The bad. I just returned from the Fitzgerald theatre, to watch the Cowboy Junkies. A musical revival. Unfortunately, people who didn't realize the importance of the history of this seminal musical group. I was astonished by the audience, not understanding the importance of this musical genre. I was moving to the music, although it appeared that this section of Minnesota was not interested in this musical quality of the artist. And people around me were Minnesota'nice'. I understand what Minnesota nice is : ambivalence and lack of respect, for anyone is not in 'their' group! read more

Beautiful historic theater in St. Paul! We went here to see Sesame Street live with our son, and the sound, stage, our seats were all perfect. Last year we went to see Labyrinth live in concert and had balcony seats which was also a great view from afar. If you can see a show here I highly recommend it. read more

The Fitzgerald Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Historic, intimate and gorgeous venue in the heart of downtown St Paul. Classic red velvet drapes, old school balconies and plush velvet seating screams of old world glamour. I LOVE this theater! read more

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A week ago I purchased a single ticket to see Caitlyn Smith play a Christmas concert at the Fitzgerald theater and it was amazing! The venue is just down the street from the original Mickeys diner. I was able to park just a few blocks away from the theater and parking was only $5 Arriving at the venue was quick and easy! There wasn't a line for security and ticket scanning and the employees were friendly and efficient. Finding my seat was easy thanks to the great instructions from the staff! This venue has so much character and it beautiful! You can tell the seats are older but prob have been redone so they were comfortable. Caitlyn Smiths voice in this venue was magical. It was easy to hear and I will def come back to see another concert here! read more

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Overall this is a pretty decent theater, especially given how old it is! It's very small, but even being a small theater you still get ample legroom, which is amazing! At first I thought the seats were comfortable, but after about an hour and a half I started to get a little uncomfortable. The two main things I didn't really like about the space were the incredibly dated lobby and the TINY bathrooms. The bathroom was so small that I had maneuver around other people trying to use it and get in/out. read more

The Fitzgerald Theater - Main floor from almost the last row. - Performing Arts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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A very awesome historical theater named after a legend. We saw a ballet here but the seating arrangements, ease of just finding your seats are all great. Limited concessions obviously but they had wine! read more

It's been a bit, nonetheless, the venue was spectacular, as many things Saint Paul are. I look forward to my next visit.

Line to Prairie Home Companion moved fast. ALL staff were holiday happy and enthusiastic. They were friendly and so helpful with tickets and finding seats. read more

Fantastic venue...intimate and in the middle of downtime St.Paul. This was my first ballet and after this experience, I will be back. Beautiful venue, ballerinas, customers, and overall atmosphere. read more

The Fitz is a great place to see a show. The acoustics are stellar and it has a nice homey feel to it. I would give this a higher rating except the seats are incredibly uncomfortable and super close together. I tried to keep my shifting to a minimum, but yowza. As far as viewing is concerned, there really isn't a bad metaphorical seat in the house. I've been way up in the nosebleed section and down on the floor--great views all around. The balconies and interior are gorgeous and completely charming. Wonderful venue! read more

The Fitzgerald Theater - I'm With Her set up - Performing Arts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I have got the opportunity to be in this theater twice in my life! Both were very exciting and very different... But both were 5 star experiences! Years ago I got the opportunity to play here, opening for JOHN HODGMAN a comedian. It was a part of Minnesota Public Radio's Fakebook series where they would partner a band with a writer. My band The Poison Control Center were lucky enough to get the gig. It was a blast! So I got to see back stage and the dressing rooms and all that jazz.. Also playing on that big beautiful stage was pretty fun. It's all so cool and nice, and hey lots of the greats have played here including years of the long running Prairie Home Companion show, and the movie of the same name was filmed here as well! I didn't feel right reviewing the theater from playing here cause it was a unique experience, but the other night I finally attended my first show here ever.. I got to see one of my fave bands ever Spiritualized rock the Fitzgerald the other night and it was fantastic. I was in the 3rd row and I had the most fantastic time! The theater is laid out great, and it was very easy to get to the bathrooms, and or the line for a drink! I also dig how the merch has it's own dedicated area. The Twin Cities have a lot of magical theaters, and you can chalk this one up as a great one as well! It holds just over a 1,000 people so there is really not a bad seat in the house! read more

The Fitzgerald Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I love seeing shows at The Fitzgerald Theater! It's a classic St. Paul event space and I've seen a few shows there now. A couple concerts and one drag holiday performance. It's a more relaxed vibe for a concert. Assigned seating so some people tend to sit the whole show and then you feel for standing up. But you also want to dance and have a good time at a concert. So that's the only minus. I have been up in the balcony, second floor I think, and the view is pretty good! One time I had a seat that had a column in front of it so I just couldn't see one part of the stage. Not a huge deal. They have a couple bars throughout the theatre with beer/liquor options. The bathrooms are pretty small so the line can get a bit long. We all know how that goes though. Overall, I love the vibe here and it's a fun place to try out! I will never hesitate to go here if someone I want to see is in town! read more

This theater rocks and seems to be the coolest place to work because all of the employees were so friendly and having a great time, just like us! We saw a Wits performance with Paul F. Tompkins and Aimee Mann and had a blast. The Wits encourages you to text and tweet (seriously, do it, they might even talk about your tweet on stage!), have snacks, and drinks while being entertained by the greatest comedians and musicians. The Barrio food truck parks out front and you can feel free to grab some amazing food, like the chips, salsa, and guac, and eat it right in your seat at the theater. The sound was pretty good although if there was any sort of applause you couldn't hear the people talking on stage at all. read more

The Fitzgerald Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

The box office doesn't have their hours on the door. I prefer to get my tickets direct and in person not online. I want to support local places of the arts but the Fitz made it so hard to get tickets for this reason only is why they have one start from me. read more

Put your phones away! Fitzgerald is A-OK. Needs more rules, oy vey! Last night was my second time at the Fitzgerald Theater which is the oldest theater in St. Paul and home to Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. Got to see Garrison once in action, and I think it was before the advent of cell phones. It was a much more pleasant experience back then. Saw local hero Dan Wilson of Semisonic perform last night, and it was an awesome show and the acoustics were great. Got a seat in the third row of the first balcony which was not a bad seat at all. The theater is pretty compact so a balcony seat still puts you pretty close to the action. I think the last show I was at was Ryan Adams at the Northrup in Minneapolis a couple years ago and I started getting vertigo being in the first row of the top balcony. When I saw Ryan Adams at the Northrup, I really appreciated how he helped control the unruly mob of cell phone junkies who can't get enough of their fix. He took the stage and said take all of your pictures now and then put the stupid things away for the rest of the show. Sadly, neither the Fitzgerald nor Dan Wilson laid down the law. People taking pictures throughout the whole show and some even playing on their phones. Super annoying. The light from your cellphone is as distracting as your cell phone ringing. Maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy. While it seems like there is not a bad seat in the house at the Fitzgerald in terms of viewing, the seats themselves are rather uncomfortable. Like really old movie theater style seats that are packed really close together which gave me cramps. I think I was the first one to jump out of my seat and give a standing ovation after both the first set and the encore. Lastly, the line for the two bars and for the restrooms are super slow. Bring your patience all around when going to see a show here. Five stars for Dan Wilson's performance! read more

We attended a concert recently at the Fitz and thoroughly enjoyed this very intimate venue. The theater is small and historic. What I wouldn't give to enjoy a show from one of the beautiful little balconies on the side. We had a great time and could hear the artist very well. The size is nice because you don't feel so far away from the artist. You'll like the way they've kept this theater up. It's an iconic St. Paul institution. read more

The Fitzgerald Theater - Lobby - Performing Arts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Wits at the Fitz is amazing! Snacks and drinks in the balcony while watching Andy Richter, Reggie Watts. Tweeting, texting it's all good. read more

The theater itself is beautiful and has good acoustics. HOWEVER, there is a row in the balcony behind a railing that COMPLETELY obstructs the view of the stage. You either need to sit up very high in your seat or lean forward to see anything. And since the seats are squished together, it isn't very comfortable in the first place, let alone to have to adjust yourself. Either sell OBSTRUCTED VIEW seats or lower the railing. Very disappointed, makes me reconsider future performances at the Fitzgerald. read more

The Fitzgerald Theater has been the home of "Prairie Home Companion." It offers everything you look for in an urban theater. Tickets are easily purchased online. There are no bad seats in the house. We had a great time attending a recording of 'Talking Volumes' at the Fitgerald Theater featuring Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink, authors of the "Welcome to Night Vale" podcast and book. The Fitzgerald is a great spot to see MPR programs. A great program they offer is 'films at the Fitz' where they pair classic holiday movies (Gremlins, Little Shop of Horrors; Christmas Vacation, Elf) with musicians and viewer activities. read more

The Fitzgerald Theater - Talking volumes: welcome to night vale. These guys should take over the Fitzgerald from prairie home companion. - Performing Arts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Woebegon's Mayor Ambling red socks, seersucker To weave future yarns #NOLA_Haiku #Haiku #Poetry #GarrisonKeillor #LakeWoebegon #PrairieHomeCompanion #GuyNoir #MidWesternLiving #NPR #APM #PowderMilkBiscuits #StoryTeller #MidWest read more

The Fitzgerald Theater - Woebegon's Mayor Ambling red socks, seersucker To weave future yarns #NOLA_Haiku #POET #GarrisonKeillor #LakeWoebegon - Performing Arts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

We saw a recording of the MPR radio series Wits, and it was phenomenal! I don't think you can go wrong with MPR, and being a part of a radio show ends up fun to see as well as hear. Our episode featured Patton Oswalt, Grant Lee Philips and Paul F. Tompkins. All 3 guests were a delight, and as an avid listener, it was great to get in on the magic behind what we never get to see. John Moe, our host for the evening, made it feel like we were all part of an inside joke during retakes. Adding to the fun was a full bar, open before, during and after the show. They even featured a signature cocktail, The Tina Louise (Jameson + Ginger...as in Gilligan's Island). Bring your drink to your seat and enjoy the show! The Fitz itself is a beautiful old theater in the heart of St. Paul. The balconies made me feel like Statler and Waldorf, the crotchety, cranky old muppet friends, would pop out at any time. Seating was all general admission, but there is not a bad seat in the house. read more

I saw the Prairie Home Companion program here one night. I'm not a native Minnesotan so I cant say Lake Wobegon is a part of my childhood or anything as profound as that. I do listen to the program on weekends while I clean house with my husband so it holds fond memories for me, however recent. It was such an odd experience seeing/hearing Garrison Keillor's voice coming out of his actual mouth. It's like one of those ethereal experiences in dreams when you understand that you are flying and that it's against the law gravity to do so, but yet it's happening and you accept it with a smile. Add to that the bonus of seeing the show with my grandfather-in-law who is a retired Lutheran minister and who hadn't seen it live before. Half of the jokes were for his sole benefit and we enjoyed lots of laughs together that night. I cant remember when I've felt so dang wholesome! read more

ahhh the fitz. two listings in Yelp, no reviews. I have been here only one time, and it was for a Michael Chabon book reading. It was fun. Nice little deco place. Despite what you think, this place isn't just for old people, nor does it smell of piss and cabbage. Thought you should know. read more

Went to see The Moth live here on Saturday night. The venue is a terrific size for a show - we were in the middle of the second balcony and still felt close enough to the stage to see the expressions of the performers. It was a little warm on the second balcony - my friend kept fanning herself with her program to cool off. As an added bonus, you can drink the bar's beverages in the theater (just be careful to not spill on those around you - the rows are so close together that it would be crazy easy to have an accident :) ) -1 star because the venue only has one restroom (5 stalls for the ladies) and it takes the entire 20 minutes of intermission to get through the line. read more

Went to see Prairie Home Companion. Great show, beautiful theater, awesome seats. The ticket cost was reasonable, drink prices were the same as everywhere else. Word to the wise... Don't cab it here... there are NONE to be found outside afterwards. read more

This place has a special place in my heart because not only is this theater beautiful, I saw the amazing James Morrison here! Had a wonderful night there. James Morrison was so smooth and amazing, it was a unforgettable night. And this theater made it even more special. Fantastic place! read more

Beautiful theater! Went to see the Moth this weekend and was pleasantly surprised. Great acoustics, clear views (even from the nosebleeds..), and a great sense of character/place. Downsides: as mentioned below, the line for the women's restroom was down the stairs and out to the front doors. Also, I was getting vertigo trying to walk to my seat (over the kind people who would not stand up, therefore giving me literally three inches of space). However, both of these come with the territory of an old theater, so I can deal. Next time, going down a balcony! read more

Very nice venue--fits plenty of people but yet stays intimate. No bad seats. Saw Josh Ritter and he sang off mic several times--no problems hearing him. Of course, it is beautiful and full of character. The staff/volunteers were extremely nice and helpful. Would love to be back! read more

Love this theater! Great venue and the sound is wonderful. I would have given it a five however the stairs need some kind of lighting because it's really hard to see them unless the theater lights are on. read more

Saw Dessa perform here last night from the main right floor. It was amazing! Never been before and loved the vibe. It made me feel aged, wise and sophisticated! Very pleased they opened up to hosting a hip hop show. It really exposed an entire new crowd to the beautiful theater. read more

Enjoyed Prairie Home Companion here last night. Garrison Keillor, looking fully recovered from a mild stroke, seemed to be happier on the stage, smiling way more than previous shows. Neko Case was a highlight as were the Steele sisters. The theater is great...love the beer selection (Bells Two Hearted and Summit EPA and Oktoberfest), intimate setting (assuming you aren't in the back row of the second balcony), and a great little quiet street. Planning on taking in the New Standards Christmas show in December. read more

I've been here a few times - to see A Prairie Home Companion and also just last night when Garrison Keillor put on a show with the SPCO. The facility is a nice, quaint theater - not enough leg room - but that is how it goes with all old theaters - or theaters in general? I've only had the opportunity to sit up in the upper balcony - and the site lines are good and there aren't too many bad seats - unless its a sold out show - i don't think they will typically put people in those anyways. It's a nice place - drinks at intermissions, etc - too few bathrooms for the # of people that can fit in the place .. . I love the shows they put on, so will be back. read more

Love this place its so beautiful. Also big in history. I wish I could have seen a show but I was límited on time. Hear it has hauntings on it. Lol. Nice location too. Cant say much about service. Located in downtown too. read more

We came here to see the Varsity performance from MPR's Classical Music. It was a fantastic performance from young talented artists. Also, we came here to see and here a local bluegrass band. This venue is so much fun and also has easy parking across the street. Next time, check out the schedule for future events. Plus after the performance, the staff served punch and snacks (chex mix or small cake). read more

Went to the recording of "Live From Here" with Chris Thile. It was really an awesome show and the venue was really pretty. Bathrooms were clean and the staff friendly. Lack of star because it was 1,000 degrees in the balcony. read more

The Fitz is one of my favorite venues to attend for concerts. The sound quality is amazing and it's somewhat still intimate for the audience. I love it when my favorite artists like Patty Griffin and Kasey Chambers perform at this outstanding facility. If your favorite artist appears here, do yourself a favor and get some tickets. You will not be disappointed. read more

This was a really neat venue! Classic architecture, fabulous open bar and drink options outside, and beautiful wide open stage with gorgeous panels and setting. Acoustics were very good compared to most other theatres I've been to. No static, not overbearingly loud, yet very easy to hear. Granted, the event I went to was an open forum conversation and not a play or movie as they showcase often, but nonetheless it was a very pleasing venue. As like many old time venues, the seating was not the most comfortable, but not terrible. And parking outside of the venue was surprisingly easy to find for a venue in the heart of downtown Saint Paul. No free options, but plenty of places close by. If you're willing to park a little farther away and walk you can avoid event parking. Fitzgerald Theatre will be a theatre I will be checking out more often for sure! Go to their website and check out their line-up of shows and go find one that you think you'll like. If you enjoy a classical theatre feel, you'll love this theatre! read more

The Fitzgerald Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Growing up, my dad always had Garrison Keillor on the radio on the weekends. I never understood why. But I knew where they were broadcasting from, and I always sort of thought of the Fitz as "the MPR theater." Now that my father and I finally appreciate Prairie Home Companion on the same level, I have updated my thoughts on the place. It is such a versatile gem, right there on a quiet downtown street (and not all downtown streets are quiet in St. Paul anymore). I've seen gubernatorial debates there. I've watched my favorite short story author read his works there. Last night I saw Provention, a four-hour funathon featuring the New Standards, the Honeydogs, and a bunch of other locals (I didn't expect to like Haley Bonar as much as I did). I always forget how small this place is, considering what great events they have here all the time. And so pretty to look at from the outside, too. This venue is one of the reasons I would consider moving across the river. read more

So last Wednesday My Gal and I went to our 1st major Music event of the summer and it was a great way to Start it out. We went to the Fitzgerald to see Susan Tedeschi/Tedschi Trucks Band. I must say I am disappointed that the Fitz uses Ticketmaster and it's $10 per ticket service charge. We didn't decide to get tickets until a few days before the concert and had to get single tickets apart from each other. After we arrived I had asked the Will call folks if they had any seats together. They were sincere and would have put us together if it wasn't sold out. We were resigned to sit apart. But like Earl Hicky Karma had plans for us. I saw another couple come in and were sitting apart. I gave up my seat so He could sit next to his Gal. Karma saw what I did and low and behold 2 Dudes got up to get a beer and watch the concert from the aisle one level down. So Gal and I got to sit next to each other after all. Thank you Karma! With an 11 piece band, The Tedschi Trucks Band was like an 11 course meal and Susan and Derek were the entrée and dessert. Funny a female singer that doesn't lip sing or need choreographed dancers to make her look good. Huh she even plays guitar. Oh, and what a voice. She can belt it out. Both of My Gal and I were blown away by the talent on stage. There is no doubt as to why their Revelator album won the 2012 Grammy for best blues album of the year. I hope to hear Susan's powerful voice live again sometime. I give the Fitz 4 or 5 stars if it wasn't for Ticketmaster they would get 5 stars. The Concert gets 5 out of 5! read more

Saw the new Prairie Home Companion show tonight and was thoroughly impressed! I didn't really know what to expect but was blown away by the talent and was very entertained for two hours. Such a unique show. Highly recommend!! read more