I love that we have opera here!…read more I have seen 1.6 operas here. The first was with a Yelp event where we were able to see Puccini's "Girl of the Golden West." As it was a wednesday night and I was unprepared for how long an opera is, most of us only stayed for the first two acts. But what we saw was wonderful! And more recently, after volunteering for the opera, I got to attend the dress rehearsal/student night of Previn's "Streetcar Named Desire." That was different than what one might normally expect from a more traditional opera, but the production was fantastic. I would highly recommend, if you get the chance, treating yourself to a night at the opera.

Saw 'Enemies, A Love Story 'today by the Kentucky Opera. The set for today's opera was clever and…read morethe songs were absolutely beautiful. Morgan Smith (Herman) has a voice that leaves you speachless. He played the lead male and did a great job! Catherine Martin (Tamara), Emily Albin (Yadwiga), and Danielle Pasting (Marsha) sang the beautiful arias-the notes they hit! WOW....reading the synopsis in the program really help. The Internet does a great job with getting behind the scenes and gets deeper into the show. Once again....great job Kentucky Opera!

It's been years since I've been to the Kentucky Center and I love what they've done for upgrades…read more The quintessential art (crushed cars? flattened train?) that I remember from my childhood remain fixtures in the walls while the new (new to me) conductor's podium in Whitney Hall is dreamy and modern. The acoustics are well designed, carrying singers or orchestral performances to every seat. AND I haven't had to wait too long in a line for the ladies' room during intermission for the shows I've attended.

We visited here on Sunday night in July 2026 to see the final performance of the Hamilton…read moreproduction before it wrapped. Seats were in Balcony Left, row A, seats 1-6, with great unobstructed views of the entire stage from this front row. (Maybe not a good seat if a patron happens to have vertigo.) Had an opportunity to admire the large art pieces displayed to the right of the entry doors while we waited. Restrooms are located to the left of the entry doors, which is very convenient on this level. We were also able to exit the venue and access the parking garage very quickly post show. With regard to comfort of seating, this show was almost 3 hours long with an intermission, and we commented the seats felt extremely low to the ground and uncomfortable overall.

My husband and I returned after a decade to see A Christmas Carol. The nostalgia of being there, a…read morespot we grew up in as kids and later as volunteers and subscribers, made us giddy. Being at that specific production in the Pamela Brown made it that more enjoyable. Actors was great about sending reminders for our tickets, which we booked online. They also sent an overview of what to know when visiting the theatre. They have an attached parking garage that is $15. It can take you to various floors of the theatre; however, last night all guests had to enter through the main lobby to pass security. The main lobby is still gorgeous with its high ceiling. The bar offered wine, beer and cocktails plus a few snacks. Helpers stood at the entrance to help guide us to our seating area. Our show was in the Pamela Brown, which has floor and balcony seats. It is small and intimate (yes, a bit tight as well for adults with broad shoulders and thicker thighs than when we were 20 yrs!). No bad seat - and I appreciated the placement of each row being staggered and slightly lifted for better visibility. Actors also offers two other theaters - one is very, very small and you're on the floor with the actors. The other is round and amazing! I want to go to a show just to experience both venues again. I'm so happy to be back and I'm inspired to watch their programming in the future.

First time at this venue. We went to see the CandleLight Tribute to Queen & The Beatles. There's…read morenot a bad seat in the house. Great acoustics and a great show. The arrangements really were inspiring. The instruments mimicked the brass sections of many of the Beatles tunes they were playing. Yes, there a small "bar" for snacks and drinks. Another great plus? Parking is attached to the theater building.

Our group of 10 all thoroughly enjoyed this production of Fiddler on the Roof as the final…read moreinstallment for the 2025/2026 season at CenterStage. We were fortunate to get tickets months ago for a show that easily sold out and opening night was fantastic. Actors were terrific as always. Singing, dancing, and dialogue delivery are all very entertaining. Set design and costumes along with the lighting and audio are all top notch. Stadium style seating is fairly comfortable, but definitely grateful for intermission to be able to stretch and move around a bit. Theater is nicely sized to enjoy views from any seat in the venue. Looking forward to the 2026/2027 theater season. Season tickets order form is available now to plan and lock in showtimes.

When you walk into CenterStage, you might at first feel like you've taken a trip back in time -- to…read morehigh school. The theater looks very similar to my high school's auditorium, with large polyester curtains covering the windows and the audience sitting on risers. But don't let that stop you! The talent I've seen come out of this theater -- which has created a name for itself over its past 100 SEASONS (wow!) for performing Broadway musicals -- rivals performances I've seen in New York and Chicago. The casts are truly phenomenal and fully committed to their characters. "Community theater" does not adequately fit this awesome establishment. They're so good that you'll easily forget you're in an auditorium and become sucked into the production. And they really make the most of the stage with inventive sets. I saw my first CenterStage production earlier this year with "Spring Awakening," a very raw and edgy play that explored such topics as rape, puberty, incest, abortion and teen suicide. And as the artistic director said before the play started, CenterStage does not shy away from avant-garde or controversial productions. They don't change a play to make it more PC but use that as fodder to explore more profound and adult subjects. I like that! And full disclosure: I was comped a ticket to see "Spring Awakening," so I wanted to make a return visit -- with me paying my own way -- before writing a review. Happily, I was able to do that this last week, when I saw "Sweeney Todd." This is another one that has a bit of an edge, though I admit their production was not gruesome just for gruesome's sake. They handled -- ya know -- Sweeney Todd cutting men's throats with his straight razor thoughtfully. There wasn't spurting blood, but rather, the shock value came from the actors' performances -- perhaps as it should be. I also like that CenterStage partners with non-profits on most of its productions. At "Spring Awakening," the theater raised funds for the Center for Women and Families. During "Sweeney Todd," the theater was raising funds for itself -- and more specifically, replacements for those ghastly curtains! Bravo! But they could put up paisley bed sheets over the windows if they wanted to -- I would still gladly come to their shows.

A really nice place to see a show. As music venues go, the Monarch sits somewhere between Zanzibar…read moreor Whirling Tiger and hearing a show in someone's living room, which is to say that there isn't going to be a bad seat, with the important caveat that there are only so many seats. They call their main stage area a "listening room" and urge patrons to silence their devices. The gist here is that they want to promote an environment where people are really focused on the music being played, without distractions. And if for whatever reason you're here to see a show or take part an event that is in the courtyard in back, that space is also very inviting and well laid out. Beyond these simple facts, if you come here you'll also notice some other unusual aspects that will hint at the fact that you're not in a normal concert venue. For one thing, there are no beverage sales -- it's entirely BYOB. And if you want to bring in your own snack too, that's kosher. I can't say I grasp everything about the place, but the reason why it's called a "music & arts community" is because this operation is run by a nonprofit, and they prefer to be in the business of serving artists rather than selling drinks. For the true night owls, or for local musicians, there is a membership option but almost any event is open to the public too (perhaps at a slightly higher entry price). Some events are ticketed, others are free or have "suggested donation" attached. And maybe best of all, none of the proceeds go to Ticketmaster.

enjoyed a wonderful evening of talented musicians performing original music at The Monarch. The…read moreMonarch is a non-profit space for showcasing music, art & promoting community. you may walk in the door a stranger, but within moments of crossing the threshold, you are a friend. there are plenty of non-ticketed events (there's a jar for contributions to the musicians), listening sessions, jam sessions & ticketed events (Tommy Prine is coming January 2025). The Monarch is a beautiful space - like a friend's living room &/or the cozy cafe you remember haunting from your college days. its a space for songwriters, performers & all who love music, the arts & want to support their talent. check it out! you'll be very happy you did!

We attended the monthly Moth StorySlam hosted here at Headliners by our local public radio station…read more These occur regularly usually on the 4th Tuesday and we purchased our tickets online, although a limited number might be available at the door for an increased price. Ten storytellers have 5 minutes on stage to address the topic of the evening. Tonight's topic was "Revenge" with many inspirational stories referencing ultimately "choosing peace". The highlight of the show was getting to see local comedian, Mack Dryden, perform his unique wry schtick in unparalleled storytelling style. He brought down the house with his saga of battling squirrels while living in California. The venue has a small parking lot in front of the building, a larger parking area next to the property, and large amounts of free on street parking along Lexington Road and the surrounding side streets. Doors opened and lines moved quickly through security for bag checks, ticket scanning, and locating a seat. There were rows of folding chairs in front of the stage as well as 2 to 4 seat small pub tables placed along the walls. There is also an overhead balcony viewing area with tables and chairs. We did notice an odor in the building that was a bit offputting at first and then I suppose we eventually became nose-blind. It was a hint of a musty, urine, spilled beer, dive bar mix. We also exited the building around 10:30 PM following the show and were slammed with the familiar Butchertown pig slaughterhouse odor and almost ran to our cars to make our escape. Restroom was large, clean, and fully stocked. Large bar area near the back of the room. Easily able to see the stage from any vantage point in the large space. Audio was fine. Would love to return here for future events, including The Moth.

I attended a Moth storytelling event at Headliners, and overall it was a good experience, but I'm…read moregiving it four stars because of the parking situation. I have accessibility needs, and when I arrived they told me I'd have to pay $5 cash to park (which I didnt have) in a handicapped spot. It felt frustrating, especially since I drove myself and couldn't just park farther away and walk. After some discussion (thankfully, my friend spoke up), they waived the fee, but it seems like that's the default expectation, which isn't ideal for people with mobility challenges. Also, the venue itself isn't wheelchair accessible, so that's something to keep in mind. That said, the event itself was fantastic. You should definitely arrive early because most of the seating is on one level, and if someone tall sits in front of you, you might struggle to see. There is a balcony area for extra seating, though. The bar is on the pricey side--a soft drink in a 12 oz cup is about $3--but they do offer some alcoholic beverage specials. Overall, I love the storytelling events and will probably keep going, but I hope they improve their accessibility policies in the future

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.

Absolutely loved this venue. It is huge with ample seating, some of which cost an additional fee…read morebeyond the $5 cover charge we paid to see the band, Most Wanted preform. Band was excellent as always. It truly does look like an Enchanted Forest, with lots of trees, natural (stone seating) with a magical atmosphere. We had already eaten prior to our arrival and aren't big drinkers but they had water stations set up which was really handy. Spinellis Pizza is located in the front of the outdoor area so that is the food option. Full bar offerings located in several spots around the inside and outside areas. Street parking and a huge, free city located a block to the east. Highly recommend if only for the atmosphere.

We went to Enchanted Forest Live for the production of Jesus Christ Superstar on 4/13/24. The…read morevenue is great, and the food was excellent. My husband had the bison burger, and I had the Caesar salad with salmon and we were very satisfied. But the best part of the night was watching excellent live theater in the Enchanted Forest. I definitely hope there are more events like this here.