RBTL's Auditorium Theatre is always a wonderful location to see a show. The theatre is currently under construction and some of the outside areas were fenced in. One exciting edition I noticed on this visit were working elevators. In the past they did not have elevators which was difficult when I came to a show with my mother who has limited mobility. Very pleased to see this has been addressed by the venue. Check in process is quick. Scan your tickets and move through the security screening line. The bar had speciality drinks for the musical we were seeing, Back to the future. We purchased some candy for the show, $3 a piece. Cookies and cheese & crackers samplers were also available for purchase. You can also purchase merchandise for the show on the first floor. The theatre is gorgeous with molded ceilings and stained glass light fixtures. We were seated on the main level and the seats are comfortable. I did feel packed in at times but overall comfort was good. I would order aisle seats next time, as this is my preference. Bathrooms were very clean though the lines were crazy during intermission. I went to the lower level and it was chaos with no clear direction for the lines. I did not want to wait in this line, so I walked up to the second level. The line was shorter and the bathroom had an attendant directing the line traffic. The second floor also had a photo op area for the show and the rbtl staff took a photo for us. RBTL does a great job bringing exciting productions to town. Very happy to have the opportunity to see broadway shows in Rochester. read more

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Lovely place to see a show. We showed up a few minutes late so they turned up the volume on the TV for us to watch the first song while we waited to go in. Staff were very friendly and helpful. The auditorium itself is beautiful. Multiple paid parking lots nearby including the back lot whih you can pre-reserve. read more

This historical theater with beautiful architecture (art deco design) has been a staple of Rochester for many years. With so many amazing Broadway shows making this a stop on their tour it's a must for any theater/musical lovers. Lot's of parking in nearby lots, pricing is usually around $10. Unless you arrive super early park and go to dinner :) I've seen so many shows here starting out as a kid with school field trips to an adult appreciating the productions even more. Some of my favorite have been Miss Saigon, Jersey Boys, Beautiful the Carole King Musical and Summer the Donna Summer musical. I usually get my mom tickets to a show and enjoy the night out. Since we're both a little on the short side we always sit in the front section of the balcony called the lodge. Each row is raised up so everyone can see, with only four rows they go fast. These seats are worth every penny! Check out their upcoming schedule and go enjoy a show. read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Summer - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

The Aud is your one stop shop for all things touring Broadway, comedy, and MORE! I so enjoy every trip I take this Rochester gem. From a seamless ticketing process to plentiful parking choices on show nights, the whole experience is very thoughtfully executed with a staff of rockstars. I enjoy their basic food and beverage offerings (a house glass of wine will set you back only $6 AND you can bring it in), especially the ginormous cookies and containers filled with cheese. I was a season subscriber with a friend in High School and I cherish those memories of seeing so many amazing broadway tours. I've sat all over the house and had enjoyable experiences no matter what - but the orchestra level does provide a little more detail in terms of view. They are always bringing in an eclectic mix of shows and I just love how gorgeous the interior is. Would absolutely recommend! read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Miss Saigon - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

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3 stars for the show itself. Hamilton was amazing. Would give 5 stars if it was solely based on the show. My husband and I had tickets for a Thursday night show that appeared sold out. Yay! Great for the organization. We were seated in Balcony J101 & J102. These tickets were expensive. The view from the seats were fine. My complaint is that the seats are so small and uncomfortable. It's worse than plane seating. I was seated in J102 and next to a larger man. He was constantly hitting my shoulders and legs. I kept scooting toward my husband and didn't have use of any arm rest. This gentleman should have purchased 2 seats. On top of that discomfort, the building is old and the seats are super uncomfortable. The reception area is well run and has lots of space. The beverage area is well run and efficient. Plenty of options. read more

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I came once before for War Horse. This time I came for Hamilton. This venue is very nice for plays and musicals. It was constructed in another era of spaciousness and elegance. The lamp scones denote Art Deco Design. It seems it was renovated since I was last there. It seemed brighter and the carpets were newer. The first time I sat in the Orchestra as an invited guest. Now, I'm in the Balcony and the view and acoustics are better if not greater than downstairs. The stair Ms are step in the Balcony., going down they make one dizzy. There are Bars at every level for snacks and drinks. Parking lots around the theater at $10 are not bad. read more

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The Aud is one of my favorite places in Rochester. I love the beautiful vintage feel of the interior, and the quality of shows rivals the closest similar venue (Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo). I have been a season ticket holder for three seasons now. As a musical theater junkie, I'm primed to enjoy basically anything that RBTL is offering. That said, in a season of 5-6 shows, there are usually one or two that I'm ambivalent about or just don't know very much about but I've never been outright disappointed to have seen something. The variety is really great, and I like that I'm seeing things I may not have otherwise. I think the season packages are an excellent deal. I've seen some comments in other reviews about the women's bathroom situation - I've never had a problem. A line does tend to form at intermission, though it seems to move very quickly. Everyone knows to get in and out. Food/drink - There are several bar locations throughout to keep things from getting too congested. They serve small snacks (cheese and crackers, candy bars, cookies) and basic drinks (simple mixed drinks, wine, beer). As far as concessions pricing is concerned, The Aud is extremely reasonable. Much cheaper than you would find elsewhere. View - Not a bad seat in the house. As a broke high school/college student, I always opted for the balcony and I had no complaints. Personally prefer mid Orchestra. My only qualm - Due to the nature of being an older venue, the seats are very small and there is limited leg room. It's just the way it is. If you're a person that would appreciate a little more room, try to get an aisle and those with long legs might also consider looking for the front row of a section. Prepare to get cozy with your neighbor if there's a full house. read more

Pros: - Beautiful architecture - Good shows Cons: - Extremely uncomfortable seats - Very bad acoustics. On two different occasions, I sat 10 rows away from the stage on first floor and way back in the second floor and in both situations, it was hardly clear what the actors were uttering. read more

It's a great spot to see some plays.. see my below review from a few yrs back. Cheers read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

This is nice place to see a show. I like to have good seats, and it's usually pretty easy to get seats in the first few rows at this venue. I've seen several shows here; Daniel Tosh, Dancing with the Stars, Derek and Julianne Hough, Maks, Peta and Val Confidential, etc. If you're on the floor, even if you're in the front row, you're looking up. And if you're a few rows back, it may be hard to see if you have someone taller in front of you. The front row of the balcony has actually become my favorite place now because of that. No one can sit in front of you and block your view, and it's great to watch any show from the center. This video is of the Dancing with the Stars tour from the front and center of the balcony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7sG8ghLZSA Another great thing about this venue is the parking. You can arrive like 45 minutes early, and have plenty of places to park, and not too much traffic to deal with. And when you leave, you can get out easily in like 15 minutes, unlike places like Darien Lake, for example, where you sit there for over an hour! There's plenty of bathrooms, and not a long wait for them before shows either. And if you go downstairs, there's never anyone in line for food or drinks before the show. This really has become my favorite concert venue for all the reasons I mentioned above. read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - A few rows back on the floor for Derek and Julianne Hough - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

Always a good variety of shows for the season-but the sound quality is disappointing. It is often hard to understand the dialogue on the stage! read more

Love this old beauty. This is my first season of having season tickets to RBTL and I'm hooked. There are plenty of women's bathrooms so the line goes very quickly. The refreshments are reasonably priced and the parking around the back of the building is only $6. That parking lot has its own back door entrance. There's usually plenty of staff, which makes entering the theater pretty quick and painless. read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

We paid a lot for center loge seats. No complaints about the seats or show. As hosts, the Auditorium, failed to provide an essential amenities to its women patrons. The line for the woman's restroom stretched across the entire loge foyer during intermission. UNACCEPTABLE! The men's room had no line. Immediately I can think of three recommendations. Both restrooms on that level are for women and one men's restroom is located somewhere in the facility . Also, attendants should be employed to " direct" traffic and make sure stalls are not empty. Occupied/vacant indicators on stall doors help traffic flow. Please do something about this insensitive situation. Karen White 5857034649 read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

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This is a great theatre. There is parking on the street, for free, if you get there on time. Or you can park in the back and it was only $8. The theatre employees and volunteers are extremely friendly, enthusiastic and helpful. There were many smiling faces willing to help you in any way they could. The bathroom situation was nice, as there was an attendant directing people to which stall was open, and it made the line go extremely quick. Other theaters should take note of this great feature. I grabbed a bottle of water and it was only $2!!! There snacks, drinks, both alcoholic and non, were extremely well-priced. The bartender even said that they aren't there to gauge people. You can take your drinks and snacks into the theatre too. The theatre seats are a little crammed in, but the theatre overall is great. I would definitely make the hour ride up to here again to see something in this theatre. I loved it. read more

Full disclosure: I won free tickets through Yelp to see Blue Man Group at the Auditorium Theatre, but nobody is pressuring me to write any review of any kind. I've been to the Auditorium Theatre three times now and I'm always impressed. The venue is clean and professional with absolutely gorgeous architecture. I've seen countless shows on Broadway and this place really does hold up! As far as I'm concerned, the interior is every bit as nice as those of theaters in New York. This particular show had an elaborate set (see the attached photograph) and the theater didn't seem to have any problems supporting it. I'm not sure that could be said about every venue. The Auditorium Theatre regularly gets popular shows and, between you and me, some of them actually play better than their New York City counterparts. (Not for nothing, but Book of Mormon was funnier in Rochester.) We're lucky to have the Auditorium Theatre. After this experience, I think I'll visit more often. read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Blue Man Group set - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

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What a gorgeous theater. The set design and talent is consistently remarkable. I'm ecstatic that I got to see Cats and Hadestown (x2) here! We're so lucky to have this gem right in town. I can't wait for the new season! Only feedback is I wish the steps and walkways were more accessible. During winter, they can get dangerously icy and I've slipped multiple times. I can only imagine it's worse for wheelchair users. read more

I LOVE, love, love this venue - it's architecture is amazing and I think the acoustics are great - but the SEATS are SO uncomfortable. And I'm not even talking about the width (although that could use some improvement too) But the knee room is almost non-existent in the balcony. I am 5'7" and was sitting up straight and my knees were awkwardly and uncomfortably digging in to the seat in fromt of my theater companion is 5'3 ish and also had to use the aisle to stretch his leags. This seriously detracts from enjoying the spectular performances that this venue provides to Rochester. read more

I love this theater with it's beautiful old world charm and architecture. I'm always inspired to pull out my best threads when attending a show here because of this. My most recent visit was on a pair of complimentary tickets to Blue Man Group however that did not change the consistency that I am used to from this venue. Security is quick and friendly. The box office, will call and usher staff are all very helpful. The bar has a pretty inclusive menu in that there is likely something for everyone and the prices are more than fair. I sat in row O this time and the seats were great. No issue seeing the stage while seated and no trouble with being blocked by the guests in front of us. I would also like to note that the ASL interpreter was very easily visible from the stage area as well. As others have noted, parking around the theater is usually $10 which isn't too bad. I went to this show with a friend so we dined at a near by restaurant before. This allowed us to walk over and skip the cost of parking as we left our cars in their lot. If weather and time permits, you may be able to find a near by spot of the street which is free. read more

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View from ORCHR row N seat 26 on 12/26/2019 Lion King. Your typical theater mayhem from entrance (1hr early)to finding your seat. Food menu is cheap and that what you get. Pretzels were hard and stale. I asked for a replacement and woman yelled NEXT. Was charged more for the type of beer I ordered and no change was given back. Weird way to do business.... read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Seating - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

I've been a season ticket holder for the Broadway Theatre League series for two years. I was an usher for one year. The shows are excellent, well organized, and beautiful. During packed houses, it's easy to get a little nervous about not having enough bathrooms, but the lines move quickly. The seats are too small or too close together, or something so it's a bit close. Front house staff are friendly and helpful. I'm looking forward to seeing more shows! There are various rooms in the building for community use or to rent. It's beautiful space. read more

I went to see a show last night (Blue Man Group) after I won tickets through the Yelp Elite Squad. It was a very fun show and I am glad I got to see them in person versus watching them on DVDs. As an engineer I am super fascinated by all their equipment and musical instruments. Other shows I have seen here are Adams Family, Spring Awakening, and Hamilton. The staff at the theatre are also very friendly and helpful. They made sure to remind everyone there was no intermission in this show, so that everyone could get their needed breaks in before being seated. read more

I'm turning into a sucker for lady driven musicals. Carole King was phenomenal last year and Donna Summer was spectacular this year. I hope they make it a hey trick or a trifecta cause I'm in for round three for sure. Thanks YELP!!!!! read more

Another great performance at the Auditorium! We had free tickets to Celebrating Billy Joel and no clue what to expect. Well it was a cover band doing all Billy Joel. Their voices were amazing and the instrumental musicians fantastic! It was a light.. enjoyable evening. read more

So much fun! We had a blast at Summer:Donna Summer musical at RBTL. We won tickets via Yelp elite! So glad we saw this show. The staff at the theater is always friendly and the quality of the performances are second to none. The crowd was on their feet at multiple points tonight. A Rochester gem! read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

Have waited a while to post this so we could try a few different seats out, but saw Newsies in 2017 and just saw The Lion King. We can't stomach prices for the Orchestras seats on most shows, the the sound and visibility from the balcony at this venue is fantastic! Can't say I'm going to be a season ticket holder, but we have and will be back for sure. In fact, probably the only downside is parking is at a premium, so it's worth the extra to arrange for it prior to an event. read more

I attend shows and plays here about once a year. The theater is beautiful with ornate ceilings and architecture - very classy. It has tiered seating so the stage is visible from everywhere and the ushers and staff are friendly and helpful. The bars are stocked with all the essential liquors and have tasty snacks like cheese, crackers and cookies. It's a great place for a date or a fun night out. read more

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This is a a true treat. Beautiful theatre! We were lucky to see a few shows here; most recently The Sound of Music! It was great! Most remarkably, even with the large capacity, the theatre clears out quickly! We sat right up front so you would think it would take a while to exit but the ushers do a phenomenal job. There was no chaos during intermission either! Being 32 weeks pregnant, I naturally had to take advantage of intermission and run to the restroom. There were quite a few people ready to use the restroom as well but there was no wait! There were ushers in the restrooms!!! Helped escort people to the open stalls so there was no waste of time! Snack bar is reasonably priced too! read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Orchestra seating - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

Went and saw Donna summers musical and it was amazing! They put on a great show. Their vocals gave me chills every time they sang. I went to the 630 show on Sunday September 29th and we were only the second group to see the show. I would definitely recommend going to see it while it's in Rochester. It tells such a great story about a great legend. read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

At the Auditorium last night to see Shen Yun for the 3rd time as it comes through every year. This theatre is beautiful on the inside so fun to look around, it's kind of old, but I think it's neat. Pricing for shows always seems to be on par, acoustics are ok, parking is limited so I go early and park at the Red Cross. It's a secure lot and although I have to pay to park, I prefer it to parking on the street. A/C in the Summer is not great so dress accordingly. The RBTL wants to build a new modern venue, I am not sure Rochester can support it though. In the meantime if you want to catch a show here, this theatre is a nice, clean, reasonable option. read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Shen Yun at Auditorium, great show, nice theatre. - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

This is among the beautiful venues in Rochester. It's a wonderful space to see broadway shows and performances. Take a minute to look up and admire the beautiful architecture of this space -- it's not often you see that anymore. Row Q: depending on the show, prices drop considerably and you still have an amazing view of the stage. Truthfully, there's no bad seat in the house, but if you're aiming to get bang for your buck, I think we nailed it with middle of row Q. Lots of folks get dressed up for the show, which adds to the fun flair of the experience. Arrive early to enjoy a drink at the bar. They offer light snacks for purchase too -- primarily candy and cookies. Also, bar is cash only -- there is an ATM onsite. I tend to make a night of it and grab a drink and appetizer at a nearby restaurant before the show. Lots of options in NOTA. Parking can be challenging so leave a buffer of time to arrive before the show begins (start time is as indicated on the ticket) so be in your seats before then -- show at 7:30pm... get there at 7pm. If you can't nab a free spot on the street, most lots along E. Main and the side streets charge $5 (cash!). It does get hot inside in the summer so dress accordingly. read more

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Love this theater! They always bring amazing Broadway musicals and shows to the Rochester area. We are very lucky and fortunate to have this theater and venue in our community. read more

An update! My daughter and I attended Dancing with the Stars this week. The show was really fun and exciting especially for the lady sitting behind us! Unfortunately, her screaming was a bit high pitched and actually in my ear believe it or not. I walked to the back of the theater to take a break and the lovely usher asked me if I was okay. I mentioned the lady behind me and she immediately offered to find me some earplugs! How thoughtful and amazing! She found a few pairs - in packages and it saved my show experience! Thank you so much and note to self to always carry a pair or two in my bag! read more

Went to see a comedian this week. The theatre is beautiful on the inside, somewhat lacking on the outside. There is no official parking - so make sure you get there early as you don't want to miss any of your show. Had a well drink for $6 decent price for show, strong - pleasant staff. They have candy bars, soft pretzels as snacks - so if you want something more interesting or fancy stop for lunch/dinner before your show. The seats are not the most comfortable - somewhat small and close together. I echo other yelp friends to say that in the summer it definitely gets warm in there, dress light/layers. FYI if you have any disabilities/injuries the balcony doesn't have an elevator. We were parked behind the theatre in a lot (Reasonable $6) but in the future parking on a side street likely a better option. Upon trying to leave, there was a 930pm show that was after our 7p show. The parking staff let all the 9:30p cars into the lot to wait for us to pull out - but when you have people just sitting waiting in the lot, you can't exactly leave. This made for at least 30 minutes of sitting there till someone realized that wasn't going to work out. I felt bad for those going to the 9:30p show - there was no way that was going to start on time. read more

Beautiful theater. We have seen several shows here. My two homeschoolers also take various theater classes here too. Definitely a gem in Rochester! read more

LOVE this venue! Saw WICKED tonight & all I can say is: AMAZING! It gets no better! read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - The stage at the Auditorium Theatre before the show WICKED commenced; one of the best productions I've ever seen! - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

I like the auditorium ..seating was good..sound sounded great. Unfortunately Elmo live was a bit lame for children. My son (2yr) was happy for the first 30 min then was like ok either lets go onstage or we can leave . It wasn't interactive enough for small children and passing around cotton candy only makes it worse. What child on sugar wants to sit and watch a show?. I was also appalled at some of the peoples behavior . Some people actually booed after a song. Like really? Is that necessary. read more

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love coming here because its place where broadway shows come. its one of two places in rochester, but seems to be the main one. i have been here many times and each experience has been good. the only thing i would fix maybe it to renovate the place and fix the stairs on the outside. the theatre is definitely out dated. its a decent size and everywhere that i have sat i could see just fine. the prices vary depending on the show you are going to see and generally cheaper in the balcony. actually, i try to avoid the very back of the balcony as well as the back of ground floor. so you really pay for what you get, its just not horrible. the lobby area on the ground floor can get congested because its a little on the small/medium side. however each level has its own conession stand so thats good read more

RBTL's Auditorium Theatre - Once musical - Performing Arts Near Me - Rochester, New York

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My daughter and I came into town to see the Wednesday presentation of Hamilton. The staff was very friendly and accommodating in any questions we had. This theater's acoustics were fantastic for this musical. We were seated toward the rear center and thoroughly enjoyed every song. Bathrooms were a challenge but many vintage theaters struggle with this. Thank you RBTL! read more

What a great night of Disco music that brought us back to our dating days. The Donna Summer was excellent! The 3 main singers were Awesome and did Donna proud... these girls sure can belt out a song! read more

We have season tickets for the Rochester Broadway Theater League and this is where all the shows are. It is a great venue. The seats are relatively comfortable. The acoustics are good for the most part but there have been a few times when it has been difficult for us to hear the words in the musical. Despite that, I would highly recommend taking in a show at this place if you have the chance. read more