Just the right size to see a band. Whether on the floor or in the balcony, the site lines are good and despite being an old theatre, the sound is pretty good. Most shows are general admission, so if you want a good balcony seat or a spot near the stage, arrive early. read more

I visited The Vic for the first time in years to see comedian Janelle James. For whatever reason, she chose to film her Netflix special there instead of a nicer venue. We arrived 30 minutes before the doors opened and found a line wrapped around the block. We had tickets for the second show, so we had to wait for the first show to let out. It was a little chilly so standing outside sucked. But the line moved quickly and finding a seat was painless. I found the venue and seating underwhelming. The seats are cheap folding chairs. They're packed tightly so good luck if you get stuck next to someone that's on the heavy side. During the show, a patron fell out of his seat twice and Janelle James ended up mentioning it in her act. He fell because the chairs were terrible!! Poorly constructed doesn't even begin to cover it. The acoustics were good though. I had no problem hearing Janelle James. I could barely see her though. The seating isn't elevated or sloped, so if you're short and surrounded by taller people, then you'll be staring at the back of their heads all night. That sucked, but what can you do? I caught glimpses of her sporadically, which ended up being fine. I didn't buy any food or alcohol, so i have no opinion on that. We exited the venue as quickly as we entered, which was a plus. I think it helped that we were seated towards the back. We got to the brown line in no time and were home soon after. The show was entertaining and I had a good time. Overall, the experience was satisfactory, but, I doubt I'd visit this venue again anytime soon. read more

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This whole place was a vibe and a fantastic time, I love historic theatre's and this one doesn't disappoint with its ornate was carvings and that beautiful opening stage room. I gotta say the front end area is a bit cramped but still potentially one of the best venues I've ever gotten to see a band and even seeing a comedian here would be brilliant. Me and my wife getting to see the Wombats here though was literally a dream come true and I wouldn't change anything about our evening out there one bit. read more

The Vic Theatre - The Wombats crushing their finale! - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Saw the DAMNED here a few weeks ago. A lot is good about the Vic. First, it's a venerable ole music venue that has been open for a LONG time. Bathrooms are great, several bars for your imbibing pleasure. Lots of room, several levels so there are many vantage points to see the stage. What was not good was the SOUND. WHY?! I walked around and checked out Dave & company, and the sound was just not good - muddy and incomprehensible. I even stood behind the sound board at one point, since this is the vantage point where the sound is best. It wasn't best. Come on, Vic Theater, DO BETTER!! read more

One of my favorite concert venues in Chicago. I've seen such great shows here. Hair Revival in the 90's - my first visit, as a high schooler! Skinny Puppy? Twice - in two separate centuries! Einsturzende Neubauten - WITH Miranda Sex Garden! Scissor Sisters Puscifer Franz Ferdinand .... and more that I cannot recall. Also, one of the most accessible. A small accessible bathroom in the front lobby - a wheelchair will fit, but transferring out of it can be tricky. The ADA section is a raised, roped off area in the back. Easy to get into and out of, but it isn't raised as much as I'd like - if you are in a wheelchair, you'll only see the heads of band members and any video shows behind them. To see more you'll need to put your triceps to work. Staff is extremely friendly and accommodating, and there are cocktail waitresses who snake through the crowd to keep you in bourbon. read more

We LOVE The Vic Theatre! We live in Cincinnati and often drive up to Chicago for concerts at The Vic. We always stay at City Suites Hotel, which is literally right around the corner. The location couldn't be better. We've seen a lot of concerts at The Vic. Sometimes there are seats, sometimes it's standing room only. It really makes no difference. It's a small venue that brings in some big names and nothing's better than seeing a favorite artist up close and personal. Anyone that's coming a distance and staying overnight, I recommend City Suites. Guests park at the lot right across from The Vic, but as guests of a nearby hotel, parking is never an issue. Locals aren't likely to stay in a hotel. I can see how parking could be difficult. Still, once you're in the theatre, you're in for a great show. I always watch who's lined up to perform at The Vic. We wouldn't hesitate to drive up and spend a few days. read more

The Vic Theatre - It's quite beautiful inside. - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

They know they are a music venue. They appreciate people who like music. They treat you like a person who likes music. Everyone who wants to, has a fantastic time. It's all love there now. And I love it! Special shout out to the med/security teams. They are dynamite, vigilantly kind people. Hope you know how much I appreciate you all! read more

Parking lot is a complete scam. Before the show they had a sign out front stating "$40 flat rate" yet after the show got charged $50 on the way out. The worker stated there was never a sign that said $40. read more

Amazing venue. Saw K. Flay show last night and this is an amazing place to see a concert. Will definitely be back this summer for Ramy Youssef and hopefully some more concerts. read more

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Recently, I went to The Vic Theatre for a concert. One thing about this location is if you have to drive plan on arriving early if you want a spot in the parking garage across from the theatre otherwise you are left finding street parking and that can be such a hassle. The venue is on the smaller side, so it was kind of cramped trying to get in and see merchandise or trying to go to the bar. We were general admission on the floor. We find a good spot along the railing to stand, but depending where you stand, you will have people walking through your path trying to get to the bar or the bathrooms. Speaking of bathrooms....it's port o potties. Lesson learned I will make sure I use a bathroom before going to this venue. The concert was great. The acoustics were good. I like that it is intimate but intimate brings its own set of problems. I'll be back for more concerts I'm sure of it. read more

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I am pleasantly surprised by my experience here! I didn't remember much about my previous visit a few years ago, but nothing particularly good or bad stuck out, so nothing useful exists in the way of prior context. Annoyingly, we had to wait outside in very cold weather, in a security line. However, the line moved quickly, and we were inside within 5-10 minutes. One of the security guards was barking orders at people, while another (the one checking us in) was very polite. The lobby itself is cramped and not much to look at. The marble stairs are pretty and suggest an earlier elegance that they could stand to emulate a bit more, elsewhere in the theatre. By the way, after the show, another power-tripping security guard was screaming at people to leave. No one else seemed to be doing so, in terms of staff, but that was a mood killer and a bit insulting to the paying customers (who were seemingly well behaved and not really loitering in the first place!). It is annoyingly crowded here, no way around that. Doors swing out quite quickly and easily into the second floor lobby/mezzanine, and there's barely room to wait for the bathroom at all. The main issue here is that the bathrooms in the mezzanine have a solid TWO stalls in each. That's it. In what world did this seem like a normal amount? The lines are crazy as a result. There's even space in the women's room for a third stall, but no. Also, the setup is a bit dingy and could stand to be updated (overflowing trash can, large washbasin no one was using that could've been the space for the aforementioned third stall...). It is 4 stars and not 3 because the sightlines are terrific. If you are short and sit anywhere in the balcony, you will be good to go! You can actually see! Yes, the grading is steep, but the tradeoff is that short people aren't blocked - it's incredible, truly. The acoustics could be a tiny bit better but are good overall. It's a big theatre, but it feels intimate. I am very glad that I didn't have a concert/theatre experience ruined by my lack of height, which is too common among theatres! read more

No smoking area, overpriced drinks, low quality $60 merch. You have to download an app to get a ticket. No pit because of seats everywhere. Everything emblematic of the death of live music, would never attend another show here as long as I live. Why are these mongoloids booking metal shows?? read more

Came to see Daniel Seavey and Sombr in April and it was AMAZING. After the concert I went outside of the venue and hugged Sombr and met some of his band members. Nice view from any seat. Also I can now confirm that sombr is 6'7 read more

** ADA SECTION REVIEW ** As a disclaimer, I am a ambulatory disabled person with EDS. I can walk without issue, however I can't stand for long periods of time due to extreme pain, so I have to have a rollator with me to sit down. I have written this review knowing I am still able to walk, and have taken that into consideration. ---- POSITIVES: + Special/"early" entry for disabled people. Allowed us to skip the line and go right in. + Allowed 2 guests in with me and gave them seats to use as well. + No stairs required. + Designated friendly staff walking around to assist with going to the bathroom who checked on us multiple times during the show. + Designated friendly wait staff walking around to take bar orders who checked in on us multiple times during the show. ---- NEGATIVES: - Horrible ADA section placement. While seating was provided (along with some empty space for wheelchairs/rollators), it was shoved in the very back of the venue. The built-in platform we were on was slightly raised from the platform below it, however it was not enough to allow for a sight line above people's heads from a seated perspective. This is a *major* issue for non-ambulatory disabled people who do not have the privilege of being able to stand. Attached is a photo taken from my seated eye line in the ADA section, where clearly the only thing able to be seen are people's backs & heads. ---- TLDR - The Vic Theater is a beautiful theater. They had some wonderful staff that provided great ADA support, however the ADA section was placed horribly and provided no sight to the stage from a seated position. If you are non-ambulatory, I would not recommend this venue for a non-seated show. read more

The Vic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love going to the concerts here! I was here twice . This past time was to see Matt Nathinson who does well at these type of venues. It was exciting because it's something that reopened now since the major pandemic. There bottom is first come first served Some seating in front Standing Side cubicles We sat in the balcony which was perfect seating to see and hear the amazing show! Outside we're venders food where I bought corn which was awesome . There is a bar and merchandise venders inside the Venue too. So when you find someone you enjoy by all means go and enjoy! Pricing isn't too bad. Use the AXIS app read more

The Vic Theatre - Matt Nathanson - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Haven't been to the Vic in a long time. It's a nice smaller venue, which allows one to be closer to the bands, which is cool. Full bar plus beer offerings. The beer offerings are mostly Goose Island and Bud. Kinda lame. The sound was a bit muddy at first but the sound crew got it worked out as best they could. Lighting was good. Bathrooms were outdoor porta potties, enclosed by a tent. All in all, not a bad place to see a band. read more

First time at the Vic Theater and first time seeing Sal Vulcano! This theater was definitely on the smaller side and I felt pretty cramped when I got in due to the crowd of people and small space in general. Like most venues/theaters, the drinks were expensive but subpar. A 12 oz, plastic cup of a double vodka cranberry was $22. The staircases were very narrow and steep everywhere in the theater, and the bathrooms were really small and outdated. The whole theater looked better in pictures. The staff, however, were all awesome! There was a long line wrapping around the corner for the show and they got through it promptly. Overall, I wouldn't be too excited to go back to this venue. read more

The Vic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Vic was a nice enough place to see a show. The prices for the drinks were ridiculous. Insane. Who is paying $15 for a canned Moscow mule? (I did, but that was begrudgingly.) The bartender was nice, as was the usher, but the prices of the drinks were ridiculous. The place seems to be decent for accessibility, and there's only a few places I'd consider "a bad seat". The chairs were uncomfortable and for the two hours I was seated I knew I'd be stiff getting up. All in all--okay venue. Will return if something piques my interest. read more

The Vic Theatre - Stage view from L 16 - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Probably deserves closer to 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because the location is so good being off the L! I saw comedian Pat McGann here last night and I could not believe it was my first time visiting The Vic. I've seen it in passing a million times, but with so many good music halls/venues in Chicago, somehow our paths hadn't crossed until now. We walked up about 10 minutes before doors opened and there was a line that wrapped around the block. On a 20° night in Chicago, that's never good to see. To my surprise though, the staff working was extremely efficient when it came to checking vaccinations/security, and it went pretty quick! Shout out to those hard working staff members standing in the cold to make sure we were safe for our show! The Vic definitely fits the vibe of a more grunge concert Venues in the neighborhood, and I wouldn't describe it as well kept by any means -- but it adds to the charm, right? The first floor seemed to be filled with folding chairs (assuming it's a standing room spot for concerts), so we went up to the second level for seats. Here we found your traditional theatre venue seating. There were multiple bars on every floor, and servers going around throughout the entire performance taking orders and delivering right to your seat. Definitely would be back to see another show here at The Vic! If you get a chance to see Pat McGann (local Chicago comic) I highly recommend that too! He had the audience in tears. read more

The Vic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I booked front row seats for a comedy show 11/15. The entire main floor was cheap plastic folding chairs barely suitable for a person of average weight. My chair broke the second I sat down. Most everyone around us had the same complaint. I contacted the theater but have had no response. Ridiculous. read more

Went to this theater to see a live Podcast show. Tickets were mobile through the AXS app. Theater it self was general admission seats. First come first serve. We were late due to parking so we sat on the second floor. I would sit on second floor again as you could see the stage good. There is bar on both floors. They also have servers come through the crowd and serve drinks. All in all a good theater. Please note the parking situation is horrible. They charge $54 to park at the garage closest to the theater. I booked a spot with Spotfinder and someone took my spot so that really put me in a jam. I lucked out and found a spot several blocks away. read more

The Vic Theatre - True Crime Obsession live Podcast - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Vic. This place is an oldie but goodie. Look - let's not kid ourselves. This lady has had better days. It's steep trekking to your seat. The lobby has that old building feel. But the fact is no matter where you sit, you're going to have a good seat. ANYWHERE! We had nosebleed seats to see Taylor Tomlinson. We still felt like we were part of the action. And the sound was good! that's the signs of a good theater. One that we will return to. read more

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To anyone reading this. I went to an elevation Rhythm concert with a few friends and absolutely LOVED IT. wish there were seats for parents. There is a decent amount of space! The steps down to the stage are kind of big steps so be aware! I hope you enjoy this theater as much as my family and friends did! read more

I was at the Vic Theater last night to see comedian Trey Kennedy. It was my first time at The Vic, an iconic Chicago theater over 100 years old. Great venue for a show or concert. Not your typical theater seating--think folding chairs set up in rows, and seating was general admission. The architecture takes you back in time. Very cool! Younger crowd--most were in their mid twenties to early thirties. Lively neighborhood with lots of people out and about on the streets. read more

The Vic Theatre - Entrance - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been here for a couple of concerts, not sure what other events might take place here. Not a favorite venue of mine. It is pretty sparse, and when I've been to concerts here there hasn't been seating, just GA. I don't love having to get to a show an hour beforehand just to get a food seat and then stand around waiting, and I also am not sure how accessibility works here (they might only be as accessible as they're required to, or they could be really fantastic when it comes to accessibility, but the venue doesn't give off a super inclusive impression in that regard). I've never been a person who wants to be hanging around squeezed in amongst people; I'd much rather be able to sit back and hang out and not be jostled around by others or fighting for position. I also do not love that they pat you down before you head in. It's not too bad, and the person doing it was very very friendly (perhaps because they knew that people weren't going to be totally thrilled with someone patting them down as they walked in). But still, I don't recall them doing this last time I was in and though I know it's a safety measure, it still kinda sucks. Sound is ok. I was at a concert and took a video for ~half a song to share with a friend, an the video on my phone had better sound than at the show. One thing that IS good about the Vic, though, is that it can feel somewhat intimate which I like in a performance. Not always, but sometimes. Will I be back? Yeah, if there's a performance I truly want to see and this is the venue, I'll have to consider it. read more

Great sound, nice venue. Raised in a way that doesn't facilitate moshing but made it really easy for my shorter partner to see the stage which was very worth it. read more

We had a GREAT time at the Mr. D comedy show at The Vic! I've been to The Vic for both a concert and comedy show now, and both were great experiences. The Vic is an intimate venue but still feels spacious. I liked the seating arrangement for the comedy show- there were no bad seats! The bartenders were super friendly, and the drink service to your seat was extremely convenient. Can't wait to visit The Vic again real soon! read more

The Vic Theatre - Outside The Vic - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing venue. Beautiful space and great sound. People usually line up outside the building before doors open to snag a good place to stand on the ground floor. But PRO TIP! The second floor is also general admission! I've been here twice for concerts and each time I've arrived after doors have opened and the ground floor is PACKED so that there is hardly standing room in the back. We had no idea there was a balcony level that is open to everyone. To get there, head back to the hallway where the main entrance is, and turn right or left. There are stairwells on both sides that take you to the balcony level. (For ADA, I believe I saw an elevator on the right side, when you are facing the venue as if you just walked in.) We were surprised when we walked up there the first time because there's a second bar when you get upstairs and there was no line! (The downstairs bar was PACKED with a line and so busy). It was easy to grab a cup of water or order anything on the second level very quickly. Across from the bar, you'll see some doors to walk up some more steps and arrive at balcony seating. We were there at 7pm when the opener was supposed to start, and there was so much available places to sit! It was populated but not too crowded, and the view was incredible. The seats are all raised so you can see great no matter where you sit. We even had our own row section so we could put out winter coats on a seat instead of using the coat check. That probably saved us a lot of time when it was time to leave the theater. A few more pro tips: - if you have a coat and want to check it in the coat room, expect a huge line before and after the show! It's in the basement floor. When you enter the venue, go straight to the ground floor area, make a right and walk past the bar, and you'll see stairs going down on the right. Take the narrow stairwell down, and someone will be there checking in the coats. Bring a few dollars in cash!!! They only take cash. I had to stand in line for about 10 minutes to check it in. When I realized there was a balcony floor, I quickly checked it back out before the show started so we didn't have to wait in line again after the show as I'm sure it would be incredibly packed. - Bathrooms: There is a women's bathroom in the basement where the coat check is but it's soooo busy and frequently used. Go to the second floor for bathrooms! Cleaner and no line before the show. - Bar: You can go to the second floor for this as I mentioned. However, there are also staff walking around during the show with an iPad and a tray, so you can order from your seat and they will bring it to you. I'm not sure how they can find people when they bring orders to the first floor because people are standing. That's very impressive. Take home message: just go to the second floor for best seats, the bar, and the bathroom :) read more

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Went to see a concert. There was parking available at a nearby lot. I believe the show was sold out and it wasn't too packed and overwhelming with people. read more

The Vic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's a older theater with history so it isn't perfect. If you get seating the stairs are very uneven snd steep. Making it difficult for people who have issues walking. The bathrooms are on the smaller side and you do have to walk stairs to get to them. They are clean which is nice and rare during metal concerts. The staff is friendly, but the drinks are more expensive then other venues. Overall I had a wonderful time. read more

The Vic Theatre - Waiting outside to get in. - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really enjoyed this intimate theater when seeing October London. I just wish they would monitor unruly guest better. Smoking weed and being obnoxiously loud for no reason really irritated me and other guests but the show itself was AMAZING! I would love to go back because I like the size. read more

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The vocal quality in this place is totally muddy. Could not tell what the singers were saying during the little chit chat interludes...couldn't understand a word the opening band said or sang, and only about half of what the headliner said/sang. Tickets cost us like $70, which is absolutely outrageous for a small venue with such terrible acoustics. $8 beers...FIVE DOLLAR GINGER ALE?!? Are you out of your damned mind?! Not handicap accessible, lots of terraced platforms and you have to go to boofoo down a bunch of stairs to get to the bathroom. The only benefit to this entire experience was the swiftness of getting in. I wouldn't return to this venue unless an amazing band for super cheap was playing here. read more

The Vic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's been a very long time since I've been to the Vic. Street parking is thr only option, but we found a spot 3 blocks away that had 2 hour meter parking until 10 p.m. There was a very long line to get in at least 3 to 4 blocks long. They had lots of checks, first covid vaccine check, next purse check, next body scan, covid wristband application, scan tickets, ID check for drinks, and finally drink wristband. It is a standing only venue. It has a multi level floor, which in my opinion is dangerous and there were a few trips and falls during the concert. We found a spot on a second tier with a railing, which I appreciated after over 2 hours of standing. The Vic is an old theater built over 100 years ago. The sound quality was very good and a small venue is always s treat. I would prefer sitting tham standing for an entire concert, but it was a good experience. read more

The Vic Theatre is a decent theatre, good acoustics, with Chicago-style architecture inside. I came here for a sold-out show by Alejandro Aranda (also known as Scarypoolparty). The pat-down by security was a bit much, in addition to searching my small purse. I understand the security concern, but I think it would be in the theatre's best interest to install metal detectors to expedite the process and allow for people who come from work who need to bring their bags (and don't have cars to stow their bags during the concert). They do not allow large bags, so pack lightly. I was also appalled that the ushers did not scan my e-ticket. I merely showed them my ticket on my phone and they let me in, even though they had a scanner on hand. I think that is even more of a security issue, more so than the bag rule. Drinks at the bar are very expensive. The best view on the floor is right at the edge of the second level, with a railing that allows you to view the performance above everyone on the ground floor. The staff inside are friendly and nice, but I wish concert-goers could be more courteous and step aside if they see a staff member trying to make their way through the crowd. read more

The Vic Theatre - Outside of the theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Vic Theatre is a no nonsense establishment. They don't allow laptops, iPads, cameras, and any recording devices. You are allowed to bring cell phones, but there is a zero tolerance for people recording and taking photos on their phones...hmmm...never mind. There are bars at every turn. You can get a drink before going to your seats, or you can wait until you're inside the theater. There are plenty opportunities to order drinks. There are people walking around taking drink orders. Drinks come in plastic cups. The size of the theatre is nice and spacious. There is lower level of folding chairs, and a balcony. The place is well preserved. Seating is on a first come, first serve. Also, doors opened at 7pm, and the line started around 6pm. It was nice to finally visit the Vic, I'm looking forward to the next visit. read more

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They were scamming me and other people. I had 4 Budweisers and two bars charged me with different amount each time. they first charged $10 and goes on with $13,12, and $16 for the same beer. Not to mention that the staff was very rude. (Sep 26th) read more

This is a great smaller venue, which is really cool for smaller more intimate shows, so you can really get into the experience. They have a lot of bars located all over the place, so it isn't hard to find a drink and the lines don't get too long. This place is general admission, standing room only, no seats on main floor. I think the only seats are on the four balcony seats on both sides of the stage. There might be seats on the second level. Go to a concert at the Vic if you have a chance. read more

The Vic Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

They are actually joking with their service fees $35 per ticket, totally fine. Then get to checkout and the service fees, multiple, add up to an additional $25.77. lol you're joking. No thanks. Not worth it. If you're going to price gouge that much, I'd rather not attend your shows. And it sounds like the parking situation is the same. Price gouging. Oof. Embarrassing. Just raise your ticket prices if you're that hard up. At least be honest about the price upfront, instead of trying to hide it and then act shocked when people don't want to go from paying $35, to suddenly your full bill for the evening is actually 3x that amount. read more

A classic, divey Chicago theatre that still holds its own, but definitely can make some improvements for folks to better enjoy your concert experience. Came here to see Perfume (a Japanese group) and the concert itself was on fire! However, venue wise- it was a bit rough on the edges: - it felt really small and crowded inside - servers kept going in and out of the standing crowd - no ventilation whatsoever so sweating was a given - poor management of swag line On the plus though, the small size made it easier to actually see the performers on stage. It's also close to the CTA so accessibility is fairly straight forward. Bar inside accepts card for drinks, but bring cash in case the artist you're seeing doesn't accept card. read more

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This is actually my 2nd time here. Nice, decent theatre. They never let u in on time. The washroom is ok, they had the attendant there which annoys me. I'm not paying anyone for paper towels. The decor is nice. Love the color of the wall. Love the stage framing. Acoustics are superb. I drunk before I came here so I'm not familiar with their drink prices. Staff here are average, kinda odd acting. The air definitely works. I'm chilly as I type this review. A nice theatre overall but some oddities which costed it 2 stars. read more

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