I saw my first play at the Wilma Theater yesterday, and it won't be my last. The Wilma is a professional theater which produces contemporary plays. The play I saw was very interesting (the kind of play that I need to sit with and maybe read to process), and the facilities are great: not a bad seat in the theater, cafe in the lobby, plenty of bathrooms... All in all, it's a great place to see interesting theater. Philly is lucky to have it. I'm sure I'll be back. read more

The Wilma Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

How fortunate to have this type of theater in town -- small theater with creative staging and lots of talented actors. The Trial of Miz Martha Washington was a bit didactic (slavery is not a good model) yet pertinent in today's political climate. Not sure why the show started at 7 PM since it was a one act, ending by 9 PM? Nice snack bar and good facilities, and who can blame them for passing the hat after the show with so many cutbacks to nonprofits? read more

I recently went to The Wilma Theater to see The Half-God of Rainfall. The day I went, it was pay what you wish. I appreciate opportunities to see shows at an affordable price. The venue is really nice. My seat was right in the middle of the theater, with an excellent view. I'm looking forward to seeing more shows at The Wilma Theater soon. read more

The Wilma Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Don't miss DOGMAN!!! The Musical! Every seat in the house is great! If you sit in the first row, you'll be on the same level as the actors, so you may want to sit a couple of rows back. We sat in the 4th row, and it was perfect! The set design, props, and concepts were excellent, and the actors' execution was outstanding, resulting in spectacular fun! Even though there were only 6 actors, it felt like a full cast ensemble, and they worked tremendously hard to pull it off. The musical follows the 1st book and A Tale of 2 Kitties puuuurrrrrrrrrrfectly, word-for-word! After the show, the actors did an impromptu meet and greet on their way out. Despite being tired and sweaty, they stopped and chatted with the children who were still around, asking how they enjoyed the play. The actors were incredibly gracious, taking lots of photos and signing autographs for the kids. It was a wonderful close to the show. We've been to many shows for our children, and none have been able to capture their hearts and attention the way this show did from beginning to end. It was fun for adults too, very funny and extremely creatively done! Thanks so much! Also, I was hoping they would continue the dance party as we left the theater, and they didn't disappoint us. My kids are wanting to squeeze in one more visit to the show. This theater also supports Art-Reach Cards! There are no seat restrictions for this show. Thank you, Wilma, for honoring the Art-Reach program in the way I'm sure it was intended! Most neighboring theaters relegate Art-Reach card holders to the highest rafters with minimal tickets available. read more

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Support art!!! It's a small theatre house so any seat is good and easy for actors to interact with the audience. The sound is impeccable, seats are relatively comfortable and the place is right next door to a parking deck. I just went to see Fat Ham's relaxed performance and was impressed by all of the accommodations/considerations for neurodivergence. The website is very easy to navigate to get tickets online. read more

The Wilma Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Greetings, My grandchildren and I attended "The Wizard of OZ" play on Saturday, December 21, 2024 @3pm. First, I would like to state that the young children who performed did an amazing job. However, my complaint was that my grandchildren and I literally had to sit on the steps, due to no available seats. Our seat numbers were 304, 305, and 306. My grandchildren, Pebbles and Bam Bam of course wanted to immediately leave and stated that they did not and could not see or enjoy the show. If I had not paid 80+ dollars, we would have left. Lasly, 80+ dollars is too much money to have to sit on anyones floor. This experience was/is very disturbing. Fast Forward. I received from: Tim Popp here from Music Theatre Philly. The Wilma Theatre passed along your feedback to me. They were only the host building for the event so do not have any control over the ticketing or your experience. For the performance, all our seating was general admission. The number you referenced was not a seat number but the order number. Meaning the number you saw your tickets referred to the order in which they were purchased in our system. I'm sorry you felt the tickets were too expensive but unfortunately, we need to charge that much to cover the costs of the theater rental at the Wilma. As for your experience with seating, I'm sorry you were not able to find seats during the performance. May I ask, did you arrive before the show began or after the performance started? This will help me understand what could have caused the issue. Thank you again for your feedback. This will help us ensure we can provide a better experience for future guests. All the best, Tim I replied: Thank you for responding. However, my concern is not with the price of the tickets. If I felt they were to costly I would not have purchased them. Nor is it with the Wilma Theatre. In addition, I do not feel my arrival time should be in question/importance. The fact is that I purchased three tickets for myself and two six year old children to be seated in chairs and not on a floor. Your company should be more concerned about hospitality and comfort of your guest and not about the amount of money to be made; while making guest uncomfortable. The Theater was over packed and several people were standing along the wall and sides. (Fire, Safety Hazard) My grandchildren has expressed that they do not want fo attend any more shows. However, I will not allow The Music Theater to damper there childhood experiences. I will most certainly pay more attention to the reviews and The Music Theater performaning before we attend any further events. Lastly, your response should have been. The music Theater apologizes that you and your family had an unfortunate experience. What can the Music Theater do to correct this matter. And, not to blame the customer. read more

Been attending shows at the Wilma for around 10 years now and I love the intimate setting and consistency in innovation when it comes to the shows they put on. In recent years, I've also noticed an increase in accessibility as well. The addition of the cafe is such a great perk and we appreciate the switch to gender neutral bathrooms. read more

Am writing a review of the Good Karma Cafe at the Wilma Theater on S Broad Street. Ordered sandwiches, bagels, and cappuccino during the morning. The food was average, but the service was slow and the staff surly and uncooperative. We will not return! read more

Haven't been to The Wilma Theater in years, so almost like going for the first time. Small, intimate theater with no bad seat, really. I deducted 1 star because they did not provide a traditional playbill. It's part of the theater experience that I've come to expect. Saw a play called Fairview. Wasn't my cup of tea but I wouldn't discourage anyone from seeing it. But overall The Wilma is a good venue to a play. read more

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We've been to see 3 fantastic Ballet X performances over the past few years, all performed at The Wilma Theater! Last night we saw Beautiful Decay. My favorite show was Sunset, and we also saw Constructed Chaos. Christine Cox, the founder of Ballet X is a firecracker extrovert who exudes love for her craft, her excitement is infectious. The Wilma Theater has a beautiful new modern lobby, and Good Karma coffee is the new resident coffee shop. The Wilma Theater is an intimate space on Broad street. The theater has cozy burgundy velvet seats & burgundy pleated curtains on the stage. Highly recommend checking out a show! read more

The Wilma Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What's not to like about The Wilma Theater? While I haven't taken many performances in at the Wilma, I've been impressed with all of them. There isn't a bad seat in the house! Capacity is limited, which gives a tight but intimate feel to each performance. However, ticket availability is such that you need to camp out in order to get seats. They offer fair pricing, including discounts for multiple shows (or if you 'buy a season'). I believe they offer discounted admission for students as well. read more

I was really excited about seeing this after doing some background reading on its origin however, I feel a bit.... well, haven't found the word for it yet. I made it early to attend the young friends reception--free wine and snacks are always a great idea.....but the young friends "event" kinda leaves you with this "what's the point" feeling afterwards. You don't really meet new people---you see them but you don't really MEET them. Everyone normally sticks with their clicks and you're kinda left gliding across the room to refresh your glass or plate. Would be great if there were ice breakers (especially for introverts like me) . Any-hoo... it's time for the play... I always get front row seats because I like to feel like I'm in the play itself but twice already that has proven to be a big mistake at this theater. The first was at "the convert" AWESOME PLAY but they sprinkle water, round about that front row--and you're just surprised lol. The second was "ANTIGONE" omg---into was a spit fest. I was more concentrated on spit getting on me than the actual play--AND THE BOX OFFICE DOESN'T WARN FIRST ROW BUYERS! I mean, i get the symbolism of the spitting...i do. I left early as the spit flying literally made me ill--it was a bit much and I'm not easily grossed out but this.... well, I'll just say everything isn't for everyone. So if you go and you're on the front row TAKE PLASTIC! ...or you'll be sorry. Lol read more

The Wilma Theater - ...interesting night. #antigone - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great theatre-going experience for O17 at the Wilma: friendly staff, stadium seating (not a bad seat in the house!), Goldilocks-sized theatre (i.e., not too big, not too small) and stage. Kudos on the newly renovated lobby, staffed by Good Karma coffee (and wine!) and stocked with tasty options. read more

I always enjoy coming to this theater. Below is a brief outline of why. 1. The seats are comfortable and, unlike many of the theaters in NYC, were not made for very short, very thin people. 2. Continuing on the theme of seats...There are no bad seats due to the intimate nature of the theater. 3. $10 student tickets for Sunday evening performances. Don't forget your student ID, though. If you forget your ID, Will-Call will not give you the student price. 4. They have Junior Mints at the concessions stand. 5. I have always enjoyed the productions they host. Avant-garde enough to make you seem as if you are culturally in-the-know, but not so strange that you'll be yawning for 2 hours. 6. Great set designs and creative use of space. I love their minimalist approach for most things. 7. If you're not a student, no worries! They've still go cheap seats for you twenty-somethings. Bring an ID to confirm your age and you can get tickets for $22.50. I saw Becky Shaw - it was fantastic and is now running through early Feb. Go see it! read more

Recently I attended a play for the end of the 2006-2007 season at the Wilma. The theater space itself is great! Modern, acoustically well designed, and visually stunning to look at. Honestly, no matter where you sit the view is going to be great as the entire theater is stadium seating. A word of warning if you are going to the show with elderly people or people who are hard of seeing: the stairs all blend together because the steps have no defining edge and the carpet pattern and dim light doesn't help trying to see depth. (I only say this because I know what it's like to help a grandmother through a theater.) BUT, they do have listening devices for the hearing impaired. I know this because the couple sitting next to me was sharing theirs during the performance because the husband only wanted to hear certain parts... About the physical space: You've got yourself as proscenium theater with an adjustable 3/4 thrust stage. Depending on your show, they may extend the thrust forward more or not use it at all. The stage itself is level with the first row of seats. The fly space and surround lighting are exposed to create a very (as some would say) Brechtian feel. I'll just say things are "exposed" so that you know that your watching a play and not reality. From what I've heard, the plays are top-notch and have some of the best theater in the area. The play I saw was not exactly my cup of tea and heard some patrons say that it was not the best show of the season. I'm not going to let my first experience deter me from seeing other shows. (I went back for another show, and was not fully impressed again. I have downgraded this to three stars for the time being until I see another show.) I'm a "student", so I was able to buy a row G ticket, day of the performance ticket for $10. Time to dig out your old student ID, otherwise, usher, or get back of the house seats (as I mentioned before, great view from all angles). read more

I'd forgotten how much I like this theater. It's a great space, not really any bad seats, and they bring great productions. It's clean, comfortable, and convenient. I only just discovered their 'in your 20s' discount, and you best be believin I'll be taking full advantage of it in the 3 1/2 years I have left to do so =P Starting with organizing a group of 20-somethings from work to go see "Becky Shaw". Not to worry if everyone can't trek over to the theater to pick up tickets ahead of time; I was able to buy all of the tickets at once, securing the seats and the discount, showed IDs for those I could collect before going over, and anyone else just showed theirs at the box office to retrieve their ticket later. Definitely go to the box office if you can: no service fees! And, "Becky Shaw" was a great show to boot =) read more

This place still ranks #1 for theater venue and productions. The Zizka husband-wife directing team know what they're doing and there really isn't a bad seat in the house. This theater attracts national talent of the first degree (for example, oscar nominee, David Strathairn is starring in their current production). They also support and cast a lot of great local actors, too. Their staff all around is friendly and helpful. Student tickets are super affordable, and their under-35 flex subscription can't be beat. If you live in the city, you owe it to yourself to at least go to one play a year here. If you're visiting, don't fret, this theater is on par with those in New York. Ballet X make their home here and they perform here, quarterly - and if you don't know who they are or haven't seen them perform yet, do yourself a favor and buy a ticket for their next show. You won't be sorry. read more

Let's start off with a little disclosure: I interned in the literary department at the Wilma during the 2005-6 season. If you're a college student in Philadelphia who's interested in theater and looking for a semester internship, I can't offer a more hearty recommendation. What makes the Wilma unique is that yes, they're committed to producing contemporary theater, but they aren't interested in directly transplanting the latest Off-Broadway hit from New York. There are real visionaries at work, who are open to artistic reinterpretation and imagination. They're also incredibly conscious of choosing works with social and political relevance, and are also known for their utilization of multimedia. I spent a lot of time searching for appropriate images that could be used for onstage projections. Most importantly, they're not afraid to take risks. The theater space is fantastic, and is able to achieve an intimacy despite its large size. Only downside: the theater is located directly above the Broad Street subway line, and occasionally during the show you can hear trains rattling by. Another plus is the Wilma's dedication to developing and supporting emerging playwrights. Each season, they offer a series of free Monday night readings of new plays. Some of these plays, including Ken Ludwig's "Shakespeare in Hollywood", end up being fully produced in future seasons. All in all, the Wilma is one of the top theater companies in Philadelphia, and their productions are not to be missed. read more

Spotted a flyer to the vibrator play while hanging at tria a few sundays back. Lboogs and I decide we should look into this a little more it could be an exciting event. Went online and saw they offer discounts to pretty much anyone under 30 and older than 60! Most places only offer to students and seniors but I was very pleased to see that they help out us 20 somethings. We chose Friday April 1 to go since tria could be in the building serving up wine and snacks and we all know how I feel about tria .... Cheap tix yummy wine and food count me in:) the theatre has a nice set up and as other reviewers stated there isn't a bad seat in the house:) they play was very entertaining and the laughs came from all over the house couples , singles and everyone else who thinks vibrators are fun/funny would have liked this play . During intermission there was a display of old school virbators I flip the switch and amazed at how powerful it was. :))) the actors did a bang up job including one of the leads who shocked us all with his full frontal nudity !!!! ( bp indeed) I would have to say I would def return to see future shows here. read more

I love that they have discounts for pretty much anyone! Kids, students, "ppl in their 20's", rush tickets, etc. Totally worth it - esp the student tix because they are $10 compared to almost $50 regular. Theatre is nice, clean, large, and with stadium seating. I'm sad I didn't take more advantage of this place even though I live so close to it! read more

Saw Shakespeare's Hamlet directed by Blanka Zizka here and it was AMAZING! I loved every minute of it. The set was super cool with swords, graffiti walls and things falling out the ceiling! The seats were comfortable and the sound system was great. Everything the actors said was easily heard (great acoustics). The only thing is the little counter for snacks and drinks were kinda lame. Which they offered a little more. But there was a prop in the lobby for audiences to write on that related to the play which seemed cool in that even though we were at intermission and in the lobby, we still were thinking of the play and characters. Super awesome! read more

A lovely venue! Folks in their 20s always get 1/2 price tickets, and the Young Friends Night is always a great complement to a play :) Free drinks and snacks right before a good show? Always a treat. read more

One of the best theater companies in Philadelphia featuring dark comedies.

Boyfriend and I both enjoy coming to the Wilma, even if not every show is amazing. Angels in America blew us away, but Assistance not so much. My Wonderful Day still comes up in conversation, but Curse of the Starving Class was a little weak. The plays themselves can be hit or miss, but sets are consistently fabulous, and the acting is mostly consistently fabulous. The venue is small, seats are comfortable, acoustics are great. The staff all seems pleasant. Zero complaints about the space and the people employed in that space. The Wilma focuses on producing plays that reach out and punch you in the face in one way or another. If the set isn't revolving, someone may be cooking on the set at some point. There's plenty of foul language, full frontal male nudity, and even *lowers voice to a whisper* gay people (why this still bothers anyone in 2013 is beyond me). These aren't nice, cleaned up, family-friendly musicals, but you can go to the Academy of Music for that. read more

I do not know much about the technical aspects of a theater, but I do know what I like. And not to be cantankerous, or combative to other reviewers, but you are right, Philly is no New York...we have more comfortable seats. At the one broadway show I have been to, I felt like my spleen was going to shoot out of my navel after cramming myself in the tiny, tiny seat. We saw Hysteria, which runs 2:25 hours including intermission, at the Wilma last night and I never left my seat. It may be a small part of the overall experience, but to me being comfortably seated so that I can fully concentrate on the play is very welcome. We were seated just left of center in row J (about 30 feet back and 9 up from the stage) and the acoustics were amazing. I swear I could hear the lead character breathing at the start of the play (which begins with several seconds of silence). I do not want to comment on the set design, besides saying it was amazing, as any other description would be too much of a spoiler for the play. I thought the acting was fabulous and can't wait to return for other productions. Bravo! read more

Hmm, well I'm not going to go into the merits of the plays they produce and show here, they are sometimes lacking in my experience... That said a yearly student deal for $8 a show. And it's a really great little theater. You're up close to the stage, the actors are all really really good. I may not always like the show, but I love coming here. read more

William Shakespeare's Hamlet directed by Blanka Zizka running March 25-April 26, 2015 Excellent production of Hamlet. You will not be disappointment with purchase of this ticket. read more

Love this theater! Like other yelpsters have noted, there is not a bad seat in the house and the plays are top notch with acting, set design and sound. Mike R. and I bought tickets for the season. We just went to see the Understudy and it was a great time. The season ticket includes free parking at the Doubletree right next door for 6 hours, so you can totally do dinner and show. This is a great date! read more

A wonderfully intimate theater. Seats are cheap and easy to pick up if you buy online ($10 for students, plus $2 handling fee). Any seat in the theater is a good seat, based on how intimate the theater is! A group of 5 of us came for a showing of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and we could not stop laughing. A wonderful performance, we'd be sure to return! The theater is also very decorated and fun, with cool posters everywhere, graffiti art on the walls, and chalk board with existential quotes. read more

Great theater! I came for the first time on a date not too long ago, and I loved the set up and the intimacy of the space. The stage is in the center of the room, and on each side of the stage there are about 15-20 stepped rows. I'd say there aren't more than 300 seats in the whole theater, which is great because no matter where you're seated you have a really good view of the stage and the actors. I went to see "the hard problem," which was definitely engaging and had a few really witty one liners and back and forths, but ultimately tried to take on a bit too much for the 1.5 hour play. I wish they'd focus in on one or two "hard questions" and really delved in rather than touching many at a very surface level. read more

Great venue, inside and out. This is a focal point of the city-side of South Broad. They've got great producers who bring an array of performances to the city. Parking may be a challenge for commuters, however... back in the day, I used to park on Lombard or South (for free) and be a-okay. If you're into theater beyond the more Poppy shows on Walnut, this is a great upscale theater. One thing I will say though... as a member, the interns love to call to raise more, more, and more money, and The Wilma favors calling you at like 10 o'clock on a weeknight. That... has got to go. read more

I had a great box office experience today when stopping by to purchase tickets. I popped in to get a mini subscription (2 plays) and the woman at the box office desk was extremely helpful and friendly. She also explained that they have a really flexible policy so if something comes up and you need to swap your tickets for another day, they do their best to accommodate you. The Wilma also provides free parking at the Doubletree Garage for up to 6 hours and a 20% discount for restaurants around the theater. All in all a great deal, especially when the tickets are so reasonable. I haven't seen a show there yet but after my experience today - my expectations are high! Looking forward to my two-play subscription! read more

In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play--Thank You Mr Edison. You Think of Everything. read more

The Wilma Theater - In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play--Thank You Mr Edison. You Think of Everything. - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My boyfriend bought us season tickets here last season, and we just renewed for the coming year. The student season ticket price will not be beaten anywhere - it works out at $8 per show, which is cheaper than going to the movies! Every show I have seen here has been completely different and completely excellent. The set design is some of the best I've ever seen. read more

I have seen two CONTRASTING productions at the Wilma Theater, and both were excellent. I saw Macbeth in the fall, and I happened to see the understudy for Macbeth. He did a terrific job, but seemed very focused on remembering his lines at some point, which obviously hindered the fluidity of his actions to match his words. During an intense dialogue with Lady Macbeth, somebody's obnoxious cell phone rang (this was the second time from the same person). The understudy for Macbeth turns to the fourth wall and says, "Turn it OFF, OR I WILL!" absolutely in character. It was brilliant. Just yesterday, I saw the play "The Understudy" by Teresa Rebeck. I loved it. The cast worked seamlessly together, and the writing is quick-paced and witty. From these two productions, I construct my ratings: The house of the theater is quite modern, with comfortable chairs, positioned at a very nice incline to provide excellent sight-lines for the audience members. The sets for the two shows I saw were both uniquely and creatively met the needs of the script. I would hesitate to say that they are Broadway-quality.... but they are close. For "The Understudy", the stage took on a proscenium look, along with tracking for some scenery. When I walked in, I mistook the proscenium set piece along with a beautiful red curtain for an actual proscenium. Solid work. Overall : 5 stars read more

The Wilma has made a number of changes in the past couple of years and it will take a while for it to play out. This season is a mixture of short run imported productions and three theater-produced shows. Longer term--through 2018--the theater is sponsoring a resident company of local actors (called the HotHouse) along with a resident playwright. As a result, it is hard to extrapolate the prior seasons at the almost 50 year old theater to what the future holds. The Wilma was the first company to create a new venue on South Broad Street, now called the Avenue of the Arts, in 1996, years ahead of the Kimmel Center across the street and the Suzanne Roberts Theater one block south. The cost to attend is very modest. Currently, based on a grant from the Wyncote Foundation, the Wilma is offering $25 tickets for most performances. Subscribers also get $5 parking in the Doubletree Hotel garage next door. One of the best benefits of this is that subscribers can exchange into a difference performance, usually without paying an upgrade fee. A list of the current offerings is at https://www.wilmatheater.org/. read more

Renaissance in the belly of a killer whale. Excellent play. Witty, entertaining, and sadly true. The 3 African American actresses were outstanding. I could easily see this play again. I loved it. read more

This is a great venue!!! Great seats, every single one. Great sight lines. Wonderful sound. Intimate in every way. Find a reason to attend an event here . Looking forward to getting back! read more

The Wilma Theater is a nice venue to take a date and watch a play. The place itself is small and clean with good viewing with stadium seating. They give you a great discount if you can provide a student ID - $10 on Sat. night. If you're in your 20s , then the ticket will run you $28 on a Sat. night. They're very strict with these IDs and won't take your word that you're a student - fair enough. Bring all your IDs. They were carding these 12 and 13 year old girls (from my estimation) that came with their family because they didn't believe they were kids. I didn't get involved. Not sure what that was about. read more

Love the theater, don't think I've ever had bad seats. The sets are always well done and the acting is wonderful. They really pick great productions, as well. The SO and I just got membership, and the free parking is a nice perk! read more