The show didn't go on. We went to see Frozen on New Year's Eve. I don't know if we got halfway through when they announced that a performer was sick and could not continue. Were they really sick and didn't have an understudy? Did someone have celebration plans for New Year's Eve? What we saw of it was good. They were able to give us a refund since our show was canceled. It's a nice venue to watch a show like this. We had a great view of the stage from the balcony. It almost felt like being at a theatre for a movie than for live theatre. We almost saw a good show here. Thanks for giving us a refund. read more

Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

My husband and I are season ticket holders and enjoy coming to this landmark on Granville Street. The frontage on Granville Street is a bit quaint which gives it its classic charm - ticket booth and all. Ushers are quick in scanning tickets so lines don't long esp on cold rainy days. As season ticket holders, we get the same seats for every show and this is important for us knowing we have the same good spot. If you enjoy watching live performances, support this theater! read more

A blast from the past, the former Stanley Theatre on Granville is a fine setting for live performances. The space is fairly intimate, with orchestra and balcony seating, there really isn't a bad seat in the house. Acoustics are good, the decor is vintage movie house with hard as rock wooden seats and minimal leg room. If you're tall you're going to need to sit on an aisle seat or be pretty cramped. We visited on a night when Elf was playing, it was very festive and the singing, acting and choreography was superb. Limited (basically none) food choices at the refreshment counter, mostly beverages, so eat before you visit. Parking can be difficult to find, arrive a few minutes early. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. Overall the theatre is comparable to many New York Broadway venues, maybe nicer, so overall a 4.5 rating. read more

See all

I went here to watch the Sound of Music and was not disappointed with the venue. The theatre was large enough to hold a large crowd and yet small enough where you can enjoy the experience of being in an intimate setting with the actors. The place has ground floor seating as well as balcony seating. The price is very reasonable and a bonus is that there are restaurants nearby if you want to grab dinner first. The only drawback is the difficulty in getting free parking around the area. read more

Last night I saw Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. I last went two years ago to see Matilda, and I was impressed with the theater, as I didn't have to deal with any bullshit or hassles (see my review of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for details), other than the inconvenience of having to show your covid vaccine passport, which is not the theater's fault. However, the theater staff were very organized and efficient with scanning everyone's vaccine passports and show tickets, and the lineup to get into the theater moved very quickly. We were waiting in the long lineup outside of the theater about 20 minutes before the show's start time, and an employee came by and told everyone not to worry, that they wouldn't start the show until everyone was in the theater, which was much appreciated. In my previous review I noted that an 8oz glass of wine was $15. I don't recall if they offered several choices, but this time, there were several options of various red and white wines (about three options each), and the 8oz glasses ranged from $11 to $14. Expensive, but not much more than at restaurants or theaters. I didn't see gin and tonics, but they also offered various beers and ciders. It seemed as if they had a more streamlined, affordable menu. The wine I had was Inniskillin Cabernet Sauvignon which was very tasty. Also, they had reusable plastic wine glasses instead of disposal plastic cups, which I thought was a great idea -- the amount of waste from disposable plastic cups os disgusting, and I think this should be the norm for theaters and even venues. One extra star for trying to cut down on waste. [Yelp collections: Theaters] read more

Not a big theatre but there is no bad seat at all so feel free to purchase seats further back without the worry that you can't see well or have view obstruction. read more

For the past three years, the Arts Club Theatre Company has produced White Christmas at the Stanley. White Christmas is my favourite Christmas movie, so you can guess that I was stoked to be attending a matinee. And while I was disappointed with their online ordering system and subsequent emailers and direct mailings that bombarded me following my order, I only have good things to say about The Stanley. It's the nostalgic romantic in me, I know, but on a dreary, post Christmas day, stepping in from a wet blustery Vancouver day is like stepping back into time. Sitting in the third row, I was humbled by the small orchestra area where suited up musicians were tickling the ivories and beating drums. The chairs are low this close to the stage, which made this an ideal section for me, all 5 foot 4 inches of me. Peter S even rejoiced as he dangled his legs in behind the second row, all 6 feet 4 inches of him! But don't forget to bring a shawl, a scarf or a sweater. When the curtain goes up it takes with it all of the warmth from the room, well at least that close to the stage. The most exquisit feature to my eyes, are the shell sculptures that adorn the walls, trimming the ceiling. It's the small details that make me pause and look up. A perfect thing to do while you're waiting for the theatre to clear during intermission. For 2.5 hours I almost felt like I had been breathing in a different era. Although, that might have also been the fact that it was a rendition of White Christmas on the stage. read more

The Stanley Theatre is designated by the City of Vancouver as a heritage building. It's been around 1931, and has been used for movies as well as live theatre. These days you find it putting on productions for the Arts Club Theatre company. Usually some pretty good stuff. However, the architecture is the highlight here. Amazing domed ceiling, seashell lights, geometric patterns. Very fun to catch all the hidden details in here! And I love to catch the sign lit up at night! It has a great street presence. read more

Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I've seen some great shows here (ex. Les Miserables, Glengarry Glen Ross, etc) with very talented actors. The stage is set in a way that almost any seat has a good view. I also like the size of the Theatre because it has an intimate feel to it. Last night I saw Angels in America, which did not disappoint. It was a fabulous performance. My only issue is that the tickets seem quite pricey. $49 each for our seats. If you're able to get hold of $29 tickets, it would be more ideal. read more

Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I really want to give a theatre company that put on its own production of Dreamgirls a higher rating than 3 stars. I really do. However, the production did not rise to the challenge and strong reputation of Dreamgirls. There were noticeable issues with blocking, costume changes and a combination of singing and sound mixing. Some actors were not cast age appropriately to the point that it was distracting. The play had moments of greatness due to a talented orchestra and individually talented actors. Better than most companies/organizations could do with such a difficult play, and the price was cheap for a musical in a theater that large. I'd say a seat close to the middle of the auditorium is better than a seat close to the stage. The auditorium has a Broadway-sized stage and correspondingly wide rows, but not as many rows as normally correspond with a stage that large. Even though I wasn't that far away from the center of my row 5 rows back, and the combination of set design and blocking meant that I couldn't always see the actors. read more

Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I'm a season ticket subscriber. I love almost all the shows presented at the Stanley Theater. The Arts Club is the largest non profit theater company in Canada with stellar performers, directors, stagecraft technicians, box office personal and front of house staff. I have always received excellent service from ushers and bar staff. The front of house manager is wonderful and very approachable. My favourite performances to date: Mary Poppins; Beauty and the Beast; Sweat; The Audience; and both parts of Angels in America. Season ticket holders save money on seats and are often offered little "perks" such as gift certificates to be used for future performances, two for one vouchers to use to future performances and once I received two complimentary tickets to the German Christmas Market (for use on a Monday or Tuesday). It is wonderful to support local theater in such a beautifully restored building. Highly recommended! read more

This seems to be listed under both the Stanley and the Arts Club; no matter. I'm not surprised that there aren't more reviews here, but I'm hoping that they'll work on gaining the support of the younger set (by younger I mean under 50 crowd). This is a cute, classic, S. Granville theatre, but the average age of the crowd is 50+ as with so much of the theatre crowd these days. I have no problem with that whatsoever (hey, it makes me look younger) except that they are going to have to make some changes to stick around in the 21 century. We saw The Importance of Being Earnest which I thought was absolutely hilarious. If you're a fan of the A & W commercials and one of Van's finest actors (also seen in the Bard) you might enjoy it, too. (I won't tell you who he is--you must go for yourself!) This is one of my favourite plays and I could go on and on about how great it is. The problem is, that I seemed to share this sentiment mainly with the 50-60 somethings in the crowd. Meanwhile, my companion started to "rest his eyes". So it's not for everyone. The premium seats--at almost $60 a pop in the balcony--were just not that "premium". Could this hefty price tag for average seats be another reason that they aren't necessarily attracting the younger set? The bartender was totally cool and friendly serving up theatre priced drinks that were poured American style. The bathrooms were bigger than a NY theatre; old and in dire need of refurbishment, but bigger than average, so how great is that? Any woman who has ever tried to use the bathroom and then order a drink during intermission (and actually finish it) would appreciate that aspect of the theatre. All in all, a must go for locals and if you are under 50, do check their sched. for upcoming plays. You might just find something that appeals to you, too! read more

A smaller cozy theatre. 6'4" friendly as you can jam your feet under the seats in front of you for 6 inches of extra leg room. So nice :) The usual crappy overpriced alcohol served during intermission (hey City of Vancouver, you gotta renegotiate your booze deals in 2012 because these options suck!) But overall a great experience in the heritage building. read more

I love attending the Arts Club performances and usually check out about 3 per year (both here and at the Granville Island stage). The Stanley stage is my favourite of the two by far, classic and opulent. There are a number of neighbouring bars that will offer you 15% off your (food) tab if you present them with that night's tickets. Pro-tip: arrive a few minutes early, and pre-order your drink for intermission. The bar staff prepare them during the show and have them waiting beside the bar with your name by it. Saves you a line-up and maximizes your beverage-consumption time (it can be difficult for some to throw back a drink in the 15 minute intermission). My only complaint, which has nothing to do with the theatre itself, is the dress-sense of most of the patrons. When did going to the theatre become an event for jeans and golf shirts? Come on. Any time you're sitting in a theatre dripping in gilt, you can take the time to get a little gussied up. read more

The two plays that I have seen performed at this theatre have been worlds apart from each other, which is props to the Stanley for giving me two such different experiences. As a theatre, it is pretty small which makes every seat a great one. The building itself is enough reason to buy a ticket, just to be able to sit inside for a few hours and feel cultured. The play-going crowd is always a huge mix - from posh grannies to scrubby teens. You can make it a night out or just drop in as you are, which is one of the things I love about it. It's also on Granville, so it's easy to access on public transit. There are plenty of restaurants and bars in the neighbourhood, making a dinner/theatre date a snap. read more

The Stanley is a bit of cultural heaven the city needs. The old heritage building gives me a glimpse into an old-world glamour, those days when it was romantic to go on a theatre date or better yet it was the highlight of people's entertainment as there were not TV's, internet or clubs. The room is small and the seating allows for everyone to get a great view. The art deco style of the architecture and design of the building reminds me of Miami's South Beach or one of San Francisco's older buildings maybe in the Height District.We need more buildings like this in Vancouver. read more

I saw Les Miz here! The play was awesome, but I'm not here to review the play. The theatre itself was nice. It had good sound. It is also an historical site. However, it wasn't as amazing as it was made out to be. I think the Orpheum or somewhere is a lot more elegant. read more

For years, students, youths, theatre lovers and their hangers-on have been watching fables, untold truths, myths, stories enacted at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Theatre. It's Vancouver's answer to Broadway (yes, it's essentially limited to this one theatre house... well, this one and another in Granville Island). It's the site of tragic love stories, deaths done in a sing-along song manner, musical comedies, standup performances, et al. Done up in traditional theatrical art deco style, it will hopefully continue to be the site of more untold tales. read more

We went to Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage to watch Mary Poppins. There's quite a bit of street parking during the week and outside of the disinterested person in the ticket booth, the employees were friendly and polite. We were tucked in the left balcony and we still had a great view. I would venture to say that most of the seats are great views which is a plus. My biggest complaint would be how uncomfortable the chairs are. I think my butt went numb halfway through the play. But I would come here again. read more

I've sat in pretty much every area of this theatre and the Stanley does not disappoint. It is just big enough for some of the major productions (scaled down) and small enough that you get an intimate experience every time. There are no bad seats here! Though I do agree with some reviewers that they seats aren't super comfy, but I rarely, if at all, notice this when I come here. I also love the architecture of this building and the amazing interior design. It really gives me a sense of being immersed in culture and history. I've lost count of how many shows I've gone to here, but you definitely get some great production value out of this place. I love it! read more

Delightful play. Very talented actors perfectly suited for their roles. Too expensive though. Seriously? $65!

AMAZING theatre, incredible plays, talented actors, it doesn't get much better than this!!

Saw Mary Poppins here. Great theatre for sure. Very historic. Great location too. There is a concession, and they do serve booze too. It can get very crowded in the small lobby. Parking could be a big problem. There are places to eat and get coffee in and around the area. read more

Nice theatre. I love the interior of the building. I've seen many productions here. You can't go wrong with any seat in the balcony. The 29$ seats have all been okay. My only complaint is the 9.5$ for a glass of wine. read more

This review is more about the actual stage than the production as it seems that different production companies use this venue. During a recent visit, we saw a production of Les Miserables. The production itself was 3/4 stars, but the theater was darn good. The bathrooms seemed to be well designed from an old theater, seats were fine, and plenty of room. read more

It was with some measure of disbelief, and a great deal of disappointment that my wife and I left the production of Baskerville at intermission tonight. Something we have NEVER done in 25 years of live theatre performances. The digital sets were the biggest reason. In several scenes there were more stage hands on the bare, gloomy stage as there were actors. If only there had been a semblance of quality to the images, but they were weak, grainy and thoroughly two dimensional. The script failed miserably in drawing the patrons attention away from the ugly, movable screens, and the 'Farcical' humour was more akin to tired, and embarrassingly overused slapstick; with some of the jokes used over and over.....'Walk this way......!' for one. But to have paid over $100 for this type of a cut price and bare bones show, I'm afraid brought a tinge of anger to our disappointment. We try to find some entertainment value in all live theatre, even those that don't quite live up to our expectations, but Baskerville was the first time we literally felt duped. I had even attempted, several times, to view the clip of the show on the website, but it refused to load. And now we know why! If I had seen it, I would not have bought tickets. For the first time ever, we say shame on the Arts Club Theatre for charging so much, for so little. And we would also like to lay no blame whatsoever on the hardworking thespians involved. They can only do the best with what they are given, and in this particular case, that was precious little. Such a shame. read more

We have been season ticket holders for the past three years, but are seriously thinking of not subscribing next year. The seats in the Stanley Theater are excruciatingly uncomfortable. It has become almost impossible for us to watch a play there. Not sure why, but the seats at the Granville Island stage are much more comfortable. read more

We have seasons passes to the Arts Club theatre and this is our first year doing it. It was something different and the prices were good if you did the season pass. The plays this year have been excellent except for 1 but the one we didn't like just wasn't up our alley. We still have 2 more to go. The price worked out to be about 20$ per play. It has been an excellent purchase and I do expect that we'll continue next year. The plays definitely make for a lovely night out and parking is always easy. read more

I've been very disappointed with this theatre. I've held season tickets for 2 years and attended a lot of other productions during the years I was not a season ticket holder. My disappointment this year is primarily what a terrible season of entertainment they offered. I left after Act 2 of St. Joan because (a) I couldn't stay awake; and (b) it was horrendously boring. I have disliked virtually every production this season, although, last night's production of In the Heights was much closer to what I expect. I also dislike the entire "feel" of the events - people arrive dressed horribly (flip flops and sweatpants) and last night our seat mate's body odour almost encouraged us to leave. I've suggested to the theatre that they create a "black tie" night where patrons agree to dress appropriately (I actually recommended quite a few improvements) but instead of being lauded for creativity I was just told all the reasons why my ideas wouldn't work. This theatre needs a complete overhaul to bring in a younger audience or it is going to fold. I've spoke to younger people (i.e., in their 30's) and all of them have agreed that they would attend an event if it were combined with a cocktail party and had a proper dress code. I have not renewed my subscription. This theatre could be so much more if they didn't close their minds to new ideas and new patrons. read more