My first time at Villanova Theater and it was GREAT!…read more I was so excited to see half-price tickets to 'Nova's theater on Philly Funsavers! I was also thrilled to see "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for Nov because it is traditionally played in spring or summer. Grabbed a very well priced ticket, and took myself out for a mom escape night. I called ahead about parking, and was politely helped so I knew where I could and could not park (which is a PiTA on any college campus). A quick walk up to Vasey Hall (the theater's current home), and a lit marquee shows you where to enter (the side facing 30). Their lobby is standard, with professional ticket box. Ushers greet you with a program. Theater is black box style, with seating on 3 sides of the stage. I was SO impressed with the quality of acting! I wasn't sure what I'd get from a college performance, but this was major cool! I've been to other local college theater productions, and I am impressed every time. As good as local community theater (and our community theaters hire talent from all over). Shakespeare is often performed in themes, time periods, etc. to drive home a classic point with double meaning in the new context, clever duplicity, which the Bard is known for himself. It also shows the relativity of any given play's drama currency to a time or theme, because Shakespeare is always relevant (which is why he is everpopular). The director of this production did an almost all-female cast. Only three characters were male. The females playing male parts were super well done with costume, expression, mannerism, and voice. They exaggerated the machismo a bit, and a bit of chauvinism came through to me, which was so ironic because female actresses cultivated this rendition of the play. I have seen/read this play a ZILLION times, and never noticed this stance could be lifted from the text. When the Athenians are reveling at the wedding dinner, the only female who speaks is Hippolyta, and briefly. This was underscored in the 'Nova production by making the women all sit at their man's feet. This scene is always done to show the Athenian audience's thoughts on the amateur play (a reference to Shakespeare's own awareness of his audience, as well as a reference to the drama that unfolded the night before in the woods, when these lovers themselves were "fools these mortals" to the fairy kingdom, who played them silly). But this director's choice to dress Theseus like a tacky craps player, and raise the volume on the men's brouhaha manner of heckling the wedding play, was further evidence of machismo superiority, which I have never before seen emphasized as such in other productions (all of which did their own unique take on the play). This is what I love about Shakespeare! Additionally, this director took the Titania-Bottom scene allll the way there, per the references in prose. Never saw that either. Oh la la! So funny! Oh, and I can't be sure, but when Bottom gets turned into an ass, I think his hat was meant to look like a MAGA one. LMFAO! It was also interesting that the director had Bottom be a woman when a human character (normally assumed to be a male), and when she turns into an ass, she becomes a man (with a MAGA hat). Again, more innuendo, which the Bard would love, especially because this almost-all-female cast was doing the very same thing across the rest of the play. Note that in Elizabethan times, only males were allowed to act, so all the female roles were done in drag. 'Nova's reverse gender bender is yet another layer of twist, totally characteristic of the Bard's canon. I am an avid Shakespeare fan, and I thoroughly enjoyed this performance! No one can replace Christian Bale for my Demetrius, nor Lloyd for Puck (Evan Matthew Cohen in a "Malcolm in the Middle" episode), but the 'Nova cast did a hella great job just the same! I can't wait to go back to see more from Villanova Theater! Look up the famous quotes from "A Midsummer Night's Dream," you will find familiar lines you hear often in pop culture... and they're over 420 years old! Shakespeare was the man!

A little known gem! High quality theatre at an affordable price on the Main Line. They produce a…read morewide range of plays and musicals. Free parking in the VU Main Lot @ Lancaster & Ithan Avenues. Shows are on par with all professional theatres in Philadelphia (They have been nominated for over 50 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre since 1995), but the cost is much more reasonable. Perfect for an easy night out on the town, esp. with so many local restaurants nearby. Also home to a renowned graduate program where students can earn their Master's in Theatre, a graduate certificate in practical theatre, and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management. They also just launched a partnership with Ireland's National Theatre, The Abbey. Definitely worth checking out, if you haven't already!

Great sound, fantastic, intimate venue. Compliments to the gracious staff,…read more They know how to handle a crowd and treat their guests... saw the legendary Buddy Guy & was close enough to the stage that he handed me a pick. Once in a lifetime event. Thank you for hosting such a great show!

Oodles of staff!!…read more Tommy emanuel performing this evening. Staff really kept the flow of attendees moving in and out quite smoothly. Such a wonderful evening. In the end, everyone was singing along to some Beatles medley whilst Tommy emanuel played his guitar. So grateful to all that made this evening possible.

Great neighborhood venue…read more The theater is located on Route 30. There are multiple nearby parking options and restaurants. There are a confusing number of seating/standing locations for such an intimate room. All of the options are pleasant with good sightlines. The staff are helpful and grit.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I give thanks to my local music venue which has grown and gotten…read moresignificantly better with age. With my first review during the early days of 2014, I was impressed with what I saw there while being critical of what needed grounds for improvement. Now nearly ten years later I need to give due thanks to them not only for fixing the snafus that I saw but also for exceeding expectations in a lot of the other departments! The first thing I love is AMH's commitment to the local area which you see in their partnership with Ripplewood that sees them sharing a kitchen and a lot of events. But you also see it in the local acts that they bring in on a regular basis, and the exterior events that they provide the music for like outdoor shows in Suburban Square, and the big Ardmore Rock n' Ride Festival. During the pandemic, AMH helped keep my sanity by still live-streaming events like two nights of the Philadelphia Music Festival and a super fun Living Colour show. I've also grown to appreciate the the brews and food that they bring have since all the food comes from Ripplewood, and their tap list might just be the most extensive and reasonably priced that I've seen for a music venue. The main reason to go to AMH is the shows. And in the past few years I've been able to see local acts like The Dead Milkmen, Low Cut Connie, and Japanese Breakfast; and well known acts like Flock of Seagulls, Fishbone and Chameleons (UK) play here. Toss in things like dance partiea and beer festivals, and it definitely runs the full gamut of providing a good time.

During a recent work trip to Philly, we got to come here to see Million Dollar Quartet. I wasn't…read morereally sure what I was getting into but the play was amazing. I was engulfed the whole time. The theater is small but I actually think it was perfect. They have a bar and snacks to purchase beforehand and the staff were all very friendly. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest theatre in America and it's the only theatre that's been operating continuously as a theatre since it opened in 1809! I would love to see another show there.

I love that Philly has all these historical landmarks - the Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest…read moreplayhouse in the nation. I came here to see Sherlock a few months ago. The seats were not the most comfortable but were tolerable. There were empty seats that night so the staff came around to let us know that we could move up to a different row if we wanted.

On a whim I booked tickets to see "Today is my Birthday" on preview for $20. I generally am down…read morefor a theater performance but I had never been here, or even heard of it. Now that Theatre Exile is on my radar, I definitely want to come back. Small shows can end up being gems and this was one of them. The show itself was geared towards late 20's but I think anyone can enjoy it. Told through a series of phone conversations, it was an interesting play. The theater itself was easy to find. They had strict COVID restrictions that included showing your vax card and requiring to wear your mask. I think people who enjoy theater don't have a problem with this kind of request but if it does bother you, go elsewhere. The riser seating section is not very big so it's a pretty intimate setting. They had all gender bathrooms that were clean. Very close to the BSL so easily accessible to most people in the city. I can't wait for another excuse to come see a show here.

I can't say this enough for Philadelphia Theatre: Prepare to be surprised by the performances and…read morethe venues. Theatre Exile put up a great production of "Glengary Glen Ross" in Spring 2007 and the space was another hidden treasure. The cast was filled with tenured actors that gave unique performances that came together in a singular production. It was my first show with this production company and if it was at all representative of their other shows, you'll definately see me going back to see more productions in the future. The mission of this company is to "produce risky and challenging plays that contain a sense of true Philadelphian grittiness and passion" by staging both new and established works. In addition, their focus is on letting tenured and up and coming artists work their craft while trying to find themselves as theatre artists. After speaking with someone on the phone over at the Theatre Exile box office, it was confirmed that they have and will probably continue to use the theater at the Christ Church Neighborhood House at 20 N. American Street. Ready for another suprise venue like Latvian Society theater (see my review for Pig Iron Theatre Company)? Well, on the THIRD floor of this church, there is a former basketball court that has been transformed into a black box theater. Imagine, the half court line is the edge of the stage. One half of the space is a platform with folding chairs as seats (nearly 100 or maybe more), and the other half is all space for the actors to play. It was rather stunning as the bare wood frame for the building is exposed and painted black. So, now for the things to watch for: This theater is NOT handicap accesible. No elevator and a lot of walking (check to see if everyone in your party is capable of walking up several flights of stairs). Bathrooms for men are located in the basement meaning that you'll be going down four floors. Late seating is often not possible as the stage is only 5 feet away from the front row. This company is one of the major players in the Philadelphia area. Make sure you make it to a show if you're in the area. Tickets are normally priced between $15-$40 and there are discounts available for students/seniors as well as Philly FunSaver discounts.

PARKING: They are now charging $30 per car to park at this venue. It has always been…read morefree...but...new management. You can buy a parking pass online prior to the day of the show for $25. You are able to tailgate in the parking area...we brought some wawa hoagies and drinks to consume before going inside. We should've brought some lawn chairs to sit on while tailgating. Highmark is the new owner of the The Mann. They did some sprucing up inside and it looks great! The staff were all very nice and helpful. We enjoyed the show that we went to see. I did not get anything to eat but I got one drink...the large can of Bud Light Seltzer...for $19.80. Definitely the most i've ever paid for one of those. You can bring in with you: one sealed bottle of water or an empty vessel for water. My friend brought ice in her vessel and they didn't even look inside.

I came here for a Yelp event featuring BalletX, and overall I had a good experience. I think this…read morevenue really shines in the summer when it's hosting concerts and outdoor performances. The setting is one of its biggest strengths. Since it's farther from dense residential areas, it feels like the kind of place that can really embrace large-scale outdoor events without worrying too much about noise. The lawn area in the back is especially nice. There's a gentle hill where people can spread out blankets, have a picnic, and enjoy the show. On a nice evening, it's a great atmosphere. For ballet and classical performances specifically, I had more mixed feelings. Outdoor venues naturally don't have the same acoustics as traditional concert halls or theaters, and I found myself wishing I could hear the orchestra more clearly. The performance itself was wonderful, but you lose some of that rich resonance and echo that makes live classical music feel so immersive indoors. The venue offers the usual snacks you'd expect, including popcorn, fries, sodas, and other basics. Nothing particularly memorable, but enough if you want a quick bite during a show. The seating is pretty straightforward. Standard plastic theater-style seats that get the job done. I also appreciated the large screens and production technology. For an outdoor venue, everything felt modern and well organized, and the screens helped make sure everyone could follow along even from farther away. My biggest concern was accessibility. I noticed quite a few older guests struggling with some of the stairs and inclines while finding their seats. It made me wonder how difficult the experience might be for visitors with mobility challenges. There are accessible seating options, but depending on where you're sitting, navigating parts of the venue could be challenging. Overall, I enjoyed my time here. It's a beautiful outdoor venue with a relaxed atmosphere, great picnic space, and solid event infrastructure. I probably wouldn't choose it over a traditional theater for ballet or orchestral performances, but for concerts and summer events, I can absolutely see why people love it. One final piece of advice: bring bug spray. Trust me on that one. Also, there's like a venue tsa out front, be patient lol

This venue reminded me of a music festival I went to decades ago (Purple Door). It's a wonderful…read moreoutside venue with great acoustics. It can accommodate a lot of people without making you feel cramped and you can actually enjoy the music. Went to see Jimmy Eat World with a friend and it was AMAZING. Thrice and Hey Mercedes opened for them. It was an unbelievable show and they are so good live. Will definitely be back here.

I went to the Skyline Stage for a sold out show. Getting into the venue was easy…read more After passing through security, there were lots of food stands I was pumped to see that one of the stalls offered the Legendary Burger (a vegan burger created by graduates of HBCUs). The burger at the venue is typically served with cheese. No biggie, I thought, just don't put cheese on one. I asked for it without. The lady at the register said she would need to grab a manager because it comes with cheese on it. The manager informed me that she would see what she could do because the grill person was in a mood. The feeling I got was that this would inconvenience the griller. She came back, told me she had taken care of it but that it would be a bit longer of a wait. About seven minutes later I had the burger in hand and it was so good! I made my way to the lawn to see the show and it was only then that I realized that my not arriving early and dilly dallying with food had created a huge issue. I couldn't actually see the band easily from any of the remaining spots. My wife and I squeezed into a spot that allowed me to bounce between the stage and the huge tv screen but she had to rely solely on the tv screen to see the show. Considering what tickets cost, I was a bit annoyed that a concert venue would have such poor sightlines. It's not all annoying. The Skyline Stage is cool because it is outdoors and has a great view of the city. The sound and ambiance are incredible. But, because of the poor sightlines, I probably won't return here for another show.

Great place to watch a movie. They have some movies that are different and not your usual…read more"blockbusters."

Great independent theater. I love that they show films that aren't usually played by the major…read moretheater companies. The staff were all very friendly. Concessions prices are reasonable. Ticket price is a reasonable. The seats are old-school, not like the new recliners, but still very comfortable. What's a beautiful location