. Oh, the show was good and it wasn't uncomfortable in the theatre (in terms of temperature) and I had a great time outside of sitting in the seat where the audience participation happened. I'm high functioning autistic; I just want to blend into the woodwork when I leave the house. This was so painful and I hope I didn't ruin the show for people. They called it the "Bob seat" which was funny because that's what my buddy calls his penis and that buddy texted me a couple times during intermission. I'm sharing this because if I we hang out you'll wonder, "which friend?" If it's in my head it should be in yours, too. Let's suffer together. The acting was good and the play was fantastic. I didn't feel like I was at some uncomfortable, stuffy, avant-garde kind of thing and it wasn't overly formal. I can usually endure the theater pretty well if the show is good (I can't do with the droves of humans, the expected behaviors, the sitting) but I was able to enjoy myself at this show. That's just my personal issue but it was one that was accommodated by the design of the place. My friends love going to shows and this should be a way for me to participate instead of always turning them down. After the show the actors come out and interact with the audience which is so much fun, if you're into that. I am not. I don't like interacting with me and I don't expect other people to either. There are people who have good questions for actors or want to congratulate them on a good show. I did, of course, tell them I enjoyed the show and pretended I wasn't painfully uncomfortable participating so much. They had no idea and I did sit in the Bob seat. I'm not telling YOU where the Bob Seat is. You'll just notice me not sitting in it again. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to experience culture, especially people like me who aren't good at it. Tip your bartender, that's the only money they make.

It's Magical! This…read moresmall theater is located in Whiskey Row Lofts on the first floor. It is a small shotgun space that has great seating. Each row of seats is stadium style with a small shelf area to place your drinks or purse on. It allows everyone a perfect view of the nights performance. The stage is quite small for performers so you are likely to see one man acts or smaller plays that require more imagination then set. The only downside is that because this space is wedged between multiple restaurants and apartments you can here a lot of outside noise. The whole second act of the show I saw had muffed band music bleeding through from the bar next door. The ticket prices seem to be pretty reasonable and there is enough room for a bar. It is a great found space with a lot of history since many magicians have performed in the space.

I'm giving this place a solid 4 star review when it could easily be a 5 star venue. Taking 1 star…read moreaway is strictly a logistics reason. I've been here a few times to see Theatre 502 productions. It's a small theatre on Whiskey Row. I normally get there earlier to sit in the front row, but I honestly don't think there's a bad seat in the house. It's a great space and Theatre 502 always finds new and creative ways to use the space. I've only been here for Theatre 502 shows, but I can't imagine that other acts don't use the space. You should definitely see something here if given the chance. My only complaint? A local pizza place is downstairs. On the weekends, you can hear live music coming from downstairs. Be aware of that before going here. I can usually tune it out, but there have been a few times where it was a nuisance. To offer incentive, I'm always told that the pizza place offers drink discounts to the theatre patrons. I've never took them up on the offer but it is a nice addition(if needed).

College theater is a joy, and UofL's program is worthy of public support, with their MFA program…read moreoffering a backbone for their productions. The Thrust Theater is wedged into the school's voluminous sports complex, not an amazing facility, with a lobby that feels like a college building more than a performance hall, but the theater itself is a good one. Big enough to hold an audience of 150, small enough so there's not a bad seat to be had. Great layout, great sound, impassioned shows. Come see the young people.

So, being as this is both my first review on Yelp, as well as the first review for the Thrust…read moreTheater, I may be biting off more than I can chew. But here goes nothing! First off, this review really needs to be broken down into two parts: the physical theater space and the play itself. It is impossible to judge both as one and the same. That being said, the "place": First off, I've been in this city for a year and I never knew that University of Louisville had a Department of Theater Arts! Let alone that this theater existed! Needless to say, I was looking forward to a few things - checking out yet another new place in Louisville and trying my hand at a small theater venue here. The theater stage didn't disappoint. It had 3 of 4 walls used for seating and is small and quaint. It seats probably about 200. (I tried to find the actual number on the website, but to no avail!) It is easy to hear everything well and makes for an incredibly intimate setting. The actors in the play I saw actually interacted directly with the audience (which ended up being both awkward and funny at the same time.) I happen to love small venues for theaters, so this place fit the bill perfectly for me. That being said, onto the "play": As a disclaimer, I'm not an artist, don't claim to be, and sometimes artsy things go over my head. Apparently dark comedies fall into that category. We saw "Flu Season" - and it was, as it so perfectly proclaimed to be, a dark comedy. It started out a little slow, and somewhat confusing (it was very vague, poetic, artsy, etc.), but led to more entertaining scenes. Now the venue lends well to small crowds, but can also be a detriment at times. If something is funny, the laughter in the place ends up being contagious. But when something isn't funny, yet a few audience members laugh, it tends to feel awkward or uncomfortable. This happened a few times, and it was both awkward and uncomfortable. I don't want to give away anything to the play, but I left unsatisfied. And somewhat sad. Why the "three stars"? Because I'd go back. Not to see "Flu Season" again, but I'll be keeping an eye out for upcoming plays. I liked the venue, and really enjoy supporting local artists. I'm just hoping for a play that I'd appreciate more - probably just a regular ol' comedy will fit the bill. The play bill.

Little Colonel Playhouse opened its 68th season this Fall. I went to see Three Musketeers. Tickets…read morewere easy to view online and I reserved a specific seat for the performance. I got confirmation right away. Not having been there before I didn't 100% know the layout of the room. Several are on the floor and they have a first and second riser. It's a small theater and a bad seat would have more to do with the height of people in front of you. I sat in the front row but would've preferred second or third row or maybe the first row of the first riser. The stage is very close to first row so you are viewing with your neck in an incline. Check in went smoothly. Sound and lighting were great. At intermission the theater served drinks and cookies plus gave time for a quick restroom break. Seats are close together and padded well for sitting awhile. Performers gather in the lobby after the play. It's a good opportunity to give kudos. Parking is tight. I arrived 30 minutes early and found a spot but am guessing it's interesting if you show up directly before the show.

The cast and staff are super friendly... The play overall was fantastic as they bring the audience…read moreinto the show and really interact with them. I would go back to the next show as well.... O BOY------

Abby Road was amazing show of music from the sixties. It was a non stop party on several stages…read more People danced and swayed in their seats, some sang the lyrics, and all was a feast for the eyes and ears. I was transported to a time of long ago where real bands played instruments and hearing real voices. I didn't sing but I did dance so hard I sweated and needed hydration and smiled the entire time. I stayed for hours and never wanted to leave. I can't wait to do this again next. Thanks to our Yelp manager Keri for another spectacular event!

I attended Abbey Road on the River this year for part of the day and have attended it in the past…read more This year, the opportunity to see Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits (Peter is the original Herman) alone makes this festival worthy of five stars. They put on an amazing show, have performed before at the festival, and Peter is a master entertainer. I recommend getting a ticket with seating if you are particularly interested in a performer or group. The bands before were good as well, and, in the past, I saw an excellent Elton John tribute artist. The people-watching is great, and the staff are competent and friendly. The food was so so to good; you might want to eat at a local restaurant.