The Long Center has always been an enjoyable venue and today was no different as my wife, a couple friend of ours, and I enjoyed the musical Once. The musical was a hit and the venue provided a great atmosphere. The debate of ground floor vs balcony is a tough one but can honestly say that there is not a bad seat in house. A few extras that I always enjoy during my visits: the view of downtown Austin from the entrance of the Long Center and the staff that assists you with your seats and drinks. Good job to the ladies who provided my group with smiles and a walk to our seats! read more

Went to the Austin Lyric Opera open house at the Long Center on March 3rd and thoroughly enjoyed the "sneak peek"! Our opera season ticket seats are by no means the most expensive that are offered -- but we are 8 rows from the stage on the floor! There is not a bad seat in the house! The architecture is beautiful - both outside and inside. The colored green and blue glass exterior (recycled from the old Palmer Events Center) and the many modern details are exquisite. Truly a beautiful building! Four Stars -- only on the $7 parking! That gets expensive! read more

Last night the ladyfriend dragged me to see "Cabaret" at the Debra and Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre. It was my first time at a theatre in god knows how long. I wasn't too sure what to wear. Judging by the folks who were there I was perfectly acceptable with jeans and a polo. There were a couple of folks who did it in up suits. There were also a few folks who "dressed down" in an A-Frame shirt and flip flops. There were some seriously interesting outfits at this place - not sure if this is commonplace at theatres or if kids are just dressing weirder (maybe I'm just an old fart). Very eclectic group of people there. Lots of high school kids and lots of old people. They have a bar outside of the theatre. The drinks weren't super cheap, but not horrendous. As Walker f. suggests, get drinks beforehand if you want to do it up. Parking is $7 at the Long Center (boo). The play itself is put on by high school and college kids. They did a fantastic job. I definitely recommend going to check it out if you like the theatre. The one reason why I didn't give this place 5 stars is because it was SO friggen cold. I grew up in Maine, so I'm no wimp when it comes to cold. This place was freezing. Keep that in mind and dress appropriately. I don't care how ridiculous you look strolling up in a wool sweater on a 103 degree day, you'll thank me. read more

Beyond the Score: New World Symphony, by Dvorak Before coming to the show, I was puzzled both by the name and how one symphony was going to take up an entire concert. Both questions were answered quickly as the concert started. The first half of the concert was dedicated to voice overs, movie clips, and sounds bites (played by the orchestra) that explained the entire motivation, structure, and history beyond Dvorak's New World Symphony--hence, "Beyond the Score." At first, I was little weirded out. Then I grew interested in finding out more about the work. However, my interest quickly waned as the narrations and movie clips continued. It was almost like the first half was a big tease. "This part of the work was inspired by Dvorak's journey across the Atlantic" [[5 seconds of music played]]. "Dr. Dvorak studied native Americans, which resulted in this sound in the work." [[5 second of music]]. And repeat. By the tenth time they played just a little snippet of music, I was ready to go: Bring on the symphony! I'm pumped up! Let's go! --Not to happen. The symphony was not played in its entirety until after the intermission. The actual performance was excellent. Maestro Peter Bay was energetic and helped draw you in to nostalgia. The ASO did a fantastic job. In the end, I was glad I sat through an hour of listening to the history of "New World Symphony." However, it was a bit painful at the time. read more

I won't actually be at the venue until tomorrow but I did want to take a moment to call out the great customer service I jus received from Leslie at the box office. I had a few questions and needed to make a change and she helped me all the way through it. It's really a bright spot in this day and age when the person doesn't just shut you down and say "sorry can't help you." 5 Stars for Leslie!!! Thanks again. read more

I went to the Rollins Studio Theatre to watch a movie during the Austin Film Festival. The people running things were really organized, though that's the Festival staff, so I won't talk too much about them. The theatre was more like a room where you'd watch a play, with individual chairs set up and a small screen in the front. Halfway through the film, the center speaker started popping on any bassy sound, which was super distracting. Other than that, I can't say much about my experience here. read more

Long Center - Austin Film Festival - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

This facility is very beautiful, up to date and modern feeling. The bathrooms are pretty and always so clean. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Check out Catechism 3 that is there right now - hilarious production worth your time! read more

I went to the Long Center to see Grupo Fantasma a band incorporating elements of funk, mambo, meringue, and cumbia. The entry was free, just printed a ticket on line. The acoustics of the hall were fantasma. Not a bad seat in the house. Grupo Fantasma, an Austin based 11 piece band had the crowd Dancin in the aisles. read more

Austin is so fortunate to have this incredible facility in arms reach. I have attended two performances so far, DRUMline Live (last month) and Garth Fagan Dance Co. (last night) The Programming Staff is bringing in top notch talent to this city. This is saving us all money we would be spending to board a plane to New York or Chicago, rent a hotel room and call a cab to see a noted performance. I've had seats close to the stage and toward the back. There really is no bad seat in this place. The acoustics are perfect. The City Terrace is a great place for taking pictures of the skyline. read more

Lovely venue. Stumbled upon tickets to see Carol Burnett. Giddy to see an ICON in person. Did her Tarzan yell and signature song. AMAZING. Great view of downtown. SXSW happened to be going on. We walked outside and a Judas Priest cover band was performing. Nice. There was ample parking. It seemed like we walked forever to get to the venue when we arrived, but I had to pee ever so bad. I think that tainted my perception. Definitely will make the drive from Houston again just to catch a show. WOW...Austin has changed so much since I was a little kid spending the summer there! read more

I love the variety of culture at this place. I've seen it host everything from Blue Man Group to Video Games Live to Who's Line Is It Anyway Live. The sound inside is great and the seats and the bathrooms are immaculate (it's a theater, what else is there that matters?!) You can count on getting into the parking garage (typically for $10) and a short walk over to the theater or park further down Barton Springs for free and walk a little further on a rare cool Austin evening. read more

I love this place. I've seen several shows here and the seats are comfortable and I have yet to find a bad spot in the house. I also love the Trailer Thursdays thing they do each month. It's a great way to bring the community together and a perfect usage of the outdoor space of the building. Heck the view from the outdoor patio is wonderful and it's a great spot for a picnic. This is just a great addition to the area. Parking is convenient and not too pricey. Not only do they get great shows, but it's fun to wander the park around the Long Center before a show. With Doug Sahm Hill and several ponds all in walking distance, it's a great spot to stretch your legs before sitting to enjoy a show for a couple of hours. read more

The only reason I'm not rating 5 stars is the prices at the bar. I paid $30 for two drinks and a brownie (that was 75% sugar and couldn't finish). I expect show prices to be a little higher, but $12 for a drink is insane. It's cheaper on Broadway!! The play (Dance Nation by Theatre En Bloc) was incredible. If you're going here for entertainment, I recommend you pregame it at a bar nearby. Aussie's is very cheap. read more

Growing up outside of DC, I've spent a good deal of time at the Kennedy Center and spent a couple of nights at the Met in NYC. The Long Center is right up there, albeit in a distinctly Austin way. It is modern without being cold or harsh and the blending of indoor and outdoor spaces capitalizes on the grandeur of its location. The acoustics are fantastic, sitting just behind the orchestra section I thoroughly enjoyed the symphony. At one point, the warm tones of the harp was so enveloping that I looked around to so see if they had placed the harpist somewhere outside of the pit. Drinks are a bit pricey but the fact that you can enjoy your beverage of choice in such a beautiful setting is worth the premium. read more

The Austin Fashion Awards 2009 - Update The red carpet was tracked by everyone in Austin who had interest in fashion from her local designers to the makeup artists, hairdressers, models, writers and aspiring all-of-the-above. The photographers were there to catch the action, and would soon be honored by one of their best in what should be described as the most moving acceptance speech of the night. The air was buzzing with anticipation and shutters clicked to beaming smiles. It was a night for honoring the art of glamour with Austin's who's who in fashion and admirers alike in attendance. When fashion writer Stephen Moser set his boyfriend's car on fire in a full-length fur in the middle of the summer, the world knew that Austin Texas had style. I'm paraphrasing, but with that bit of levity, the first Austin Fashion Awards ceremony was officially underway. A cheering laugh filled the The Long Center For The Performing Arts' Michael & Susan Dell Hall. The host Jenny Hart, founder and creative director of Texas-based embroidery design company, Sublime Stitching, was poised and funny, charismatic and genuine with her own compliments to the winners and deserving nominees alike. Categories ranged from Best Women's Clothing Designer, Best Salon to Best Makeup Artist and Best Hairdresser. The nominees' faces lit as their names were flashed across the screen in ten foot letters and read so the whole house could hear. The honors fell to the women and men who have spent a lifetime suffering their art and were proud to make that known. read more

Yes - a beautiful building and once inside, the interior matches the exterior beauty. For me that's where it stops. We had tickets for last night's concert and the sound quality was the worst I've heard in an Austin venue in many years. Acoustically it is designed to be one of the best in the country so I guess the blame needs to be placed on the sound crew. We had tixs about 12 rows from the stage and it was muffled mess for 3 hours. I could understand maybe the first few songs - but PLEASE make some adjustments. The "set it and forget it" approach should be reserved for a Ronco TV product, NOT a soundboard. I don't profess I know the "fix" but going out to hear live music at least 3-4x a month, I know what a clear sounding room sounds like. Most every Austin club and concert venue has this place beat when it comes to sound quality. read more

Had a great night here. Solid performance, easy access, comfy seats. Good view even from the bottom section and parking available, though is time consuming so give yourself some time to get through the pay lot. Inside they offer spirits for $10-12, wine for $9 and beer for $9-11 depending on types and size. Some small snacks and sodas available as well for about $5. Not much of a dress code, with people in hoodies to people in full suits; but average was a dress and blazer. Really nice venue and would 100% be back for another show. read more

The Long Center is Amazing! We came for the Symphony of Terror this past weekend and could not have asked for more. Seats were comfortable and offered great viewing angles to the main stage. The acoustics in the building were Awesome. Parking was exceptionally convenient as it was attached to the building and not badly priced either at $7.00; definitely beats driving around in circles when you're already running late for a show. read more

I'm a huge fan of the Long Center. The facility is absolutely gorgeous and its views of the Austin skyline are stunning. I've attended ballets, broadway shows, and an Alamo Drafthouse Action Pack Quote-Along special at this venue. I've sat in all sections from the Parterre, the nosebleed balcony seats, the mezzanine, as well as the box seats. From all of my visits and varying seats, I've had no issue with line of sight to the stage. Dependent on the event, I'll often check to see if there are any eligible promo codes online that I can apply towards my purchase - surprisingly, I've gotten discounts that way. I even got a Yelp Check-In discount for my next purchase to a Long Center event for being a regular! Parking as expected can be hectic, so to guarantee timely parking, walking, check-in, and seating, you should arrive at least a half hour prior to showtime. The Palmer Center parking garage charges $7. If you have specialty license plates, you can get complimentary parking (Check the website to see if you're eligible.) Bathrooms are reliable and plentiful. Lines for the bar kiosks can be long, but it's nice to have as people socialize prior to the show and during intermissions. All of the ushers have always been so polite and professional. The only downside is that because this is such a massive venue, if you're seated higher up in the theater, it will take you forever to get down the stairs behind the flood of people trying to exit the theater. It's all part of the theater experience though, so there's no point in rushing. Overall, this is an impressive venue for Austin. It's absolutely beautiful and I love coming here. read more

I attended a whiskey tasting event here & on the outside the word "skyline" was illuminated. I wasn't sure though if this was the name of this outdoor area or the name of the event I was attending. Either way the outside area was fantastic! I attended at night & it was the perfect backdrop to view the Austin skyline (again, maybe this is the name of what they are calling this area). All I could think while I was there was how cool it would be to have a nighttime wedding reception there. Will definitely want to check this out in the future if I need a venue for a special event. read more

Long Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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If driving, be prepared to pay to park; nominal fee. HINT: Back-in to your space, it will make pulling out much easier when there is a line of cars trying to exit at the same time. Concessions are available, a little overprice; but kind of expected at these types of events. Don't be put off by seats in the very top level. Other than the hike of stairs to get up there, the view is still exceptional, as are the sounds. We recently attended a Symphony concert - piano soloist. Very entertaining. Dress seemed casual (it's Austin, afterall); although some were in suits and nice formal wear. read more

This place is gorgeous. I've been coming for the past two years with my family to the TX Monthly BBQ Festival here and both times I have been impressed with this place. The actual venue is beautiful and modern in a great location right off of Town (ahem...Lady Bird) Lake. The restrooms and grounds are always clean and tidy. Mostly, though, I have to complement the staff here. My dad has been with us the past two years and cannot walk very well. The staff are always more than accommodating and extremely kind and helpful. I am so appreciative of that. read more

I'm writing this review from multiple perspectives. All of my experiences have been in the Susan and Michael Dell Hall, I've not yet been in the Rollins Theater. I've been an audience member several times, and have seen shows from the first balcony and the orchestra level. There is no bad seat in the house. Yes, if the person in front of you happens to be very tall, you might have issues seeing everything onstage, but I am average height (5'6") and have never missed enough of the stage to warrant any complaints. The acoustics are FANTASTIC! When the opera is playing, the singers are not amplified, yet the orchestra does not drown them out. It's very accessible, and easy to get anywhere you want or need to go. Elevators as well as stairs are provided, and there are plenty of bathrooms on every level. This afternoon, I got the privilege to experience The Long Center as a performer with The Austin Civic Orchestra. While I had seen some of the backstage areas before, I had not had the chance to wander around a great deal. There is PLENTY of space for everybody (we had two large groups, together comprising probably close to 160 people) to relax, get dressed, put on makeup and warm up without any sound bleeding onto the stage or into the venue. Playing on this stage is truly a treat, as it really makes a good group sound even better. My *only* complaint (as a cellist) is that, given the HUGE amount of money they have A) already spent on state-of-the-art equipment and B) charge performing groups to use their space, I would think they would be willing and able to invest $237 each for 10 - 12 Wenger Cellist Chairs. I mean I *know* the cellists in The Austin Symphony and The Austin Lyric Opera would truly, deeply appreciate such a consideration, for as often as they play this venue... I might have complaints about parking in the garage had I ever had occasion to do so, but usually I ride with a member of the ALO orchestra, and they park elsewhere. read more

2500 seats in this one place! The seats are so tight and close that your knees hit the set in front of you and when people are late coming in to see the show, the whole aisle have to get up and move out the aisle for that person can get into their seat. it was also dirty. the movie theater has 5 times more space then the Long Center theater (smh). so once you sit down, don't expect to get up. The seats are even closer. elbows fight! We had a very bad experiment. When the Orchestras played, the sound was not surrounded sounds. I had a better love for classical music when I watched and listen to it at home on youtube on a large 4k TV and surround sounds and a nice big seat like the Box Seats. But at the Long Center theater, it sounded bland and plain. Most foreign theaters build their building to have surround sounds affect but this theater is too cheap and to modern. looks great on the outside and have nice views but basic and plan on the inside. read more

This is a fantastic venue for which I cannot say enough positive things. Aesthetically pleasing with beautiful large windows and a circular fixture reminiscent of a science fiction building. The long staircase fills me with daydreams of yore where society's elite came to see to be seen. It's all quite fantastical. I saw the Nutcracker at the Long Center. As a venue what impressed me the most is that while intimate in feeling, it was not overly small. Further, I was concerned that our far left seats would be obscured by heads or the general viewing angle. I was surprised by how nicely situated the entire arena is for viewing a performance and I would not hesitate to take far right or left seats in the future, particularly at a cost savings. I liked that food and bar service was so close and despite a very long line at intermission, went surprisingly fast. The acoustics were impressive and in addition to hearing the orchestra, I could clearly hear the dancers pointe shoes striking the wooden floor-- this from the mezzanine more than 25 rows back! Top off all that with valet service and I wish every concert or show could be held at the Long Center! I docked 1 star because while I was comfortable, I heard a number of men whispering that the seats were uncomfortable. read more

Beautiful hall, nice view from the front entrance, great acoustics. Parking seems reasonable, but I'm used to Chicago prices?

Fabulous venue. There are no bad seats. The balconies feel much closer to the stage than Bass Concert Hall, and the seats are more comfortable. I think there is more room in the rows for people to walk by, as well. Attached garage ($7) makes parking and getting out a breeze. World-class and beautiful architecture both inside and out. Recycled construction materials come from Austin's past. The Long Center is one of Austin's many new diamonds, and we must treasure it! I hope more touring concerts are booked here because the sound is phenomenal. read more

Pro: Great view from the outside. You can see the Austin skyline and river. I like their summer symphony in the park, a free show in the park where you can bring a blanket and hang with friends. Con: None read more

We went to the Long Center because there was an event going on called Bubble Paloonza. We went to the Long Center, but it was very hot. We had heard there was a yelp booth and if you check in on yelp, you get free stuff. We went to the booth and they helped us find the Long Center and check in. We got a free yelp bag, some sun glasses and some yelp fans. Since it was so hot, we went to a shady area first. There were ice cream trucks, so we got some ice cream. We got Roasted poblano brownie, Dark chocolate, and Salted caramel. We were leaving when we saw an HEB booth with a spin the wheel, so my brother and I wanted to spin the wheel. We went over there and they gave us free shampoo, body wash, two snack bars, and a bandana. There were some bubbles, but later on they turned on the bubble machines. It was fun, but hot. read more

I had the great opportunity of being able to come to Austin to shoot Sharon Marroquin's dance production there and I loved the space! This is a top-notch performing art hall and Austin should be thrilled to have it! Take advantage of it Austinites...it's beautiful! read more

This is a pretty snazzy place! We went here over the weekend for the Meals on Wheels Charity Event and were impressed. The layout was nice, architecture was modern, and I can't imagine that there is a bad seat in the house. Only complaints would be: 1) Parking garage is completely separated from the Long Center and inconvenient for rainy days. 2) Parking is $7. 3) For some reason you can exit thetheater from the vestibule doors but plan on walking all the way around if you want back in. read more

Took my kid out here today for live music and movie night out door. It was pretty cool! They have food trucks out there and a bar stand! read more

Long Center - Live music and outdoor movie night! - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've been to the Long Center several times, most recently for the opera La Traviata and the other time for the Blue Man Group. Their Sunday evening symphony in the park during the summer under the roller coaster looking thingy is worth checking out as well (read: free! Bring a picnic dinner!). The Michael and Susan Dell Hall is just a perfect performing arts venue. Everything is clean and beautiful. Acoustics are fantastic. I love the back porch that looks onto the downtown Austin skyline. It's just great! I can't wait to go back. read more

What a great venue to see my first Opera. I don't think there is a bad seat in the place-I can say this because I sat in the top back row and saw able to hear and see everything. The best part is the view of the city, especially at night. Beautiful! Check this out if you are in Austin. read more

I love this place. NOt to big and yet not to small. Prices are a little high non a few things but then again they have to pay the talent. read more

I just ordered tickets online. I then realized that we may have company on the week of the performance we chose. I called to ask if we would be able to change seating if need be, and was told that I was told 'all sales are final'. but they would change seating if available for charge a $5 fee per ticket, even if the new seats are at a higher price. This does not seem to be particularly good customer service to me. I am, however, excited to attend an event three, as I've heard the facility is amazing, which may mean I have to give the place a higher rating. read more

This place is pretty cool. It's right across the park at Town lake and the water fountain for kids to play in is just awesome! Our kiddo had a fun time with the water spouts. read more

Long Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is a review of the Long Center and of Sterling Events which provides the catering (food/beverages) to them as well. The Long Center by far is the best performing arts center in Austin, Texas and we are very fortunate to have a building like this. The acoustics are top notch, the seating is spacious, and the building itself is mostly made of recycled materials. What is not to love? Sterling Events is one of the worst catering companies in Austin and with these tips you can avoid some seriously nasty surprises when you attend a performance there. First thing you should look out for: fruit flies. Yes, those pesky little guys you normally see in the fruit/veggie isle at Randall's or HEB. Why are they a problem? Fruit flies absolutely LOVE alcohol and will literally kill themselves via drowning in order to get their fill. Sterling Events does NOT do regular pest control and their liquor bottles on a regular basis are filled with fruit flies. If you go to get a drink and you see flies anywhere near the bar, your hard liquor most likely has bugs in it. YUK! Stick with the bottled water or beer for safeties sake. I can think of nothing grosser than a drink that has had bugs in it for long periods of time. The second issue you should keep your eyes out for is food items. Many times the cookies and cheese/fruit plates are extremely old. The cheese/fruit plates will be labeled with a sticker, normally a lime green color, when they are very close to be expired or have barely gone over their allotted freshness date. You should ask for another plate if you are given one for your satisfaction. The cookies should be moist and quite bendable, if they are hard and crumble easily, they are definitely old. Fruit flies will also swarm these items, so keep an eye out for them as well. Thirdly you should also check the glass you are given for your beverage. Sterling Events does not wash their glassware with soap and water, but instead runs it thru a sterilizer that does no scrubbing. Any built up food or lipstick for example is not removed and you will be sharing the previous persons' contributions on these items. The glassware at the Long Center is absolutely horrendous and I've seen some type of black caked goo on the bottom of the glasses along with many glasses that have a tremendous amount of lipstick on the rims. How disgusting is that?!?! If you unfortunately find that any of these things have happened to you directly, do not complain to any of the management of Sterling Events. Nothing will be done because they simply do not care. Complain directly to the Long Center via their website or phone number. The Long Center takes matters like this very seriously and will address the issue accordingly. read more

VERY disappointed in The Long Center Box Office! I bought tickets for Toby Mac in the first 5 minutes they went on sale. Purchased the highest price tickets they offered and by looking at the seating chart expected to be right next to the stage. I'm here mid way up, not even on the floor, can barely see the TV screen, and extremely disappointed. The lower price tickets are 1 ROW up from us! I could have saved about $200! WILL NEVER BUT TICKETS FOR AN EVENT OFFERED FROM THE LONG CENTER AGAIN!!!!! Update...I was contacted by a representative at The Long Center immediately and will say that they were very responsive and apologetic for the mishap with these tickets and handled the situation in a very satisfactory manner. I now will be willing to give them another opportunity based on how quickly they responded and how well they handled my disappointment. It's unfortunate that this particular concert was not at The Long Center as I hear there are no bad seats there. read more

Love this place. Have been here several times. Today's review we sat in the center, row G, on the end and the seats were AMAZING. Clear view of the stage. Felt personal. Drink prices of course aren't the best but I think that's typical when you don't have options. At least you can take them in with you. Staff is super friendly. Tip: Bathroom on the floor level is always less crowded! read more