I love regional theater and New Rep is one of the best. I have been to a few of New Rep's productions (most recently "1776") and have always enjoyed them. There is really not a bad seat in the house and I have sat everywhere here (my kid does community theater and uses this space as well). The seats are comfy too. It is a small theater but seats about 300+ but have also seen a show in the tiny black block downstairs (another space I love and very intimate). The location cannot be beat with tons of parking and a few dining options in various price ranges for pre- or post-dining and/or drinking. The Mosesian space is lovely and the New Rep is a wonderful theater experience without having to trek into the city. read more

I have only been to 1 show here, but will definitely go back. Driving from the Worcester area, I didn't know what to expect at the theater. The Mosesian theater seems very small & intimate, but holds nearly 350 people. The theater was very clean & modern, like a modern movie theater, with a low stage. Everything still seemes new. The seats were roomy & comfortable, with ample leg room. The seats are stadium style, and at a pretty good incline, so no tall people can block your view. Plus you are looking down at the stage. The first row of seats is close to eye level with the performers, as the stage is about 12-18 inches off the ground. Great pics of the inside seating of the theater can be found here: http://www.actorsequity.org/newsmedia/news2006/Mar1.NewRepTheatre.asp There is plenty of free parking in a covered garage adjacent to the building. I have not been to the Black Box theater underneath the Mosesian (holding about 90 people), but am anxious to try it. I saw Amadeus in April 2013 & it was fantastic. Can't wait for their upcoming schedule. read more

I used to love a majority of the pieces the "New Rep" has provided us. "The Wild Party", "Cabaret", "Ragtime", "Quills", and "The Pillowman" were all extremely moving. Yes, the theatre has terrible problems with equipment and cannot seem to get past the idea of casting Amy Doherty & Leigh Barrett in every single production they do. But they were lovable. And they definitely got across the message of each of the pieces this company has done. But since the economy has downturned, it seemed like they could only bother to perform "The Last Five Years" and "Tick Tick Boom" 500 times before spilling out into this piece. Maybe we wouldn't notice you were playing it safe by doing another Jonathan Larson piece? Maybe we won't notice that all the squatters in NYC were being played by someone nearing middle age? It isn't the piece that is the problem. "RENT" is a classic. It had the potential to be AMAZING if done right. I just hate to think that "SpeakEasy" could've done this better because *shudder* that isn't good theatre either. While Mimi may have been the youngest character in the script, here she had to have been laying on the smack for a LONG LONG time to look like that! 525,800 no nos! read more

After visiting the New Rep for a so-so production of Steve Martin's 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile,' the real star of the show was the snazzy New Rep theater itself! Front row seats are fantastic, and put you practically onstage. The theater itself has plenty of parking and a large art exhibition space. My one qualm is the tacky gift shop selling silk scarves and stained glass, but I suppose theatres have to make their money somehow these days. read more

Like other posters, I would like to try to review the theater company, rather than the play, although it will be difficult. I just saw 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile' and left thinking that it could have been good - but the New Rep did not do it justice. First off, though, the location & space are great. I think the Arsenal Buildings are very very cool, and it's nice that there is plentiful (free!) parking. The theater is small & intimate and you don't feel far from the action anywhere due to the stadium seating. I was unimpressed, however, by the performances - the actors that had the smaller parts did them well, but those with the greater parts seemed to all be 'overacting' - emoting to a fault and seeming disconnected from the roles, rather than embodying them. Although there were funny parts, there also seemed to be a fair amount of almost caricature, rather than acting. Too bad. Not sure if I will rush back to see another production based on this experience.... read more

Easy to get to. Plenty of parking. Everything felt new and clean. Seats were good. And the play, "Regular Singing," was by far one of the best plays I had seen recently. What a great experience it was. Looking forward to catching more shows at this venue in the future. read more

I first discovered this little theater & New Rep theater company when they moved to this Watertown location around the same time I did. Even though ioved away from Watertown a couple years ago, I still catch a show here one in awhile. I'm particularly a fan of the tiny little Black Box theater under the larger theater, where some smaller shows are shown. I tend to gravitate toward the musical offerings- a couple of my faves from the past include Tick Tick Boom, Santaland Diaries, Gutenberg the Musical!. and The Wild Party. I'm particularly a fan of New Rep regulars Aimee Doherty and Maurice E. Parent...they usually bring new life and nuance to their characters, even in shows I've seen produced by other companies. Location- in the Arsenal in Watertown- plenty of free parking, and a couple good restaurants choices close by (from the casual Panera, to the full service Pedro's). read more

I'd never heard of this theater, but was drawn to it for a holiday production of Dickens' Christmas Carol. I'm so glad I found it! The theater is in a large complex (Arsenal Mall area), and there is plentiful parking. While waiting to be let into the theater itself, we browsed the gift shop where we found lots of interesting pieces of local art -- local as in not-well-known as in affordable. The theater itself is small enough that I don't think there are any "bad" seats and the seats at the front are wonderful. The play was great fun for the kids (which is abt the production, not the theater), but I'd definitely go back. read more

I'm recently relocated to the Boston area from Texas, and one of the things I looked forward to was a much livelier theatre scene. Imagine my joy when I found that Martin McDonagh's play, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, was playing a mile from my new place. The New Rep is currently in the Arsenal Center for the Arts, and it's a great space. There is a neat little exhibit/gift shop area, concessions, nice bathrooms (the men's anyway; naturally, I would assume the ladies' is nicer), all you want from a theatre space. The production was very well done, solid work all around. McDonagh's staging can be very very difficult for all that it asks of the actors and crew working on the production, and the staff of New Rep handled it very well. I was a big fan of the play. It was funny, it was gripping, it was all that I look for out of the theatre as entertainment. There is a message to be had within the work, but first and foremost the show is a blast to watch. It takes the audience for a ride, and what a ride it is. I won't spoil it for you, but the show plays like the tales of a nutty Irish storyteller told with the stylization of Tarantino and Peckinpah. I won't give too much away by saying remember the end of The Departed? Yeah...it's kind of like that. Really liked the music that accompanied the show (heavy on the Dropkick Murphys, very appropriate), lighting design was solid, and the practical effects were all kinds of fun. There was a talkback with the actors after the performance that was both entertaining and enlightening. The only negative there was that several members of the audience mistook "what is your question?" for "please make a broad statement about the show and don't ask a question at all." However, I cannot fault the theatre company for wannabe high-minded theatre goers. Coming up they will be doing the perennial holiday favorite, The Christmas Carol, which I would very much to watch. I will be coming back to the productions of this theatre company again, probably even auditioning for them as soon as I can. As for the "good for kids" tag below? A Christmas Carol, yeah! The Lieutenant of Inishmore, make sure they're 17, I'd say. Very 'R' rated, and no mistake. Feckin' great show there, New Rep! Keep up the good work! read more

After hearing such great things about this theatre I went to their production of RENT last night... It was the most atrocious piece of theatre I have ever seen. With the exception of the guy that played Mark and a couple male ensemble, they were a talentless group. Is it that hard to find performers that sing on key? The staging was messy, the singing awful, and the acting pained. On the technical side of things it was sloppy from start to finish with the house lights coming on several times in the middle of the show. The pit was horrendous. How does a theatre like New Rep not find a group of talented musicians to play RENT?! From start to finish this theatre disappointed. I couldn't help laughing my way through some of the most poignant parts of this show. On top of that I felt SO BAD for the poor audience members, some of whom shelled out up to $50 to see this production. I have seen talent in the Boston theatre scene. Yet somehow this production of RENT pulled out the least talented of the group. So disappointed. And so disgusted at this utter butchering of a phenomenal piece of work. Jonathan Larson. I don't blame you for rolling over in your grave for this one. read more

We have been to a play and to a choral event at the New Rep. The venue is very pleasant, the seats comfortable and all fairy close to the stage, and the parking garage is free. There is also a very elegant, but reasonably priced Venezuelan restaurant within a couple of hundred yards from the theatre, with other restaurants nearby. The play we saw was a drama called "Good" about a German officer who started as a good man, but allowed himself to be more and more co-opted by the evil people surrounding him. The choral event was a musical celebration of the life of the great Yiddish author, Sholom Aleichem. Very entertaining show. The singing was great, and there was a commentary in English before each number explaining what the song was about. Some people in the audience sang along with the chorus. Great fun! read more

Just saw a production of Camelot at the New Rep and thought it was terrific. A great score and equally good cast in a well-staged production. Great fun. See it. read more