I don't think I had ever been to this theater actually. Small independent theaters are becoming…read moreharder to find and glad this still exists on Houston Street on the west side. It's been around since about 1970. I went to see something called "No Picnic" the other weekend. Trust me, it's artsy as hell but it was neat to see images of old New York in the 80's. Most films are not main stream, are independent, foreign, or they will have some nostalgia throw backs. I saw Ninja Turtles (the og) is playing soon as well as The Muppet Movie and Young Frankenstein. I didn't hit up the concessions but they have the usual goods and a small selection of beer on top of soda bevs. I feel like if you are trying to impress someone on a date this is more quirky than just taking them to a regular AMC.

The Film Forum is a treasure for NYC and offers such a great lineup as a repertory cinema house…read more Here one can feast on foreign, independent and documentary style films seldom seen elsewhere. Those who have interest in a director, producer, actor or actress can get their fill over the course of a week or two featuring such artists, often with the choice of the original 35mm film format, restored and remastered films and/or modern digital formats. The only budget conscious considerations and constraints are the audio and acoustic qualities and the seating will not be on par with mainstream theaters. In exchange, one will take away rich and unique experiences never matched at mainstream cinema houses. If you're keeping tabs on the Film Forum, you can catch the directors, producers, writers, and actors in conversation, presentation and response from audience questions at the premiere of the films on Fridays and the weekends. I'm usually working too much and miss these lectures and presentations, which always sell out quickly. I saw Dread Beat an Blood last week about Linton Kwesi Johnson, the famed Jamaican Dub Beat and Poet artist who spent his teen and adult years in Brixton. Where else could you see this? Only at the Film Forum. Have no fear of the price of concessions. They don't beat you over the head with their prices and a large bag of popcorn I can salt to my tastes is my preference with a bottle of water or beer. The baked goods always look tempting... I have seen films here at the Film Forum far more often than I review the repertory cinema house, but the experience is consistently good to great and feeds the mind as much as a feast for eyes. 4.5 stars!

I adore an independent DIY theater. It always reminds me of my life in Berlin where film is a way…read moreof life. This place is tiny, I recommend coming in early for a good spot. They also let you bring in food. My biggest tip would be to sit in the outer part of the row. The seats gave me flashbacks of being on an airplane. It was a tight squeeze getting out. Literally nobody was moving and then there was this random ballon and some guy's feet. I ended up tripping on someone's foot. And plummeting to my almost death. Embarrassing. During the middle of the film and with a small crowd, the racquet could not me missed. So I'm saving you from any future embarrassment ahead of time. The movie I picked was "B Movie: Lust and Sound in West Berlin 1979-1989" documentary. I have been trying to see this film for over two years. It captures the essence of life in Berlin in the eighties. It was truly a magical and creative space where musicians and artists would come from all over to experience. You will spot famous young baby versions of Tilda Swinton, Nick Cave, Blixa Bargeld, Keith Haring and many more. I love the music during that time in Germany so live footage of Malaria, Abwärts and Einstürzende Neubaten was incredible. I will definitely be returning with Vannesa's dumplings in hand and my seat in the outer row. Thanks Spectacle for still caring about film and sharing it with us. This is the kind of place that makes NY a unique and wonderful place to live in.

What a gem! I can't believe they're still here and screenings are still so cheap! Go give them your…read moremoney! It's gotta be the cheapest date in town. You can bring your own refreshments. It's pretty cold in the winter tho, they are clearly saving money on their heat. It's very, very, very barebones inside. I still love it.

Ok maybe I do like this theater? Came during the afternoon on a rainy Saturday to see the Micheal…read moreJackson movie. Staff were friendly, popcorn was fresh and the theater was clean. The chairs in theater 14 (?) are nice and definitely recline more than the competitors (ADH). Love going upstairs on the escalations because you get a nice view!

Used to be my favorite because of the cleanliness and bar, but now they have mice. I can't see…read moremyself returning.

Film Anthology Archives raised me, cinematically speaking, in a way no other film screening house…read morehas. Jonas Mekas and Co. presented an incredible gift to the city and the world at large by presenting and preserving this important space. I met my friend Ken Jacobs and his wife Flo here during a New York-centric short film screening that featured the works of Warhol, Shirley Clarke, Jacobs, Marie Menken and the Kuchar brothers, among others. On another occasion, Clarke's incredible film The Cool World was presented in a rare screening with Hampton Clanton in attendance. I also had the great fortune of catching Jean Vigo's L'Atalante and Taris at the Anthology Film Archives. Such a great place!

Came here for the Asian American Film Festival's screening of "Go, Grandriders" (which is fantastic…read moreand everyone should watch it). We were upstairs on the third floor and the theater was really cozy. However, if you needed to go to the bathroom, it was on the second floor. The staff was very friendly. But, they need to get their shit together. There is a huge buildup at the lobby full of people getting tickets or picking up preordered tickets. And I had to make an effort to find where to go and such because of the rowdy chaos in the lobby. Also, I don't know if it's a frequent occurrence, or if there is any correlation between the AAFF and the subway station, but getting wolf-whistled at with a "Hey Oriental beauty, where you from?" is not okay.

I celebrated my 30th Birthday here and it was quite possibly one of the best birthdays I've ever…read morehad. From start to finish, Will was reasonable, easy to communicate with, and very welcoming. His cinema is a true hidden gem and a wonderful testament to his love of movies. My friends and I had an absolute blast - I can't wait to come back here again and check out a movie or two.

Threw my birthday party here in march. Old Hollywood theme! The owner was so nice and is so…read morepassionate about his business, which is refreshing to see in nyc. Would definitely come again! Thank you for the wonderful experience.

Attended a 7pm Tuesday performance with pie tasting beforehand…read more I've seen many live performances, from big names on Broadway to small productions, but this experience will forever hold a special place in my heart! To start, the Barrow Theater is a small, intimate space. At a first glance, the performance area reminds you of an old fashioned cafeteria--heavy, wooden tables and benches situated in rows across the entire space. You get very close and personal with your neighbors, as the public is sat in a way that allows close interaction with performers during the show. There is a mezzanine with additional seats as well. That seating is somewhat uncomfortable. The wooden benches reminded me of church pews--very narrow seats that will ensure your posture is straight and rigid throughout the entire performance. Not the most comfortable of seats, so those with back issues, consider this when reserving seats. It's not a problem for younger audiences. For older folks or anyone with back/neck/leg problems, recommend reserving a seat in the main (orchestra?) seating area. The show lasts 2.5 hours with one 20 minute intermission, so prepare your behind for a lot of seating on rigid, wooden benches. Before seeing the performance, you have an option to try their famed pies. The website mentions that a former White House chef is responsible for those pies. After trying them, I became a believer! My expectations were pretty low [I'm not a fan of pies], but the vegetable pie blew my mind. Seriously spectacular! Better than meat ones. Do your taste buds a huge favor and order the vegetable pie. The dough was flaky and flavorful. Crispy shell (with shaved, golden parmesan baked on top), chewy texture on the inside. The vegetable medley was fantastic--sooooo much flavor, I couldn't believe cooked veggies could be that delicious! Rainbow carrots, marsala, shallots, artichokes, brussels, wild mushrooms, cheddar cauliflower and parmesan make up the pie filling. Every pie is served with potato mash with shaved truffles. I don't eat mash, but that one was delicious--shaved truffle was a perfect touch to add fragrance and that extra punch to creamy potatoes. The portion filled me up. Very hearty. Consider this for your dinner--you won't regret the experience! The show takes place on the first floor, where you were just eating your pies. The actors make perfect use of the limited space. Live band is playing in the corner. Actors get close and personal with the audience, dancing on tables and engaging you throughout the entire two and a half hours. Definitely didn't expect such intimate experience! Honestly preferred it to the big Broadway theater layout, because I got much more enjoyment out of being so close to (and almost in!) the performance. Nothing beats being in the same space as the performers--you feel engulfed in the atmosphere. Totally captivated. Like you are living through the story along with the actors. The performers were brilliant. Just spectacular--the sheer talent in that small space was overwhelming in the most magnificent way. I left without words--I was so impressed with what I've experienced that I couldn't even express my delight. Every performer was a true character. The songs, the live music, the acting, the masterful use of small space and décor--everything was top notch. Some scenes almost made me cry, some spooked me to the bone. Traveling back home around 11pm, I felt a chill running down my spine as I remembered some powerful and dark moments from the performance. Hours after the show I still felt its' after effect. Now, that's what an absolute success of a show feels like! A must for any and all live performance enthusiasts!!!

Accessible via the 1 train to Christopher St. or A/C/E/B/D/F/M to W 4th St…read more Barrow Street Theatre, which is located inside the Greenwich House, is small in size but big on heart. The same building also houses a nursery school, among other things. The front desk in the center of the lobby has a check-in clipboard for visitors as well as some publications. The right wall has glass cases of memorabilia on display and for sale and a corner office that serves as the box office. The opposite wall has a staircase to the upper mezzanine, as well as another corner room that serves as both bar and coat check. After I picked up my ticket, I was able to use the men's room upstairs (two sinks, two toilets, and two urinals). The lobby employees dressed as pie-shop workers are pretty friendly: not sure if they were in character or just being cordial. The Sweeney Todd seating arrangement consists of five (six?) wooden tables & benches (seating 12 each) positioned perpendicular to the stage, and 3-4 rows of tiered upper and lower mezzanine seats in the back of the room. I was fortunate enough to score a seat at one of the benches, and my neighbors and I were instructed to keep the tabletops clear at all times because "anything could happen". As you have probably heard, the actors move all around the room during the course of the show, even appearing in the balcony a few times. Regardless of where your seat is, you'll need to turn your head to see all of the action. Despite being closer to the action, I confess that I found the table seating extremely awkward: I spent the entire show with my torso twisted 45 - 90 degrees and trying to avoid direct eye contact with the girl sitting across the table from me. People sitting at the tables closest to the front will be the primary and most obvious targets of audience participation, e.g. when I saw the show, Mr. Todd screamed at an audience member in the front to move so that he could sit the beggar woman down and properly fake-murder her. This and two other instances were the only I observed where a direct response from an audience member was required. If you get serenaded by the beggar woman or Mr. Todd himself, you can for the most part just enjoy the eye contact without having to do much else. To give you an idea of how close the actors get to the audience: I got to see Anthony's boots up close and feel the fabric of Johanna's dress (not by choice) while they were at my table. The pit is a 3-man group of clarinetist, violinist, and pianist (who also blows the tin whistle when a character is murdered). The lobby is just barely large enough to contain the entire audience during the 15-minute intermission, so I recommend walking around the block (away from the smokers and construction) instead of slowly suffocating inside. I didn't have to pee during intermission, so I can only guess how horrible the lines for the restrooms must have been. Interestingly, programs (non-Playbills) are placed on tables the lobby at the end of the performance, rather than given out before the performance. I was fortunate enough to see most of the original company (minus Brad Oscar). Most of the principals in the current cast will be departing the show later this month, starting with Norm Lewis on 8/14, so if you still want a chance to be within spitting distance of any of them while they're still together you have about 2 weeks before the cast gets reshuffled.

Great venue! Small intimate theatre. I've seen many shows here through the years. Live performances…read moreat it's best. You really can't go wrong with any of their shows. I had the pleasure of seeing Hugh Jackman here, up close and personal. Loved it!! Restroom are in the basement; no elevators. Professional and very pleasant staff!

Saw sexual misconduct of the middle class starring Hugh jackman. It was a really great show and I…read morewas surprised by how much I liked it. Seats are ok. It's pretty small so visibility even in the back is good. Unfortunately if you're upstairs if you sit across from the stairs you're going to have to climb over everyone if you want to get down to the bathroom. At least it was clean and big.

Now this is what one pays NYC rent for! I had the privilege and pleasure of watching Natalie…read morePalamides' one-woman show "Weer" on the final weekend of the show's run and was utterly blown away. I don't want to give too much about the play away because I know she will perform it elsewhere but if this is the sort of theater coming out of Cherry Lane, it's a harbinger of good things for the future. The theater itself is quite intimate, with only 16 rows or so. I was near the back and didn't feel like I had to squint to see the performance on stage. Whoever did the set design made very good use of the stage space such that the audience could feel transported into different "rooms" and time zones. Acoustics were pretty good too though I would occasionally miss a part of the dialogue over the sound of the cacophonous laughter in the audience. There is a bar in the front and you can bring drinks into the theater. I wish I could've also checked out Wild Cherry, the restaurant attached to the theater, but it's too poppin right now. Some of the best stars got their start at Cherry Lane and it's lovely that they're drawn to such a place a short subway ride from where I live.

Came here to see shifters and sat in row F, last seat on the wall. This theater is so intimate and…read morecozy but I swear I saw a roach crawling on the ledge next to me!! Can't imagine there is a bad seat in the house. Maybe the ones behind the stage? The people looked a little cramped. Either way, staff were inviting and friendly. I'd come back for another show for sure.