This was my first time to this theater. It recently went under renovations. The seats are nice and…read morethe theater is intimate. Every seat is a good one. The lobby has a bar that sells themed drinks and snacks. You can purchase drinks before the performance. They have a seating area with a smaller stage. Our performance had an intermission to also make purchases. However, the restroom line is pretty long and didn't allow me to visit the restroom and make a purchase during intermission. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. They had our programs and tickets ready. The show we saw was Hairspray. It was wonderful! I love the music, dancing, costumes and and staging. The sound is great - better than the Civic Theater downtown. It was a top rate show at a smaller venue and a lower price. You can't ask for more! Parking is available on the street for three hours. If your play is going to be longer, Carlsbad offers free parking by the train station just a short walk from the theater. We will definitely be returning.

Nice Theater, "Matt and Ben" Not So Much…read more The theater has been hugely renovated since I was last there years ago -- much improved! There's a spacious lobby with a bar, although they only had one person on the bar and it was slow going. At the box office (inside) they just asked for our name and didn't bother seeing the tix on my phone. Staff were friendly. The theater itself is small. They allow drinks in that you've purchased there. (No food, although I watched one woman open a bag of crackers). The usher sent us to the wrong row, causing confusion and the letters on the end of the rows weren't obvious. There are several bathrooms, including a couple of non-gender ones. Free parking can be found at the train station behind the theater. The play we saw, 'Matt and Ben' was not great. I give it 2/5. The cast wasn't what I was expecting and it wasn't that funny, they dropped f-bombs all the time and I was ready for it to end after about 15 minutes.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was fantastic!! Witty and fun adaptation. Choreography,…read morecharacters and dance ensemble was amazing! This was our first time here. Staff and fellow guests were friendly. Lots of people helped us with directions around the theater. We parked in South Lot. Short paved walk to entrance. Note: Fixed chair seats have numbers on the seat. Grass reserved seats have the numbers on the ground. Lots of folks were initially confused. Ask the staff if you lost, they are very helpful. Lots of people brought their own food (some with full on dinners and dessert). You can buy food there also. We had lots of fun. We'll definitely come back and see other shows. Fun, fun, fun, and laughs.

Food venue change is a step backwards. Great facility otherwise. Not sure why they got rid of so…read moremany great food options. Of course, we'll be back but we might bring our own food next time. No more ice cream? This place is for kids too. Willy Wonka was an excellent show. Great performances all around.

What an incredible experience! It was so amazing to see so many reptiles and be able to actually…read morehold them and interact with them in their habitats. We wouldn't have had such an amazing time without our amazing tour guide. Rachel did such a great job teaching our kids the right ways to interact with the animals and you can tell that she really loves what she does. She was really patient with our kids and made this an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend! *full warning, the outside of the building looks a little sketchy at first because it's an old building, but don't let that deter you*

Would you like to learn about incredible reptiles up close and support a good cause? The…read moreEcoVivarium is the perfect place! For $25 you can get a behind the scenes tour that introduces you to a variety of turtles, snakes, and lizards that call the EcoVivarium home. They also have birthday party visits, host events, and as I learned from my friend Trish, can help teachers get set up with a reptile in the classroom. My first conversation with Susan at the EcoVivarium was heartfelt, as I was calling to see if they might be interested in the donation of our decommissioned aquarium. The setup was only four years old and housed our previous beloved 26 year old fish named Puff that had recently passed away. Susan was kind, expressed her condolences and shared that they would appreciate our donation. Chun P and I met Rachel and Donald on a Sunday and after we brought our items in from the car were treated to meeting some terrific reptiles. Many of the inhabitants at the EcoVivarium have sad stories, some had suffered abuse, some were abandoned, and others were victims of trafficking that were confiscated and brought in by the department of fish and game. Susan has created a safe space and her staff and volunteers give their all to make sure they live a better life. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon and supporting this worthy endeavor!

My original post was about BARBARA who was a dance teacher there. I contacted the owner of the…read moreschool and she was responsive and listened to my concerns. I haven't seen Barbara on staff there since. My child attended their summer camp this year and LOVED it! She had an absolutely wonderful time, felt supported, and learned a lot in a short amount of time. I wish they were offering more classes this fall. We have also seen a number of their shows and they do a great job! Looking forward to seeing their Ovation Theatre company perform Matilda next

The NCSA musicals are always enjoyable and fun to watch with great talent and…read moredirection...professional quality theatre...wow. "Into the Woods" last August was amazing, can't wait for the next show.

Cute little community theatre! Performed in School House Rock here and came here to watch many of…read moremy friends performances while attending Carlsbad High. Although this isn't the most up to date auditorium it's quaint and holds a rich history. Many art showcases have been held here throughout the years and it just feels very family centered and down to earth. You'll definitely feel the intimacy of a show or performance when at this theatre. Loved all the shows I saw here.

The Grand Ritz is a small local theater with an intimate feel. It's smaller than the big theaters,…read morewhich makes the experience more relaxed and personal. It's my preference. There's even a rooftop lounge. There's plenty of public lots and street parking nearby, which makes getting in and out easy. There's never trouble finding parking during evening events. The theater is located downtown near some great restaurants and places to grab drinks. The concessions are simple and reasonably priced. The staff members are friendly and welcoming. They offer a variety of live events, films, comedy shows, and concerts. Check their website for upcoming events. Looking forward to returning for a comedy show.

This a a wonderful neighborhood venue. It's very accessible and they have top notch shows. This…read moreparticular night was no exception. We saw an Elton John tribute band and they were very entertaining. I always know it will be an enjoyable evening when I attend a show here. It's easy to get to and there is plenty of street parking available.

5 years later, we returned for another show. Hands down, one of my favorite things to do with my…read morekids. Prices have slightly increased, but show me one place that hasn't raised prices...am I right? This time, we opted for the later show which was a 'full dome movie'. I'd never experienced one before and it was really cool. There are different themes each month so check the schedule. The movie was about extraterrestrial life. There are two powerful telescopes outside. You definitely don't want to miss it. Free parking right across from the planetarium. Mom approved! 5 stars!

Great place for a field trip! The show was very entertaining and educating for my kids. Everything…read moreseemed very organized and clean and I love that questions get answered by a scientist at the end. Parking was easy but costs a couple of $. Plan to be back sometime.

Clean. Well run. Fun. Super easy for birthday party…read more Aiden as the host was fantastic. Great job!

I wanted to recognize one of the laser tag employees for providing an absolutely outstanding…read moreexperience. Sam was very friendly, personable, and incredibly professional. Her customer service was truly amazing. We arrived when there were two birthday parties happening making the place a bit....busy. However, Sam made my small party of 3 feel welcomed & included. She took the time to explain everything clearly and kept the atmosphere fun. Although Sam was amazing, I also have to say that I was able to witness the other employees and how well they took care of the birthdays. They were patient, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care that every guest was having fun and felt included. It's rare to come across a whole team who puts that much effort and enthusiasm into their job, and it made our visit memorable. Thank you for the amazing service and positive attitude. Employees like this are a huge reason people want to come back. Highly recommend this place because of the exceptional staff!