Last night's performance of "Grandiloquent" by GARY GULMAN at the The Grand Opera House was intelligent, deeply human, and masterfully crafted, the show draws heavily from his book "Misfit"--and brings its spirit to life on stage. Gulman is like a modern-day Scheherazade, spinning stories that hold the audience spellbound. He pulls you in so completely--you're laughing one moment, moved the next, and before you know it, the show has ended and you're left wanting more. His narratives are intricately interwoven with a mix of obscure and familiar references that reward attentive listeners. Gulman manages to be hilarious, self-deprecating, vulnerable, and razor-sharp all at once. Beneath the humor, you always sense his compassion and commitment to social and economic justice. My only reservation was a small but noticeable shift in tone: he used the F-word a handful of times. What makes Gulman so distinctive is that his comedy has always been brilliantly intelligent and genuinely funny - without relying on cursing. It felt slightly out of step with his otherwise clean style. That said, it did little to diminish what was, overall, a truly memorable and deeply affecting evening. Strongly recommend the show! A brief note for the venue itself: it might be worth considering a slightly delayed start--just a few minutes past the stated time--to allow late arrivals to settle, followed by closing the doors once the performance begins. The steady trickle of people finding their seats was distracting not only for the audience but undoubtedly for the performer as well. Additionally, a clear, firm announcement at the outset about refraining from cellphone use would go a long way. During the show, a guest in the front row was scrolling on her phone, and the glow and movement were quite disruptive to those nearby--one can only imagine how noticeable it must be from the stage. Small adjustments like these would help preserve the immersive, attentive atmosphere that a performance of Gulman's caliber truly deserves. Beautiful venue, comfortable seats, great acoustics and ambiance. Very affordable tix. The view from Orchestra, Row D, Seat 6 was OUTSTANDING! read more

The Grand Opera House - Performing Arts Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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Not a bad seat in the house. Went to see the Black Violin's sold out show. Great sound. read more

The Grand Opera House - Grand Opera to see the Black Violinds - Performing Arts Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

We attend many shows at the Grand. The sound of the room is first rate and we're sometimes surprised at the quality of musicians they attract;almost all are national acts,some international.The seats aren't built for 'big' people(I'm big,my fault.One of the great patrons of the Grand owned a fine liquor store in Greenville(as a hobby!) Please upgrade your wine selections -we'll pay.The 'wine' currently on offer is something high school kids would sneak then have a life-long disdain for wine.We love the venue and the parking is good.The patrons can afford better wine-spotlight a few really good mid-priced selections and show patrons where they are available.Money maker? Is this America? Hell yes!Thank-you for your consideration in this matter.Jukebox Jerry. p.s.: bring back Junior Brown.We're 10-10. read more

Recently saw Blackberry Smoke at the Grand. The staff is great and everyone associated with the venue. Unfortunately, the $69 ticket for seat 5, row M did not allow me to see the band as everyone in the middle section stands for the whole concert. Even when I stood, I couldn't see the band, just the top of their heads. I ended up standing back by the doors for the whole show. read more

We were here to see Sara Evans (6/1/2023). Not much are opened at 7 pm around there other than a few restaurants right across the street. The place is beautiful. The staff are helpful and pleasant except during the "Meet and Greet" for the VIP tickets for after the show. More about that later. We got the "Lift" tickets, second row. Amazing seats! I do wish that they put just a little more space between the chairs, even if it another 2 inches on either side. The sound quality was excellent. The concert was top-notch. We traveled from out the town to attend this concert. Now about the "Meet and Greet". We got instructions from one of the ushers... no talking to Sara Evans, no asking for autograph, camera out ready, have 1 minute and move on... and some other more instructions. So we got up there, got a photo taken, and started walking away when Sara Evans stopped us and asked if we would like the shirt signed. Since she asked, we replied, "Of courses." That was when one of the ushers started to yell at us and kept saying," Didn't I say don't ask for an autograph? " she just kept repeating it and didn't want to listen to us. Another usher standing there had to finally go over and tell her that we didn't ask for the autograph and that Sara Evans offered. Thank you for the usher who stepped in. Overall, it was a wonderful concert at a wonderful venue. read more

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My first visit to this historic opera house in downtown Wilmington. I saw an oldies show here on a Saturday night. Staff very friendly, all older or retired folks. Picking up a ticket at will call was easy. The will call is actually located in a separate door to the right of the main entrance. Several hostess people were available to show you to your seats. Because it is an old theater, the rows of seats on the floor are very tight and you have to get up and actually move out into the aisle to let people into their seats so that can be a challenge. The acoustics were good, and so the sound for the show was excellent. I had a nice first experience here. I did not use the restrooms so I cannot comment on those and I did not partake of the concession stand either, but I was surprised to see at the intermission that I guess they do sell beer an alcoholic beverages, with some theaters do not. There is floor and balcony seating, and it seems to be good sightlines from most places. I was row J close to center aisle & has a good view & sound all evening. read more

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We purchased seats to the Music of Abba show. Ticket prices were very expensive. The air conditioning in the theater was not working and it was hot and stuffy. The theater was packed with older people, most over 70 yrs old. The air was getting warmer as the performance continued, so at intermission we had to leave. It was hard for me to breathe. I do not recommend visiting this theater. The seats are the typical small seats of theaters built many years ago, so those who are tall or have a larger frame will be very uncomfortable. The ticket prices also included a huge service fee. This was a very experience for only seeing half the show. This was a miserable experience and will not return read more

I am a volunteer, but have also seen shows here. The acoustics are awesome! The seating, check the map! Call the box office to make sure you aren't seated behind a pillar which can possibly impact your viewing of the stage. read more

The Grand Opera House - Performing Arts Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

An impressive theater, restored to its original beauty, with wonderful sight lines and excellent sound quality - this past Tuesday we returned to the Grand to see Dawes play a two act show and an encore. Our seats were in the first row on the balcony, closer to stage right. The reason this isn't 5 stars is there was NO LEG ROOM even for my short, squatty legs let alone my lady's long shapely legs. There were bathrooms on the balcony level as well as refreshments sold out of a closet with alcohol, soft drinks, water, and snacks available. On the first floor there was a much larger bar and the merchandise table for over priced merch whose sales help keep the band on the road. Parking is a hassle. There's no lot near the theater ala the soon to be closed World Cafe Live. You are lucky if you find a spot out front. Unfortunately, we weren't. We did find the Doubletree lot that's very close by and was reasonably priced. It's also right on the route to get onto 95. read more

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This is a small venue. You probably won't see any big concerts here, but it's great for finding new artists and see some of your favorites at a reasonable price. I've attended concerts in both the main rooms in the opera house, the main hall is much better for concerts and doesn't have a bad seat in the house. The other hall can get a bit too loud due to it's size, but that didn't stop us from enjoying both concerts. The location is great because there are excellent restaurants around for before or after your show and the part of town is clean and inviting. read more

The Grand Opera House - Performing Arts Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

$8 online fee is preposterous. Folks working in the ticket office are unintelligible when on the phone. They must be using vocational rehabilitation services to hire in the ticket office. Unable to complete a sentence or provide information without putting you on hold for inordinate amounts of time. Always ask to speak with the manager if there is an issue, they are only slight more understandable than the staff. Venue is nice enough and safe contrary to the scardy cat posters below, very safe. Always a city cop in the immediate vicinity. Little leg room. Parking is NOT a hassle if you do your homework, go to the Doubletree or park on the street for free after 5p. read more

Came here recently for the Breaking Benjamin Acoustic Concert and it was an awesome time with the wife. The venue's all intimate seats gives everyone to feel like they are part of the action. I'd highly advise that if you are tall or heavyset, DO NOT SIT IN THE 1st ROW BALCONY. Where we were, we had maybe 7" of space for our legs and it was very uncomfortable. I've never seen so many ushers in a venue this size, but every one of them were friendly and accommodating. There are several bar/snack areas, and we were allowed to bring in our drinks inside the theatre. Parking is on the street and metered unless at night so good luck! We found a spot 3 blocks away. I'd absolutely come back for another show, but would sit elsewhere. read more

An intimate beautifully restored old horseshoe style theater with a wrap around balcony and wonderful acoustics. My favorite venue in the Philly and Delaware area. Easy parking in the Doubletree hotel and entry through the back door. read more

We Banjo 4 killed the audience last night. The performance was fantastic and fun. The Grand as an Army of volunteers who make this place Rock. Park in the Doubletree lot on King Street, no worries. read more

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I am 3 calls and an email in to it and still have not received a call back from management! I purchased tickets on-line and was charged more than the advertised price. I am hoping their lack of responsiveness is not an indication of The Grands typical customer service. I will update... read more

Great venue to hear some music. I had the opportunity to listen to the DSO on a Saturday night for the Classical Series. The acoustics were fantastic, the seats were pretty comfortable, and I didn't feel like my knees were digging into the seat in front of me. We sat in the dress circle, on the side and had a good view of the stage. The ceiling and architecture is very ornate and fun to look at. read more

I could not thank the Grand enough for the fantastic time we had. This was the perfect venue for Melissa Etheridge. The seating was comfortable, and the view was amazing. The little bar outside our section was very useful, though only cash, it provided my mom with all the white wine she desired (that I could afford) and just to see how happy and comfy my mom was made it all worth it. The staff were courteous, and they had a little snack bar, though only drinks were allowed to your seats. But even that much seemed fantastic to me. read more

I started going to the Grand last fall to see the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, the Delaware Opera and MacHomer. I had a great time - so much so that I pre-ordered Opera tickets and ballet tickets this year and will be back for more tickets soon. What a deal! $100 for 4 tickets AND they sent me 4 free parking vouchers and a discount card for some restaurants on Market St. Plus, you get discounts for buying 4 tickets and 6 tickets and you get the discount for additional shows the whole season. You can not beat that deal! The Grand itself is really nice - beautiful inside. If you are out on a special night, you can dress up but you can also show up on business casual or dressed up jeans and feel right at home. At Machomer, it was very casual so it depends on the performance. I recommend the seats in the middle for better sound and site but I usually buy the cheap seats on the side on the second level. Sometimes if the show is really empty, they will let you move to the middle anyway. I usually park at the Double Tree hotel - its safe, less than a block from the theater and there are safety people around in the evening. Market street is 100 times better than it used to be and is actually becoming quite cute so sometimes I will go early and just hang around and grab a drink or bite to eat. All around, this is a deal you can not beat. I didn't know Delaware had such great art opportunites so good, so close, so cheap and I don't have to travel to Philly! Don't miss this! read more

Awesome venue! Great acoustics, COMFORTABLE seats, good views, just the right combination of intimate and big. You are allowed to bring food and drink into the theater and the candy/drink prices are AMAZINGLY low. Ushers run a TIGHT ship. Nothing wrong with that. Absolutely beautiful historical landmark as well. read more

We came to see Lucia Micarelli, a violinist. The place is great! The bar has wine, beer, water and sodas

Been to many different and varied shows at the Grand. Also have worked with them at my former position when they asked the organization to partner with them. Check their website for upcoming events and shows. There are some fairly big name acts and comedians that perform here. read more

Beautiful venue, excellent acoustics, great light show, comfy seats (even though no one was sitting during the moe. gig on 2/5/14!) and a warm, welcoming staff. The temperature was just right inside, too. Park on the street or pay $3 to park at Doubletree Hotel (1 block away). Getting off I-95N at exit 6 was bad idea, though, because it puts you on a road (MLK Blvd?) with terrible potholes! read more

The Grand Opera House - moe. gig on 2/5/14. - Performing Arts Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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A beautifully restored venue. Nice size for performances. Unfortunately, downtown Wilmington has fallen on hard times. Good restaurant, the Chelsea Tavern, is immediately across the street. This is about as far as I would want to walk in this area after dark. read more

First time back to The Grand in a decade. It's a nice venue for the Wilmington community but doubt that I'll make the trek from PA again. Too many better venues near me. The show (Andrew Bird) was really good but it was difficult to stay focused since we were freezing. The air conditioning was on for sure. And my seat was broken causing me to constantly readjust. There are many parking comments online. Save yourself the hassles and use the Doubletree lot. It was $3, secure, covered, and 3 min walk to the venue. Much praise to the army of helpful & friendly volunteers that keep everything moving! Wish there were better/easier food choices nearby. We enjoyed drinks in the Grand Lounge. Improvement suggestions: 1) Figure out a unisex bathroom situation. It's 2018 and time to free women from lines. 2) Better regulate the temperature. 3) Direct patrons to the Doubletree and no one will ever complain about parking again. 4) This part of Wilmington feels a bit shady due to some homeless folks in the shadows. Pay it forward & take a sandwich or a few bucks to offer. Overall, not my cup of tea, but thrilled that the Wilmington community is maintaining a significant arts presence at the Grand! read more

Saw a jazz concert in the baby grand (the smaller room) last week. While the performers were outstanding and the acoustics good, the crowd diluted much of the enjoyment. There was frequent talking and cell phone use even though the crowd was reminded to show respect for the musicians and refrain from those activities. A few attendees frequently yelled out to the musicians. Maybe they were drunk. And attendees often left their seats in the middle of a song to exit to the lobby. When returning to their seats the ushers let them through rather than hold them back until the song ended. I've never seen such poor manners at a concert of this caliber or at such a nice facility. read more

My girlfriend and I went to the Hannibal Buress performance on 3-26-15. It was my first time at the Grand and it will also be my last. For starters, I ordered tickets and a parking pass directly from the Grand's own website. The parking pass arrived without any kind of identifying marks on it; it was just a card with a data strip on the back. I was under the impression that the theater had its own lot or garage, or at least one nearby that it uses regularly, but it does not. Every other theater I've been to does some version of this. As it turned out, the garage the ticket belonged to was 20 blocks away! My girlfriend got out and asked about it at the box office while I circled the block a few times. Why they would sell this pass is beyond me. To be fair, the employee she talked to was nice and gave us a free pass to the Double Tree garage, which was only a couple of blocks away. Being forced to drive around a very unsafe area for an extra 20 minutes was definitely unpleasant. The next problem was that the seating map on the Grand's website is not accurate. I thought my seats were on an isle in the second row, because that is where I clicked when I purchased the tickets. Unfortunately they turned out to be in the second row of folding chairs directly in front of the stage. Had I known this I would have never gone through with the transaction. At the performance I actually heard some other people behind us remark the same thing, that they were mislead as well. Thirdly, there was a drunk person yelling things at various times during the show, and the Grand employees did nothing about it. It disrupted Hannibal's performance a number of times, and he should have been removed after the second outburst. Perhaps the theater was more interested in selling alcohol then preserving the integrity of the performance. Finally, the house volume was oppressively loud. Had I known it would be that loud I would have brought earplugs to lessen the burden on my ears. I've seen live comedy in a number of venus and I've never experienced microphone volume at such a level. It should be noted that the theater was aesthetically pleasing and well-maintained, and the employees were all very nice. Unfortunately the complete lack of reliability with every other part of the experience makes it impossible to return. read more

This venue is tired and needs some major renovations. I felt like I was in a school auditorium and the curtains looked dry rotted. It must have been beautiful in its heyday. I am only writing this review because I discreetly sent them an email expressing my disappointment in the Mannheim performance and have not gotten a response. The talent scouting on behalf of the organization has certainly become lax for them to have hosted this group. It was a horrible evening of unprofessional dubbed performances and tired video presentations. The price for the tickets were outrageous given the quality of the performance. read more

This is the second show I have seen here, although I have no memory of the theatre from the first show. It is indeed beautiful! The staff was helpful, the sightlines were excellent, and the sound excellent. Parking is a bit of a mess as there isn't any. It's all on the street in downtown Wilmington. I had no issues, but was concerned at first. read more

This place is a gem. If you see or hear of an artist coming to this locale, jump at the chance for a ticket. Its' a small venue, so there's not a bad seat in the house. The seating is close, but not horribly tight, certainly not the worst I've experienced. The staff are ALL volunteer, and they are the nicest people! They seem as happy to be there as you are! There are refreshments, alcohol, soft drinks, and candy/gum/mints. Parking is not a total nightmare....street parking (coin fed meters) but because the city empties out at 5pm and because it is such a small venue, you can find parking within a few blocks. There are ample Downtown Visions members (public safety employees) in the area as well, so you'll be fine after dark when the show ends. read more

This venue is beautiful, historic, and the most exquisite jewel in the crown of what downtown Wilmington is becoming! Wonderfully eclectic acts booked in the main stage as well as the Baby Grand. Acoustics are stellar and often remarked upon by visiting artists. Parking concerns easily solved by using the Doubletree lot on King Street and entering through the back door. Come a little early and try out one of the many new restaurants popping up on Market Street!! And don't forget ice cream from The Creamery ; ) read more

Laarv supports the arts. Laarv and her companion had the opportunity to attend the 35th annual Grand Gala in early December, 2011. And what an event it was. The entertainment for the evening was the Midtown Men, featuring the members from the Original Jersey Boys cast signing hits from the 1960's. Laarv likes the 1960's. The black tie event was well attended. The Opera House is a crown jewel in downtown Wilmington. Every seat in the house has good sight lines and sound. The staff is professional and friendly. They truly make you feel welcome. The Gala was followed up at the Hotel DuPont (Laarv will review that separately) where the crowd danced, drank and reveled into the evening. Laarv and her companion plan on making The Grand Gala an annual event. read more

I attended "The Jungle Book," part of the children's summer series, with my two young children today. Frankly, the experience was just sad. I am currently an early childhood educator and have a professional background in educational theater. I think exposure to the arts is vital, and I expected some noise and engagement from the young audience. But the shouting and yelling from some of the adult chaperones as they attempted to manage their groups today was just unacceptable. I totally missed about a third of the play's dialogue, and I felt awful for the family members in the audience who came to see their loved ones perform. Furthermore, it was really disappointing to see only one usher try to handle the situation, while others sat and stared. This series is a pay-what-you-will program, which is giving many children who may not otherwise have access the opportunity to experience live theater. But without some management on the part of the Grand, audiences will not return (or make donations, which I'm guessing is part of the goal). Please, please - don't let this important program go unchecked and unsupported. read more

We were kind of scared to go here after another review I read. I'm so glad we decided to go after all. We went to see Last Comic Standing. It's a very nice theater (no leg room was my only complaint). The neighborhood is downtown. It's not the suburbs. We parked at the Doubletree Parking Garage on King street. It was $3 to park. We had to walk a block up and 2 or three blocks over. It was well lit, and we felt completely safe. The trees on the street even had lights woven in the branches. I would like to see it a Christmastime, I bet it's pretty. I wish we hadn't worried about the area and had dinner at the pub across the street. Next time for sure! To sum it up, it's a nice old theater and it's a city, so use caution, but it's a quick well-lit walk and well worth it. read more

An $8.00 per ticket charge for online orders and you have to create an account. How obnoxious!

From its magnificent facade to the belle epoque interior, the Grand Opera House of Wilmington, DE is a gem of a venue. Built in 1871, it became the home of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Opera Delaware and First State Ballet. It has great acoustics and at just under 1200 seats is the perfect size. Today it hosts shows featuring Linda Ronstadt, voice as fine as ever, David Bromberg, Mr. Sixties Activist and The Nutcracker, the 2008 production superior. Need to visit this place at least once whether for a show or not. There are a few Ok restaurants and cafes on the street, Thirty minutes down 95 from the airport. read more

Great place if you dont get a seat near the frat boys enjoying the alcohol sales.

I'm writing this review about acquiring tickets for the upcoming Chris Cornell show. I purchased tickets on line from their website. They were priced according to the lower level seating. After I purchased, the seats came up as S-1 and S-2. I was looking at the seating plan and did not see row S. I assumed that they would add some rows with chairs. When I got the tickets they said STAND. I called the box office to get more information. The girl said they were sold out but added standing room tickets. So basically, I paid full price to stand in the Opera House like an oaf who will be blocking others view of the stage. The web site was not clear. False advertising. I demanded my money back and finally got them to agree. I am very upset but felt that they were ripping me off, so I am not going. Sneaky move for the opera house. I hope others know what they are getting into. read more

Battle of the Sexes Comedy Show by Liberty Comedy at the Baby Grand. On a very cold night, I was very glad to have some laughs. Adrienne Lapalucci and Ophira Eisenberg brought some metropolitan sensibility and twisted humor, much needed in Delaware. Mike Burton returned to his home with his "classy" high energy comedy. It was like a quick trip to a NYC comedy club. Come back soon! In fact, Liberty Comedy brings Fabulously Funny Females Comedy to The Grand on April 14 -- since my wife was unable to attend this show, it will be on her dance card of spring events. read more

The DSO did a great job on New Year's Eve. The concert was very good, with a nice selection of pieces. The vocalists and dancers were also wonderful. Flowers, bubbles, party favors, champagne, and music. What a nice way to end the year. Thank you! read more

Very nice venue for a show. We were up from DC for the weekend to see the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Since we stayed at the Du Pont, the venue location - and some great restaurants - were perfectly located. In difference to a review from the same week, we walked North Market for two days and never felt unsafe - even after the show. The venue is gorgeous with the kind of sound you want from a performing arts venue. Great staff, lovely time. This isn't a downgrade at all, but if you are tall (6"3") it can be a little cramped.... read more