National Theatre DC

This place has a really homey feeling. The quality of seating is incredible. You can see anything from everywhere you sit. The reason I’m not giving it five stars is because the snacks and the drinks were astronomically expensive.

Excellent staff. Very organized. The view of side of the stage is blocked on the end of the orchestra aisle. Plenty of parking nearby.

We saw “Ain’t Too Proud” a wonderful story of the lives of the Temptations - and featuring their music. The actors were great and their songs were perfect renditions! They sounded great! We had great seats. I loved every moment! An absolute joy!

Jason's Lyric, is a must see. It's a adaptation of the film. I was so impressed with the stage design/acting and the music. There has been so much growth from his "Set it Off" days at the Warner theater. Rick James was last year I can't wait to see what he brings next. My only issue is people need to know the difference between a live play and a movie. It's disruptive to patrons who are engaged with the actors on stage and u come in late. I know things happen However multiple people came in 30 /45 min after it started A HOUR late for a 2 hrs play 10 min before the intermission SMH. In the old days they would lock the doors after it started until intermission. However in 2025 there probably be fist fights in the lobby or worse if they enforce that policy again. GO SEE THIS PLAY😎

I enjoyed the play I saw here. Jason's Lyric. VENUE: The staff did a good job of guiding attendees to their seats. Issues: Some parts of the floor are unsteady. The steps to and from the 2nd floor may need to be adjusted bc the bottom step is short and is a tripping hazard. The acoustics are good. The venue is such that they're aren't really "bad seats".

National Theatre is a nice venue, not a bad seat in the house. Some problems exist though. 1) Don't buy reserved parking through Ticketmaster. The parking garage address is not the same as what is displayed on the parking entrance. The parking attendants play dumb and make you pay at their machine. 2) The Women's bathrooms during intermissions are absolutely mobbed. If you sit on the lower level, you won't get in before the show restarts. 3) The bar / drink stations were descent but also mobbed. Get in line ASAP.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. You walk away contemplating: which of the characters is the "cursed child?" The stage special effects were some of the best I've seen for a play or musical. The theater was smaller than I thought it would be. It's a little dated. But it's clean and comfortable.

Very friendly staff. I saw a performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child that had excellent actors, real fire effects, and absolutely perfect audio and visual effects. There were gasps and applause from the audience as we were drawn into the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

Seats are cramped like an airplane but it was decent. There's no lobby to consume your drinks so to my surprise they let patrons bring their drinks into the auditorium. I saw MJ the Musical. The floor is carpeted and the seat cushions are pink velour. I can't sit in the Balcony because the seats are at such a tilt it gives me vertigo so I sprung for orchestra. You know the price never looks that high until all the fees hit you and then you're like damn I paid that much?! I paid $168 for my seat to sit in a dirty stained seat. If they are going to allow people to drink red wine in the theater, they need to clean the seats. Its unacceptable to charge this much to sit in a dirty seat. The couple next to me brought M&Ms to snack on so I had to listen and smell that during the show as well. I didn't attempt to go to the bathroom during intermission but folks to me the line was insanely long so I recommend not buying anything to drink. They have an app for same day lottery tickets. The usher at the back of the theater didn't give me program that she was holding a stack of so I grabbed my own from the table. Then half way down the aisle another usher pointed me to my seat and just a few feet later as I'm close to the stage another aggressive usher body blocked me and not so nicely asked if I needed help finding my seat. No ma'am, step to the side.

My daughter and I went to this theater yesterday to see MJ the Musical. This theater reminds me of a high school auditorium. Not very updated with old decor, old small seats all really close to each other airplanes style, kind of dirty carpet and walls, etc. While waiting for show to start some folks were taking selfies and pictures of the theater. One usher lost her mind. She started screaming at people like they were her own kids, threatening that she was going to kick them out if she saw one person taking a selfie. She was screaming 'DO YOU WANT TO GET THEOWN OUT?! HUH?! HUH?! THEN PUT THOSE PHONES AWAY NOW!!!' My daughter literally turned to me and told me she was scared of her. The usher was completely out of control. Once the show started, she must have left bc there was one couple that recorded the entire show on their phone. You could clearly see them holding the phone up. Then the ushers had people walking in and out letting in the hallway light which was a huge distraction. The worse part was the man and his wife behind us that talked throughout the entire show. They both talked and screamed so loud during the show that my daughter and I had to lean forward to try and hear what was going on in the show. People literally moved to get away from this guy who was clearly drunk. Crickets from the ushers. They did nothing and he was so loud. At one point one man who moved told him he was talking too loud and he moved bc of him. The guy apologized to him and tried to buy him a drink from the bar. I'm not coming back to this theater. It's a free for all. I'll stick with The Kennedy Center.

One of the things I wanted to do more of when I moved to the area, was to see more shows. I saw Super Freak - The Rick James story. This was my first time at the National Theatre and I had a great time. Clean theatre, with comfortable seats and plenty of leg room. Intimate. It had two bar areas, one on each floor, and one large bathroom on the second level. You can order themed drinks from the show, as well as custom drinks. The concession options were typical of theatre; candy, cookies, and chips. So please eat before you come. I'll definitely come back if they continue to host shows that I like

My cousin and I had the pleasure of attending a live performance of "The Wiz" at the National Theater in DC, and it was an overall enjoyable experience. One of the highlights of this theater is its excellent location, allowing you to enjoy dinner and drinks before or after the play. We even ventured to The Hamilton for dinner, which was conveniently within walking distance. Regarding the theater itself, the staff were kind and helpful. The security process was swift as they checked our bags and scanned our mobile tickets efficiently. Feeling a bit hungry, I ran to the concession stand jk, and while my thoughts were still on food, I found a selection of small bites and alcoholic beverages. I indulged in a gluten-free brownie for $6 and a margarita-like drink. Initially, the drink didn't seem strong, but it pleasantly surprised me by giving a small buzz. We opted for box seats, hoping for an excellent view of the stage. However, it turned out to be a bit uncomfortable as we found ourselves hunched over or leaning on the rail throughout the play. I wouldn't recommend box seats if comfort is a priority. Despite this minor seating issue, I would certainly return to the National Theater to catch another play. - there are several parking garages near this venue - I opted to Uber there

This was my first time ever hearing about this theatre but, it is always great to see musicals in different places. I parked in a near by garage. Parking is tight in the area so, street parking will be hard to find. They also have one right next to the theatre. What I loved about this theater is the roomy seats. I felt the seats were so plush while being a little larger than other theaters that I have visited. There was also leg room for people to enter and exit the row. I love musicals so having a Mommy and daughter date to the Wiz was a no brainer. The actors and the voices were amazing but, the actress who stole the show with vocal ability was the Wicked Witch. She literally blew the roof off the building. Dorothy's character did a wonderful job. Her voice is soft for some of the songs but, she was perfect for the role. I didn't get a chance to check out any of the near by restaurants but next time I will definitely plan to do so. Yes, I would love to return to this theatre.

Our party of three attended the touring Broadway musical, MJ The Musical at this theater. The theater was located close to the mall and The White House with an attached garage. The cost of parking was $26. The acoustic and eye sight lines were fine. The interior architecture was from years passed, which we liked. It had that old school grandeur. Unfortunately, the theater could use an update and remodeling. The wall needed a fresh coat of paint. The carpet needed to be replaced. The narrow seats were uncomfortable. My rear ends and back were hurting after an hour. The employees were kind of rude. They were not friendly and yelled at multiple attendees. The bathrooms were modernized and clean. As far as the musical, it was magical. If you are a Michael Jackson fan, you should go attend the touring show when it gets to your area of residence. Better yet, visit Broadway in NYC and attend the original showing.

Seats are TINY and very close. Prepare to sweat!! Other theaters are larger than this one.

Love theater and this was my first time to the National. Saw the tour of Peter Pan, which was great. Sorry to say that there were plenty of empty seats in the theater on Thursday evening. Loved the set, the cast, especially the flying. It was especially fun to hear the reactions of the children in the audience. The theater was comfortable, well maintained, and well staffed. Entry, even with a stop for security, went quickly. Hope the production had better sales other evenings.

Every thing went smoothly; the ushers did their job well. Our seats were good, getting to the balcony even with only one elevator wasn't bad, and the MJ Musical was outstanding!

My first time at National Theatre, was this fall to see the Wiz! Having never been before I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised that accessing the theater was rather easy. The people scanning tickets and doing security at the front made sure we all got through in a timely manner and it was fairly easy to find our seats, bathrooms and concessions. Everything was clean and organized plus the show started on time (and it was amazing!!!). The reason for the missing star is simply because the rows are very very close together. Even someone who considers them self average height would struggle to sit comfortably in the seats for long periods of time and you are incredibly close to your neighbor. Although this is something that you can generally expect, it felt like this theatre's seats were much closer than any theatre I had experienced in the past. Nonetheless, it didn't impact my enjoyment of the show just something to note in case you get uncomfortable sitting in tight spaces for long periods of time. I definitely recommend checking out a show at the national theatre and luckily there are plenty of dining options nearby for you to choose from either before after the show. I can't speak to parking since we decided to Uber, but it did seem like there were plenty of garages nearby to choose from as well.

Had a great time seeing g beetlejuice. Can't wait to see Michael Jackson. We had great seats and production was great.

On February 18th, i went to see New Jack City. The event staff were kind and efficient. While waiting outside for doors to open, they checked everyone's bags, purses etc. the lobby doors opened and you had to wait for 30 minutes to enter into main theatre. While waiting you could go to second or third floors for drinks, snacks or bathroom break. The theater was quaint, seats were comfortable and attendees were mature. Please go and support you will be pleasantly surprised. Snacks are pricy. $chips $6

I visited the National Theatre to see the critically acclaimed musical, "Tina." The musical itself was spectacular! The theater was quaint and smaller than what I pictured in my head. It was actually pretty perfect for this particular show. They do have a few balcony seats, but the majority is floor seats. Unfortunately for me, I'm not a tall person. So when the lady in front of me who was taller and had big hair positioned herself directly in front of me, I couldn't get a good view of center stage. Major disappointment! Good thing this musical utilized the entire stage. Restrooms, drinks, snacks and a small lounge of sorts are all located on the upper level. Entering into the building is trying because security is checking bags and confiscating all food/beverages at the door, but the lines are a bit chaotic. All of the ushers and staff were very friendly and helpful. We parked on the other side of the building and it was very close proximity to the theater. I would absolutely go back to view another show at this theater. It was clean, seats were cushy, ample leg room, and wonderful graphics.

My friend and I purchased tickets for the August 21, 2024 MJ musical. We bought the tickets weeks in advanced and was looking forward seeing the musical as we heard nothing but fabulous reviews. Unfortunately, the performance was canceled due to a water line issue. We were told by the theater that our money would be refunded and then we could purchase replacement tickets. To our dismay, we were later told our refund would be processed AFTER we purchased replacement tickets. To add insult to injury, comparable seat prices were considerably more expensive and The National Theater refused to honor the original price for comparable seats. While the water issue was out of their control, the way they handled the situation with their customers was completely within their control. I'm beyond disappointed with the lack of customer service and consideration provided by The National Theatre management. I won't be purchasing a replacement ticket for the MJ musical nor any future tickets from them. B. Lea Fuller

Nice clean well maintained theater. The rows are close together so there isn't a lot of leg room. The theater is on the smaller size and the stage is small so I highly recommend a center seat. For most productions I don't think it matters if you sit in the orchestra or the balcony since the theater is small. It's an older theater so there is not a ton of bathrooms. Side note I really enjoyed the production, Jagged Little Pill.

First visit. We were in the next to last row on the top level and still had a great view for Beetlejuice the Musical. Sure, those high seats are small and have no leg room, but you forget all about that when the show begins. Staff on site was very personable. The experience was amazing.

The theater is really nice , went here to see Jagged Little Pill, a must see by the way . I love the decor it was nastalgic , the staff where helpful and friendly , I cant wait to return.

Update: adding review and pics from recent visit... No phones allowed during showtime, of course, but I was able to get some quick pics during intermission. I ordered a mocktail 1321 PENN (CITRUS, GINGER, CRANBERRY, SPRITZ) with a shot (or 2!) of RUM. It was SOOOO good! I wasn't expecting such a large serving for a little over $10. PS: TINA - Tina Turner Musical was AMAZING!‍ @tinabroadway __ I eat. @f.hux I thrift. @DCthriftish

Updating my review because the customer service at this theater is awful. I really wanted to see Jagged Little Pill, so I had to break my self-imposed boycott of the theater. While this time the show experience was far less wild than the last time I was here (see my last review), there were more completely avoidable issues that the theater staff was slow to address. For Jagged Little Pill, we were in the back row of the balcony. In the middle of the first act, we started hearing people talking behind us. It was loud enough that it was really distracting but not loud enough that we could hear what they were saying. After about 10 minutes of this, my friend flagged an usher and asked them to deal with the person speaking in the balcony lobby. The usher disappeared but the talking continued. At this point, everyone around us is looking around because they were distracted too. We realized people in the tech booth were having a loud conversation. My friend flagged the usher again who told them to pipe down, and they did for the last third of the first half. Then after intermission, they were at it again (although slightly less loud this time). By then a few people around us had moved to other seats. After the show I wanted to find a theater manager, but wasn't able to. My friend and I both messaged the theater via Instagram and email and only she got a canned response from them about notifying the people in question and that they would do better next time. They never bothered responding to me or my concerns about this experience or the past one. The management here is trash!

I went to see the Grinch Musical on Saturday here. As soon as I arrived at the entrance, they checked everybody's vaccination records or negative covid tests and enforced masks for all ages which people complied to. While it was packed, I didn't feel unsafe and was able to enjoy the musical without worrying. This was especially important to me because of the new variant, omicron. I would not hesitate to go to another show at the national theatre. Highly recommend!

Some friends and I saw Six at the National Theatre recently. It was about what you'd expect for a theater where Broadway shows play - average in everyway I can think of. Nice enough, but not updated. Lines for bathrooms and the bar long but not too long. Good location near Metro stations. (I can't speak to parking.) Not a bad place to see a show, but nothing special either! (Six is fabulous though!)

I have seen several shows here but most recently saw Come From Away. I bought tickets on Goldstar and was given seats in Rear Balcony, Row H, seats 2-6. The show was amazing and you just can't beat the price (other than winning the daily lottery). The slope in the balcony is steep so be prepared for that but the good thing is it's easy to see the entire stage. For this show it was perfect for seeing all characters at all times and they never left the stage to walk through the aisles so we didn't miss anything. We got there 45 min early, breezed through the vaccination verification at the entrance, took the elevator up, and relaxed in the lounge until it was closer to curtain time. There are only 4 stalls in the women's bathroom so a line forms 10-15 min before the start. After the show, the wait for the elevator takes a while and a large crowd forms to take it down. If you opt for the stairs, it seemed like there were 8 sets to take.

I was really excited to see the musical, "Six" at the National Theatre! The performance exceeded my expectations! Our seats were in the balcony area. The steps to get to our seats were steep and a little intimidating. Once we sat down I was fine. The seat are fairly small and maybe uncomfortable for some. The ushers were friendly and helpful. One major disappointment is the sound quality in the balcony area. It seems like sound was coming from the lower seating area. I will definitely return. But I'll probably purchase tickets in orchestra seating.

This theater uses such a frustrating app for its ticket delivery that I'd advise seeing plays at different theaters instead.

Be very careful!! It does not seem right that National Theatre website would be selling tickets online on their website to an even 1/2 hour AFTER the event started. It automatically went to the actual day's event. We accidentally purchased tickets for what we thought was for the Friday, however it saved it for the evening we were booking online. There is no way to call or reach a live human being, We tried to call, but you cannot.get through!

A "civilized" classy theatre that harks back to old times. The boxes (with just a few seats) were so elegant. The whole place appeared to be from another era (in a positive sense). There was a bar selling some drinks and probably snacks. Didn't get to try any. The drawbacks were that the pitch of seats was narrow. Quite tight. The line to the ladies room was long long long (at mezzanine but basically every level). Just a few stalls. Generally clean so that's a plus, but I lost the intermission standing in line.

First i want to thank Yelp elite for the free tickets, lol Now lets get to the fun part, lovely theater. It was modern, decent size and the chairs were big and comfortable. Like any theater, the experience is influenced by the show. But, this theater"s downtown Washington, DC location has features like proximity to restaurants and public transportation readily available. I like how fast and organized it was as u walk in. A lady was at the entrance to guide u to the will call and check your tickets . During the intermission we got the chance to go to the second floor for drinks and use the restroom. At first the line for the restroom was long so we decided to just skip and get coffees, the line was moving fast .. the prices for the drinks and food were high but what would u expect, the theater is located three blocks from the white house and right in the middle of city! When we finally decided to go to the restroom the line had moved , i want to say thank to the employees, friendly and fast at what they do!

Comfortably sized, cozy, and filled with happy people, National Theater is a lovely place to catch a live performance. The theater is just a half block from the Warner Theater, but is smaller in every way. The size isn't an issue, it simply means that the stage is best suited to a simpler production. The seats are also very close to one another, as they are in most of the older theaters in town. The theater is located across from Freedom Plaza, just a few busy blocks from Metro Center. I was part of a happy group of strangers walking back to the metro after the show. My night at this theater was to see "Beautiful, the Carol King Musical" on opening night. This show centers on five decades of music, so I was relieved when the sound quality in the venue was excellent. I was honestly happy that we were all sitting so close, as I fear a few of the people sitting near me would have started dancing in their seats if they'd had more space! The only true issue with the theater is the restrooms, which are only on the second and fourth floors. Now that I know this I'll be sure to buy tickets only on those floors. I was in the orchestra for Beautiful and I loved my seats, but know that the view will be just as wonderful from the mezzanine. Concessions are sold on every floor and there is an elevator on the right side of the lobby if you need to skip the stairs. Skip the concession line during intermission by ordering ahead before the show. I love that they have covered cups and allow you to bring them into the theater. It was lovely to have a quiet cup to sip from instead of noisy hard candy to unwrap when the inevitable cough began. Based on how few coughs I heard I think that other audience members agreed! The sturdy plastic cup is a nice reminder of a night out as well, and I'll use it again. Considering the other wonderful shows listed for this season, I have a feeling I'll end up with a full set.

I was excited to check out The National Theatre after a long break from theatre. I saw "Fiddler on the Roof," one of my favorite plays. I'm going to start with the venue. The venue itself is quite historic and I love an old theatre. One of the biggest and most obvious gripes is the fact there is only one bathroom on the second floor which fills up FAST. I was slightly confused where to pickup tickets but the staff were helpful and kind. Before the show there was a small happy hour if you will which had a wine and cheese tasting. I loved it! So fun to have before the show. Our seats were pretty good but they're not windowed very well so if you're sitting far back or behind someone tall you're kind of out of luck. As far as the show, I love love love this play. Overall I felt it was pretty great but I didn't really love the mother, Golde. Personally didn't love her voice or acting but the rest was great.

I recently went to see John Leguizamo at The National Theatre after work (parked a block away) and randomly stumbled in right when they were about to close the ticket lottery! I was planning to purchase a retail priced ticket at the box office and ended up only paying only $25 for a seat in Row E! Kudos TNT! Ticket window/will call booths to the right and a bar to the left upon entering main doors. 2nd floor offers another bar and restrooms which offered happy hour show drinks/specials as well. A solo guitar player was playing before the start of the show. Tables, chair, and seating available. Dimly lit theatre. Ushers were immediately helpful showing me to my seat. The seats are plush and comfortable. Though even as a petite female, the foot room between rows was uncomfortably short and it was difficult to cross my legs without turning to the left or right. JL show was fantastic and full of non-stop laughs. + $25 ticket lottery (cash ONLY) + staff + reusable plastic tumbler - book signing line was near the main entrance so while patrons were leaving the theatre, the line to wait for JL blocked the exits and the lobby was a madhouse

The National Theatre is a beautiful and historical space. I'm glad that I finally had the opportunity to catch a show here. I went to see "School of Rock" and it was an amazing experience. I had great seats in row G (seat 3) on the left side of the stage. These seats went for $100-120 but worth the price point. It was hard to hear at the beginning but my ears soon adjusted to the sound system. Overall, I would attend a show at this theatre again in the future.

Me & Cate went here to see Something Rotten for the last matinee show on 2/18/18. What a great historic venue. I really like they allow you to use eticket so you can just show the scan code on your smart phone. The bathrooms are upstairs and the line can get long during an intermission. Great access from Metro Center.

Recently saw the show the Illusionists and I as reminded what a Treasure this place is. True no elevators and you have to watch your step coming down but ushers are friendly, easy access to bathrooms and no bad seat in the house. Parking is easy and if you use one of the apps its easy to find parking steps away. Love this place.

Visited this theatre several times of which the last time was last weekend to see "Mean Girls"! I've sat in the Mezzanine and in the Balcony and each time I'm pleased with our viewing of the show! We can take snacks and drinks to the seats which is a plus! They usually sale merchandise on each level as well! We did get cute souvenir cups but they were kinda pricey so bring your $$ (they take cards too)!! Before they open doors there are a few seats on the second floor to sit and wait to enter. Parking was easy enough as there are several garages in the area which offer flat rates on the weekends ($20). Will come to a show here again!!

The theater is conveniently located near the metro center metro station and the White House. While the line to enter was a little chaotic, it moved quickly and the staff working were exceedingly helpful. The theater itself is beautiful. No seats were bad seats, but depending on the show blocking if you are seated toward the side, you may miss a little of the action. They offer a full menu of concessions (snacks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks) and refills were available for a reduced price. The line for the women's restroom was intimidating, but two very efficient staff members ensured everyone in line got through during intermission.

Two 2 weeks only. Doctor Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Broadway's number one holiday musical hit coming November 23rd to December 5th period get your tickets now

Brought friends to see Les Mis last Saturday. This was our first time at The National, it is an old theater, dingy and a bit claustrophobic especially from the low ceiling toward the back of orchestra level. The stage is the smallest I've seen in old theaters and acoustics doesn't even come close to The Kennedy's. It was hard to hear the cast from back row. We were also seated adjacent to the sound board and all the lights from the switches and buttons were kind of bothersome. One of the ushers told us that there are bathrooms on the next 2 levels. We went to the first one before the show and the line was 100 ladies deep. Went up another floor and was told there was no restroom on that level. Went back to our seats tried to hold going till intermission to no avail. Preggo gotta go when she gotta go. There are bars on every level, expect drinks to be pricey. 10 dollars for a large soda but you keep the cup as souvenir. Refills are also free. The seats are comfortable with enough legroom for my hubby. Patrons are dressed a lot more casual than Kennedy play goers. Will definitely get seats closer to stage next time.

Nice historic theater with friendly staff. Not too big but chairs are comfortable and the food/beverage options are decent, especially with the cup with a lid for soda and wine. I've been to a comedy show here and a musical. In the orchestra section, some of the seats on the far right and left have obstructed views, but they'll make that clear when you buy your tickets. Only area I saw for improvement was getting people to their seats faster. There was quite a logjam when trying to get seated for Mean Girls and it was more chaotic than it should have been. It seemed like there wasn't enough staff checking tickets and directing them where to go.

Absolutely Beautiful! Got the chance to watch Beautiful, The Carole King Musical, and absolutely loved it. This was my first time at The National Theatre and it was only a five minute walk off the red line at Metro Center. Despite being an extremely old playhouse, the venue is well kept while feeling like a journey into the past. I sat in the mezzanine, row A, and had a perfect view of the stage! Warning- Do not sit above Row D in the mezzanine due to low ceilings. The musical itself was a truly inspiring story of a teenager composer, Carole King, becoming one of the most famous Rock & Roll musicians of this century. I thought the musical thoughtfully intertwined her life and music together. Given all the drama in her life due to her unstable husband, and having kids at a young age, I could really see and feel why she composed her songs with these memorable notes. Even Gerry Goffin's lyrics became alive. While some of the acts could have used some more powerful singers, all in all, the songs were classic and the performances were marvelous. I plan to watch this musical again. This time, I hope to listen to all her songs first and be able to sing along!

Me & my family saw Les Miserables on New Year's Eve. The Theater was clean and well maintained but it's my least favorite venue. Here are some observations that might help you decide if this theatre is for you: Pros - Well maintained - Accessibility - A lot of food places and stores around the area - They sell drinks (soda, wine, beer) on non-spill cups that can serve as a little souvenir Cons - No leg room - Restroom lines are ridiculous (level 2 access only) - Stage is small. (My 13-year-old daughter said that it felt more like an Off Broadway show.)

The sound in this theater is terrible for hosting a Broadway national touring company. Echoes, orchestration loader than singers, along with rude staff on multiple occasion made an enjoyable show less enjoyable. Not sure I would come back when in town again. On a side note, The touring company did a great job.

3.5 STARS 12/20/2015-When my friend called to inform me that he had an extra ticket for Motown the Musical, I was really excited. This Broadway production garnered rave reviews so I knew I was in for a treat... It lived up to my expectations. I absolutely loved the production! The cast was solid, Berry Gordy's story was compelling, and young Michael Jackson could dance and had a perfectly groomed afro. My favorite cast member was the lady playing Diana Ross. She was so entertaining, maintained that big smile, had elaborate costumes, and invited the audience to participate. I resisted the urge to get up and sing Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand, when she asked for volunteers. It was nostalgic, reminding me of my days as a little girl observing my family singing and dancing to "real music". =5 Stars for Motown Unfortunately, there were several things about the facility that didn't appeal to me. a. Four security checkpoints (about every 2 feet) before entering the theatre. Consolidate some of these activities! b. Seated on Row K (right side of the stage) and my view was partially obstructed. Everything happening to the far right of the stage was blocked and it was a lot going on over there. My friend said there was no warning flag given when purchasing the tickets c. During intermission, cold air starting blowing from the overhead ventilation system then we started smelling cigarette smoke d. Orchestra seating is expensive (more than my experiences at the Warner Theatre and several other DC venues). I'm aware and respect the rich history of this theatre but I believe it's time for renovations. Depending on which productions are there, I may return, but I'll be very careful about which seats I choose. Every seat isn't a good seat at the National Theatre... Tip: Check to see if you can carry your concessions into the theatre. The policy varies, depending on the production. I wasn't sure so I skipped the concession stand all together.

We had two front row balcony seating, on the far right. Solid seats nonetheless. We thought we would be too far for good viewing, but that was not the case. "A Bronx Tale" was a nice mix of a "West Side Story" and "Jersey Boys" (just like it's marketed as). The theatre is certainly dated, but nice. Don't go looking to buy food or drink without a budget for that line item (cocktails are approximately $20 and up). In terms of seating space, I'm 6'4", and legroom wasn't an issue for me - at least on the balcony level (although my wife and I were seated in Row A). Overall, The National Theatre is a much more affordable option than the Kennedy Center - and has more character. One huge negative when we went: the inside theatre was boiling hot. I mean everyone was sweating and fanning themselves. If you're hot-natured, don't come here - it won't be comfortable.

As a native Washingtonian, I've come to this theater for many years to see several shows. I just recently saw Motown the Musical and absolutely loved it! It is definitely a must see, but I must get to the review of the establishment. I generously give this venue 4 stars mainly because of its design. Every seat in the place offers an awesome view of the stage/performance. Management does, however, need to update the restrooms! There is a foul smell in the ladies room on both floors. Aside from that, it's your typical theater and functions very well. The staff is very courteous and helpful.

I generally liked my experience here. The tickets are quite a bit cheaper than the Kennedy Center, which is nice. We were in the center of the mezzanine for about the same cost as the back row, 2nd balcony at the Kennedy Center. The biggest negative was that we sat in the dead center of the Mezzanine section, and I had to lean to one side the entire performance because the head of the person in front of me was completely obstructing my view (see photos I took at my eye level). I would say he and I were about the same height, maybe a 2" differential, but the seats just aren't on enough of a slant AND they aren't offset to where you're naturally placed between the seats in front of you. My wife had the same issue, and I suspect this is going to be the case for everyone, at least in the mezzanine, unless you're in the front row or you're a foot taller than the person in front of you. I was hoping the smaller theater would be one where there's not a bad seat in the house, but that's not the case. From a sound perspective, we were at a musical but it was hard to hear the words in some of the songs over the sound of the music on some of the more up-beat numbers. Just felt like the levels needed to be adjusted. The theater itself is small, so don't expect the same level of pre-show wandering around that you can at the KC with gift shops and refreshments (there are those things, just small versions). You don't want to show up more than 30 minutes before the show or you'll just be standing around in a tiny lobby. I would certainly come back for another performance, but the venue itself isn't a driving force where I'm actively looking for my next opportunity to get inside.

Finding Neverland at The National Theatre purchased for $39 with the Todaytix app I had a fantastic visit to The National Theatre. I usually see two to three shows there a season, but I usually sit in the Orchestra. However, the Todaytix app was selling side balcony seats for $39. You can not beat that and I had to do it. I'm seeing Finding Neverland again tomorrow but in the Orchestra. I was concerned at what the comfort level of the seats would be. I was impressed. I'm larger and the seat was wider than I expected for a cheaper balcony seat and the legroom was more than expected. At many Broadway theatres your toes meet the seat in front of you. That is not the case with these seats. I saw Finding Neverland twice on Broadway and in Baltimore and Richmond. This was a fine production. The Set Design was simpler than the other productions I saw and the "glitter vortex" was more of a glitter breeze, but still effective.

Pros: + Next to many restaurants so it was easy to go for a dinner and a theater show. + Drinks are served in sippy cups that are customized for the shows that season. Some people like to collect these and they're fun to showcase what shows you've seen. + All the seats I felt like gave pretty good views. They are steep so you can see above people's heads. + I came here for Mean Girls and it was an amazing show. The fact that the walls of the National Theatre is Pink really added to the show's atmosphere. However, had it not been for Means Girls, I feel like the Pink is a little out of place. Cons: + Definitely an older theater with really really tight spaces inbetween the rows. For my boyfriend who has long legs, it was really uncomfortable to sit for a 2-3 hour show. I can't imagine late comers squeezing through in the middle of the show! + The security and signage was confusing. The lady who scanned my ticket actually missed 2 of my digital tickets (!!!) which is whatever for me but I'm sure bad for the theater. No one told us where to go.....it was just a mass of people and we just followed random packs of people and guessed which floor we were suppose to be on. We missed the floor and had to keep climbing up. That was confusing. + The stage is much smaller than other theater like the Kennedy Center.

Loved Beetlejuice!! Great lights. Great songs. The theater has a sloped orchestra section which made viewing the play awesome. The sippy cups for adult beverages was a nice touch. You can keep them and use them for all the plays of That season.

Yelp Élite Night in National Theatre! Oh my god! Such a beautiful experience! We saw 'Something Rotten' a musical about Shakespeare. I highly recommend this musical! Is so much fun and the energy in the songs is really vibrant. It is a nice and smooth funny story about love, rivalry and kindness. The theatre is gorgeous! Really beautiful (like old ancient style European theaters) which makes this kind of big productions even better. Thank you YELP ÉLITE TEAM DC for this amazing night!