Akron Civic Theatre

Went for the Pink Floyd tribute band's charity concert for the Akron Children's Palliative Care Unit.. Great place. So much history there. Every single person that worked there was BEYOND nice and accommodating. We stopped on the main stairs case for a few pictures on our way out and a sweet lady offered to get one of all of us. She actually got like, 4 of them for me!!! It was super appreciated that she just came up and offered to do it for us!! The ushers were great, even the security at the doors were way nice. Totally can't say a bad thing about the place except maybe that it could have been a little cooler inside.. Bathrooms were very clean. They also have some super old furniture in the hallways that is really neat to see... Definitely would go back for another event. Thank you, Akron Civic Theatre!!!

What a great venue! This is a very historic location and very well maintained. An awesomely ornate interior. We were here for a concert from Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone and enjoyed every minute. The staff were friendly and extremely accommodating.

The Theatre was easy to get to and the employees were kind. The musical, Newsies, was excellent. I would certainly consider attending another show at this location.

Beautiful theater. I saw Josh Gates there and it was a very hot day but it was very warm in there and I wish the sound was a little louder but overall a great experience.

Akron Civic theater is beautiful and ornate. I had been in the main theater before, but this was my first time at the Knight's stage. Rodgers and Co, a Tribute band to Bad Company performed. I had a front row seat. It was a very nice theater setting for an amazing band of very talented musicians.

It’s a pretty theater but also pretty nutty. They have multiple shows going on at a time and they don’t make it clear which theater doors to go to if your aren’t there for the main feature. Long concession lines. As well.

What a beautiful and historic place to see a show! We saw the Nutcracker Suite and the view was excellent even though we weren't very close. Parking was ample in the area. I'll definitely be going back!

Beautiful old theater. Unfortunately the air conditioning was working right, causing us to cut our program short

This review is about a tour of the theater. There are a lot of stairs. Neil was our guide, and he was well informed. The building, designed by Marcus Lowe, is huge and was built over the canal. The Moorish style architecture is full of symbolism, including parrots on the carpet. In these gorgeous atmospheric theaters (moving clouds on the ceiling built in the 1920s) were popular aviaries. You could pet and talk to parrots! Since the latest fundraising campaign, money was available to open two small stages. They are for drama, poetry readings, parties, graduations, whatever is needed for a fee. The corridors are beautiful. The main auditorium is amazing. Donations are accepted for the one-hour tour, which is free.

Akron Civic Theatre is a beautiful venue. Staff was very friendly. We went to see Josh Gates. While the venue was lovely and historic I have to rate it only 2 stars. It was in the upper 90's in temperature so very hot. They did not turn on the air conditioning until right before the show. It was a very hot, humid 86 degrees inside the venue. Made it very uncomfortable. People left before the show was over. I would recommend not going there in the summer.

The Akron Civic Theater is a magical space. The seats, lighting, sound, and atmosphere was brilliant. Lots of snacks and beverages. Servers were fast, friendly and easy to navigate. Definitely returning!

I loved this historic theatre! It reminded me of the theaters in New Orleans and Black American neighborhoods that I lived in and supported through the years. The theatre has the traditional massive stair case, several floors/mezzanines, gold overlays and murals that you would find from the 1940s/1950s. The icing on the cake and surprise was that this was the stop off for Andre 3000s tour?!?!? Akron?!!? Okay..... nevertheless we braved the unknown and got a room next to the theatre to be there on time. The bar service was great and everyone was cheerful. I would have liked to see a sold out crowd, but the 70% capacity allowed us to get closer PR tickets and move closer to the action. Maybe the capacity is reflective of the location or the lack of marketing, either way I know if in either of my hometowns listed above- it would have been sold out. Keep creating Andre! And people keep supporting music and theatre, do not let a beauty such as this civic theatre be subject to corporate greed. We do not need another chain 'insert name here'.

The Akron Civic Theater is a beautiful venue with great acoustics. My daughter, her hubby and I were there to see 'Who's Live Anyway' and if anything the sound was too loud. But it was crystal clear. The seats were comfortable and the decor was pleasingly ornate. The ceiling dotted with faux stars was lovely and unexpected. There was a big line for valet parking so we opted for street parking a couple blocks away. When we got in line to enter the venue, it was long, but the process to enter was quick and efficient and before we knew it we were in our seats.

The theater is gorgeous! Plenty of security and ushers to help you find your seat. Seats are comfortable & the sound is good. Never used the restroom or got drinks, so can't speak on that. It was our first time and it was a great experience!

First time here - great experience. Saw a holiday concert. Good seats center in the middle back. Nice bathrooms. Decor all around was classic & well maintained. Temperature was right & seats were roomy. Not too crowded so that helped. Artists were ok but the venue was real nice. Parking lot had long lines but we got free street spot. Wouldn't mind coming back here again.

The facilty itself is quite nice. Seating is comfortable, acoustics are good, etc. The staff however leaves much to be desired. They seem disinterested and we had one lady be downright nasty and rude when asked for assistance.

This review is not for Akron Civic Theater but Ticket Master. I got tickets for something at Akron Civic Theater that I was not able to attend because of Ticket Master. On Dec 6th I purchased tickets thru Akron Civic Theater and was asked to transfer them to Ticket Master the same date. This was done and tickets were in my possession. On Jan 22nd I received a text message to transfer my tickets. I went on the link to look at the tickets and decided that something weird was going on. Five mins later I got a text saying my tickets were transferred and claimed by some mystery person named Roxana Matinez. Do not know this person and I did not transfer anything. Called that day Ticket Master to complain and they put in a ticket. Did not hear a word from them. Called again 8 days later still under review. Called the next day under review. Went on line ( ticket master) and chatted with a customer service person. Under review. Called Feb 1st at 9 am (Day of Concert) I was told that I needed to change my address and email and phone number on my app and to call Ticket Sales where I ordered my tickets. Called them and they told me I needed to File a complaint with Ticket Master. Called back and told them that and they filed a complaint.. So they said. Told me they would call me in a few hours with what I needed to do to get my tickets. On my way to Akron, which is 2 hours away, I called at 3:00 and finally was taken off of hold 45 mins later.. told that still under review and I would hear how to get my tickets before the 7:30 concert time. They called me at 6:30 when I was a block away from the concert hall and no one was on the line. They called me back 5 mins later.. no one on the line. I called them at 7pm and waited 42 minutes on hold spoke to someone that informed me they decided it was not fraudulent that the same devise was used for the purchase and the transfer. NO ONE spoke to me at all. I called them on 2/4 to speak to a supervisor was told they would pass it on and it would be 24 to 48 hours. I called on 2/6 since no one called me within this perimeter and was told they would put this in escalation. Here I am a full 24 hours since I called and no phone call. They do not care.. They called me a liar they did not talk to me at all. I did not get to see the concert i wanted to attend. This is all on Ticket Master and the worst customer service I have ever experienced!!!!!!!!!!!! Cyndie S

Beautiful decor. So historic. I understand that they just recently renovated the theatre. We went to the facility for our sons job orientation. Would be interested definitely in checking out their venue once they open again.

I want to see The Living Dead at Akron civic theater and had a wonderful time. The theater is very spacious and the sound quality was decent. They had many people staffed to help out. The theater also serves candy and beverages. It is located in downtown Akron, we did not have a trouble parking on the street (although it was a weekday).

Bought tickets for my wife and I to see Bob Dylan on 10/21/23 for her birthday. Showtime was 8:00 and Dylan is known to go on promptly. We arrived a little later than we would have liked, but thought we'd still make it to our seats with time to spare (we go to a LOT of concerts). To our amazement, the queue to enter the venue was still backed up out of the front doors and down the street! Upon entering, it became clear why. There was no clear system for the myriad security measures in place and the crowd was completely bottlenecked in the narrow foyer, with the Civic's generally rude and unfriendly staff trying in vain to wand, check tickets, write seat numbers on little sticky-note-like chits, lock cellphones in these mylar pouches, etc. (Dylan has a strict no cell policy). By the time we made it through this gauntlet, Dylan had already taken the stage and was playing. We walked upstairs to the balcony, where an usher told us which door to use for our section. Upon entering the theater itself, it was pitch black, and we joined yet another large group of people standing inside the door, in the balcony aisle, with no idea whatsoever how to find our seats. No ushers were present inside the theater itself. In the midst of this chaos, I suddenly became aware that I was POURING sweat. I had on a tee shirt and light jacket. I took the jacket off and was already starting to completely sweat through the tee. It had to have been almost 100 degrees in the balcony section, with no ventilation or air circulation whatsoever. Meanwhile Dylan is on his third song already and it's dawning on me that we are missing a large chunk of the show which - thanks to Ticketmaster and scalpers buying up every seat in the joint within minutes of going on sale - I paid at least three times more than face value to attend. Finally at my wit's end, I ran back out and down the stairs to where I had previously encountered the only usher thus far. I told her about the mob of lost souls in the dark with no way to locate our seats. "You're kidding", she said. "I'm not", I said. Finally she offered to help, but when we walked back into the show room, she just said, "Oh, but the show's already started. You're gonna have to wait until in between songs to get seated", and then she just walked away! At that point, my sweet wife had just about had enough and said, "that's it, follow me". We stumbled up the aisle and found a couple of seats in the sweltering darkness. Thank goodness her vision is better than mine. By some divine providence, no one ever came to claim the seats we settled into - probably because they couldn't find the damn things! Unlike seemingly the entire staff at the Akron Civic Theatre, Bob Dylan, at 82 years old, definitely showed up to work that day. He played for over two hours, putting on an incredible performance. The theater itself is uniquely ornate and beautiful, though seating is unusually cramped (even for my 6'4" frame). But the overall experience was absolutely unacceptable, especially given the inflated cost of secondary market ticket prices. I concede I am probably spoiled. I'm from Cleveland, 40 miles north, and we have an entire district of historic theaters that are welcoming, efficient, well-staffed, and climate controlled. As I creeped along through the crowded lobby toward the exit, drenched in perspiration, trying to find someone, anyone who could unlock the mylar pouch to regain access to my phone, I had plenty of time to contemplate if I would ever dare to attend another show at this aesthetically beautiful but woefully unpleasant venue.

We arrived a few minutes late. Doors locked, staff stared at us from inside. We walked away without seeing the show. Won't come here again.

Beautiful historical theatre built in 1929. Even after all the years of remolding and up dates they have still kept most of the original features. Wonderful detail throughout the enter place. First and second floor have a small concession area. They also have an elevator and restrooms are handicap accessible. Lots of parking downtown. One parking deck is just across the street. It's always a treat to visit.

Such a pretty theater! Went last night for a circus and totally enjoyed it! I was actually having more room/leg space than the previous theater I went. You don't feel packed even with so many people around you. The decors were authentic and we all had a really good time. Parking was also really easy which makes it convenient.

Made my first visit to this historic theatre. Very unique and ornate. Despite its age, it is still very functional. Strange to be packed in again after the pandemic and all but I was happy masks were required. Great location amidst all the bars and restaurants on Main Street. One knock was at the end of our show there was supposed to be a video clip played on the screen and the technicians couldn't figure it out, but they skipped it and moved on. Intimate setting and cool old school building. Glad to have finally seen it.

The Akron Civic Theatre is a great place to see a show! It's a very beautiful venue. From the unique designs on the walls to the starry sky, this is one of the nicest theaters I've ever visited. In fact, I've heard more than one performer comment on the beauty of the theater during their performance. The box office is easy to deal with, give them a call to check on prices/available tickets before buying from a third party app. I'd recommend parking in a lot down the street and avoiding the parking garage as it can take awhile to exit after a large show. There are also some good restaurants/bars in the area to check out before or after. Our favorite is Baxter's, which is right across the street. The Akron Civic Theater is great!

Beautiful theater, we've seen several shows here. It's comparable to the Palace Theatre in Canton. Lots of seating,beautiful detailed architecture inside. There are regular volunteers that you'll recognize the more you go and they are always so nice and helpful! We saw the Lightwire Christmas show this time (thanks yelp!). It was definitely different! It is so unique my daughter and I have never seen anything quite like it. Very cute story, my daughter loves the end when the baby bird was reunited with family. Sometimes it's hard to see because the lights aren't that bright but it was very enjoyable! As for downtown and even getting to the theater that's another story. The construction debacle is worse than ever, there was zero signing on where to park, and after driving around and around for 15 minutes trying to find parking, we had to navigate where to even be able to walk to get to the front entrance. (There was no space at all for us in the back, which may have had better accessibility to entering the building) That was not fun! We almost left in frustration (I'm glad we didn't) I would love to update this review soon saying parking and walking conditions have improved when they finally do!

The most beautiful building in downtown Akron. I've seen several shows at this theater and the aesthetics never cease to amaze. They are currently restoring the ceiling in the main lobby and it's so cool to see the completed versus the untouched portion of the ceiling restoration. It's a great place to see a production, especially if you don't want to deal with the chaos of downtown Cleveland. The never ending construction in downtown Akron makes getting to the Civic a bit confusing, but it's worth the trip. I also had the opportunity to attend a yoga class in the lobby of the theater and it was such a unique experience.

This was my first visit to The Akron Civic theatre. Visited for a concert and while our tickets stayed loge it was really just the balcony, so that was a little deceiving based on what we typically know a loge to be. The balcony view was good and the theatre itself seems to have been well maintained. The twinkling stars and clouds which I have now learned from reading is considered an atmospheric theatre is cool and added a unique vibe to the production. Parking was beyond confusing and honestly better signage around the theatre for directions to lots would have been welcomed. A nice addition to the chaotic construction occurring in Akron would be to add a connecting lot to the theatre. Plan your trip wisely to make time to park or you will be disappointed.

Akron Civic Theatre has got to be one of the proud fixtures in Akron. The people saved a very fine monument to the arts. Garage parking is just one block away - convenient and inexpensive. There is The Lockview across the street serving delicious grilled cheese sandwiches and other pub-grub foodies and cocktails. Living in Columbus, I am always a fan favorite of these great, old venues. Attending the arts, whether a connoisseur of the plays or symphony, rock n roll or country concerts (I saw Tedeschi Trucks Band; perfect acoustics), this theatre should be great. What made me take a step back was how the beverage consumption are run. Beverages for in-seat viewing is allowable. And at the concert I attended the fragrance that is unconditionally recognizable, weed, was prevalent. When the house lights came on at the end, cans, cups, and such were not only on the aisle floors but strewn about tables, in the restrooms and such. Partying pre-concert, during and afterwards doesn't make the Akron Civic Theatre a dumping ground. Sheesh! What a shame to see that. I didn't ruin my experience. Just saying. Take in a show at the Akron Civic Theatre. Very nice place to sit for a couple hours and melt into the arts.

Akron is indeed a small town BUT if you take a minute to look around there are a few gems tucked in tight here and there. That being said, the Akron Civic Theatre is by far one of the most beautiful features this town has to offer, But Jeff I'm standing outside and I'm none too impressed! Well well well my friend step right on inside and be prepared to be taken back in time by the whimsical beauty you are about to behold. Built in 1929 it is ONE!! of sixteen remaining atmospheric theatres left. Atmospheric theatre you ask!!?? Yup that's right kiddo atmospheric!! To give you an idea imagine you're inside a beautiful theatre and you look up and see a starry night sky with wispy clouds floating on by. GET OUTTA TOWN NO WAY!! Yes way my friend. The theatre was designed by then famous theater architect John Eberson. He had a vision to make the auditorium resemble a night in a Moorish garden and I gotta say the dude delivered, and that's just the auditorium!! Upon entering the entrance and lobby you will be greeted with European antiques, Italian alabaster sculptures and Mediterranean decor. A place like this really makes you appreciate the craftsmanship and talent from a different era. Standing there looking around you might think to yourself am I actually in Akron Ohio? And the correct answers to that my good sir is.... Dam right you're in Akron. Cheers!

The theater was unique and beautiful although very uncomfortable if tall. We went to see Legally Blonde which was excellent, however the experience was marred by incredibly rude staff. They were yelling at us as well as other employees and to top it off, none of the toilets flushed!

This is a great place to see a show. The whole theatre has been repaired and is up to date. Really enjoy there bands.

Great facility. The city isn't much but parking garages are within walking distance and are free nights and weekends! Huge surprise. Don't look for many restaurants and bars though we counted three they were jammed as we were waiting for the Jim Gaffigan show. The theatre is very old but very comfortable. Lots of restroom stalls and like most theaters drinks and snacks are no longer sold close to launch time. 4 stars our of five stars based on facility and experience NOT downtown feel and limited options.

The absolute best thing about Akron, Ohio is this theatre, The Akron Civic Theatre. However, the Theatre management really need to open up the employee parking lot to handicapped individuals! As it is now, that lot is closed to everyone except employees during show nights, and security and management seem to turn a blind eye, or ignore the seriousness of the situation--when someone with physical limitations or because of age, needs to get to the theatre. Almost every show I want to see here I do not go to because I have a friend with physical limitations and it's not possible to just "drop her off" out front as the website states, so it's just unpleasant to think about the hoops we have to jump through to get there. Having even just a few handicap spots in the employee lot would at least give us a chance, but as it is now there are no options, or very few options (which make for an unpleasant experience from the get go). The option stated on the website to go to the numerous parking decks around town (which all have handicapped parking), is just not feasible, because of distance (too far to walk), and especially in inclement weather.

Theater is beautiful, no question. But the ushers are terrible. They sent me to 3 different seating sections, causing me to think people were sitting in our seats. It was a complete joke. It turns out the box office double-ticketed our seats so we weren't able to sit in the seats I purchases. Thank goodness the play wasn't sold out because then I would have totally been ticked off. These ushers need to know the theater layout and sections like the back of their hand, and the box offices needs to stop double ticketing. I won't ever go back to that theater.

What a great event. Livewire. Yes from AGT. Ty yelp. A great family event and an awesome performance. The Civic theater is such a nice place to see any event . Not a bad seat to be had. A great cast and s heartfelt story for Christmas.

The theater is decorated nicely. Parking is next to and in the rear of the theater. You may enter the theater from the back or front. The line is usually long if you go through the back, and you will have to be escorted to the front to pick up your tickets if you do not have them printed already. Great community theater!

Amazing. I've always loved it, but if you haven't been back since they restored it- you have to check it out! The colors are so bright and... well the whole place is fantastic. So many happy memories here. You'd never know how beautiful the interior of this place is from the outside. The civic is most famous for it's ceiling- twinkling stars and clouds that move across the ceiling! The place used to be a movie theater back in the day. It's a lot like The Fox Theater in Atlanta, but smaller. I had my dance recital here for years and years growing up. I wonder if the restoration improved the downstairs/dressing room area. I loved hanging out down there for pretty much two entire days when I was a kid, playing (and practicing when I was older) on the downstairs practice stage. In addition to dancing here, I've seen quite a number of performances over the years and 3 graduations. It's a fantastic venue for anything.

Went to see the resurrection of Steve ray Vaughn. It was fabulous. The theatre is beautiful.

I love this historical theater it's one of the few with the sky ceiling one of the rarest things you can possibly see in a theater the upkeep could be better but it's still an amazing theater to come to the prices for tickets are very cheap and everyone is very polite here it's very beautiful and every time they have something here I am more than happy to come and bring others with me is completely worth it

Beautiful and unique theatre, unlike any I had been to before. Kind of reminds me of the Beacon in NYC but even more colorful and rococo. Bartenders were very friendly, but I paid $7 for a Jose Cuervo soda, which was a bit depressing. Some security guards were lovely and chatty, others took their jobs way too seriously. Ultimately, a lovely concert experience and a very special night.

Among the most beautiful theaters I've ever seen. The Civic is stunning and in good hands. No seat has a bad view and it doesn't matter what the show is as you'll be staring at its historic and ornate walls the whole time.

I wanted to like this place more and I'm probably going to sound like a horrible person... It's old and not in a pretty historic way like the theaters in Cleveland. My husband saw Avenue Q in June and we loved the performance but we were in the last row and since it was on the stage and the performers didn't seem to be elevated, I couldn't see much. I would have much preferred being in the theater seats. Perhaps this is an Avenue Q thing or something...but I wasn't a fan of that and it made the performance less enjoyable.

This is the coolest building I have ever been in, the woodwork is outrageous. As with most old venue's there is no leg room and th air conditioning is questionable. Drinks were reasonable priced. The interior is a must see but if your taller than 5"5' you won't be very comfortable.

We walked in and not realized it was the VIP area and was greeted by a rude woman so rude and yelled at us. She asked are you VIP, we said no, then she started yelling "YOU CAN'T BE HERE, YOU NEED TO GET OUT!" several times. We were trying to tell her that we were told by the staff that works there that we can come in this way, she didn't listen and just kept yelling at us. She even yelled at the lady who opened the door for us. The rude woman was wearing a ABM t shirt. What a bad experience! Especially after you drove few hours to be here. Bad representation of Akron Civic Theater! Don't need to be so rude, is it because we are minorities????

One of 4 atmospheric theaters in the United States. Outstanding sound quality for concerts and the seating lets all in attendance enjoy the and see the production.

I was here for the Todd Rundgren "A Wizard, A True Star" show. Todd is one of my favorite artists of all time and I was hoping for a very memorable evening, especially since Akron is a bit of an inconvenient location to travel to. The Akron Civic Theater did not disappoint! The building's exterior looks like a pretty ordinary old movie theater - you maybe expect some art deco, some chrome, some winged statues inside, ho hum... but the inside is breathtaking, even by old historic movie theater standards. Absolutely fabulous!! Or, as I said to friends elsewhere, Holy Moroccan Gingerbread, Batman! Add to that the fact that the Akron Civic staff, many of whom are senior citizens and probably wouldn't know Todd Rundgren from Bobby McGee, were all super, duper nice. Unlike most of the "historic" venues I've been to, or "non rock venues hosting a one-off money maker of a rock show", none of the staff, from the door guy right down the little old lady usherettes and the young couple selling the Akron Civic posters and t-shirts, copped an attitude or acted like they were phoning it in. They seemed pretty happy to have us there actually, and it helped make the night that much more special. Also, you're allowed to take drinks to your seat, which is a bit of a mixed blessing as someone had obviously spilled Coke on the floor in my aisle and created an everlasting sticky mess, but it was still better than the places that make you stand in a mile long line for a beer and then gulp it in 30 seconds in the lobby before intermission ends. Even with all the transportation and hotel hassles, I'm very glad I saw Todd at the Akron Civic. It was a perfect setting for old hippie hijinks, and a wonderful show. The Strathmore in Bethesda, where he played a few days later, is much closer to my house, but also much more sterile, less intimate, and less playful. I would also add that the Akron Civic is very convenient to hotels and parking - you can find both within a few short walking blocks.

Akron Civic Theater is one of Akron's gems. The ceiling is known for it's night-time scene of twinkling starts. The decor is opulent and gilded Romantic.Opened as Loew's Akron Theatre on April 20, 1929, the Atmospheric styled and opulent theater was designed by John Eberson. Integrating Moorish and Mediterranean design, the Civic Theatre is one of the largest Atmospheric style theaters still in existence. Restored in 2000, and beautifully maintained, the renamed Akron Civic Theatre is near a larger venue, EJ Thomas Hall .It's downtown along with the Akron Aeros baseball stadium, the expanding reaches of the Univ of Akron, college bars, some great restaurants, including Thai in a spacious, old building. Akron is the home of Good Year Tire and Rubber. Another gem is Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens. I must add that Canton's Palace Theater can give the Civic a run for the money! More leg more in Canton, too!!

Great place! Beautiful an Akron treasure! The ghosts are a lot of fun to follow on facebook too. If you are looking for local entertainment high recommend.

Very nice on the eyes, The Akron Civic Theater is a breath of tradition and a break from the increasingly contemporary landscape taking over public design. Humble on the outside, hardly are you prepared for the beautiful artistry throughout the building. Everything is designed, liken to Caesar's Palace (interior clouds and night sky). Simply put, when you visit this theater, you're going to enjoy more than just the show. Have a beer, sit down, and enjoy your night.

Beautiful place! Went here yesterday to see a Led Zeppelin tribute band! Definitely coming back!

It's been my pleasure to perform several weddings at the Civic Theatre. The staff goes above and beyond to make everything run smoothly. The facilities are outstanding and provide an elegant backdrop for any ceremony.

Went to see Buddy Guy and Jonnie Lang last week with my wife. The Theater is beautiful on the inside. I will give it that. The problem for me was the fact that the seats ( we were in the middle balcony) were made for a person who is 5' tall. I am 5' 9" and I was so cramped it was miserable. It was also very hot. We asked the attendants about putting on the air conditioning and they said it was on. By 9:45 my wife and I ( and a lot of other people) could'nt take it anymore and, sorry to say, left. The poor guy sitting next to me was 6' 2"( I asked) and was cramping up so bad he had to keep getting up every 30 min to get the circulation back in his legs. So, be forewarned!! If you are tall try another venue!!!