We have attended many shows here from broadway musicals, to comedy shows. It is such a beautiful…read moretheater. When you walk in you are immersed in historical beauty from the stunning chandelier to the detailed woodwork. We are so fortunate that we have the privilege to have such a preserved historical theater. Now mind you it is historical, so the seats can be a bit tight if you are working with winter jackets and football sized men. The bathrooms are certainly a bit of a game here if you are here for a show that has a intermission. The security line at the front door can be a bit challenging on a cold winter day, but there are additional entrances through the skyway and side entrance. The lobby has many bars that are very quick every time we go. If you do pay on a card, they automatically add a 18% tip.

I'll keep this one short and sweet, because if you're reading this, you're probably already pretty…read moreset on seeing a show here: She place is gorgeous but the seats are NOT comfy at all. Majority of the seats have a warning on their website that the legroom is nonexistent. There are some blind spots to be aware of, and the box seating definitely misses much of the side stage. We used A View From My Seat to see what each seat is like before we booked seats for Cursed Child, and am so glad we did. It was like sorting through a landmine trying to find a seat that had decent views in our price point and getting an aisle spot to the legroom didn't affect us as much. Definitely do your research before picking a seat here!

I am sure I really can't add to all the thoughtful superlatives heaped upon this MN landmark…read more Basically, it is all true. Incredible Art Deco interior that will occupy your mind while you are waiting in quiet desperation for the act you came to see. Beer, wine and a limited bar offers the patrons something to enjoy your event with. The audio is generally pretty good, depending on where you sit. The same goes for event viewing - no obstructive view in the theater.

Recently came here to see Purple Rain. Felt familiar... later on I realized I seen Miguel in…read moreconcert here years ago. The theatre itself is nice, has an old charm to it. The seats are extremely tight, not much leg room and a bit uncomfortable after a while. I feel like the guides weren't very helpful at getting people to their seats. I I'm still not sure where they label the sections, I had to ask several people and that made some other people realize they were in the wrong seats/section. The lobby opens 1 hr before the show but the doors to be seated don't open until 30 min prior. I suggest getting there 15-20 min before the show starts for smoother entry. You will still have time to grab a drink and find your seats without the hassle of the pre show crowd. It was so chaotic. The drinks are spendy for what you get but they don't take tips so I guess it somewhat evens out. You can request a lid for your drink which for me is a must in these crowded spaces. Not my fav theatre but the if there's a play I'd like to see, I'd go here!

I didn't realize it until I went again last night, but I've actually been to this theater a couple…read moreof times before... it just wasn't under the auspices of Illusion Theater at the time. The Illusion Theater is housed on the 8th floor of the Hennepin Center for the Arts, which is also home to Zenon Dance Company, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, and many other performing art companies. The building itself was constructed in 1888 and originally housed a Masonic Temple; it now appears on the National Register of Historic Places and is a beautiful example of preserving architectural gems for functional use. The stage at the Illusion is an "end-on" or proscenium space with audience members facing the performance straight on. Seats are ample and comfortable; the area for those using a wheelchair is convenient and easy to access. There's plenty of parking around the theater, but if there's an event going on in the area, look for parking east of Hennepin--you'll save a bundle. On our recent visit, the surface parking lots around the theater were charging $14; just a block away we scored enclosed parking at the 50 South Sixth Street ramp for only five bucks.

I've been here twice to see Miss Richfield perform. Based on the interview with the production…read moremanager, I'm intrigued to catch other shows here, as well. Unassuming location on the 8th floor of the Hennepin Center for the Arts/Cowles Dance building. The space is perfect - small enough to feel intimate and personal, but large enough to be able to score tickets. The interior is quite understated (read: a bit outdated) but charmingly quaint. A couple of cons: Audiovisual work is quite sub-par. The projection for the show was blurry and dark. Also the drinks are over priced for the service size. All in all, it's a cute hometown theater that deserves patronage for their commitment to local talent. I'll be back.

Tiny but mighty theater! Not a bad velvet covered seat in the house. Came here to see "Speechless"…read moreand was not disappointed. The bar and lobby area is beautifully decorated with chandeliers and intricate artwork on the walls. The bar had some beer and wine selections. The coffee was warm but watered down; my grandparents would have loved it. Great area. So many fun restaurant options nearby. But I wasn't a fan of paying $15+ for on street parking for the evening. The price of convenience I guess.

A small wonderful theater! All seats are good seats. Good acoustics, and a GEORGIANA & KITTY was a…read moregreat show well acted and an interesting teen of events! Thank you for the free hot tea in the lobby on this cold afternoon! Will definitely be back.

We recently used The Mystery Cafe for our annual corporate meeting. It was an absolute blast!…read more From start to finish, it was an engaging and interactive experience that kept everyone entertained. The performers did a fantastic job blending humor and audience participation, making it an unforgettable night. Brian, the actors, along with the staff at the Sheraton in Bloomington worked so well together, you would have thought they were one! If your looking for a unique and lively event for a group I highly recommend!

We recently used the Mystery Cafe for our client appreciation event and I must say that we were…read morevery pleasantly entertained! We had had a terrible experience trying to deal with a different company originally and we ended up having to find another company and I am so so glad we found the Mystery Cafe. First off, Brian, who is the owner, was just fantastic all around, responsive, accommodating, kind, and organized. The night of the actual performance, I did not feel nervous at all, he and I had communicated multiple times and also already tested all of the electronics weeks prior to the event, it went off without a hitch. It was fun because it did require audience participation, but it was not too high pressure and they made the atmosphere just so light and exciting and it was FUNNY! There was so much humor and I found myself laughing a lot more than I had thought that I would. 10/10 would recommend. They came to our event, there were 3 actors and I must say, I think that the cost was very fair and reasonable. Great time!

Halloween 2024 - Service at bar was top notch. Ambiance was…read morestellar. Bathroom was clean.

Decades Dance Party 2/7/26 with DJ Shane Kramer was a blast! Dance floor is right-sized, intimate…read morewithout overcrowding, with DJ on stage, taking song requests. Music videos on large screen added to the fun. Very welcoming vibe, for all adult age groups. With a comedy show next door, this venue offers something for everyone. Free surface lot parking behind the building made visiting a breeze, unlike downtown.

Top 5 spot in the Twin Cities for theatre or concerts!! Went…read moreto a comedy show here and it sounded amazing. Lots of seating, very clean bars and restrooms. Staff was accommodating of anything we needed. Plenty of food/drink options nearby as well. Parking: on street or ramp, very reasonably priced.

I went there to go see David petals and thorns tour it was an amazing experience at that place they…read moreshould keep the place people are welcoming there I met some people that are really cool people who have the same energy as you such an amazing bond keep up the good work Saint Paul

Gorgeous and intimate theatre! I didn't realize this stunning spot was nestled in the middle of…read moredowntown Minneapolis! I've driven by it several times but never realized how beautiful it was internally. We appreciated the usher's passion for the theatre itself. They shared insight into some of the historic figures who have graced this stage as well as their excitement for what's to come in the coming months. Prices on beverages were a little wild considering the amount we received ($16+ for less than half a glass of Sauvignon Blanc) and the additional 18% automatically tacked on. I wish expectation for photos was more clearly marked. I didn't see anything when I went in (I definitely could've missed it). The instructions provided by the security (?) of no video but ok with photo was confusing when they came back a second time to say no more photos.

Caught the Craig Ferguson stand-up here. It was funny AF and the nearly two-hour show flew by. No…read morefood at issue here, though one pro tip I can share is the line for cocktails was significantly shorter downstairs. A gorgeous old theatre, the Pantages is a fine venue but with an entertainer with a heavy Scottish accent, it was occasionally hard to make out Craig from our balcony seats. He could have benefited from close-captioning. No matter - it was a wonderful show.