California Theatre Of The Performing Arts

The theater is well maintained and clean. My only reason for the 4 stars is because I wish they offered snacks at the bar. We went to a show an hour early at 6pm and by the time we left, it was 10:20pm. Popcorn, crackers, peanuts, or chips would at least hold off the hunger. I understand the theater is trying to keep the place clean and minimize the noise during performances so they can't offer too much food items. Maybe have a section or patio where people can eat before the show, just a thought.

This is a great venue with not a bad seat in the house. Two story building. I've seen 4 different shows here, and they've all been excellent performances. Concessions include: beer, wine, simple cocktails, soda, water bottles, candy, chips, and cookies.

June 28, 2025 was my first time in this Theater. I really liked it. Swan Lake performed by Boston Ballet was fabulously beautiful with the magical music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky. I feel gratitude to God for the opportunity to see this beauty.

I took my daughters to see the Nutcracker. The venue is stunningly gorgeous! Very clean... I can't imagine dusting this place, but it was cleaned very well. The restrooms were well stocked and also clean, there was plenty of stalls and sinks to wash your hands. The neighborhood and surrounding area outside of the theatre was a little sketch, but the actual theatre and staff themselves were very kind and nice. I would consider going back here to watch a play or performance again. OH and parking, we parked across the street in the parking garage!

Went to see Blue man group. Great fun in This beautiful theater. They host some of the most amazing performances you can see anywhere. The upcoming season looks to be one of their best ever. If you like live theatre then I recommend you treat yourself to a night at the California Theatre for the performing arts.

I was very impressed with the theater. It's well maintained in practically every way (as far as an outsider like me knows of course). The only negative thing would be the neighborhood. Just be aware of everything around you. Seriously. Especially at night. The parking structure is just across the street and relatively well lit. Just watch your back. The venues are pretty cool, we went and saw the Blue Man Group. Despite it being a smaller show they still put on a fun performance. Was kinda let down a bit but I was just going off from what I've seen in videos and the shows I've seen there are from Vegas so my expectations were a bit too high. Had fun nonetheless. The theatre: The staff are professional, polite and welcoming. Overall this place is awesome and I'll be coming back again as soon as I find a venue.

My daughter and I went to see Matilda last night at the theater, this was our first time there. I wasn't expecting much because I knew that it was an old theater and it hasn't been refurbished or anything in a long time, but that was actually one of the things I really loved about the theater was it's more nostalgic, vintage feel. Even the show's overall production value wasn't necessarily bad, but what made the experience not so great was the audio. I wouldn't normally call out anyone specific for things like this, but the theater really needs to invest in a better audio engineer. The voices were all over the place. Levels were not equalized appropriately, all the low end was taken out of the voices and music so it just sounded like these really empty and Hollow voices that had no carry on them, which is a huge issue when you're talking about children's voices being mixed in with adults. I literally couldn't understand 80% of the dialogue that was being spoken, or the words from the songs. Additionally, the music was on a track obviously not an ensemble, but even with that fact the music was so low that the voices just overpowered it and so you had this strange Dynamic of not being able to hear anything the voices are actually saying, but only being able to hear the voices at the same time. Overall, it just created an experience that was less than. I'm hoping since this was our first visit that it was just a one-off because my daughter really wants to come back and see Frozen and I'm all about giving places second opportunities to see if experiences are flukes or not. So that's why my rating is right in the middle. It was a good experience for all the things that I didn't necessarily care about at the end of the day and it was a less than good experience for the main entertainment.

It's one of those old but very nice theaters. This was my first time visiting, and I was not expecting much, but once I entered the building, it took me back in time. Parking is in the front and in the back. We parked in the back

Show: Narnia Seats: 10/10 Production: I have PTSD from this show I'm a huge theater and musical fan and honestly this was pretty disappointing. I'm trying not to be too harsh as most of the actors are young and it seems more like a community theater pulled together. It's just with $80 a ticket, you can't blame me too much for being super disappointed with the production. First off, no physical tickets, which is pretty normal. The pamphlets they handed out were just paper printed in black and white, so much that you can barely see what's on the paper. It was a bit disappointing to not have a souvenir for after since we did pay $80 a ticket ($160 for me and the husband) so I was expecting a bit more into the budget. It's not a deal breaker for me to not have a nice souvenir, but the return I got was just not it. Honestly it seems the budget went mostly into the costumes and props, but not much anything else. Now regarding why I'm so disappointed with the play. First off, Narnia has some of the most beautiful soundtracks and music in all the movies I've ever seen. Why was only one song used? They used songs from Lord of the Rings and other movies, but why not use Narnia music if you're putting on Narnia? Imagine our shock when we heard "May It Be" from Lord of the Rings instead. Also whoever was in charge of the script, please read the books again or watch the movie again. One of the most disappointing parts from the play was when all the Pevensie children make it into the wardrobe and realize Narnia exists. It's supposed to be a moment of wonder and take everyone into something surprising. Susan and Peter just walk out of the wardrobe, didn't even pretend to look around, and Peter just immediately apologizes, taking about the climax of the scene. The best part about this theater is the cleanliness and the free parking structure. It's also small enough that you can get a good view in any seat. But everything else was so disappointing for $80 on the ticket. I've been to small production theaters that were only half that price and had me leaving with stars in my eyes. We left this theater with PTSD

Small local performing arts theatre. My friend and I drove out here to see "Misery" there was a ton of traffic driving this way, so we were very late. Its ok. Watching the last part was still good enough. They did a great job. I was not able to see much. It's located way out in San Bernardino. I would stop by again if there is a good play on.

Cleanliness 3 Costs 4 Cuisine na Customer Service 4 We came to see The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe play. Lots of young actors. They did a great job. The area this theater is in is a little sketchy.

We had a great time! The staff was kind and helpful. We also really enjoyed this play. The actors and set designers are very talented!

Took our daughter to see a Harry Potter play for her 18th birthday. It was a nice event that created quality time with family. They sold snacks/drinks and kept us entertained. A cozy place that provided something different to do.

We've been to this theater before. We went recently to watch another play, The Little Mermaid on 4/22/23. Entry was quick as I had our tickets ready on my phone to enter. We sat up in the nosebleed seats, literally the wall was behind us, but it still had a great view. The only issue for my girls was that the railing got in the way of their view. Other than that, everything was great. Definitely an older theater, but it's great to have local plays available so we can take our young girls to appreciate the fine arts! We'll return again to watch more!

Popped in here a few weeks ago to see Miss Saigon. Beautiful theater, seating was spacious and overall very clean theater. Seating allowed for good line of sight to the stage. Word of caution is if you are attending a late show, place close or ensure you are in a group because when the theater doors close you are left to a ghost town like city on your way to your car.

Such a beautiful, historic theatre. Ninety-five years old!!! The balcony seats are elaborate. They look gilded. The chandelier is pretty massive. There are Degas-like murals on the side walls. The exterior left wall also has images that are protected by a Plexi-glass wall. There were carolers in the front for the event we attended. We really enjoyed this outing.

The California Theatre of the Performing Arts was built in the early 1900s (1928) and if you can get a tour of it, do that. The performances are pretty bad. The place itself is just beautiful if you like vintage theaters that have not been changed. I do, so we loved the theater. It is lovely inside and out. It is clean and well maintained. The outside neon is so pretty and the inside is decorated just as it was and is stunning. The staff is very friendly and will help you find your seats. Now, if you are wheel chair bound, I suggest you stay away. I noticed that anyone in a wheel chair is relegated to the very last row and there are only a couple designated areas and I did not see any companion seats. If I was wheel chair bound, which I will be some day I would be livid. The seats are very small and you are almost sitting on the person next to you. And heaven forbid anyone in San Bernardino have the sense to wear a mask during a Pandemic. They also don't check to see if anyone is vaxed. The place has a super cute bar area for soda and candy and it is fairly priced. I don't know about the alcohol. I am with a child. As to the performances. The Nutcracker was just a joke. This was not even a semi-professional group. And for the prices it should be. So, if you want real theater you will need to go to LA to the Pantages or many other places. This was really not good. You can also try Goldstar and try to get cheap tickets. They are not worth real professional theaters. I gave 4 stars because the place itself is, as I said, is just beautiful.

I have been a season ticket holder at the California theater in the past. I purchased tickets for the sound of music and Greece this year. My experience at the theater yesterday was very different than any experience I've ever had at this theater or any other theater. it was a Sunday afternoon matinee. There were lots of children however, the behavior of children and adults was appalling. People were getting up and standing in the aisle, which blocked the stage several times during the performance. People were making noise, eating and talking during the performance. People were getting up and going in and out of the theater during the performance. Most theaters do not allow that. People came in late. Most theaters do not allow that as well. The family across the aisle from me had a child who had blinking shoes, which was like a strobe light on my right peripheral vision during the show that family was making a lot of noise. Eating and several people in the audience brought very small children who were fussy The sound of music is one of my favorite shows and I was so looking forward to seeing it, and the behavior of the people in the theater made my experience much less than what I expected. I'm going to see Greece in a couple weeks. I certainly hope there's a different group of people at that show .

Closed the food venue way too early. reeks of cigarettes and other bad smells. and seats are very uncomfortable. would not come back.

We went there once and never got in to see the concert. It was a nightmare. Disabled elderly people, including us, were made to wait forever in the cold and no access to the restroom. The line was all the way around the back of the building. Everyone was extremely unhappy and cold. I felt so sorry for the people in their 70's & 80's. The show was delayed due to a no show at the time it was designated to begin! Due to health issues we had to leave and could no longer wait for the show to finally begin like 2 hours late!!! And they didn't want to reimburse us! We will never step back there again to this venue! The area looks pretty sketchy, as well. I'd give it zero stars if I could.

My husband and I saw "Miss Saigon" here recently. A nice venue with beautiful architecture from the early 20th century it was an enchanting performance.

I bought tickets for (Cats) now I knew already that this was just a rendition of Cats not the actual Cats Broadway. We paid 50.00 bucks a ticket which was a discount from 75.00 per ticket Score! We got there 15 mins before show time. We were able to skip the big line because we pre-purchased our tickets online. If you do this you get to go through the will call line. So much faster and no lines the lady at will call was not very friendly or helpful. She looked and acted like she did not want to be there. We got inside where a few very friendly staff members who helped us find our sets. The sets were ok but very small you are seriously touching the person next to you. (1 star taken away for seats) The theater is clean and well taken care of. Now on to the production of Cats All the actors and actresses were dressed in great costumes and make up was on point! The stage/set was awesome it even had pyro effects during the show!!! Most of the production was good but they had a few problems with the quality of sound. (1 star taken away for the 3 or 4 times they had horrible sound) At times you couldn't understand any of the words to the song. The dancing was ok. Overall we had a good time. We may come back:)

This place keeps the temperature comfortable! We actually become season pass holders due to the friendliness of stuff and the way the place is not stuffy like other theaters

Just a review if you are trying to buy a ticket packet for a gift. I talked with Aaron a few times to purchase tickets for my daughter and granddaughter for "Matilda, Narnia, and Frozen." I double checked the price each time I spoke with Aaron and as soon as I decided to purchase 2 of the Orchestra seat packets @ $157.50, Aaron changed all of the prices! I reread all of the prices that he quoted me and agreed to at the beginning of the conversation (as well as the other times I talked with him) and he said, "oh that was a mistake, they are $172 and some change, which he originally said was for the "Golden Circle" packet, above the packet I wanted. So I commented, how could the prices just go up since we started this phone call? Needless to say, I was being taken advantage of and being cheated so no tickets. This is poor business and now my granddaughter will not get to see the shows, so sad!!!

The staff is amazing and the theater is classic.. It's a landmark in San Bernardino and the accustics are brilliant.Cant wait to see Beauty and the Beast this month for my Birthday.. yay..

The California Theatre of The Performing Arts,since 1928, is a Southern California landmark of architectural beauty as well as offering an eclectic array of performing arts,music,stage and community events in its stunning interior. Every performance at The California Theatre of Performing Arts is a memorable event for all who attend! The theatre still holds the vintage prestige that has made it such a popular destination for so many years for thousands of its patrons who enjoy its endearing performances. Make time to experience a performance at the California Theatre of The Performing Arts for a wonderful experience! . . . . #californiatheatreoftheperformingarts #sanbernadinotheatre #instasanberdo #californiadreaming #californiadreamin #theatre

Veeeeeeery mediocre experience here. I don't think I would've marked it 2 stars except for the fact that I paid $88 on Ticketmaster for what was a sub-par experience. For a venue that has so many musicals scheduled, you would think the sound should be the highest priority right? Well the performance I saw here sounded absolutely abysmal. The band drowned out the singers and during one song, the poor actress's microphone kept going in and out during her big number. Another instance, a hapless actor's microphone cut out for his entire part of the song so he was literally yelling to be heard over the band. There's also this weird sibilance thing going on with the speakers, which sounded old, so all the "s"s were super hissy and awful sounding. Where is the $88 going?!! But I have to say the lighting was fantastic, so that's why I wasn't totally unhappy. The performers also gave their all (although for some reason they cast someone who had never been in a show before to be in one of the more important parts and she was pretty much almost smiling the whole time in a role that is supposed to be angry). Anyway, beware if you get an email from Ticketmaster recommending your favorite show playing here. Don't get fooled like I did. Pantages prices for a Playhouse production is right. Or, if you reeeallly want to support community theatre by coming here, check Goldstar first and then set expectations accordingly.

For her first visit to a symphony, I took the lovely and gracious and radiant Mrs. Yelper to The Big Cal to see the San Bernardino Symphony. Paid $50 each for decent seats, and no regrets. Wow so that's what professional musicians sound like. Adjacent to the lobby inside the theater is a small bar (forget the name) where they sold horrifically overpriced drinks. I guess it helps pay the salaries of all those musicians. Does the triangle get the same pay same as a tuba player? Perhaps that's an imponderable. The Cal would suffer mightily if it was in LA. It's a concrete shell with fabric facades plastered around, cinder block walls inside in the back, and outside a theater facade stuck on its nose. But she's in mighty good shape for the shape she's in. And we do not want to go to LA. Perhaps The Cal was in her glory this evening because the SB Symphony tries hard to attract patrons and be accessible. It showed. Nothing like a long STANDING O for hard core musicians to make a place like this look good. Bravo Big Cal, you win Best Supporting Actor.

We saw the "Book of Mormon" production and costumes were wonderful. The volunteers were very helpful. The only issue was the free parking garage nightmare. No one knew how to get out of the garage major traffic jam.

If you are thinking about coming here to watch a show you've been dying to see - DON'T, I would not recommend it. Like someone in a previous review said, it's bad community theater at Pantages prices. I paid $80/person to watch The Little Mermaid broadway musical which performed just this past weekend. I am about to go on a rant...so long story short: it was so comically bad my boyfriend and I left at intermission. First things first, I'm not trying to knock community theater down. I get it...actors, singers, dancers, etc. have to start somewhere. It's basically a rite of passage for young, aspiring thespians. However, as a consumer, it's really disappointing to shell out a lot of money for a show and then find out that that's not the quality level of show you are going to get. I feel like I was bamboozled into thinking this was part of the legitimate national tour of The Little Mermaid. It totally wasn't and 100% blame myself for not doing thorough research before purchasing tickets. It certainly felt like it was advertised by the theater and TicketMaster as such. The national tour of The Little Mermaid was actually performing at the San Diego Civic Theater the week before this community theater production put on their performances. TicketMaster had also made no indication that it was not the same production. So I had assumed that it made sense for it to be a seamless transition of the tour performing in SD first and then onto SB. I was absolutely livid when I found out through their Yelp page that the tickets I had just purchased were not what I thought they were. I cannot understand why the theater would market their shows like this. Is it because of how empty and run down San Bernardino is that they need to bait people in like this? Unfortunately the theater and TicketMaster would not issue a refund. (not the theater's policy) They were more than happy to to give me an exchange for a different show though. I declined. We decided to still check the show out since I had already paid good money for the tickets. It was almost as bad as I had anticipated. The acting was pretty terrible. One character was flipped during a song, lost balance and fell. Another character forgot his lines. I won't mention who but it was a noticeably long awkward pause and all the actors started looking at each other in confusion. *facepalm* On the flip side I thought whoever played Ursula and the minions were fabulous despite the Party City costumes. The set was awful as well. The stage had this projection screen in the back as background which showed different scenes such as the ocean. But like 1/3 of the screen was broken so during the show it would either start flashing like red strobe lights or be extremely discolored. We couldn't stand it anymore and ended up leaving at intermission. It was a good chuckle but I can say with absolute certainty that we will never be back. Pros: Parking is easy and free right across the street. The theater itself is nice but dated. The theater's bathrooms are also clean. Recommendation: Grab a bite to eat before hand as many of the local/surrounding establishments are no longer in business. Side note: There isn't really a bar per se, just a table with beverages in a large bucket of ice. They do serve beer (not on tap, from a bottle) for you to enjoy during your show.

Caveat Emptor!! Honestly I have never been compelled to write a Yelp review though I consult it as my bible for most everything. Theresa k.'s review is SPOT ON. I too bought tickets for The Little Mermaid performance only to be met with a cornball rendition of the actual Broadway play, at Broadway prices. I saw a youtube of a middle school Little Mermaid performance that was higher quality than this one. Seriously. Google it. Almost no sets, and the whole play was dependent on a background projection screen. At first I thought it was my fault for not reading some fine print or disclaimer, but there was NONE. This is absolute fraud by both the theater and Ticketmaster. As a lawyer, I am disgusted at this scummy and deceptive practice. Never again! I'll be posting a Rip Off Report, unless someone else beats me to it!

I watched Miss Saigon in this theatre. Couldn't see 30% of the stage, basically the center of the stage because the rows of seats in the orchestra are too close together that if the person in front of you is just a little bit taller, like in my case, tough luck. Stage was also low so I couldn't see most of the first act (I was seated in the middle of row E for context). Good thing the people sitting next to me in the first act didn't come back after intermission so I was able to get a better view. Not sure if this applies to other productions as well, but there was no live orchestra. The music was prerecorded so you can see the cast and crew rushing for any scene change. Actors start talking or singing even before the scene is set and lights are on. The prerecorded music oftentimes overpowers the actors singing. The playbill was in black and white print- the tickets were pricey so I would have expected at least a colored one. I hope my bad experience here was just one of few, but will most likely not return to this theatre.

I love this place. It's a 909 staple and the performances they put up are amazing. I went to see The Nutcracker and Mary Poppins here and I was great

I love this theater so much. It is so quaint and beautiful. There's no bad seat in the house. I have seen many shows here and will continue to do so.

I was nervous about this theatre reading after reading some of the reviews. I didn't have high expectations, however the orchestra seats we got for the Groupon deal was not bad. There are definite sound tuning and timing issues the sound dept needs to work on. I also think for this Beauty and the Beast production they needed a fuller swing cast. For a "kids" show or a first time experience it's worth it. The theater didn't have a lot of souvenirs which was disappointing. The actors in the show were great. All in all I would say it's worth it my niece loved it and we had a nice experience together.

Took my son the other night to see Rent! To say the show was amazing was an understatement! I seriously wanted to go back the next day and see it again! I was impressed with the theater given the location. The theater was clean and well maintained. I would come back!

The California Theatre produces high quality shows and regularly receives raving reviews from attendees upon seeing shows. This particular show, "Beauty and the Beast," played to sold out audiences and received standing ovations. I encourage you to come see live theatre once again as the level of talent and professionalism at this venue is of Broadway quality.

I'm amazed that this place still exists. My parents used to go here back in the 80s to go see musical and plays. While I can't recall ever going myself there was something familiar about it all. The surrounding area is indeed much worse off then in its early days. But then again it is San Bernardino I wasn't expecting much. I found it all quite charming. And as Amy said it is definitely a diamond in the rough. A blood diamond in the rough perhaps? I found many things to be of interest inside and out. I love old architecture and was very happy to have chance to explore this place inside and out. During the performance of "Moving Out"(not so special) my ears were welcomed by the wonderful sounds of old fashioned acoustics of which I find enchanting. There were so many interesting paintings(posters of paintings decoupaged to the walls) inside little inlets. Tacky maybe, but pretty. I even got to go backstage to visit a friend. Its always nice knowing what it feels like to be looking out at the house, especially after watching a show. Overall it was a delightful experience. And I didn't have to pay $30 or more for parking like you do in the city. Parking was free in a lot across the way.

Not very Ada friendly and do not seem to care about those with disabilities.. I am hard of hearing due to military service. I use iListen with my iPhone to help me at the movies and theatre so I can hear. A lady who worked for the theatre yelled at me for having my phone out. I told her I was hard of hearing by words and sign language but she told me again I had to put my phone away meaning I could not hear the performance. Train your staff that iListen is a reasonable accommodation under the ada. Heck the Pantages theatre in Hollywood understood this when they saw my phone

I took my daughters to see Beauty and the Beast last night, and what a treat! The sets were stunning, the costumes were excellent, the theatre was packed, and the stellar cast brought the magic!! I had read an earlier review that said something about inappropriate subject matter, but I can assure you- as a mother and an educator...this show is completely appropriate. My 8 year olds were mesmerized by the songs; the level of talent displayed by the actors portraying the Beast, Belle, Gaston, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Belle's father, & LeFou...WOW! I was blown away. I watched little (5-6)children in front of us lean forward in their seats...glued to the excellent story telling. If you want a good family outing, this is worth the price! Also- If you stick around after the production, you can have a picture taken with the 'Enchanted cast'. My girls were so happy. Go see this show!

This is one of the only performing arts theatres in the county & I love live theatre, so I'm glad we have it. The drive from Rancho Cucamonga isn't bad. I've been here several times & already bought tickets for a performance in October 2010. The area this threatre is in is pretty rundown & the interior is pretty old. I think they should remodel this place. The employeees can be a LOT friendlier too.

All I can say is, YIKES. Normally I don't pay much mind to negative Yelp reviews because I find most of them to be dramatic. Not in this case. The negative reviews for this theater are 100% accurate. Take them seriously before you waste $80. I just attended their production of Cats and it was an absolutely train wreck. I have seen this show 15 times- local productions, national tours, and even recently on Broadway. I am very well familiar with it. This production was truly awful- the worst I've seen, by far. Yes, they had the expensive set and costumes (although a few of the wigs were homemade and really ugly). But everything else about this production was low quality. It was very obvious that they did not have much rehearsal time because people were forgetting lines, bumping into each other while dancing, and missing their cues. The direction was terrible. I could tell that the director had zero understanding of how to direct this show. The actors were not cat-like enough and they kept meowing....cringe. If you've seen an actual professional production of this show, you know that they don't actually meow in this show. It was so tacky and eye-roll inducing. The only stand outs were Rum Tum Tugger and Old Deuteronomy....but they were Equity actors, so that's no surprise. I don't blame the other actors; it's the director's fault for not directing them well. Cats is a dance show. It's suppose to have a lot of energy- this cast had ZERO. There was barely any dancing at all and they cut the Jellicle Ball dance number in half. That's suppose to be the biggest number in the show. I was so angry that they did this, but not surprised, because these people could not dance! But the worst part of all was the technical errors. Fire all of these people. They kept missing their music cues (it was prerecorded music), people's microphones kept dying, and we could hear people talking backstage. There were multiple moments in the show where the music was suppose to start, but there was just dead silence for 30 seconds. It was so awkward. I've seen community theater that was more successful than this. AVOID, AVOID, AVOID!

Beautiful local theatre with plenty of close and safe parking. We were there recently for the Russian Ballet Theater's Swan Lake, which was gorgeous. Definitely plan on going to other events at this lovely space.

I saw Swan Lake last night. I paid $71 for a second row seat, but because of traffic, I was 10 minutes late. They say me 3/4 of the way up until intermission. The guy in front of me kept moving his head and it made for and unpleasant experience for me. Not to mention the rows are so narrow that I was glad I bought an isle seat. I'm 5'9" and no way we're my legs gonna fit in an inside seat. After intermission I moved to the seat I originally bought. 2nd row is too close and I now know that for next time. Plus the guy behind me coughed right in my hair. I give it 4 stars because it's a charming theater and the staff was very nice - I took one star away for seating. It's much to crowded for tall people. If I was rating on the show, I'd probably take away another star, but that's in the performers not the venue. I'd come back to see another show

I think it really depends on what you are seeing. Quite often this theater puts out musicals that are no more than community theater actors. We saw Beauty and theBeast and I was under the impression that it was a professional group so we were disappointed when it turns out to be local folks. In our version the singing was very good as were the costumes but there was no dancing. Even in Be our Guest there was Lumiere and a spoon and a fork and they just kind of moved from side to side. It wasn't good folks. It just wasn't. Had I known we would be seeing local actors I would have been willing to pay $15-$20 but it wasn't worth $40. I saw a Broadway touring group of Newsies and only paid $25 a ticket..... this is WAY overpriced. I see now they are doing "Cats"- be careful folks. From the talent I saw, Cats would be an awful choice. They really have very few folks that can dance.

I went here last night to watch The Nutcracker ballet. It was okay. Not great, not good, but okay. Very disappointed as I was so ecstatic to bring my young one to see the show as I had seen it as a young girl. All dancers were off coordination. Not one performance was nicely synced. One of the main ballerinas even fell on her bottom and was breathing so hard I thought she was going to pass out. These actors seemed as if they had a very short time to practice. The music needs to be louder so you do not hear the heavy breathing of the dancers. I was in the 5th row from the stage. As for the theatre, it's old. Plain and simple and outdated like major outdated seats. It is such a tight squeeze between the rows you can forget about crossing your legs. And I'm a skinny gal. If you want to get out of your seat, everyone in the way would have to get out of theirs to let you out. The carpets leading you down the rows are beyond gross and so dingy and dirty. I think they used to be red. I don't think I'd be coming here again to watch another show. I'd rather pay high price for a nice place and a show I'll actually enjoy. I paid $100 for 2 tickets for this show. Oh yes, I must not forget, the show started late. They wanted to keep selling tickets to fill the seats!

I lived the facility and the event. I chose to support them, but for 2 yrs now I have asked them to quit calling me.. Take me off their list. They say they will every time.. Never give them your phone number!!

A Google User just now We will NEVER come here AGAIN! We were waiting to get in from 6:00 to 8:30! The show was supposed to start at 7:00!! So we decided to leave at 8:30. The horrendous crowds were wrapped around the building! 90% of the folks in line were in there 80's and 90's!! Many of us were disappointed and angry. There was no place to sit, go to the restroom, nothing. Our friends paid $400 to see your concert Saturday night as a birthday gift for us. My girlfriend and I are both disabled and my husband is legally blind. I nearly passed out. We couldn't handle the long, long wait nor the cold weather. This was the worst experience we've ever had at a venue of this type. We had no choice but to leave as they told us they didn't know how much longer we would have to wait! I felt so bad for our friends who spent so much money for zero back in return! Jeff tried to ask for a refund at the box office and they quickly dismissed him with a 'No'. If you wish you can contact him at La Nueva Voz newspaper in Pomona. 909-224-0244. His name is Jeff Schenkel. He is the owner and publisher. Renee Barbee is VP of advertising and sales. I can't wait to see their review in their newspaper.

Our school just returned from a much anticipated performance of "Beauty and the Beast", but I was shocked and dissapointed in the creative license they took to include sexual and explicit lyrics. I do not find it funny or responsible to take a world class Disney performance and turn it into something inappropriate. The songs that elluded to anal sex or genitalia were unecessary and perverted. I hate this new trend and don't believe ANYBODY'S sexual positions or organs have any business being a topic of conversation in a presentation for kids. Very dissapointed in this flagrant attempt to draw a laugh from the WRONG crowd.

You often hear the expression "diamond in the rough", well the California Theater defines that expression. The place was built in 1927, and it has that old movie house feel, but not in a bad way. Getting there is easy as it's just off the end of the 215 freeway but if it's your first visit to downtown San Bernardino be prepared to be shocked by the ghost town feel of the area. It used to look run down, now it's feels abandoned, hardly any cars, nobody on the street, it's quite eerie, but amazingly the area is very clean and there is no graffiti. Parking is a breeze, and free, either in a parking structure opposite the theater, or, if you get there early enough, in a small well lit and safe public parking lot right behind the building. Once inside the theater the lobby area is small but pleasant, there is a small bar where you can get beer and wine, a gift stand, a candy stand, and the cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen in a theater! Some people have said that is feels run down, but I disagree, I think it's part of the charm of the place. The carpets look newer, as do the seats, and the paint work doesn't look like it was done yesterday, which is a good thing. The stage lighting is excellent, as is the sound system. They have the standard orchestra pit under the stage, but for some productions, where they need more space, the orchestra is located in the building next door and the sound is wired in. They can follow the stage action on video links, but the really cool part is how they relay the conductor. During the play look at the back wall of the theater, there is a large tv monitor, and this is where the conductor is displayed so the actors can get their cues etc. We bought our tickets on Ticketmaster so we had no idea how good the seats would be, but don't worry, I don't think there is a bad seat in the place. The seats are comfortable, seem to have more legroom than a modern theater, fairly new, and all have great view of the stage. We saw "Cats", and frankly I wasn't sure what to expect as the last couple of time we have been to the theater we went to the Pantages in LA, but we were not disappointed. the sets were amazing, the actors superb, and yes, a full live orchestra! But the biggest thing we noticed was how friendly everyone was, from the staff, who genuinely seemed pleased we were there, to the other theater goers. Seriously, it made a good evening great! When was the last time you went to the theater and the people around you introduced themselves and chatted, it was very refreshing. After the show I was having a look around, and where normally in other theaters the staff just want you out, here they were happy to share the history of the place, point out interesting facts, and just talk. One lady pulled out here cell phone and was showing me photos from back stage etc. This was so refreshing compared to the snobyness of LA theaters, no pretension's, people were there to actually enjoy the show, what a concept! So, why the missing star? Well not really the theaters fault, but there is nowhere to eat within walking distance. There is an in & out, and a Taco Bell by the freeway entrance, but not much else. There are plans to develop the area into a entertainment and dinning district, you can see the plans in the theater lobby, and if this happens this will make a huge difference. All in all a great place and we will be back, we have already booked tickets to see Blue Man Group!

I saw a hurtful review on here Re: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and felt compelled to respond. Someone mentioned the Company changed the script. I just saw the show and it's Disney's Beauty and the Beast as written by Disney! I have no idea why this person thought it was "vulgar"?? I gotta believe it was maybe a bogus review to hurt someone involved in the production company...? I did notice that the script is different than "Beauty and the Beast JR." but still...NOTHING in this Show talks about the pornography that this other reviewer says there was. The Theatre was PACKED and everyone was having a BLAST! The Leads were fantastic! The Sets & Costumes were very professional. Great job to everyone involved!!! I'm sorry any "Tom, Dick or Harry" can post such terrible things on Yelp without proof.

I've visited this Theatre a while ago and one thing I can say is this Theatre sticks to classical outlook. Very clean and respectful staff. I remember coming to the Theatre when The Blue Man Group was performing and they left a mess of the streamers and yet next visit they were gone. I bet its pretty dangerous retrieving streamers on the ceiling light. This Theatre receives my rank of: S (Superb)

Visited here for the first time last Saturday to see Adam Corolla and Dennis Prager. What a classic theatre! Built in the 30's for Vaudeville. They host plays, concerts and talks here. It is well kept and retains the original look inside and out. Very clean lobby, seating and restrooms. The seats are very small and packed in. I wish they had more room. There is a little lounge here that we went inside to get a glass of wine before the show. They only had cheap wine and some bottled beer. We got 2 wines, they came in little plastic cups and were $8.00 each, What?? And they only took cash. We will return to this theatre for sure but will not patronize the lounge.

WHAT A SHOW!!! Beauty and Beast was fantastic complete with a well deserved standing ovation at the end! A full on Broadway quality production here at a beautiful local venue! The costumes and set were amazing! And the voices!!! Man can this cast sing. I've seen Beauty and the Beast on Broadway in New York and this cast and crew did an equally excellent job! If you get a chance to see a show here DO IT! You won't be disappointed! I'm fortunate to have my 11 year old daughter in the cast and numerous children have come up to her after seeing the show telling how inspired they are to sing, dance and act!! A truly family friendly show with no changes to the original music or script. You're children will laugh, cheer, and sing along with this Disney classic and you will have the chills after hearing these actors sing!

Bravo ... great rendition of the Wizard of Oz! it's a traditional and beautiful old theatre and you get yester-year's vibe for those that appreciate intricate architecture. bonus, helpful and pleasant ushers!

Beauty & the Beast was a bonafide hit! This was one of the biggest hits ever in the I.E.! Sold out shows every single performance. I'm amazed at the TROLLS from the area who would basically lie about everything in their review, but even Yelp says they can't control the "basement bunch". So far this year, all the performances at the California Theater have been top notch and a welcome sight in San Bernardino.

The other day was my first time there in the theater. I've always heard of it and probably passed by it many times in the past. When I went inside it really surprised me how beautiful this place it. It definitely have class, so I was totally not dressed for it! It really reminded me of the Phantages in Hollywood, and I didn't have to fight traffic and drive 75min to get there. And I love their cocktail room. Yay! intermission! But yeah the thought of driving through downtown San Bernardino does not feel safe. Definitely it's a hidden gem. So yes, I would go see a performance there again, and more shows should perform there. And this time, I will be all decked out for it!