North Carolina Theatre is one of Raleigh's gems. The President/CEO and the Producing Artistic…read moreDirector have done an excellent job at putting together fabulous shows in Raleigh. This season they will have produced six shows just for the Raleigh area. So far this season has been amazing with West Side Story; Having Our Say and Kinky Boots. The final three shows are Memphis; Edges and The Sound of Music and I can't wait to see those. I think it is really great that local talent can showcase their abilities in the Triangle area. Some of the cast does comes from New York City but others cast members are from the Triangle area. The orchestra is local as well and the crews needed to put the shows together. It takes a lot of people to put together these shows and NC Theatre is great for the local economy. But most importantly great for those of us who love watching the performances.

North Carolina theatre goes beyond the call of duty to provide a top-quality theatrical experience…read more Shows are entertaining, fun, and insightful. If you enjoy musical theatre or musical movies, you'll LOVE the North Carolina Theatre. Go see a show today!

Burning Coal Theatre is located in the Oakwood Neighborhood in Downtown Raleigh, NC. It even offers…read morefree parking in an adjoining lot. It is located inside the Murphey School Auditorium. The Murphey School was built in 1908 and is the oldest school building that is still standing in Raleigh. It holds a lot of history; in 1960, the Raleigh City School Board met in the auditorium to desegregate schools. The Murphey School admitted an African American student to integrate. The school was closed in 1977 when Wake County took over the school system. In 1991, the building was converted into housing for low-income seniors. The auditorium was not used, though. Burning Coal raised money, took over the space in 2008, and secured a permanent home. The auditorium was converted to a black box theater with about 150 seats. The building was preserved and kept some features like the exposed brick and the 3-sided balcony; the lobby bar was constructed from reclaimed historic wood. I got the opportunity to see a performance of Once at the theatre. Seating is first come, first served rather than assigned. Tickets run about $30 a piece. There is a lobby that sells beverages and snacks before the performance. But only water is allowed inside the theatre. A line forms, and you get inside the theatre from the line; a few people were trying to cut. They did have a lot of the front row reserved, so it isn't totally first come, first served. The first floor seating was on raised tiers and surrounded the performance area. The balcony was also utilized. In Once the cast are both the actors and the orchestra, playing guitars, mandolins, violins piano and the drums on stage.

Some of the most memorable evenings begin in places you could easily drive past…read more That was our experience at Burning Coal Theatre. Tucked inside the historic Murphey School building in downtown Raleigh, the theater's exterior carries the quiet charm of a former schoolhouse with hints of an old church. It's understated in the best way. A bright red door and simple banner signal that you've arrived somewhere special, where the performance not the façade is meant to take center stage. Inside, the atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious. The lobby feels welcoming rather than formal, and before the performance began, one of the staff members struck up an easy conversation with my husband that immediately made the space feel like a neighborhood gathering place instead of a traditional theater. The intimate performance space wraps seating around three sides of the stage, creating remarkable proximity between audience and actors. There truly isn't a bad seat in the house. We attended *Shadows in Red Light*, a concert presentation of a new musical by Roné Sargent set against the backdrop of New York City's AIDS epidemic. At its heart, the story follows a mother who believes she is placing her infant in temporary foster care and the daughter who, years later, searches for the woman she believes abandoned her. It is ultimately a story about hope, sacrifice, belonging, and the many ways love can endure through unimaginable circumstances. What impressed me most was how little the production relied on spectacle. There were no elaborate sets or dazzling lighting effects competing for attention. Instead, the performers carried every emotional beat through their voices, expressions, and presence. It was a reminder that exceptional theater doesn't require excess it simply requires extraordinary storytelling and gifted artists willing to trust it. During intermission, I noticed the same level of care throughout the venue. The facilities were spotless, the bar offered a thoughtful selection of beverages, and the overall experience felt relaxed and intentionally curated. We skipped drinks only because we were excited to get back to our seats before the second act began. Parking was plentiful, the staff was warm and welcoming, and every detail contributed to an evening that felt both intimate and unforgettable. In a city with an ever-growing arts scene, Burning Coal Theatre remains one of Raleigh's quiet treasures. If you're looking for theater that values substance over spectacle and storytelling over production value, this is the place. We'll absolutely be back.

Raleigh Little Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in the United States. It became incorporated…read morein 1936. The building is on land that was once the home to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds for a horse racing dirt track. In World War I, it was used as a training area for combat tanks. It is also land for the Lumbee Tribe and the Tuscarora Nation. Raleigh Little Theatre shares a campus with the Raleigh Rose Garden and an outdoor amphitheatre. The main stage was dedicated to Cantey V. Sutton in 2000, as she was the one who found Raleigh Little Theatre a permanent campus in 1939. She got a grant to build the campus and cut through the red tape. She is remembered as the "Grand Dame" and "First Lady" of Raleigh Little Theatre. Raleigh Little Theatre has three theatres, the Cantey V. Sutton theatre, which has 298 seats. The Louise "Scottie" Stephenson Amphitheatre, which seats 2000 on the outside on the terraced grass rows. And the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre, a black box theatre that seats 150. I attended School of Rock at RLT. The performance was held in the Sutton Theatre, which has 298 seats, and the auditorium has a small slope. I found the sightlines good for watching the performance, as well as the sound and lighting. I did find the seating challenging as the seat numbers were not clearly marked, just the rows. I sat in the wrong seat and had to move. But I liked my new seat much better. As I was not familiar with the layout and had bought my ticket months ago, it would have been helpful to have volunteers in the theatre to assist guests, as many of us were confused. Parking was a little challenging for this performance because a downed tree and power lines had closed the parking lot, so off-street parking was the only option. The lobby was small, with some seating, restrooms and a concession stand that only takes credit cards. Drinks could go in the theatre, but not the food. I did like that we could go outside at intermission and sit on the benches. Overall, I give Raleigh Little Theatre a solid 4 stars. The production quality, acoustics, and historic atmosphere are easily 5-star material, but the seating confusion and lack of usher assistance held it back from being a perfect 5. It is a fantastic community asset, and I will definitely be back!

Volunteering at Raleigh Little Theatre has been one of the best decisions I've made! I started a…read morecouple of months ago, and it's such a great deal; volunteer an hour or two of your time and you get to see the show for free. Win-win! But beyond the perks, I've genuinely been blown away by the talent, the sets, the lighting, and the overall production quality. The cast members are phenomenal, and the passion they bring to the stage is palpable. It truly feels like you're witnessing professional-grade theatre in an intimate community space. The experience is super comfortable too; concessions are available at great prices, the bathrooms are always clean, and the venue is accessible for those with vision or hearing needs, which really shows their commitment to being inclusive. Whether you're looking to volunteer or just catch a great show, Raleigh Little Theatre is an absolute gem. 10/10 Highly recommend!

The entire experience was fun: great setting in the park and wonderful performances by the cast…read moremembers!'n

This is such a hidden gem in Raleigh. It's a tiny theatre that produces live plays and…read moreentertainment. They post their schedule online and have flyers at the theater. We came here to see multiple plays such as Dracula, Santa land Diaries, and Hair. You can book your tickets online. They do offer military and student discounts. You just have to show proof that it applies to you upon arrival. They tend to sell out of most of their shows. They have an adorable concession stand that serves refreshments inside the lobby. There are quite a few great restaurants nearby, so this makes for a great date night!

We are all entitled to our own opinions, right? Well here's mine:…read more Parking: 5 Location: 5 Decor/ambiance: 5 Customer Service: 5 I was able to visit this theater this pass weekend and really enjoyed this place. They have lots of awesome plays on their roster list. The location and parking situation is perfect. There is a nice big, clean parking deck off to the side of the theater and its full of parking spaces. We experienced FREE parking on this past Sunday. Looks like everyone at the play was able to park in that deck for free. The building serves as a theater for plays and its also a museum with lots of cool artifacts and trinkets. The theater was sorta cold but it was super clean. The ladies working the box office were super nice. The ushers who helped us find our seats at Titmus were super nice as well. NCSU fine arts department is some kind of awesome!

As a long-time theater fan, I'm usually at the DPAC or Raleigh Memorial Auditorium for shows. But…read morethankfully an invite to check out Hairspray at University Theatre came my way, courtesy of Yelp (thanks Holly!). Currently running at Talley Student Union, the University Theatre group did a fantastic job with Hairspray for this show. From the programs, sets, costumes and performance, I was really impressed with the entire production. Very professional and polished for a student group. The theatre itself is comfortable with good views everywhere. I would have liked a bit more oomph from the sound system but the audio mix did improve later on in the show. And a small wine and beer bar was pouring out adult bevvies for $4 to $5 a glass. So slow round of applause, NC State University Theatre, great performance and look forward to my next visit...

This is the review for the Garner Preforming Arts Center. This is the Old Garner High school that…read morewas built in 1920. Amazed by the upkeep considering how long the building has been around. A decent space to attend any performing arts show. I attended a play. The seating itself was extremely comfortable. I had a perfect view after others in front of me decided to swap out their seats. The staff working concessions seemed rude and unreasonable considering they've failed to keep up with the times and technology. For concessions purchases they only take your physical card. This is unreasonable. I recommend technology update to a CashApp, Venmo or tap option because not everyone is carrying cards around these days.

We came here for Chip Coffey's Coffee Talk last night. Its in the Old Garner High School, a…read morestately brick building which was built in 1923, located right across from the old Train Depot. I do believe it now serves as housing for senior citizens, but it also has a really nice auditorium which is rented out for private and public events. The seats were comfy with plenty of legroom. They have a Refreshment Booth where everything is $1. I like that! This is a better description of the Auditorium from their website: The 471 seat Auditorium contains an expansive stage and backstage area, cushioned seating, fly space and rails, separate dressing rooms with restrooms, a green room and loading dock. For more intimate gatherings, the beautifully appointed front lobby, seating 60, and backstage lobby, seating 30, each provide a backdrop to celebrate a special occasion. A piano, podium, limited number of tables and folding chairs may be used for no additional charge. Facility may be reserved by contacting the Garner Performing Arts Center at 661-4602.