Joseph Papp saved the former the Astor Library on Lafayette from being demolished and turned it…read moreinto one of NYC's best non profit theaters (5 theaters, restaurant and adjacent Joe's Pub). Off Broadway is an excellent opportunity to see shows and actors in more intimate settings. Hair, A Chorus Line, Hamilton and many other shows had productions at The Public before transferring to Broadway. Not a full list of some of the shows I've seen on one of their stages: Hamilton, Suffs, Fun Home, Hell's Kitchen, Fat Ham, Here Lies Love, Girl from North Country, Seat of your Pants, Teenage Dick, Soft Power, Oh Happy Day, The Visitor, Girl Interrupted and more.

I visited the Public Theater for the first time a couple of weeks ago for a play. I didn't love the…read moreplay, but I did love the theater itself. No bad seats, a nice bar area, friendly staff. It's modern and cool and in a great location. A great off-Broadway option for more intimate productions, and they definitely put on interesting shows. I'd say I'd be happy to come back for another show, but I already have tickets to another. And I'm looking forward to it.

I came here to see the play "Pound"…read more The Lion Theater is inside of Theater Row, a complex of several theaters (similar to a movie theater). Lion Theater is pretty intimate with 50-100 seats. The theater complex has bathrooms and a lounge area in the 2nd floor. I found the bathrooms to be very clean. Some of the staff was very nice, especially the bartender in the 2nd floor lounge and the ticket usher who checked me in the lobby of the theater. They smiled and made brief conversations when patrons talked to them. However, I found the box office staff to be slightly rude. They did not smile or say "hello." In fact, the young woman threw my ticket onto the counter. The play was great! However, one of the actors messed up his line and another actor read lines from the actual script. I found both incidents to be distracting.

Very intimate theatre, part of theatre row where there are 6 venues. Staff is always very…read morefriendly. The shows are all short limited runs at the complex. Which is great as there is always something cool happening here

I came to see a short film by my friend who got her submission chosen for the LIC Arts Open. On a…read moreSaturday evening in May, the building was pretty quiet save for a flutter of activity for the open studios and artist showings in this building. The theater is on the 3rd floor if I recall and there's an elevator available. Upon entering the door, signs lead to a small foyer area with a merch/flyer/marketing table, then on the left it opens up to a lounge/lobby with concession stand. There were a handful of tables and about a dozen seats. A schedule of activities was listed at the foyer area and in the lounge was a booklet with total exhibits available for the Arts Open at a number of different buildings in the immediate LIC neighborhood. Because I arrived late, it wasn't immediately apparent where to enter, and there weren't any staff immediately discernible outside the attendant at the concessions stand who didn't seem to interact with anyone outside those purchasing drinks or snacks. Thankfully one of the other attendees of the event pointed me towards the closed door on the right, when he saw me looking confused. Inside I realized this was a black box theater*, seating was in the form of stackable chairs placed on wooden risers. I climbed around the side and found a seat and enjoyed the rest of the short films. The configuration was sufficient for about 70 seats. Afterwards as our part was exiting, there were a couple friendly staff or volunteers thanking people for attending. On the same floor the theatre space was encircled by other class rooms and studios, and I wasn't sure if those were part of the same organization or just sharing the space. All in all, I'm glad to have had the chance to visit, and glad that small theaters like this exist, to nurture growing talent interested in performance and visual arts. *meaning simple, adaptable and intimate performance space, usually a rectangular or square room with black walls, where seating and sets can be reconfigured to the needs of a creative vision. Generally fitting less than 100-200 people.

This is for the for the Queens Secret Theatre 10-10,44 Av,LIC 11101…read more November 8-2025 ,I saw the event on this great location, I must say ,nice and receptive people. By what I researched , it was created to give opportunities for artists ,which is great and also for the ones who are already in the industry to show and expanding their talent . From time to time this place comes with this wonderful Shortplay Festival . It is so exciting and so promising for the actors, directors and writers .However the competition ,turns in disappointment to see excellent work of the participants overlooked. The voting system is led from family members and friends.This current method is unfair to talented actors, writers ,and directors who give their best, but unfortunately the results depend on personal connections instead of artistic merit. A system led by qualified judges would make the festival stronger,fairer, and more true to its mission of supporting learning and creativity. Please reconsider it , to be an excellent place with fair judgments for all artists . If it continues like this ,I don't see the point of artist go through it.Thank you.

Commanding two entire floors in a nineteenth century brownstone, Manhattan Theatre Source is a…read morebeehive of activity. Plays are scheduled in the small theatre spaces [such as the annual women's festival Estrogenius in September -- October]. Reading and rehearsal spaces are available for actors or dramatists. On the ground floor there are couches and a coffee bar, offering a quiet place to sit down and collect your thoughts -- -- whether you are waiting for a performance to begin (2nd floor) or simply waiting for a friend. Check it out. Advisory: this is a walk-up building. No wheelchair access. __ __ Phone for Show Reservations: 866-811-4111 Phone for other Business: 212-260-4698

This was my first time back at this theater since cabaret!…read more I loved the way the theater is transformed into this paranormal, spooky, eerie wonder for the paranormal activity play. I was seated on the second to last row, which surprisingly had a few empty seats despite it being a popular production. The merch items were plentiful. Trust me when I say this. I thought that act 1 was incredibly slow paced with a very confusing plot. Act 2 blew me away completely. I had roughly 2-3 jump scares but aside from that, this played out more like a psychological thriller with only a subtle scare factor.

Had the pleasure of seeing the closing show of Dog Day Afternoon starring my favorite actor, Jon…read moreBernthal. I got my ticket just 2 days before and totally lucked out getting a seat on the second row. This was a huge plus for me cos I've never been a fan of the first row. And my seat was in the middle which is my preference. I made sure to use the bathroom before the show because I didn't want to wait until intermission. This theater is beautiful. The seat is comfortable and is fairly spacious. The show was amazing. I was so impressed with the set direction. And the sound was bangin. There's a bit at the end where a helicopter is supposed to land and it got pretty loud in there. It was realistic enough that I really turned away cos I really thought a copter was going to land. Lol Kudos to the staff for handling business. I got to the theater about 20 minutes before the show and the line was bonkers. Legitimately took over both ends of the street. I was at the back. Some dude asked us what we were in line for. Haha The line moved so quick. There were folks reminding everyone to have their bags ready to be checked and ticket ready so that entrance could be a breeze. The usher by the bar assisted with directing folks which way to go. Everyone was super nice. Exiting was a breeze. Someone reminded people to mind their steps.

Another charming intimate venue to watch great performances. The stage is on the same level as the…read morefirst two rows. The distance from the stage and audience, therefore, is blurred. There are no bad seats. You feel like you are in someone's living room. W 53rd St off 10th Ave (south side) makes this theatre's location breathable compared to others closer to the heart of Times Square. It's nice to watch something intense and then walk out and have the contrast resonate so you can fully absorb and process what you have experienced. Washrooms are unisex with multi-stalls are clean and modern.

Hello! I wanted to personally thank you guys for doing such great work at Ma-Yi Theater Company! I…read moreloved the reading of "Colonialism is Terrible, But Pho is Delicious" by Dustin Chinn! I just wished it were longer! I love your regular productions, but there's something extra special about seeing new works come to life during readings, created by fresh new playwrights. I always tell people that Ma-Yi Theater Company is one of my favorite theater companies hands down! Not just in terms of smaller off off Broadway theater companies but out of ANY theater companies I know! The shows created by your company are always interesting, unique, and inspiring! There is still a lot of work left to gain equal opportunities for people of color in the theater world. I'm proud that you guys are doing your part in that fight! Keep up the great work! I'm looking forward to seeing more wonderfully creative works of genius from Ma-Yi! If any Yelpers get a chance, please see their shows! You won't regret it!

It's hard to put into words how fantastic "Every Brilliant Thing" with Tracee Ellis Ross was. I…read moreteared up, laughed uncontrollably, and smiled throughout the entire show. I splurged on a seat on the stage and it was worth every penny. The Hudson Theatre is such a beautiful, intimate venue, and being that close to Tracee during a one-woman show made the experience even more special. She even chatted with me before the show! There's audience participation, and somehow I ended up with a speaking part. The staff who escorted me to my seat and coached me through my lines beforehand were absolutely delightful. Funny, moving, incredibly human, and unlike anything I've experienced in a theater before. An unforgettable night.

Tracee Ellis Ross was excellent! What a powerful production. The seating is very intimate and a…read moregreat crowd. I really enjoyed the performance and it's pretty wild that Oprah was sitting one row away from me lol. What are the chances. It was a great message about mental health and well being :)

Great stage for both amateurs and professionals alike. With a seating capacity of 750 and great…read moreacoustics there is not much that can go wrong. Many talented folks have graced this stage before fame and after as well. The staff is friendly yet effective and some are even work study students depending on the event. The beauty of it is that you can't tell the difference most times. Bathroom facilities are in the lower level and incredibly clean. Best seats are orchestra center after Row E.