LOVE LOVE LOVE The Empty Space. I've only started going this year (2025) and so far have not been…read moredisappointed. The location is easy to get to and parking is plentiful. The lobby is nice and cozy and the staff is always super nice! The concession stand is reasonably priced with a good selection of snacks and drinks. I enjoy the custom cocktails they serve. The theater seating is good with good views no matter where you sit. The cast is always great and super talented. I highly support local theater and have been recommending The Empty Space to all my friends and family.

The Empty Space is one of my favorite places to be in Bakersfield.. Scratch that. The Empty Space…read moreis one of my favorite places to be period. I've caught at least a dozen shows here since finding out about this local gem in high school. From musicals to plays, every show has been amazing. They can make me crack up laughing, want to boogie on down with them during a dance break, and maybe even shed a tear. I can confidently say I would go to any show they put on. A friend could ask me if I wanted to go to the Empty Space tonight, and without knowing what was playing I would say yes. Consistently very talented casts! Phenomenal stage design! Great directing! Fun choreography! Lighting and audio teams always do a great job! It is always clear the whole team are fully invested in the material and bringing out the best in each other. Top tier local talent all around. The Empty Space is more than a place to catch amazing local theater. They also showcase art from local artists in their art gallery which acts as their lobby. I recommend getting there early to enjoy the artwork and grab their super affordable snacks. After being away for a while, I was excited to attend my first show at their new location, Dracula: A Comedy Of Terrors. And a bust out loud comedy it was. Phenomenal show as usual. I'm not sure I could've gotten a better welcome back to The Empty Space. Thank you to the whole cast and crew who made that show happen. Their new location is super nice and spacious. The old location had its charm, but their new location is much larger and the seating has extra leg room, which is always appreciated. Many longtime fans of the Empty Space will recall how the old building immersed the audience was in the show due to the close proximity to the performers, and how many of their productions would utilize the space in creative ways for stand out moments. I'm glad to say they do a great job utilizing the new space in a similar manner. When you walk into the theater you actually walk onto the stage initially which provides an all encompassing immediate immersion into whatever world you're about to enjoy an awesome story in. For those thinking of auditioning to be a cast member, I actually had the pleasure of being in their 2016 production of "In The Heights" which took place in their previous location and highly recommend it. It was a super fun experience. They're very kind and welcoming.

My wife and I came to see a showing of Our Lady of the Tortilla, and we had a great experience. The…read moretheater was fairly small, but the performance felt very personal and was very enjoyable. The actors/actresses did a great job, the location was nice (being fairly close to our house) and the concession stands had a good amount of food and drinks to choose from (including mixed drinks, beer, and wine!!). We will definitely be back, and will definitely recommend!!

My husband and I came her to watch our friend perform in NUTS, a story about Claudia Draper. I had…read morenever been to this location of Stars. It's a small, quaint building for a performing arts theater. Upon arrival, we were greeted in a friendly manner and I was excited to see I could purchase tickets at the door, since it wasn't the main Stars Restaurant and Theater. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because the outdoor lighting wasnt very good and had I not been 100% sure that the showing was at this location I would have drove away and gone all the way downtown to their main location. Additionally, I am three weeks post op and there really wasnt parking and I arrived at 7 and had to walk quite a distance to get where I needed to go.

This place has officially become my favorite summer hangout!…read more The AC is so good that I literally have to bring a blanket... in the middle of summer! Like wow right ! Everyone that works there is super kind and helpful! As for the theater itself, it has super comfy chairs, the snack selection is great, and the popcorn is always fresh and delicious (which, let's be honest, is half the movie experience). They also have a full bar! Personally, I think the drinks are a little too pricey, but if you're in the mood to treat yourself, go for it! Nothing says "date night" quite like a fun movie and a cocktail. One of my favorite perks is the discounted morning showings. They offer 20% off, which is perfect if you're like me and love finding ways to have fun without spending a fortune. During the summer, I'm all about making the most of my budget, and AMC definitely delivers if you play it smart!

While visiting family in Bakersfield, I decided to treat my mom and younger brother to a movie. We…read morehad all been wanting to see Obsession, and when they told me they hadn't seen it yet, I thought it would be the perfect activity since we're all fans of scary movies. We found parking quickly, check-in was fast and easy, and the theater itself appeared clean and well-maintained. The auditorium was a bit on the smaller side, but it still felt comfortable and wasn't overly crowded, which I actually appreciated. Before the movie started, we made our mandatory concession stand stop. I was especially excited when I spotted kettle popcorn, but unfortunately they told me they were already sold out even though our movie was fairly early in the day. That was definitely a letdown, but luckily I still enjoy classic buttery movie theater popcorn, so I was able to pivot without too much heartbreak. I also liked that the drink station had touchscreen machines with plenty of soda and juice options to choose from. My mom decided to get an ICEE, but she was a little disappointed when she went back for a refill during the movie and found the machine was out of service. Between the missing kettle popcorn and the ICEE issue, the concession experience wasn't quite as smooth as we had hoped. One of my favorite parts of the visit was definitely the reclining seats. Being able to kick back, put my feet up, and get comfortable made the movie even more enjoyable. I also appreciated that the auditorium wasn't freezing cold like some theaters tend to be. As for Obsession, I personally didn't find it all that scary, but it was entertaining and suspenseful enough to keep me engaged throughout the film. More importantly, it was a fun way to spend quality time with my family. Overall, we had a really nice movie day together. While there were a couple of minor hiccups with the concession area, the clean theater, comfortable seating, easy parking, and convenient location made for an enjoyable experience. Since this is the closest theater to my family's home I would definitely come back to catch another movie the next time I'm in town.

Mesmerica was an amazing show. This is a true hidden gem. I can't wait for more shows like this.read more

Wow. What a fantastic show. Tonight was Black Holes. Nick Strobel is an amazing fount of…read moreinformation. What a great secret on campus of Bakersfield College. Free parking when you go to the show. In the small side so order your tickets early online. Seniors and children $6. Adults $8. The one drawback is the $3 per ticket service charge. That adds up quickly if you have a large group.

I came across their instagram page and wanted to get more information on their classes. I asked how…read moreI could join their class and I got blocked. I'm not sure who trained them in their customer service but if the classes were full, all they had to do was let me know.

They did a show for my parents 50th Anniversary. Great show and I highly recommend them for any…read moreparty or event

When Bakersfieldians lament on the lack of local entertainment I can't help but wonder where these…read morepeople are looking? Bakersfield is full of events! Festivals by the dozens are cropping up every weekend, Food Fairs, and Home Shows. Our arts and music district are always putting on something fabulous. As for our local theater? You'd be hard pressed to find a weekend when there's not something showing. Gus' Garage was a totally new experience to me. I can honestly say that up until Gus' I've never been to a real live magic show. Only the one's on TV that make you wonder, 'is that magic or is it "TV Magic"?' So when I was told we'd be attending this variety show/magic show I was stoked. Something new and nearby! The location isn't what you may expect; over in Rosedale, as far away from the flourishing arts district as possible. It's inside a warehouse type garage - very unexpected. Parking is mostly on-street and no issue at all. Inside, the building is industrial chic. There's no real ticket window, and money is taken out of an old school cash box. Once paid, you make your way around to the back where the space opens up to the rafters. Half a dozen chairs or so line each row. A packed house would be maybe 30-40 or so folks. The show itself was entertaining. Perhaps a little silly and corny, but it's good old fashioned fun. There's a wide variety of talent and shows vary week to week, so definitely check them out. If you're looking for something totally new and different, check out this quirky show.

Did this with my mom and I was amazing!! I didn't think we could do it because I'm not good with…read moreart, but they had everything. They are so accommodating and even though I went with my mom one night and had a drink, I went with my son another time and depending on your crowd they accommodate you!! Love me new deco for my house. Plus Jessica was amazing and made the process booking them so much easier.

This evening was our second experience at BSO's Home for the Holidays! For us, it was an…read moreExtravaganza! From the 'Will Call' table organization to the Panama School Strolling Strings to the BC Choir and of course, the BSO itself. ABSOLUTELY SUBLIME! NOT ONE note out of tune. And, being a former semi-professional violist and teacher myself, I feel somewhat confident in making that statement. I played under Alberto Bolet of the then Kern Philharmonic and John Farrer, first conductor of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Those were the days that ALL conductors wore FULL-DRESS TUXEDOS that really get your attention that these conductors were absolutely serious about their role in leading and commanding very much deserved and earned respect as "THE" sole individual responsible for orchestral musical performance outcomes. And, SUCH a refreshing thing to see then (as it would be now) in an era of far-too casual dress at special performances like these. Many concert-goers know the dedication, wood-shedding-hours-upon-hours of practice and sacrifice these musicians must make to perfect their performance - as well as those who do not...but for me...that tuxedo says it all... Oh, what a fabulous tradition we have here in this town! A professional LIVE orchestra - available to the masses at all price points - in a marvelous theatre with outrageous acoustics too. If you haven't experienced this Christmas Time TREASURE - you are MISSING it! They even have delicious snacks before concert time, beautiful LIVE stringed instruments being played by the youth from Panama School in the lobby, coloring tables for kids, and adult beverages plus photo ops...ALL under one roof! Incredible - and for such a reasonable price!! The security staff this year far outshone that of last year's. AND, let's not forget the wonderful ushers that help everyone find their seats (and even improve their seating if necessary due to accessibility issues)...simply over-the-top. HEY BAKERSFIELD! LET'S FILL THE AUDITORIUM TO THE BRIM NEXT YEAR!!!! WAY TO GO BSO AND BC CHOIR! UTTERLY FANTASTIC! Makes me really want to pick up my violin again and teach. Now that's going some after 50 years...Don't you think so?

The symphony is wonderful, but it's not worth going. First, the box office charges you a…read moreridiculous amount in "fees" because they don't sell you tickets direct - they actually just log into axs, so you are paying an online provider even if you buy at the box office, and in our case the fees were 50% of the cost of our tickets. Fix this . . . Second, the crowd is unbearable. People were talking incessantly, standing up frequently during the performance, eating during the performance, and one person let their phone ring (not just once, but the same person with a distinct ring three times during the performance)(the conductor made a joke of it, but seriously, get a hint). If you pay a ton of money to hear music, you don't want the constant chatter, wrappers, and other distractions of the crowd. Finally, the seats are absurdly uncomfortable. They are much smaller than any venue I've been in, they are plastic, and they are mounted into a concrete floor. To be honest, I could probably put up with the venue, and rationalize the cost as supporting the arts . . . but the crowd, the noise, and the distractions ruin the experience.