The prices to see a show are absolutely outrageous! No wonder on a Friday night their premier production "Beauty and The Beast" has 90% tickets available! Who can afford $100+ for a ticket to see a play? I was looking for something to take the kids to and for myself my Husband and our Daughter, over $300?! Plus they add $30 in "fees." It just doesn't make sense, don't they want an audience? read more

The Premier theatre in Michigan.. Food good but pricey. Easy in Out..Have seen some great productions here... read more

Horrible experience. The sound system is off. We sat in the upper tier and saw a musical. There was absolutely no reason the music needed to be that loud. We couldn't hear the words to the songs because the music was so loud. The teleprompter was so small we couldn't read the words to the songs, but even if we could have, we would have miss so much action. Others were saying the same thing. The actors were GREAT, their timing was spot on! Their voices were wonderful of what I could follow. I would never go back or recommend this venue due to the sound issues. read more

It was a nice location to see Hamilton. Their employees were spot on and very helpful with people trying to locate their seats. I really appreciated that the parking garage was attached to the building. It made leaving extremely easy, and one of the quickest getaways that I've ever had after leaving a Hamilton play. There was a bit of confusion regarding the bathroom situation though. The lines were very long and it seemed like there were lines out the door, though it really was just people hanging near the wall by the bathrooms. I went to try to get a drink of water and it almost took me 10 of the 15 minutes to get through the hallway to the fountain because of the bathroom line confusion. Overall it was a great trip and super easy to find. It was our first time in town and the drive from Ann Arbor wasn't as bad as we thought it'd be. read more

Wharton Center - Hamilton again! Happy anniversary to meeee! - Performing Arts Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

I went for my second time. The first was years ago for Wicked, but this time was for my nephew's MSU choir holiday concert. My husband required wheelchair/ accessible seating. The row/section was two sections deep - plenty of room to maneuver the wheelchair. We both sat in chairs and folded the wheelchair. Staff were very friendly to us and offered to store the wheelchair off to the side. Hint - park on the second floor of the parking structure and you are on the "entrance" level - no elevator needed. I didn't see a bar on the first floor; can't remember if there is one in the upper floor. I would have looked for one, but I had to drive home. read more

Parking in front is $10.00, but you can park on other parts of campus for free. The theater isn't very big, so in this theater it does feel condensed for Hamilton. The theater is in a pretty and safe area, it's nice inside. It's easy to drive here, navigate the roads and traffic. They keep it clean throughout and it's bright in the main areas. The seats feel tight, but may have been because we were sandwiched between some pretty big people. Would definitely recommend coming to shows here though. It's one of our favorite venues. read more

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This will be the last time we will ever visit. We drove from Grand Rapids, spent over $ 200 on tickets to a show. It took over 40 minutes to park our car because of the inadequate parking options. Literally 40 minutes from the road outside of parking ramp to a parking spot. Traffic on Campus was light, It was not a game day and it was a matinee show. We missed show time by 2 minutes. We were told, "We are contractually obligated to make you wait 24 minutes, but go stand by that monitor until that time passes." The monitor was tiny and you could not hear a thing. What a ridiculous set up. So disappointing, but so typical of MSU. THINK TWICE BEFORE BOOKING TICKETS TO THIS PLACE. FIGURE IT OUT MSU. read more

Super easy to find & park for an event. Easier than some other larger venues I have been to in the past. Easy layout, plenty of bathrooms so the wait wasn't too long before or after the show. read more

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My mother, sister and I came to the Wharton Center last night to see a performance of the musical Wicked. It was fantastic! The stage scenery, costumes and lighting were some of the best I've ever seen. The actors were phenomenal. Sometimes it was a bit loud and the actors belted out the songs. It was hard to hear the words to the numbers. The theatre itself is huge. We were in the front part of the balcony. Not even the cheapest seats at $69.00. The main floor seats were way too pricey for us! I don't know if prices vary for different shows, but I later learned that the Wharton Center has a Wicked Lottery for day-of performances. Get there 2 1/2 hours early for a chance to score up to two $25 seats. The only things I did not like were 1) there is no center aisle. The rows are really long and the people in the center have to navigate around people already seated. Quite a few people arrived after the 7:30pm start time. 2) Getting out of the theatre was a bit like herding cattle. There is only one exit and everyone is heading for the parking deck. Once we made it to our car getting out wasn't so bad. Parking is $5. You can get to it off Shaw Lane or Wilson. There is a walkway from one of the levels directly into the theatre. I highly recommend seeing a show here; just get your mom to pay for it ;-) like my sister and I did! read more

We have always had a good time at the Wharton from way back when our son was only 5 or 6. We always sat Main Floor, back row. That way our son could stand on his seat to see over people's heads! I'm wishing & hoping that Kristen Chenowith is still pinning to be here this spring read more

Thank God for Wharton... I only wish that there were more than one or two big plays or musicals that came through per year... Menopause The Musical does NOT count!! I guess it is Lansing/East Lansing though.... definitely not a "must stop" town for all the national tours. Wharton could use a little bit more ambience and better lighting, but the building itself serves it's purpose. read more

I attended yesterday's 2 PM performance of Frozen, which is the first day that they had a matinee show and evening performance, and interesting for the roles that are being shared are the roles of young Princess Anna and Elsa the girls that share the roles, for Princess Anna are Victoria Hope Chan and Olivia Jones, and for the roles of Princess Elisa are Natalie Grace Chan, and Arwen Monzon-Sanders, and being shared is the role of Sven which are Evan Strand and Collin Baja. And was it great they give you the performances they are all these shared roles that being played by which performer, so the ones that were in yesterday's matinee performance, will be doing the show tonight, and the other 2 that did last night's show are in for the show which should just be if not already over by the time this gets posted. But in the shared roles for yesterday's show was Victoria Hope Chan, and Natalie Grace Chan, and Evan Strand in the role of Sven. Also interesting to see that Caroline Bowman who plays the adult Elsa and Austin Colby that plays Hans are husband and wife to each other. Frozen is now playing until February 6th which is next Sunday, so if your anywhere in Michigan and have girls into Frozen, if you haven't by now get them into see the show before it leaves next Sunday. read more

Came here to see TAO: Phoenix Rising on a Sunday afternoon around 3pm. Pretty full house, and the Cobb Great Hall was a great space to house the performance. Great acoustics, and the seats are pretty comfortable, and plenty of leg room (unless you're over 6' tall). We sat in the orchestra section in Row N, and the had a non-obstructed view of the stage, but couldn't see facial details. If it's paramount that you see faces, then you'll definitely have to sit in Rows AA-H. Tickets were a good price, and if you're a MSU student, you qualify for discounted $15 tickets. Otherwise, they'll be $25 and you'll have to pay a facility fee. Something to note: If you reserve online, you'll have to pay both convenience and facility fees. You can also order by phone, and that'll waive the convenience fee. Though the design of the center is a bit dated, it's still nicely designed and comfortable to look at. Easy to get to, plenty of parking in the attached lot (which is $5 flat rate), and clean restrooms. I liked it here very much, and wouldn't mind coming back here again to see another show. read more

We had balcony seats so I can attest that the acoustics in this place are pretty awesome. Outside of that, this place is so incredibly unorganized. We ordered our tickets online and paid for the e-tickets. On these e-tickets, it said to arrive at least a half hour before the show as it is difficult to find parking. We aren't familiar with the area so we did just that. When we get inside, the doors are not open and it is approximately 15 minutes before the start of the show. We walk to the refreshment stand and get a couple of beverages. When they finally open the doors at nearly show time, we get through the door when someone tells boyfriend that he cannot have an open drink in the auditorium. This was NOT the person who scanned his ticket, mind you, but someone inside the theatre. There wasn't a clear communication on this. The show started late; however, this gave us time to move down the aisle as we were sitting directly above a few college kids with some serious body odor issues. Here is my biggest complaint: the single set of steps for the balcony land at the same point as the exit for the mainstage. This is where the t-shirts and souvenir table was set up. There was no alternate exit to get out. Everyone from both floors exited in the same spot stopped by this clog of a t-shirt booth. The t-shirt booth could have been off to the other side of the steps so that people would not get so clustered there and it would not be nearly as dangerous for the large number of elderly people that were at this specific show. read more

The Wharton Center for performing arts is located on the campus of Michigan State University. A great place to catch some broadway touring productions in the local area. I've been able to see some great performances here that include, The Book of Mormon, Billy Elliot the Musical and Beauty and the Beast. Each performance, I was able to have a good view of the stage and understood the story line. A good place to watch a show! The reason why I gave them a 4-star rating is simply because of the seating arrangement. The first floor orchestra is probably the only good seat in the house. The balcony is very far from the stage, and the back rows of the orchestra are too far back to even see simple dance movements. The Wharton center does great in bringing high quality shows to East Lansing! However, if they would change their seating a bit to make it more accessible, it would make it a top-notch performance venue. read more

Attended opening night for Wicked performance 6/27/12 at the Wharton Center. Wicked is a musical which takes place prior to the familiar Wizard of Oz story. Elphaba (the wicked witch) was outstanding! Glinda (the good witch) played her part very well, athough her singing was not over the top as expected, so I was a bit disappointed with that. The cast we saw two years ago was more talented. Overall, Wicked is very entertaining as a timeless story with friendships, romance, and comedy blended nicely together. It is a must see. The Wharton Center offers refreshments that are reasonably priced - yogurt pretzels, nut mix, candy, soda, coffee, bottled water priced at $1-3. The air conditioning felt very cold prior to the performance, but the theatre was pretty warm at the end of the evening. You may want to bring something to keep you warm at the outset. We parked in the second floor of the parking garage which is on the same floor as the Wharton Center. It was very convenient for entering and exiting by foot (no stairs), but you will still have a bit of a traffic jam driving out. Check your email before you head out as Wharton provides suggestions on where to park and any information on construction. read more

Wharton Center is a great venue. I have been here to see performances as well as to perform myself as a member of various MSU music ensembles. I have seen Ben Folds here as well as Rent and Mamma Mia!. Most recently I returned to East Lansing to see the Spartan Marching Band perform as part of Spartan Spectacular, and it was fabulous. I love sitting in the balcony. As other reviewers already mentioned, there is no center aisle, which can be a major pain if you need to squeeze past a lot of people. For this reason I always try to get seats near the end of an aisle. I did notice the building is under quite a bit of construction -- I can't wait to see what improvements they make the next time I am in town! Tip: Wharton offers discounted student tickets to many events, so if you're unsure, CALL or just show up at the box office and ask. They are usually quite a bit cheaper. read more

The Wharton Center is a large theater attached to MSU, and it puts on everything from college productions to professional productions to one man shows and celebrity stand ups. I visited the Center to see their production of Kinky Boots with my sister and sister in law. They have a very strict no photography policy. My sister in law took a photo of her program and was asked by an usher to put away her phone and warned that if she took a photo of the stage, they would ask her to delete it. One tip I have: There is a ladies room tucked under the large staircase you walk up to get to the center. During intermission of a play, there is a line out the door for the coat check ladies room which only has 4 stalls. Go downstairs, swing around under the stairs and you'll find a dozen empty stalls all waiting just for you. The audio design could use some work. The music and lyrics never really get loud, never quite to the point where the swells make your heart swell with the music. That's always my favorite part, having the audio design guide my mood. This failed to move me as much. read more

Now my review is based on my two experiences from 2005-2006 but seems like the place hasn't changed. Of course being a student you pass this building, so I was excited to attend a musical performance there when Hairspray came. The theatre is great and we had cheap seats being students and had a great view. The seats themselves were comfy and the performance was great. :) My second experience was in a different theatre in the Center when I graduated from my program in June of 2006. We parked in the parking structure and the theatre was in nice shape. I also walked on stage so that's a plus ;) I was glad I was able to attend a performance in here though before graduating because it was a great time. read more

Michigan State has many amazing venues that are primarily used for their athletics programs but also serve as entertainment venues for conferences, concerts, and much more. Jenison Fieldhouse, Breslin Center, MSU Auditorium, and Spartan Stadium can do the job but nothing like Wharton. This place has only been around a few years as you'd probably notice the modern design of the building. I've been here for a few conferences as well as the Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students (CIUS) ethnic show the last five years. The acoustics and structure of the venue is top-class. The ticketing booth counter is rather small for a venue that size and for the CIUS show, they were strict about no re-entry. Sometimes, the place doesn't feel that ordered and regulated. There aren't too many other issues but I guess that depends on the show. I'd assume they have some standard policies and some other policies that slightly change based on what program the venue is hosting. Overall, it's the newest of the big venues on campus and definitely the "classiest". A lot of programs come by over the course of each calendar year. Check out their website for events. Whether you're a student or a local, you have to come to at least one event hosted at Wharton!! read more

Great venue with perfect sightlines and sound system. Hope to come here again soon to hear more shows!

I have seen many shows, musicals etc... such as kudos drums one world tour, The Lion King - If you get a chance to see this you are going to want the isle seat, I was fortunate to have a wife that had enough foresight to purchase these awesome seats. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Very cool this was one of my serious play I have seen to date and if that is not it I would have to say it felt like my first serious big boy play. Celtic Family Concert Cathie Ryan - She was awesome we purchase a CD as well and it was a good experience and a good time. read more

I can't afford to go very frequently, but when I do I'm never disappointed. Lansing is crazy lucky to have a performing arts venue like Wharton Center. read more

Great performances but the seats are so uncomfortable. I often find things that I want to see performing here but am unwilling to pay the price for the tickets knowing that I will be uncomfortable for 2+ hours in their seats. read more

Lucky for me, I have been a local to Michigan State University all of my life. Almost every Broadway show I have seen has been at the Wharton Center. In my opinion, Wharton gives an exact taste of the atmosphere you would have in a New York City theatre. It is a fancy, yet welcoming environment that is the perfect way to spend an evening. The Wharton Center also gets many of the most popular shows on a national tour. Every seat in the house is a great one, and ticket prices range but you can definitely have a night out at a decent price. And as an MSU student, I love the $25 student tickets! I encourage all Michigan theatre fans, locals and from afar, to come. It's the closest thing to Broadway in Michigan!! read more

Wharton Center undoubtedly impacted my life. My entire childhood and teen years were spent going to see shows, plays, musicals, attending events and even, on occasion, performing at Wharton Center. Touring Broadway musicals grace their stages, well known musicians and singers give concerts. My exposure to performing arts at Wharton Center gave me an immense appreciation for the arts which I still have to this day [cue nostalgic music and a thoughtful glance into the distance]. My mom still goes to see all of the touring shows in the Great Hall and the occasional MSU performance or musical. read more

In the mood for a good Broadway show or concert? Look no further than MSU's Wharton Center. I recently came here with a couple to see a touring company of Jersey Boys. All I can say it was fantastic! Yeah Wharton! Be aware tickets are not cheap, but they are never cheap for any broadway show. the best ticket price I got was 38 bucks per ticket. We were all the way up in the second to last row in the theater, but we still had a great view of the stage and we could see everything! I now just realized if you are an MSU student you can get 2 tickets for 25 dollars with your student ID. YEA WHARTON!!! read more

Saw the Adam's Family today. Good show, Great venue!!

Love the Wharton, hate the ridiculous "convenience fees" they charge to buy tickets online. $23 to buy 3 tickets online? $15 to buy them over the phone. You can get away with only paying $2.50 per ticket ("theater restoration fee") if you actually walk in to the Wharton and buy them. This gets charged over and above any other fees on EVERY TICKET SOLD. Why don't they just add the fee to the advertised ticket price so buyers know what the bottom line is? read more

This amazing venue makes any performance more enjoyable. The Great Hall is absolutely cavernous with beautiful decor. The newly remodeled facade is stunning. They attract the best of Broadway, as well as very interesting speakers and off-key events. The student staffers are very friendly and courteous. Tickets are sometimes free for students (for selected speaker series), but usually are not cheap. It's often worth it to save money buy buying seats on the sides, since the view is never obstructed, but the seats in the back of the second tier are a bit far for comfort. Beware of extra costs (e.g. "restoration fees" and "convenience charges") tacked on per ticket. read more

Great venue. I've seen a couple of shows here and had a great experience every time. They always get great Broadway shows to come perform there and I'm constantly looking forward to seeing what they'll bring in next. read more

My review may get filtered out because I work here, but as someone who has been (and still is) a long-time patron and donor, I have to say it doesn't get much better than Wharton Center. The best national tours right from Broadway (I've seen many, many shows on Broadway and then again at Wharton, and I can unequivocally say the calibre of production and performers is equally stellar). Dozens of performances - mostly Sept. through May, but also starting to present more summer programming. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the venue and performance. The usher core is made up of bright, smiley MSU students who help make the Wharton experience memorable. Convenient on-site parking on the beautiful campus of MSU. No central aisle, which some people complain about, but it actually gives you lots more leg room and a better viewing experience. When the weather is nice, come early and stop by the Horticultural Demonstration Gardens and/or 4-H Children's Gardens across the street. Lots of great nearly restaurants including Sansu (sushi), Pizza House, Sultans (Middle Eastern), Beggars Banquet, Harrison Roadhouse, The State Room. read more

Ghost. Excellent performance. Sometimes the orchestra overpowered the vocals but overall worth the experience.

We've seen everything from children's theater to jazz to lectures to broadway musicals. A beautiful facility with several performance areas. Given the auditorium layout- long, long rows with no center aisle- you may want to seek seats near the ends of rows if you need an easy exit for intermission. Parking is in the attached indoor ramp for $5. read more