This is a great venue. Not a bad seat in the house. We saw Circus Oz at the show and found it to be a great evening. The restrooms were well maintained and the staff was friendly. They may want to ad a little bit of security outside as there were groups of kids smoking pot. This didn't bother me but I could see where some people could get offended. All in all we will go back to see more shows here. read more

Royce Hall - UCLA - Great show. - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Your chances of getting into Roof goes up 100 fold if you know how to pick locks or you have the keys to this building. It sucks when I want to hang out in the roof but none of the doors are open :( read more

Programming: mostly stuff that old peeps are into. But me - being an old soul (aka young adult bordering on creepy) find a lot of the programming interesting. Put it this way...do you like David Sedaris? Yes, you like David Sedaris. He usually speaks/reads there once a year. As a result, Royce Hall programming is validated as interesting. Parking: a bit confusing. I think structure 5 is the best, but that's going off of memory, and mine is often unreliable and tricky. I think it was a little expensive, at least on top of getting any tickets for performances at RH. Overall, I just love how incredibly beautiful the theater is. As a humanities' buff, I love it when venues are intimate and make you feel like you are somehow a part of a staging of a Euripedes' piece in ancient Greece or in Italy during the Renaissance or at the Globe during Shakespeare's tenure. I mean, let's not kid ourselves - the following is a pretty sweeping and perhaps hyperbolic statement - but this darn Royce Hall somehow manages to be intimate but also very beautiful - the tall ceilings! the elegant, modern, classic design! - make it timeless. Reminds me of a cathedral. I love seeing stuff here for this reason. The atmosphere somehow evokes old grand things and warm, fuzzy feelings. Tip: I would put aside plenty of time to get there as the only neg I remember is that it can be hard to find on that beast of a campus. I swear - I don't know how those Bruins get around. Kids these days! RH #winning read more

The venue location has some drawbacks. There are no good dining choices within walking distance. (Sure, I can walk from Westwood Village, but I wouldn't expect someone to do that in heels.) The $10 parking seems a bit high for the area. With the meandering walk back to the parking structure, leaving the concert felt more like leaving a sporting event. The traffic on Sunset Blvd was a bear (or a bruin?) coming home. Because of construction, don't go near Sunset and the 405 after the concert. The venue itself also has some drawbacks. Please note that I sat in the center balcony for an amplified jazz concert. The sound system was awful. I kept thinking how much better they would sound on my stereo at home. A symphony concert should sound much better because it would fill the hall naturally. The performers also looked small from the balcony because of the distance. At least the seats were comfortable. The auditorium is a mish-mash of architecture. Sure the gold ceiling looks cool, but does it really match the red brick? You'd think this was USC with the cardinal and gold color combination. The shape of the balcony seating reminded me of a Masonic temple where the square balcony was ideal for viewing a boxing match in the middle of the orchestra seating. I felt sorry for the side balcony people where the seats angle towards the rear of the theater rather than the stage. Royce Hall is a combination of an auditorium with classrooms which makes it confusing to navigate and they lock the balcony doors. Considering there are some very large bathrooms to handle the needs of the classrooms, it's absolutely puzzling why those bathrooms are not near the auditorium lobby. So, lines form outside the lobby bathroom and ushers try to direct people to larger bathrooms on other floors. On the plus side, there is plenty of space to wander and mingle during intermission. I also liked that the lobby is quiet during intermission. Loud lobbies are pet peeve of mine which is a chronic problem at most places. For a concert, I like to let my ears rest during intermission. Speaking of resting ears, the pre-show performance that started outside in the square should have stayed there. They were too loud inside the hall. I saw one lady plug her ears. I would have loved to stand in the top of Royce's iconic towers, but I didn't see a way to get up there. read more

I worked here as an usher for 3 years in college. They have a lot of good performances, especially if you like dance. Popular stuff (like David Sedaris who speaks just about every year) sells out quickly, at least in the good seats. Seats to avoid: all of balcony row A (there's a metal bar at eye level), anything over seat number 225/226 A,B,C or D (you're looking sideways at the stage and may not be able to see what's happening on part of the stage), and the 50's closer to the stage (same problem as seats 225+) There's usually a hold if you arrive late, and complaining about it won't get you in, and sometimes it can be a looong ass wait. Parking is also a bitch, and there's lots of stairs. If Elesee is catering intermission, avoid the chocolate chip cookies. They taste like cardboard. read more

So far I've had the privilege to see several of my heroes perform and/or speak here, so I can comment, I suppose, about the seating arrangement (sometimes harsh, when you are unlucky enough to get a nosebleed seat, at which point you won't be able to see nor hear too terribly well. In other words, splurge). Front row seats are way too close and not all that comfy; they're "posturepedic" and so upright you feel like you're levitating. Too few exits make me feel unsafe, especially in the case of an earthquake. Hence, the four stars. But the interior, the exterior, and the history ... all of these make up for the somewhat archaic positioning of the uncomfortable, too close together seats. Proximal parking, convenience, and, more importantly, sacred beauty ... these are the components that render this venue nothing shy of churchlike. Sometimes, the intimacy of the facility can contribute to an experience of community and common sharedness. In this case, we think Royce holds about 1,500 people, give or take, and that's about perfect when you're seeing Classical music or hearing someone extraordinarily special speak. You don't want to be moved to tears in front of thousands of people. Nor can you hear or see. I hear the architect had a sense of humor when he created the exterior of the building. If you stand in front, about 100 feet back, and visually divide the building along its vertical median, you can find about 35 differences between the left and right sides. Some are super obvious; others pretty hidden. My smart friend M, visiting from the Big Island, took a picture and played with it while in the passenger seat in traffic. I feel lucky to walk under the arches of Royce Hall nearly every day as I trek to my building to teach and learn - graced, really, by its presence in my life. read more

I cannot believe that I had never reviewed Royce before. I have been going to shows here for years, seeing as my wife works for UCLA Live. First of all Royce is probably the best sounding venue in the LA metro. Granted I tend to have good seats, but the acoustics are amazing for a venue of this size. Also all those people bitching about the parking? If you turn off of Sunset onto Royce Dr. it is pretty hard to miss. Also ten bucks may seem like a lot, but have you ever had to park on the Strip? Do yourself a favor and see your favorite artist if they are playing here, or check out some very interesting fare that UCLA Live puts on that you will never find anywhere else in the area. read more

The Most incredible experience I have experienced in a Looooong time- It reminds me of when I was five and saw Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory in the Movie theater and I'm still obsessed with Willy Wonka Or when I flew On a Plane for the first time and floated above the Clouds Incredible, Unforgettable,Unbelievable Experience!! =D lol The Tickets: Booked through Ticketmaster-(Concert Completely Sold out) Some of the tickets we saw online were very expensive. We paid roughly about $140 for Section RGHT Row U Seat 20-22- I wish I would have bought the Row B Orchestra seating when I had the chance. I would probably still be floating in space right about Now!! =D Parking- Everything was very organized. The students were very polite, informative and friendly. Make sure you bring Cash they do not accept credit cards. If you have a credit card you have to go to the top deck and pay at the machine which had a line. Royce Hall- We were running late but the ushers who I am assuming were students couldn't have been more professional-Everything went really quick. Saw lots of Parents with thier teen/college aged kids lots of different people from around the world all sharing in one incredible experience - Interior of the Hall is absolutely Stunning at points during the concert I kept looking up because it's so beautiful you just want to take it all in..The accoustics wow just wow!! The Concert: Ludovico Einaudi-omg ooooommmmmm. Visually Stunning is an understatement.. I shall try my best to articulate my experience but no words can describe.Absolutely Breathtaking, visually stunning..I was taken on a Journey that Had me hanging by the edge of my seat..Hanging on for dear life... at one point I thought I was going to float up into the air all the way to Heaven- Such a Beautiful Humble Human Being. No Ego just complete humility passion and light in everything that he plays.. The Violinist and the Cello Player Killed it..I mean Absolutely Killed it!! Mouth Gaped wide open killed it..Just incredible One of the Pieces was accompanied by an instrument that used water. indescribable.. just totally rocked my world! Thank you Maestro Ludovico for giving me back my Passion to create..to explore.... to dream... to believe again ..Thank you Royce Hall for not only giving us the opportunity dwell in beauty but inviting such an incredible artist/genius to remind us that their is still faith, hope, love, and renewal in this increasingly brutal, unbending and unforgiving world #ludovicoenaudi #elements #roycehall read more

I came here to watch matinee Nutcracker Ballet. The parking wasn't too bad and was about a 7 minute walk to the hall. The theater itself was pretty but the seats are a little on the small side. My only concern was how distracting it was when the ushers were still leading people in 15 minutes into the beginning and one lady stood in front of the ballerina dancing for a good 2 minutes. Besides that, I had an awesome time and look forward to seeing other events at this venue. read more

I have to hand it to UCLA, this is a beautiful theater. I loved the architecture and the ceiling in particular. Great job to UCLA's Hanoolim for putting on a very impressive performance, The Other Side of Home, for Korean Culture Night. This venue has wonderful floor and balcony seating. The acoustics of the hall were unbelievable. The singing and voices carried so well throughout the entire performance. I would expect nothing less for how expensive it was to rent this place out for the night, but I would definitely love to see more performances at this venue in the future! read more

Possibly the most beautiful out of all performances halls in the Los Angeles area, Royce Hall is the best place to go for concerts and other live performances. UCLA is very fortunate to have this hall and I envy them greatly. I wish I could live here, that's how much I love the place! Please go whenever you get the opportunity. :-) read more

The major con is the $10 Parking fee. Acoustics are wonderful. Architecture is spectacular with its coffered ceilings and gold leaf details.

My favorite building on campus, most of my classes were in this location. In addition to this, a lot of performances and shows also take place in this hall making it one of the most iconic buildings on campus. Make sure to enter through the doors on the right of the building, the doors on the middle are always closed because they're for performances, and the ones on the left are TAs offices. Really beautiful and worth taking a picture here for the aesthetics read more

We came to see the Nutcracker ballet performance and I was disappointed. They need to practice more. Also it is hard to enjoy it once you have seen it by the professional Russian Ballet. read more

Beautiful venue, great sight lines, wonderful campus!

Went to a comedy show here last night. It's a beautifully designed theater and the sound was good but there were two problems. One was that it was very warm in there. Two was that the seats are very closely crammed together with very little legroom. read more

I came here for a show last week and it was amazing, It was the 24th annual silent movie event. We watched a Walt Disney Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon and a Buster Keaton film, basically you watch the silent films and the LA Chamber Orchestra performs music to the flick! It was amazing, I cannot wait to go to the 25th annual event. read more

Beautiful building, always feels like a lecture hall. Stage is a little beat up, and the interior isn't the shiniest. Still love it for the nostalgic value and historic feeling. read more

I always love coming in here to watch the culture night shows! I do wish that they actually show movies here! That would be awesome! :) The building is very architectural and inspiring! read more

We had a difficult time finding disabled parking. We went here for Debbie Allen's "Hot Chocolate Nutcracker" performance. The ushers are friendly and escort patrons to their seats. Tickets were available on GoldStar and we were seated near the front of the auditorium. read more

What a wonderful auditorium. Good acoustics and all seats have a full view of the stage. We saw Max Raabe and the Platz Orchestra there last night. read more

I love this place. It looks old, and unlike many of the other buildings on the UCLA campus, it is old, with all the charm that that implies. They usually have pastries at the concession stand. Chocolate croissants! Yum! The patio off of the concession area is wonderful too. You get a pretty decent view from out there. And of course, we have UCLA Live. I've had so many wonderful evenings here. They outdo themselves. The performances run the gamut from Jazz, World Music, Chamber, Classical, to spoken word performances, interviews, ballet, modern dance, and more. My apologies to the genres I've omitted. Can't wait to see Crumb here. read more

First UCLA is confusing to the uninitiated. Also, for directions or navigation use the address on Yelp, not on the website. If your first time, give yourself a bit of extra time to get there. Once we parked and got there, had a great time. Great facility, somewhere between intimate and a big concert hall. We saw Allen Touissant and the Blind Boys of Alabama. The performances were great and the sound system really good. Good views of stage and friendly staff. Seats not terribly comfortable, but not terribly uncomfortable either. We're looking for more shows to see at Royce. read more

Saw joshua Redman and it was an amazing experience. The venue was amazing. Beware some seats on the end are obstructed....

River of Fundament by Matthew Barney and Jonathan Bepler, a collaborative project inspired by Norman Mailer's "Ancient Evenings" set in ancient Egypt. My friend has seen him several times before and warned me about this daunting 6 hour commitment of this film. If you have tolerance to dense, elaborate symbolism with sexually and scatilogically graphic images along with an underlying theme of decay, destruction, in the name of art and creativity then relinquish your expectations-you are not in Kansas anymore. In fact the movie makes reference to the Detroit auto industry, parts of the movie are mysterious almost scary, the characters evolve from young fresh to old rotten, and the plot plods relentlessly through rivers of poop, life, death, reincarnation all woven into a mass like opera or is it a opera like mass. The soundtrack utilizes the body, no surprise, a range of string, brass, and woodwind instruments, tibetan horns, and the human voice from speech to screech. I liked the end result, why I gave it five stars but have few friends who would or could tolerate the length, vulgarity, and complex historic references. read more

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One of the original four buildings at UCLA, Royce Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings to look at. From its imperfect symmetry, Royce Hall is one of the symbols of UCLA. Huge hall that I've had my engineering orientation here as well as saw Betty White and Chris Matthews. read more

Very beautiful concert hall, needs some slight upgrades on the carpets outside the lobby area. Other than that, the actual Hall is gorgeous.

1 star and here's why. yes, the architecture is beautiful, and the acoustics are superb. However, the seats are very packed together. Once you are in your seat, it's impossible for someone to pass you unless you vacate your seat. Last night at Jon Cleary and Bettye LaVette, a man entered once Bettye had started her performance. He was in a huge rush go get to his seat. There was no usher showing him to his seat. He was wearing heavy boots with dirt on them. I know this because he crushed the toes on both of my feet and broke several bones several toes. He gave a weak apology while I was screaming in pain. My husband and I left shortly thereafter. There were no Royce Hall personnel around to complain to. It's the day after and my toes are PURPLE and SWOLLEN and I'm on painkillers and ice. I'm going to the doctor for splints tomorrow. If the venue was properly managed, concertgoers would not be charging into their seats like wild animals, trampling everything in their path. By the way, the guy was in Row 4 L, seat 41. It took enormous restraint not to take my heavy sandals off and slap him senseless. Concertgoers, you have been warned. read more

One of the most beautiful venues you'll ever go to. I wish more buildings on the campus looked like that. The balcony seats in my opinion are better than the floor seats. read more

Beautiful venue. Will never come again to an event in a car. Took us more than an hour to get out of the parking garage.

Learn how to manage a pre-theatre crowd at the makeshift "Royce Bar." Every other theatre in LA has managed to do this successfully. What gives? read more

beautiful venue, convenient parking, nice bar.

Royce is a beautiful musical oasis in the beastly landscape of LA. What's not to love? Good acoustics, reasonably-priced seats, top-shelf musicians, and a nice patio for your intermission beverage of choice. It would be more fun if they had a dance floor, but it still beats most venues. read more

decent venue, parking was simple enough, they direct you where to go and there was plenty of it ($10). there was about a 7 minute walk from the parking to the building entrance. they have food there which i didn't know about. they had a chicken sandwich, roast beef sandwich and a veggie sandwich. they also had a few different beers, a few different cocktails and some cookies and brownies and ding dongs. a beer and sandwich cost me $18. we sat in the front row of the balcony, i suggest sitting in the 2nd row and up because the guard rail gets in the way of the front row. acoustics were fine. read more

I've seen many, many concerts here and just wish I was a student so I could get the cheap tix. This is a really great venue. The acoustics are amazing, and the facility is excellent, probably one of the finest examples of romanesque revival in SoCal if not the country. The pre-bar place is kinda meh but the patio is nice to hang out. The only negative is the fact that the crowd here seems to be more into the "art" of the event vs. really enjoying the show. Which isn't necessarily bad, but the people here just don't get into the music that much. Great example is a Jazz event or Flamenco events I've been to. Crowd participation is EXPECTED but here it just doesn't happen. Sadly, many of the acts that play here don't play at probably more venue-appropriate places. That said, I do like coming here because the sound is always so excellent. Other downside: parking exit can suck. Park close to the exits! read more