Shakespeare Theatre Company: Harman Hall

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, located directly across from the Arena, offers a warm and intimate atmosphere. I saw their production of Merry Wives, an adapted Shakespearean comedy. It was utterly hilarious and thoroughly enjoyable.

I love this theater... very easy to get to (Gallery Place Metro stop) right across from the Arena. Good drinks and snacks, helpful staff. I sat in the 2nd row center for my performance which was great, but still in range of the actors'"spit zone," so maybe 3rd row would have been better... but that's just a me thing... At any rate, I always love coming to the STC!

First time in this wonderfully intimate theater and fell back in love with the arts. From the great downtown location and easy parking to the charming multilevel, cozy seating inside. Bonus, you're downtown surrounded by DCs best restaurants for pre and post show vibes. Guys and Dolls was surprisingly moving, instantly transported to a wild and wicked era in NY with dozens of heartwarming characters brought to life by an amazing cast. Awesome choreography and song production, and a set that does justice to the sinners and soul saviors of that shady time in the big city. Broadway's equal - so close to home. Found my NEW go-to for the performing arts in the capital city!

It was great to be back. I had not been there since before Covid. I hesitated though because there were only expensive seats left at above $200, but i thought i would never get another chance to see such a production with such a well-known actor. It was all worth it.

I always love the innovative approach to Shakespeare that STC provides. Everything is a must watch at this theatre, not only for Shakespeare lovers, but for everyone!

This was a smaller theater and it was absolutely lovely. It was easy to get into and find our seats. We will definitely come back.

Came to see Uncle Vanya. Beautiful venue! The bathrooms were clean, the seats not too uncomfortable for theater seats although the legroom is tight. The sound was excellent and you had a great view of the stage no matter where you sat. There were drinks and snacks available before the show and at intermission.

"Guys and Dolls" is an absolute must see. Jacob Dickey and the entire cast are simply incredible, and the choreography in "Luck be a Lady" was worth the ticket on its own. Thanks STC for continuing to offer at least one musical a year! "Merry Wives" also raised the bar again for STC's incredible track record of making 400+ year old scripts relevant, engaging, and in this case, hilarious as well. The beautiful set, choreography, music, and costumes made this production all the more special. The entire cast was spectacular, but special shout out to Oneika Phillips, Jacob Ming-Trent, Nick Rashad Burroughs, and Shaka Zu for incredible performances.

So far, I've been able to see Frankenstein and it truly brought chills down my spine. It was amazing. They have captured a great ambiance with their elaborate and smart use of stage design. The cast felt fresh, down to the line delivery or what each actor decided to bring to their characters. They brought something new to Frankenstein that is more in line with contemporary interpretations of what this play could mean. The stories are incredibly potent with a lot for audiences to cling on as we see full range of these complex characters. I am still at awe with the set, although Frankenstein is set in the late 18th century and the set remains true to this era, the lighting and LED caption bar really take it to a contemporary place that is refreshing to see. It creates a brillant ambience for omnipresent characters that haunted me even after leaving my seat.

I was trying to figure out the connection between Shakespeare and Evita. But alas it probably does not really matter. Evita is fun musical drama with the production attempting to pull in some of the current day political themes (such as populism). It works and I loved every minute. Shakespeare Theater is modern and has decent seating. Go if you can.

My friend and I visited to see one of the last performances of the season by the Washington Ballet. The parking for the theater is a nightmare. We had to drive around the area in circles to look for one. Something to keep in mind if you arrive by car and not metro or Uber of sort. We made it inside only to find out someone else took our seats. The ushers weren't willing to do anything about it. This annoyed me because we paid for two seats that were dead center and not on a higher row closer to the aisles. Lastly, the facility itself feels modern but the space itself is small. One could call it intimate and close to the stage. It'd be great for perhaps for a play or standups but not so much for ballet and definitely not great for anything accompanied with live music. I'm assuming due to the structure of the theater, the sound system and the live music sounded horrible. I partially attribute this to the seats and the smaller space. But also due to placing the musicians on the very far left bottom of the theater stage area closer to the exit door. It just echoed funny in my ears and not only unpleasant but distracting. An audience shouldn't be noticing this many faulty sounds and staging problems. Overall, I wouldn't mind attending another Washington Ballet performance per se. But doubt I will if it's at this particular theater venue. The onerous parking, unpleasant sound system, and ushers' unwillingness to assist with assigned tickets seating really left me longing for more. More especially because the tickets somehow costed more than a performance for NYCB at the Kennedy Center!!!

Came here to watch the play "Evita" and it was stunning. The staff was extremely helpful and kind when it came to picking up our tickets and finding our seats. The show started right on time and the theatre and building itself were stunning. I definitely recommend coming here for a show!

Professional and lovely theater. The seats are comfortable and the ushers are friendly and helpful.

We saw Evita. The cast were great. Best balcony seats we have ever experienced in the Harman Hall.

Attended a show in the Summer of 2018 in Sydney Harman Hall - my first time here. As I entered from the street through the doors, I noticed a few ways to get to the next level (stairs on both sides within the building and an elevator). They check your ticket on this level, before you head upstairs. Loved the layout and that there were seats available on the second level. You can grab a very expensive snack, drink or water while still being able to view the outside of the theater itself. If the show has not yet started, this is the level everyone will mingle on. Once the doors to the theater itself opened, it looked like they had some great seats overall - our group was in front. As I stood up, I noticed the band playing below (something similar I have experienced in one of the theaters at the Kennedy Center) - Cool. Seats were comfortable - I had a great view and really enjoyed the show. We saw Camelot. Note: This location I visited is just a few steps (across the street) from the Gallery Place Metro Station (green line) - Exit 7th and F Street.

Came here for the first time to see the adaptation of Much Ado about Nothing here - loved watching what was a brilliant performance with an excellent venue layout. Probably few bad seats from the looks of it. The theater is centrally located and close to the Metro, though I can imagine parking being a pain as can be expected in the area. Look forward to coming again for more Shakespearan plays.

This is a truly beautiful theater, and right in the heart of downtown across from the stadium. If you're under 35, you can score upper balcony tickets for $29.50 ($25 plus $4.50 service fee), so get them while you can! We came for Richard the Third, sadly timely but very well acted. They went the extra mile by decorating the entrance and lobby to match the show, which in this case meant painting blood stained handprints all over. We felt fully immersed. The show lasted 2h 45m with an intermission. In the lobby you can order the standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, which they do allow to be brought into the theater. The nicest feature: before the show you can place an order for drinks and/or food in advance and then pick them up during the intermission without having to wait in line again.

I heard they were showing the little mermaid here for free on a Sunday so my husband, son, and I decided to reserve tickets here and see the Movie. I learned it was their first foray into showing movies and normally there are not children under 5 there. On that same note, there are no changing tables in the restrooms. The chairs are pretty uncomfortable but we managed. We sat in the front row (5 rows back- the closer ones were roped off) and had minimal distractions and no one cared when our son squealed or grunted. The acoustics were good and the screen was substantially large. We all had a fabulous time! It's close to Gallery Place metro so I'd recommend taking the metro to get there. I'd definitely consider revisiting for a future movie or show.

Beautiful theater, but really uncomfortable seats. I'm short and feel very cramped up in the balcony seats. Performances are hit or miss. Great location, though. Can't really beat it.

Fantastic show from beginning to end. For a small premium you can take advantage of a small unlimited drinks and food offering in a spacious pregame area which may be exclusive. The seats were comfortable and even thought I was pretty high up I could see the stage with no problem.

My fiancé and I recently watched my favorite Shakespearean play (Othello) performed by the Shakespeare Theater Company at Sidney Harman Hall. It was a very enjoyable performance and the theater itself is a fantastic place to watch a show. It's very conveniently located in the heart of downtown DC and right down the street from the Gallery Place / Chinatown metro station. It's also within an easy walk of a number of excellent restaurants (for a pre-theater meal). We had amazing orchestra seats and loved the lighting and acoustics. It was a full house when we visited, but things flowed smoohtly. Restrooms are located on the second level and have plenty of stalls and a nice lounge area outside of it. The theater is a no frills and no hassle type of place. I'd certainly love to visit again in the future to watch more Shakespeare performances! I can't believe I've been living in the DC area for 5 years and only just visited this theater for the first time last week!

Located right across from the Capital One Arena and the Gallery Place/Chinatown (Red Line) Metro, this theatre is well-kept and modern. Don't fret too much about your seat selection (see picture) as no seat is a bad seat due to the layout and size. There should not be any seats with obstructed views from what I could see and gather. Go ahead and treat yourself to the Shakesperience.

While I don't always love their plays, the Shakespeare Theater Company always offers the highest of production values, a diversity of offerings and a fun evening out. I convinced a friend of mine to sign up for the under 35 subscription, a fabulous deal at $132 for six plays (she loves the theater so it was a pretty easy ask). This price is well below the market value and shows how the Theater prioritizes allowing younger audiences to be able to afford its shows. I'm not so much of a theater buff but STC makes it easy. With your subscription they send fun updates about each play in the season, plot summaries and behind-the-scenes tidbits. They also send well-done emails pre and post show to keep you updated on Caps games and metro delays that might impact your evening as well as a post-evening email the moment you leave your show. Despite Shakespeare being the first word in the title, the company mostly focuses on non-Bard. Our six shows included one by Sir Will (a wonderfully bloody steam punk-esque Richard III), one debut play and a few classics. I've been surprised by how much comedy was in our current season, and how well the Theater does slapstick. Each production has a very unique look and feel, something you appreciate even more when you get to see multiple shows running in the same month. My one complaint would be the fact that the season is late Fall-Spring and if you have a busy schedule it's a little hard to find time for all the plays. But with a membership you're able to reschedule your show multiple times if the original date assigned doesn't work, another big kudos to this unique program.

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." While the Bard's words are certainly true, one of the better places to see the players in action is at DC's own Shakespeare Theatre Company. Fun Fact #1: The STC actually operates out of 2 theatres. The Lansburgh (around the corner at 450 7th Street NW) also hosts smaller-scale productions by STC. Sidney Harman Hall (main location) is a truly stunning building, and the stage/acoustics/seating are all top notch. Fun Fact #2/Full Disclosure: I have been an Usher at STC for several years, but I don't think this makes me biased as I've enjoyed several performances here before joining their volunteer crew. This is *legit* one of the best volunteer gigs you can have in DC, as you get to enjoy world-class performances as a perk! Shoot me a message if you want more details on what it is like to usher at this theatre! Fun Fact #3: If you are new to DC or just learning about the theatre scene here, it is worth noting that STC does a HUGE service to the community by putting on a "Free For All" every summer. They re-do one of the Shakespeare plays from the previous season for free during the summer. Fun Fact #4: It's not just Shakespeare! There are typically 6 shows in a season (seasons run Sept - June) and only 2 or 3 of those are Shakespearean. (There are also many other special performances that run for a shorter period of time -maybe just a night or two - throughout the year) I've seen the Washington Ballet a few times, modern plays, and also some pre-recorded performances from National Theatre Live (London). There's something for everyone. Fun Fact #5: They make theatre accessible for youngins! If you are under 35, you can subscribe for a year and get tickets to shows for around $22 a seat. That's an incredible deal that not too many people know about. Fun Fact #6: Don't miss the gift shop.

This theater is indeed awesome as Kelly G. exclaimed. There is a lobby on each level so at the intermission break you don't have to deal with a crowd or wait in a long line to use the restroom. Plus, the ceiling to floor windows with a lofty view of F St and the Verizon center are a nice touch. You can arrive early and dine, cafe style at one of the many bistro tables. I saw a fantastic performance of the musical "Fela!". Who knew someone could produce a lively Afrobeat musical about a Nigerian activist and his rebel activities against government corruption? Leave it to celebs like Jay-Z and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith! I was in the balcony and had a birds-eye view. Some of the photos they showed on the large screen at the back back of the stage were cropped off from view by the valance of the curtain, but the stage view was ideal. I think if they had lowered the projector by about three inches (There was room for this) we would have been able to see the full pictures and text. The seats are comfortable, but the leg room is not plentiful. This theater is a great venue to add to DC's impressive list of places to see a show.

This modern theater is a treat to attend in the beautiful space with high ceilings and glass walls. The stairs also have a feeling of walking just a bit on air with the glass and metal fixtures that form these aesthetically pleasing steps. The food and drink pre- show and during intermission can be enjoyed jutting out over the sidewalk just a bit. The hall and seating itself is well designed to allow just enough room to comfortably cross in front of people when finding or leaving your seat. The open arcing nature leads most of the seats to have a clear view of the stage. The traditional orchestra and mezzanine layout feel more spread out and spacious. The theater company is top notch and among the best Shakespeare I have ever seen in the States. If ever you can attend just once, you'll see how the Bard is interpreted in a modern yet respectful and authentic fashion. Love it!!!

This is a beautifully executed building just steps away from the Verizon Center. I went there to see Fela over the weekend just so I could compare it to the Broadway Production I saw last year. It's still thriving in execellence even off Broadway. Sidney Harman is a total state of the art theater, instead of an atrium ceiling, the building has a glass front, which still allows the natural light to come through and add whatever character nature is creating on that day. Getting dressed up to attend any of their events to me is just out of courtesy for Sidney Harman's modern aesthetic. The wood-grain seats are very comfortable and spacious, compared to most theaters, and the aisles are wide, so pleasantly plump bottoms can breeze by without brushing your shoulders. The good thing was the show started 10 minutes after the start time, which I'm sure late comers really appreciated. I found the setting to be very intimate as no seat is a bad one. The only thing I noticed in such cases as a musical like Fela, the dancing and overall movements of the cast were not as big and fluid due to the size of the stage. But overall they made it work!

The girlfriend and I went to see the Shakespeare Theater Co.'s production of the Merchant of Venice at the Sidney Harman Hall. I have to say I was very impressed and struck by the facility. The all-glass façade gives it a very modern appearance which provides a great contrast to the Elizabethan era plays being performed inside the theater. Having now been to both the Landsburgh Theater and SHH, I have to say that even though SHH holds nearly 350 more theater-goers in its two-level venue than the Landsburgh, it seems much more intimate and you feel closer to the action on the stage. There are no bad seats in the house and you can easily hear the performers on stage without amplification. As for the production of Merchant of Venice... I had read the play in freshman English back in high school but had never seen a live production. For me, the play hasn't aged well and it really isn't one of Shakespeare's more timeless pieces in my mind. However, it has two of his most memorable characters, Shylock and Portia. Still, the play was well-executed and provided a good entertainment for a Sunday afternoon.

This is a small theater that is right near the Verizon center so it's easy located to Chinatown and penn district in DC. Anyway, I had tickets to see Potted Potter on a Saturday afternoon. The theater is cozy meaning no seat is a bad seat. The refreshments consist of beer, wine, coffee, cupcakes, cookies, sandwiches, candy bars, and other small bites. The prices were consistent to other theaters so you my suggestions is to get something before or after. I did see that you can preorder if your play has an intermission (mine did not), so it can you save time. Ladies, the bathrooms are decent and provide about 10-15. Even though this is the case, it does it backed up after the play lets out.

This is a wonderful, well designed, stylish new theatre building, the pride of Washington DC! Since this is a review of the venue, I will focus just on the venue. I love how clean and stylish it is. It may be too "postmodern" (clean lines, minimalist design) for some, but I love the ease of navigation and the comfort. The Sidney Harman Hall has a 3-level all-glass facade. The seats are super comfortable (nice pitch). You can "see through" from the outside. You can see people milling around on all 3 levels. The back goes all the way up so you could rest your head, and yet your views won't be blocked by the row in front of you. We went to see A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, a funny, hilarious, great musical by Sondheim. Loved the venue and the show. It's especially atmospheric during the holiday seasons. The gift shop is very nice too. The staff are very friendly and nice. Just a beautiful modern theatre. The space is huge though, so not as intimate as the Shakespeare Theatre Company's other main venue, Lansburgh Theatre. The location can't be beat, right across the street from the Chinatown metro station and Verizon Center. When shows let out, there are taxis out front if you need a taxi. Penn Quarter is fantastic; shopping, dining, everything. No need to drive and worry about finding parking (never driven to downtown so I don't know if there is convenient parking around here). And it's a huge plus for women that the ladies' room is clean, has quite a few stalls, with relatively fast moving lines -- at least compared to older theatres (but no high expectation here either; just saying that it's not that bad in terms of wait time, but don't expect to breeze in and out). There's an awkward corner though where the door of the disabled stall opens right into the door of the adjacent stall (these 2 stalls are at 90 degree angle), so there's the risk of bumping into others as you walk out or in. The heavy (but nice) door to the ladies' room makes for quite an obstacle, though, as people form a line (while others try to exit the bathroom!), because space is so cramped behind the door. One person has prop the door open to allow the line to move forward and the traffic going (people exiting).

We saw A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum here and it was great. Every production is wonderful here and it's a great way to get children interested in Shakespeare. Definitely a great activity to do in DC!

STC staff/ box office was exceptional in their service. We were unable to attend a show on our original date, emailed them, and within an hour they swapped out our tickets for a different showing of RIII, my favorite play! Superb customer service and attentiveness deserves accolades. KUDOS! You make it easy to enjoy the experience from start to finish!

Fun/Cost: (5/5) I came here last Wednesday night for a live performance of Oscar Wilde's "The Ideal Husband" (TravelZoo deal $18.50 -- half off the regular price). It was a great, 3-hour performance. The actors were convincing, the costumes and set were spectacular, and the entire performance seemed glitch-free. They offer plenty other shows and performances here, and there is a wide range of seating prices to appeal to the entire economic spectrum, so check out the Shakespeare Theater's calendar for the schedule. Ambiance: (5/5) Sidney Harman Hall is elegant and classy, without being pretentious. The architecture is modern, with glass walls on one side and designed with welcoming, light neutral colors. The Hall evokes a feeling of light and airiness. The theater itself seemed extremely tall and the Mezzanine level where we were seated was actually quite steep. Thank goodness for railings. However, the steep rise between rows was a blessing because I didn't see have to see the back of someone's head throughout the play. The seats are comfortable and I didn't feel uncomfortable at all, even after sitting for 3 hours. They have a concessions bar area outside the theater doors on the upper floors with some seating, which is nice. Location: (5/5) Located right across the Verizon Center, Sidney Harman Hall is located in the Penn Quarter / Chinatown area. There are no shortage of dining options in the surrounding blocks so the Hall is an easy stroll after a pre-theater dinner. Even better, the Chinatown metro stop is just a few steps away, which means that public transport is an option. Overall: (5/5) I would come back here in a heartbeat for performances. I had such a lovely experience here.

I won tickets to the first 2016 Free for All performance of the Tempest this week, and being new to DC, this seemed like a cool way to get to start learning the DC theater scene. Conveniently located off of the Gallery Place/Chinatown red line stop, it is also easy to get to the theater! Let's get one thing out of the way: If you want to see a strong acting performance of a Shakespeare play, I would recommend Shakespeare Theater Company. I was kind of disappointed by the free for all experience, as I was hoping for more of an experience, like Shakespeare in the Park in New York. This is just seeing a free show, which is cool but less exciting. I found the process of entering the lottery to be very simple online, but there was no clear label of where to pick up tickets, and then everyone was packed into a small lobby waiting for the doors to open. No lines, no structure. The ushers/maybe volunteers were rude when I was trying to find where to pick up tickets, which I found to be highly off-putting. It kind of left a bad taste in my mouth about supporting the company in the future. I would give the Shakespeare Theater Company a second chance in the future, but I am going to test out other companies first.

I wish I could give this 5 stars because the play (The Secret Garden) was absolutely phenomenal. Great acting, set design, singing, etc. However, my partner and I went to one of the garages that was stated on the tickets to be open until after the play ended, but instead it was closed and we had to find another location to park. There was no specification that we might have to use one garage over another. It was incredibly frustrating and because of this we worried we might be late even though we headed to the theatre with plenty of time to spare. Then upon arrival at the theatre, we were given incorrect directions on where our seats were located. We also felt the attendant was rude towards us (unsure if he was judging us for being young or like we didn't belong or something?) I'm really glad the play made the beginning struggles worth it!

Love the theater company but the latest production is one of the worst I've seen by any company on any stage in any country. "The Panties...is an embarrassment--a tattered pair of knickers masquerading as couture lingerie. Is this how you wish to exit the stage, Mr. Kahn? Protest this piece of dross by staying away. You have been warned!

This place is a huge auditorium where you can watch televised Shakespeare plays. So big that there is a lot of space usually left over, which is a good thing, because you can select the cost of your seat. I came here to watch Cumberbatch's "Othello", and the acoustics are nice. It makes you feel like you are in a live show. The gift shop also looks regal.

Emily, in an unprecedented burst of motivation to do something, invited a bunch of us to watch the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of Romeo and Juliet. I'm not really a fan of Shakespeare -- other than "A Midsummer Night's Dream," I think his plays are too long-winded. Plus, my 9th grade English teacher ruined the story of the star-crossed lovers for me when she painfully pointed out every single sexual innuendo in the book. Super awkward. I was surprised to see that the Company is made up of only males, just like in Shakespeare's time. Men in drag kind of freak me out. Pep rallies and Spirit Weeks in high school really turned me off of broad-shouldered men with hairy legs/chests/pits crammed into female clothing. There's nothing worse than seeing a hairy dude in a bikini. At least shave your legs, man! Anyway, the actors were actually not disturbing at all. Their passionate and enthusiastic acting, together with the wigs and make-up on the female characters, made it easy for me to forget about such silly details as "I wonder what that guy is using to fill out his bodice?" They really brought the story to life, and I had a generally fantastic time. I was really impressed with the way scene-to-scene set changes and transitions were done, and roared with laughter along with the rest of the audience every time someone made a rude gesture or crude joke. Yayyy, theater! I will say, however, that I was a little disturbed by Juliet. He was pretty, but for a 14 year old girl, his voice was just a little too deep...and his shoulders were too broad....and he was taller than 30 year old Romeo. His acting was very good though -- I think he might have been more graceful/feminine than I ever was/am/will be. Good job, guy.

I missed out on KatieF's UYE during the week to see Twelfth Night so I got tickets for the Saturday evening performance. Having had a great dinner at Zaytinya nearby, my date and I walked a convenient block over to the Sidney Harman building to catch the performance. The facility is very modern. The seats are comfortable and high back with ample room so you don't feel boxed in like sardines. The performance was fun with all the characteristics of a bawdy Shakespearean comedy. With a slight bit of modern artistic interpretations tossed in to get the audience engaged and understand the puns and double entendres but still retain enough of the Bard's linguistics to be authentic.

I was a big fan of their free summer production of Hamlet, so when I got the email offering 10 dollar tickets (if you under age 35) for today and next Sunday's performances of Romeo and Juliet I was purchasing in a second. This performance of Romeo and Juliet was special in that it had an all male cast. I feel this company always does a twist (modern costumes, etc) to really bring the audience in a whole new way. They really make Shakespeare attainable to a wider audience. The theater itself is beautiful, and the seats comfortable. I will be back for many more shows in the future.

Wow this place is beautiful. I went to see The Twelfth Night with some friends and we sat in the balcony. The sound was great and it is such a great size that there probably isn't a bad seat in the house - our view was great. There also is a coat check on multiple floors, and the will-call was really easy. Also, if you are under 35 you can get $10 tickets to the Shakespeare Theater Company! As cheap as I am, I couldn't pass that up. Between discounts, good seats, and great accessibility to the metro, I can't see why you wouldn't want to take advantage. Bring money if you would like a drink during intermission because, as one would expect, drinks may run you a few bucks.

And yet another review using bullet points. I'll write in complete sentences again soon, I promise! PROS: - lovely space, lots of glass and light wood - the seating is great - it's impossible to have a bad seat, great view of stage - handsome bar with a variety of food for intermission (although i can't attest to the taste since i'd just had dinner) - good location (right across from the Verizon Center) - good gift shop with the obligatory Shakespeare paraphernalia (including a display of shrimp cocktail featuring some VERY dessicated shrimp. didn't really understand that although there may be some shakespearan reference to which i am ignorant) - TV screens in the lobby flashed the cast and crew's bios - very nice! CONS: - parking stinks b/c of the location. if you're squeamish about street parking like my roomie, you're stuck paying the $20 event parking. minor gripe, but a gripe nonetheless - appears to be only one bathroom. major stinker if you're a woman.

A beautiful, modern theatre across the street from the Verizon Center. The interior is a hearty mix of wood, glass and steel. The views in the lobby areas are great at night, and the actual theatre has a 'serious' feel to it with the black ceiling and dark wood walls. Pro Tip: The first row (AA) of the mezzanine on the third level offers unobstructed views of the entire stage.

This place is perfect. I have been here several times to catch classic and modern takes on Shakespeare and every one of them has been a memorable experience. The theater has a modern feel. The floor to ceiling windows in the lobby mean less reliance on indoor artificial lighting and the feeling of being in an open space not an office building that happens to house a theater. Like the Verizon Center, the upper rows have a steeper slant so even if you're in the nose bleed section you have an excellent view. If you are scared of heights it may not be the spot for you but if you end up with mezzanine seats do not be afraid that your view will be obstructed. I could still make out the spit flying from some actor's well lubricated mouth. The seats are roomy and the aisles are wide so if you're later than your seatmates you won't have a problem scooching past them. I arrived late for one of the shows and they ushered us to the mezzanine section despite our having tickets for the orchestra. I was just happy to get in at all and was told that we could make out way to our original seats at intermission. Yay! Love this place! Quick fact: They have serious deals if you sign up for their newsletter so you can get your monthly dose of culture at a steal.

OMGWTFBBQ! Yeah, I know, I'm lame. For someone who loves the theater as much as I do, I can't believe I hadn't seen any performances at the Sidney Harmon Hall up to this point! Then...then the Shakespeare Theater Company hosted their "Free for All" of Taming of the Shrew here, and well, I was front and center waiting in line (actually, I was #2 in line. Yes, I waited the full 4 hours for tickets!). This theater is gorgeous! Obviously, as a new theater, it has the luxury of glorious state of the art sound and lights, but that's not what made this theater so lovely to me. To start with, I loved that the coat check was around the corner from the bar and the stairwell. Too often, coatcheck is right by the entrance, which causes a complete and total bottleneck. Then, each lobby on each level had TVs that showed the performance, for any patrons that needed to get out - so no one missed anything - and it reduced the number of rude people coming in halfway through a scene. And added bonus that these TVs were next to the bar. Heh. Yeah, that was just marvelous planning on their part! Then the theater itself. Although it didn't have the gilted opulence as with the older theaters, such as Warner, the Sidney Harmon Hall was still beautiful and majestically classic, with all dark wood and sleek paneling. I loved it! The seats were roomy and cushy - and the space between your seat and the seat in front of you was wide enough that your knees weren't up to your chin. The acoustics were great, and the seats were semi-stadium seating, so even if someone tallish sat in front of you, you could still see. YAY! Needless to say, I'm loving this theater, and although I rarely let the venue influence what shows I'm going to see, I know that I am more likely to go see a show if it's here, just because I know that it will be much more comfortable - even in winter when everyone has on bulky sweaters and jackets. Love love love! *love*

Absolutely LOVE this venue! I have been here twice.. to watch a Harry Potter spoof a few months ago (absolutely hilarious) and this past weekend, I had the pleasure of witnessing Henry IV - front row seats (Thanks to Yelp). It was absolutely amazing! The stage and the lighting never fails to amaze me. People who work/ volunteer here are very friendly. I always feel very welcomed at this place, no matter what the event. :)

One of my favorite experiences so far in DC. Yes, more than overcrowded monuments and overpriced&mediocre restaurants. I saw Tartuffe with a friend who got the tickets for free (!) the Monday before our Friday evening show. I believe this is part of the Under 35 deal. Our seats were great, especially considering they were free. The acting- superb. The costumes- fun and surprising considering how old Tartuffe is. Set- minimalistic, which added to the pop provided by the costumes and acting. Seats- comfortable, which I can't say has always been the case for other venues. Location- directly across the street from Gallery Place metro. Essentially, this place provides everything people want in an ideal theater company and performance venue - access, as another commenter mentioned, relevant and well-executed plays, in a location that can't be beat. Also, Justice Ginsburg is on the donor's list, so you KNOW it's good! Thank you to all the donors, both corporate and individuals, who keep this place going.

I love attending plays here! The facility is modern, attractive, and comfortable. The seats are roomy enough that I am comfortable (although I am 5'2" so a taller person may feel differently). I have never sat in the balcony, but on the main level, I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. Even from the last row the view and the sound are perfect. I also suggest checking out some of the fun items in the lobby gift shop. They sometimes repurpose old costumes into things like purses and cosmetics bags. They also display old props, which are interesting to see up close. (I think this is what another reviewer was referring to with a mention of "dessicated shrimp.") I recently saw the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of Twelfth Night. I LOVED it. It was staged incredibly well. The scenery and music added a lot to the comedic performances. The play contains several overwrought love stories, which were played to perfect ridiculous effect by the outstanding cast. The last scene alone is worth the price of admission. Tip for the under 35 crowd: The Shakespeare Theatre Company does a season subscription for young adults that is a fantastic deal. For less than $15 a ticket you get admission to 7 plays over the course of the season. This year there are 3 Shakespeare plays and 4 plays by other playwrights. Three friends and I all got subscriptions, so now every month or so we get dressed up and attend a play. It's really fun for a very small amount of money. If you are interested in theater at all, I highly recommend looking into subscribing next year.

I think this might be the most stunning theater I've ever been in in my life. The glass structure took my breath away when I met R there (then again, my breath was already taken away at the fact that a guy wanted to go to the theater AT FREE WILL. Like, of his OWN VOLITION. HIS IDEA. I darn near applauded when he suggested it.) We were running a tad late to "Ion," but the staff was super-accomodating and let us sneak into the back. The play in itself was amazing, but the auditorium made it slightly better with phenomenal sound/acoustics. And although we didn't have the best seats, I didn't have trouble seeing anything. As I said, the building itself is beautiful, with glass walls (or windows. ha.), and marble floors. Absolutely stunning. The only thing I could have asked for was a liiiittle bit more leg room; a tad uncomfortable for the leggy amongst us, but it can be overlooked in the grand scheme.

So awesome!!! I love the venue!! And the shows are always to a high standard so I haven't been disappointed yet! The venue is a good size and not overly big. There are no bad seat since there are no columns that might block your view... The stage is a decent size too. The sound is usually ok. I just find it fun to come here since, besides the show, there are things too look at as you're walking around. Pictures of old shows. Costumes. Posters. There is a place where you can get food. But i don't think you can eat inside. I will come back for the culture and fun! Until then!!

A friend from undergrad called me at 11:15 am to invite me to the "Free for All" production of Julius Caesar. He waited in line on the final day of the performance and was lucky enough to get two tickets. Yes, I accept the invitation! The theater is AWESOME. The production was SUPERB. The patrons were normal human beings. I've been a fan for years. Of course I'll return again and again. This was as good as it gets!

Three cheers for "Free for All!" Shakespeare Theatre Company is doing a great job pulling off the Free for All with "Taming of the Shrew" this year. The production is so sexy, sassy and never misses a beat. I never attended the event at the former outdoor location, but I heard tales of disorganized ticket distribution and seating-- not to mention difficulty hearing the performance. Holding the Free for All in the Harman Center eliminated all of these problems. The evening couldn't have gone more smoothly! Just a note: we arrived about an hour and a half before they were going to start giving out tickets, and ended up being pretty close to the front of the line for the Sunday evening show. I would think it will be more crowded on a weekday, but even if you only arrive half hour before box office time, I would think you would still get a seat. Good luck and enjoy!

I recently went the the last night of The Taming of the Shrew, which was free by the way :D, and I literally have nothing to complain about. I did show up for tickets very early and did wait in line for quite some time (5 hours to be exact) but I still have nothing bad to say. I brought a book to read and there was some Argentinian festival going on with live music and plenty of people watching to do. Okay, okay so I guess the only complaint I have is I couldn't wine taste because I refused to give up my spot in line, but the plays the thing so back to it! All of the staff that came outside to talk or collect information were all very polite and helpful which just made my anticipation grow even more. After a quick dinner nearby I made my way back to the Hall and found the inside very nice and once again the staff very polite and helpful. I hadn't seen a play in a long, long, long time and this by far was my favorite. An exceptional performance, great seats, and laid back atmosphere made for one of the best nights in a while. Bravo!

This place is gorgeous with the changes in the building. We love walking around the area before or after a show. I strongly suggest looking for discounts or specials on shows. You never know what you can find. The staff members are friendly. You can grab a bite in the building or at a nearby restaurant.

I headed here to see the Shakespeare's Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing, A Free For All event. The website recommended that we get there around 5:30 PM to pick up tickets for the 8 PM show but... being not that great about time, we arrived around 6:30 PM. All tickets for the play were gone at that point but they were handing out waitlist numbers; the great and friendly staff kindly handed me two waitlist tickets (number 18 & 19) and then promptly asked me to return them so they could instead hand me tickets number 2 &3! I knew when I woke up in the morning that someone in the world loved me!!! We returned to theatre at 7:45 PM and were able to get seats to the play. We quickly snatched up two seats in the very back row on the orchestra level. No less than two staff members approached us to make sure our seats were acceptable and to let us know that they'd happily move us if something closer opened up. So thoughtful and considerate! The theatre is beautiful and the play was great. Both served as a reminder about why it's so great to live in DC. Where else can you catch free Shakespeare productions of such amazing quality?

The Shakespeare theatre, in both its venues, is an amazing institution. They make theatre alive for all. They have great discounted tickets for young people, and the rest of us get "theatre at 60%" thanks to their patrons. While the old venue is full of the charm of old theatres, the new one is gorgeous in a more modern way. They organize talks about the plays, which is awesome, and even better, have open rehearsal sessions. Now all the plays I've seen by the Shakespeare company were amazing. Henry the IV, directed by the genial Michael Kahn was absolutely breath-taking, everything Shakespeare meant it to be, I'm sure. Passion, lust, humor, the action of battle, existential reflection on the behavior of men... I'm still shivering!

"The Best Shakespeare in D.C." This is the No. 1 place to see Shakespeare or the ballet in Washington, D.C. The venue is comfortable, well designed and the architecture with the glass facade is impressive. It's also a great place to take a date because there are several nearby options for dinner or a cocktail before or after show. By comparison, the Kennedy Center is so massive that I always feel like I'm trying to board an aircraft carrier when I see a show there. Plus at the Kennedy Center Opera House you're often so far from the stage that it doesn't seem worthwhile. There are actually several Shakespearean acting troupes in D.C., but the best of them, the Shakespeare Theater Company, actors is associated with the Harman Center. Of course some shows are better than others, but if you want to see the Bard in D.C., this place is your best bet. (The acting troupe that performs at the Harman Center also performs at the Landsburgh, another nice venue.) The Washington Ballet also performs a few shows at the Harman Center every season (they're usually at the Kennedy Center). If you can, get your tickets early and get a seat in the fifth or sixth row dead center. Again, I can't give any advance guarantees about a future show, but you won't be disappointed with the venue.