The Morton Theater is over 100 years old and located in downtown historic Athens, GA. I was at the theater recently for the International Championship of Collegiate A Capella - which was amazing! The theater is small so there isn't really a bad seat in the house. But it is a historic theater so there are a couple downsides - such as there are 2 bathrooms total for men and women and it isn't really wheelchair friendly. Overall though it makes for an intimate, worthwhile experience. read more

Do not waste your Money. Went to see a musical Play and it was worse than a elementary rehearsal. My husband and I stayed less than 20 minutes, it was the worse 20 minutes I have EVER paid for. I spoke to the Manager and she said that they do not know anything about the production companies prior to their show dates. My advice if you are going to book a show about "Sam Cooke" (or any show) please make sure your cast knows their lines, has better stage presence = more practice. read more

The building itself it a beautiful historic building. The seats are very close together, and the backstage/dressing room area is very small and cramped. This can be expected from such an old building. While the building is beautiful, the ushers customer service and overall attitude is by far the worst I have ever experienced. We have been dancing with Dance FX for about 5 years now and most of their events are at the Morton. That to say we have been to MANY shows there, and have spend countless dollars there on tickets. I have yet to come to an event where I can say I received positive service from their ushers. A few examples: One year I was dropping off my daughter for rehearsal followed by the Dance Athens show. Parents weren't staying, just returning for the show. I had a water bottle in my hand because I was walking her to her class and then going to walk downtown with some friends. I made it up the stairs and started looking for her class when I was asked to leave. I explained what I was doing and was told I couldn't be upstairs with any beverages. Once again I apologized and explained I just needed to get my daughter to her class. It wouldn't be opened while I was there, and again, I was told I had to leave or take the water bottle downstairs and come back to drop my daughter off. Really? Thankfully another mom saw us and came to take my daughter to her class. Another time I was there to see a show with my family. I was pregnant and extremely nauseous, and having remembered the water incident, I packed some mints in my purse, something to get me through the show. Once I was spotted opening one I was told I couldn't have food or drink upstairs. A mint? You'd rather me vomit on your historic carpet than suck on a mint? After one dance show I was trading out dancers (one was in one show, the other in the following show). My dancer who had just finished was confused about where to meet me, and another classmate of hers saw her walking into the auditorium from backstage rather than the lobby. I tried to get back upstairs to get to her and the usher wouldn't let me through the doors to go get her. We were in between shows, and I clearly wasn't trying to sneak upstairs to get an early seat (these shows are general admission). I just wanted to get to my daughter who went to where we had been sitting. He refused to let me up and after I was almost in tears, Allison, the Dance FX director walked by and when I explained what happened, she took me up to get my daughter. Later on I was in the lobby taking my second dancer backstage, and was asking a friend to stay with my dancer who had finished, and the ushers complained to me that we weren't to be standing in the lobby talking. There was nobody else in the lobby except for other dancers and moms trying to get backstage so it's not like we were blocking space. I have two dancers that are often times in two separate shows. Most recently I had my 18 month old son, who had been through one show already, and was awaiting the second show to start. Tired of sitting, and ready for bed, he was walking around the corner of the theater. There was no equipment, no plugs, no outlets, no speakers. Nothing except a little alcove and a step. My husband was standing with him, as he had been 30 minutes prior to the first show. After they had been there for about 20 minutes prior to the second show an usher came up and said the area was off limits and they would be liable if my son got hurt. First of all, if it's off limits why is there not a rope? Second of all, there was nothing there for him to get hurt on. He was safer, and more out of the way there than he was walking around the lobby or up and down the entrance stairs. Not to mention the usher had walked by them multiple times during the wait prior to the first show and never said a word. Many moms have complained at the studio, among each other, sharing their storied similar to mine. It feels as if they are watching people, just waiting for a reason to complain to them. They never smile, they never greet anyone, they simply tear your ticket, scold your behavior, and walk by you acknowledging your presence. They look miserable. Every single time. They look like they hate their job and the audience is the target of their frustration. As I've said, we've been here for MANY MANY dance shows through the 5 years we've been with Dance FX and I have yet to walk away feeling good about my experience, other than the beautiful dancers and Dance FX staff. We had our spring show at the Classic Center last year and it was the BEST experience we've had as a community of dancers and family of dancers. They may have been more expensive but their ushers were AMAZING, accommodating, and just overall pleasant. I hope we will begin to do more shows at the Classic Center and phase away from the Morton because the feeling you have when you leave sucks, and enough is enough. Hire better staff or host a customer service training! read more