The Lyceum Theatres

Fun little theater. Me and my mom volunteered as ushers and we got to see the show free. Fun for friends and family depending on the show you all go see. Everyone was super friendly.

Great small theater. Every seat is perfect. Sitting rows too close together. I'm 6-4 and can hardly get my feet in between the aisles. Extremely uncomfortable if you're over 5'5". Other than that, great place to go see a show.

Downstairs downtown location in Horton Plaza. Excellent productions - have most recently enjoyed another Hersh Felder (Beethoven). There are multiple theaters, floors and entry doors which can be confusing. Small venues so Seating is generally good. Lobby is super small and can be crowded. Lines and service for beverages/snacks can be long, but you are able to bring into the theatre with you. Box office staff are great. Think the ushers are volunteers so some more helpful than others but pleasant. Ticket prices are reasonable for the quality of productions. Great place to see shows in downtowns SD.

Great theater but I'm hearing impaired and can't always understand the dialog. I was refused headset device once by Sal and it was really embarrassing because he chose to ignore me while serving drinks. Thirsty customers just wanted to get their drinks and snacks and all agreed that I was holding up the line. One guy started recording me saying that he knew what I was was up to. I just left the theater. Didn't visit again for years until I had a friend playing in a show who I wanted to support.

Nice theater, only thing I'd change is make the seats so you don't have to squat so low before sitting .

Well run. Nice staff. Personable atmosphere. Not a bad or distant seat in the place. Lots of construction outside however (as of July 2022) so it may be difficult to find the entrance especially if you are early and they are not standing by the temp gate as they were for the event I attended. The whole block seems to be under a complete transformation so it looks messy to say the least but you'll comlettely forget about this once you've entered the theater.

Been here many times enjoying Music & plays with friendly staff

Saw Fun House there... it's and interesting story about my daughter becoming a lesbian and a father hiding the fact that he's gay. There are kids in the play and it's a musical. Was actually extremely funny and touching. The facility itself was nice. Production Crews the great job. And the house staff were very nice people.

Went here one time to watch a play named "Tres Camarones" great show and the theater is cool and beautiful being underground.

So sad they closed. The best multicultural and theater in San Diego. I hope they reopen in the future

I have been going to the Lyceum since Horton Plaza was still around. This place specializes in a lot of original plays, and if you got a season pass, you're in for a treat, a lot of local SD artists performed here, you never known whom you ran into because some of them had moved from theater to Hollywood movies. The last play I saw was Viet Gone, and the first play since COVID was The Great Khan which I got a pleasure to attend. If you enjoy performing arts, come and see it for yourself. I wish I could take some shots during the performance, but it was strictly prohibited. The facility was designed very unique, you get to walk down and even further deeper down to reach the main stage, yet everything else got pretty well maintained except for the construction next door right now, I really don't know what they're going to do with the old Horton Plaza, although it was dearly missed. Parking was easy, some meters are expired after 6 PM, if you don't mind walking a few blocks like me, some expired at 8 PM, then you might have to put in a few bucks, but that's downtown for you, I think everyone else would rather pay valet and enjoy their sit down during the show, am I right?

Last time I was here was when I took my two sons here to see 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas". Got three last minute tickets to see "Fun Home" and they were in the last row, straight back. But because the theater is so intimate, it was perfectly fine. A tip you need to know, remember to have your parking ticket validated! Or pay $30 for parking.

Last night I was invited to the Klezmer Festival concert. I had been two times in the past before covid and always enjoyed this style of music as I find it very unpredictable musically. I do have an extensive background in listening to Jazz and also classical. Classical I've always enjoyed the most as it takes me on adventure that is enjoyable. Unlike jazz, I pretty much know where it's going and it's usually out there. LOL of course, this is just my opinion and I know that you have yours. I find Klezmer uplifting, sometimes sad and stirring up all sorts of emotions. Last night's concert was about 20 minutes of Klezmer and mostly Jazz from local musicians that I have known since they first came to San Diego or live here in the 70s. Now, don't get me wrong as I'm happy to see these guys, still playing and of course still around. They did celebrate some music by Jewish composers, but as I mentioned above I want to hear Klezmer.... I'm giving the musicians 5 stars as past history serves me it's not an easy profession and a lot of times very ungrateful. These guys are top notch. The lyceum as you will see in the photos spent Millions of dollars on renovation. What they didn't consider is that the majority of people that go to to the lyceum are generally over 50 and up. The staircase and thank goodness there's railings for all ages as it's like a steep and slippery slope on a mountain. The seats are ancient and as you will see in the photo I posted it was very hard to sit straight up or any comfortable way. I know as a fact that they talked about putting in new sitting for the last few years and an elevator. I give the lyceum 3 stars as it is the only boujouis theater in town. It is located at the old Horton Plaza which is now defunct and offices are going into what used to be a fabulous place to shop. About 4 years ago I would come here and volunteer for La Jolla music Society which I always enjoy doing it really is a lovely venue and they have several theaters here I hope that day get it together what's better renovations.

An excellent venue. It's currently in the throes of getting remodeled, and as such only 4 stars. But, I'm sure it'll be 5 stars when redone, expected in early 2017. A small theater, and as such, not a bad seat in the house. I always try to sit on the upper numbered seats, so I get a seat on the side, enabling me to best see the piano keys. Here's a review from the San Diego Union Tribune on July 9th....I saw the performance on July 8th. http://sandiegouniontribune.ca.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=0a696ce9a&pSetup=sandiegouniontribune This is the 2nd time I've seen Hershey Felder. First time was in La Jolla portraying Gershwin. This month he's Leonard Bernstein. The man is brilliant. I'll be back to see him next year, whomever he is portraying.

Have been here for several plays and have always enjoyed the experience. If you've never been here before it is something of a puzzle to find once you're on top of it. Literally on top. The theatre is located under the Horton Plaza mall. There is an elevator that does take you to it but I never remember which one it is so I always walk down the steps (both outside an inside) to get where I'm going. They do offer refreshments and sorts including libations. Just be careful with all the steps. Seats are plush and comfortable to sit in while you enjoy your epic tale. Armrest are not so comfortable but happy the bum is comfortable. "You can feel the excitement build as you descend deeper and depper. Entering the theatre you are transported to a time of horse drawn carriage and candle light. No TV, PC or other electronic devices to watch. Just the arts! Be it acting, ballet, or other. The times when imagination was as vivid as a 4k tv. It was real and wasn't washed over by electronic static." Appreciate the theatre and arts by going out and supporting a local acting troup or a theatre like this one.

There are no bad seats in this small intimate theater. The play we saw "Beethoven" was wonderful. While it was only a one man show, he played many parts and that alone was a spectacle to behold. If you're looking for an interesting evening I would suggest finding what is playing here and taking the chance. I can't wait to go again and won't hesitate to get any seat now that I know every seat has an easy and close view of the stage. Enjoy and let me know if it's a play I should be going to see!

How do you rate and review a live theater? You don't want to judge them by the show playing, they can't really be faulted if the gal playing Mimi wasn't all that good. The acoustics were alright, the place was relatively clean, a pretty good venue overall It's a classic theater, been around for quite some time, and in a great location beneath Horton Plaza. But, that also brings me to the rougher points of the place; they are currently undergoing renovations that really bring the overall experience down by quite a bit. The outside gallery has been stripped down to its bare bones, exposing concrete and underlying plaster. It's very rough, unattractive, and makes the whole of the place seem a bit dirtier than it should be. Restrooms are scarce, just a single set for the 250+ patrons, and they have that single step above a diner bathroom feel and ... well, smell. The theater itself is filled with broken theater chairs, covered in cushions that should have been replaced long ago, that are all cramped and a bit uncomfortable. And it was all topped off with the fact that the front seats are all layered in a way where I know my the height of my girlfriend and I interfered with the people behind us. Still, hopefully the renovation will address some of these problems, if not all. Regardless, we came here to see Rent and I had a great time of it. Great cast, great production, great music, and great pre-show and mid-show speeches from the cast and director. The seats were well priced and the theater is in a nice location near some great restaurants which really do help keep a somewhat gross and rundown theater at that near average level. I'm definitely gonna give this place another go when I see something worth catching.

This theater is located in Horton Plaza. You are able to get a 4 hour validation if you watch a show and you park in the Horton Plaza's parking garage. We came to watch an Asian inspired play with about 15 actors. The theater is pretty small, which is great because it's intimate and you don't need binoculars to see. The chairs are a bit uncomfy and creaky, but it's expected for an old but goodie place to watch some great down to earth shows. Snack bar only sells the essentials, and sells the basic alcohol. There's a really cool foyer and during intermission you are able to check out the art and history on the wall. If you get a chance to watch a show here, do so! Such a hidden gem in the heart of downtown.

The Lyceum theatre is small and kinda hidden in the mall. If you walk down a few flights of stairs you'll find it. There's some construction going on now so we parked in a parking lot. However, once inside you can get the parking validated. We went and saw Cats. Which we found out had young (as in h.s., middle school & younger)actresses and actors and it was adorable! At intermission they sold refreshments; coffee,sodas and candies & they selling raffle tickets for prizes. We sat at the top corner so it was easier for us to go in and out. However, it was tight quarters so if we had an inside seat your walking by someone with your butt in their face lol! Small intimate theatre perfect for date night!

I've been to the Lyceum Theatre several times in the past, but finally went with my family to see the Jungle Book today. Although I've enjoyed coming here, the experience this time was a bit disappointing. The play was great, although some parts kept me wondering if it was really appropriate for kids of all ages/ "family friendly" as advertised. The instrumentals were appropriate for the theme and attention to detail with costumes are evident. The staff left much to be desired. Upon entering the theatre, my daughter asked for a program and the usher completely ignored her. I then asked on her behalf and the usher replied, "we don't give programs to children". Needless to say, I saw several children walking in with programs after us. During the play, the disappointment with ushers continued as 2 of them sat behind us (we were in the 2nd to last row) and contined to talk throughout the play.... Everything from them saying "I hear someone eating, but that's not our section" to "well, I've been stepped on 4 times" as 4 people passed them to exit the theatre and another random conversation about "tennis shoes"... It felt like I was watching the Jungle Book on stage with an episode of the Golden Girls playing closely behind me. I've taken my daughter to see at least 30 plays and she's been in a ballet program for over 3 years. This is the first time she was ever denied a program and she actually enjoys reading the entire thing to review the cast and read about upcoming plays. If programs aren't given to children, maybe the theatre should reconsider charging for children to attend... Or at least train staff to be respectful regardless of who is asking. There are plenty of great theatres throughout San Diego, so there would have to be a really good play at the Lyceum for me to be eager to return soon.

There isn't a bad seat here. I came for a ballet, and wasn't sure if floor seating was the best or if I should go up higher. Every seat is soft stadium seating. Seats are comfortable and not too close together. This is a small theater that holds about 550 people, so even top balcony seats are still really close to the stage. Restrooms were clean. Bar seemed popular. To get here you have to find the stairs that take you underground to the box office and entrance.

This is my first visit to the Lyceum in many years. The show was 33 1/3 House of Dreams. All the seats in this theater are good seats. If a show is playing that you love, go out of your way to see it st the Lyceum. The seating and stage are designed with views from all angles. During this show, the sound was not correct. The singers were muffled and the dialogue was mushy sounding. I'm sure this is a problem that comes and goes. Here's the rub: we went down stairs to our seats and there is a terrifying wooden staircase with crazy benches(?) down one side of it. There is a intermittent hand rail and scores of senior citizen were making their way down. I was scared and I'm relatively young. How about a nice run of non skid carpet? To avoid it, choose seats in rows I - Z. I enjoyed the Lyceum and we will go back.

This is going to be short and sweet as I cannot really give a good review since they are in the process of renovating. A few theatres in the Lyceum that is located by Horton Plaza. I like that they are doing renovations however there is only 1 restroom area which is at the top. With that said, use the restroom first before going downstairs to the theatre. Seating in the theatre is comfortable and great temperature. As plays become available to watch, I will return as much as I can and hopefully the renovations are done quickly.

First off, I came here to see Sex with Strangers and it was such a great show! Funny, thoughtful and incredibly well done. An absolute must-see show if you're into being entertained. The theatre itself can be hard to find, so here's some tips. You can park in the Horton Plaza lot and validate your ticket at the Macys. This will give you three free hours of parking. If you're coming on a Sunday night, I suggest trying to find street parking because it's free and you don't have to worry about going over your limit. The best way to find this place is to go to the lower level near the CVS. The theatre entrance is facing the new quad area. You go down the stairs and you'll be right there! They have a ticket booth outside. Inside, there is a small theater. On the ticket map, it seems like it's a lot bigger than it is, so there really is no bad seat in the house. We sat in the second row from the top and I really liked that because the theatre is so intimate that you still feel close to the actors without feeling to close. It was a great experience to visit this theatre and I hope to come back soon. Maybe even to watch Sex with Strangers again, it was that good!

Saw "Rent" here tonight and it was great. The show was a musical that featured about 20 talented performerers who were both great actors and vocalists. They weren't superstar famous calibre performers, but were definitely not amateurs. It was a 3 hours show (including a 15 min intermission) that was the full broadway version. The set was pretty basic, the lighting was good and highlighted the show. I definitely recommend seeing this one. I'll for sure check out another one of the Lyceum's shows. I got a great deal on Goldstar.com and saw the show for under $15 including taxes/fees. Will-Call ticket pick up was super fast and efficient. They are a not-for-profit performance group and give younger artists a chance to shine. If you buy a production shirt at any of the shows and wear it to other shows you see here, you get a discount at the boxoffice ($10 a show, I believe). During the intermission they auctioned off a poster signed by the cast. There was also a Raffle for gift baskets, the proceeds of which went to the theatre. The producer's daughter drew the Raffle ticket during intermission, there were a lot of family/friends in the crowd; it was definitely a tight-knit group and the production was really near and dear to their hearts. The Lyceum Theatre itself is nice. Its very small, which makes it quite quaint and there is really no bad seat in the house. It also nice because smaller seating capacity makes for less people to get in and out of the theatre and your seat and a shorter wait for the restroom. It is a little rough around the edges (don't expect anything overly ornate), but its clean, the seats are comfortable enough and the acoustics are good. The staff is super friendly and very helpful. The Theatre validates your Horton Plaza parking ticket for four hours (regular mall validation is 3 hours). The only drawback was that the theater is tricky to find. Horton Plaza is already a confusing mall (especially since I rarely go there and most of the elevators weren't working tonight) and the theatre is located on the bottom level, on which its accessible through the back entrance (near CVS) not through the front entrance... you have to go up to the first floor, walk to the back, then go down to the bottom level to get there. From there, you go down a couple flights of stairs into a "hole" (as a store employee who helped me and a few other confused people also looking for it described it) to get the the entrance. No biggie, just allow yourself some extra time if its your first trip, but more signs wouldn't hurt. Also, I'm not sure how wheelchair friendly the theatre would be; I'm sure they have to have a way, but its just a thought. Overall, given the quality of the show and the nice facility, I'd definitely go back and recommend this place!

We come here for the SD Rep shows and just saw UNCANNY VALLEY here (recommended!). I will say that when you walk in, it's a little jarring if you're expecting it to be like the La Jolla Playhouse or Old Globe. The theatre's looking pretty run-down these days, particularly the lobby and bathrooms. I think they're going to remodel the lobby soon. The bathrooms had various problems, like toilet paper dispensers not working in multiple stalls, etc. It is a wee bit of a letdown considering how fancy the theater used to seem 20 years ago. And the quality of the shows is still high. Snack bar is just stuff like small Snickers and wine and coffee. No pastries or hot food items like the Old Globe. I wish they could get more variety, some muffins from Costco, brownies, anything. Tip: If you park at Horton (which you will, because they give you 4 hrs of free parking) and if you can't do the stairs, make sure you figure out where the elevators are. The escalators up to Horton will be closed when you get out of an evening show. There are also a couple of flights from the plaza level down into Lyceum; I believe they have one of those open-air wheelchair lifts if you need it.

I may have given this place three stars, and I am glad it's being renovated. This theater is really beat up, the bathrooms are very hard to get to on the upper floor and in an emergency there is only one exit and one stair case. You're completely isolated under ground and in an emergency it's horrifying to think of what could happen. The show we saw was $65 and I really don't think this place is worth the ticket price. The seating was fine and the theater is small which I liked, but the safety deficiency was on my throughout the show. I wonder what the fire marshal has to say?

San Diego is not a place known for a strong performing arts community nor is it known for having many underground structures. However, if you're seeking either checkout the Lyceum! It is below Horton Plaza, literally! There are multiple stages, in fact. Yes, size matters. The larger stage has the more opulent production and the smaller one hosts the budding production companies. Check out the SD Rep!

I really like this venue. I saw an act during the Fringe Fest and was pleasantly surprised with the ambience, especially the gorgeous bamboo flooring on the steps leading down to the theatres. I was surprised that there are actually 2 venues/ stages so that performances can be held in tandem. This worked out great for the Fringe Fest as there were so many events packed into the 10 days it was held! We saw Beau and Aero and simply loved this show. It was funny and inventive and completely "A Little Off' which is the name of the performance group. Well done! Parking is a snap and validation is possible if you visit any of the shops in advance of your event. We wil definitely be back to see more productions!

I've lived in San Diego almost all my life, but I'd never seen a show at the Lyceum before December of 2012. I don't think I've ever even thought too much about it, to be honest. I knew it was in Horton, and I knew it was an older spot, but I just never made it there. When I heard that there was going to be a production of "Rent" at the Lyceum for a few weeks at the end of last year, I knew I'd be going. "Rent" is one of my favorite musicals, and I was interested in seeing how the production would turn out, knowing that it was being put on by a younger group of kids. Our group of six showed up a bit late, having been incredibly detained by dinner, so we didn't have much time to mill around before the show (we didn't even have time to visit the ladies' room!) When we got in, they told us that we had to get to our seats, or else they were going to give them away to those people who didn't have tickets - basically they were on "stand-by". So of course we high-tailed it down the stairs, moving as quickly as we could in heels and slightly inebriated, to the basement performance space. It's a small space, so it's very intimate. There really aren't any bad seats in the whole area, and the front row seats are on the "stage" (so if you like to sprawl out in your chair, legs akimbo, the front row seats probably aren't for you...unless you want to risk tripping an actor mid-scene.) They've got good acoustics in there, which helps you to feel the music. There's a small balcony above the stage where the band can set up, and then another balcony near the entrance for the director and the sound board and all that. I have no idea how much space there is behind the stage, but the stage itself seems a bit small-ish. The production that we saw made the most of it, but I wonder how larger-scale productions would make it work. Once we had a chance to walk around (during intermission and after the show), I got a better sense of the theater. It has an olden-age feel to it, but it doesn't feel dingy. It was actually fairly clean and seemed welcoming. They only have a few box office windows out front, but I didn't really see a line, either when I went to pick up my tickets the day before, or when we showed up for the show. The people who worked there were all very friendly and helpful, even though we showed up later than we had wanted to. You used to be able to park at Horton and get validation from the theater, but I have no idea if that's still allowed, since Horton changed their validation policy. It might be something to look into before you show up. When all was said and done, I did really like this space. I'd love to see another production here, knowing that I'm going to have a good view of whatever I'm seeing, and knowing that my ticket purchase is (hopefully) going towards keeping this little piece of history operating.

First time here!! :)) saw a poster ad for Annie Jr. at starbucks board and decided to check it out!! Soooo glad that I got to do it- it was like a mini Broadway show. I have seen Annie the Broadway show in Memphis during xmas time n absolutely loved it! The tickets were very cheap ESP if u r a student- got a ticket for 22 dollars for orchestra seat!! This theatre isn't the fanciest and biggest theatre, but the show was good! Also, it's good to support local san diegonians!! Kids were so talented! You can come couple hours early to get some shopping done at Horton plaza ;)) or hang around downtown area after the show if u r a late night owl:). It's located at such great place! Also, bring ur parking ticket with you!! Theatre validate for ya! :) The theatre is near CVS, starbucks, Levi store! So excited to checked this place out- def will come back for more shows!!:)

Very nice theatre.. the seats are all pretty much close to the stage as the theatre is not very large. This makes for a great seat no matter where you sit. The sound and acoustics are good and it's safe to say there's no bad seat in the house. We saw Rent tonight at the opening night. Fantastic performance and not many errors as you would expect on a opening night. If you love the movie you'll love this live performance. . The cast is young however they supplement the cast with seasoned professionals which help facilitate learning for the younger cast members ... overall a good night.

Very intimate theater, which I love. You will get a good view of the actors/stage, regardless of where you sit. Parking is also quite convenient (right across the way). I look forward to attending many more shows here.

Came here to see a premiere for an indie film. An intimate theater where almost every seat is a great seat.

My wife and I saw the Disney beauty and the beast show last week. The show was great but the theatre was awful! The actresses microphones worked on and off. The stage curtain did open between acts and all the left wing of the theater couldn't see half of the show because of the section angle.

Came to see Pinkalicious and loved it. It is such a cute, small and intimate theater that I never knew existed under Horton Plaza mall. What a great little place. I will definitely be back .

Saw "The Little Mermaid" here and it was great! Only thing I didn't like was the fact that they ran out of the playbill and some families had multiples while I didn't even get one. If you knew you were running low, you should just limit yourself to giving out one per family or per group. Still bitter about that.... They are still undergoing some renovations right now so a lot of area is closed off, but the concession stand is still opened, and there is only one bathroom open for guests to use. This is located right at Horton Plaza and they validate your parking ticket for 4 hours. For a 2.5 hour show with a 30 minute intermission, it still wasn't enough and I had to pay extra to cover the extra charges due to the late start of the show. I mean, it was nothing in my control, but I wish they would validate and just give you free parking if you attend a show instead of setting a time limit. Especially since there was a meet and greet afterwards, which definitely would have exceeded the parking time limit. I was seated at the very left of the stage and the view wasn't the best but it also wasn't the worst. You could still see everything except what was directly towards and facing the center of the stage. However, at my seats, you get to see Ariel super up close during the second half where she's literally standing and singing next to you, which was a nice experience. Aside from that, it was a very cute show since there were little kids part of the play and it was overall enjoyable. I think the cast did a very good job and that this theater gives a more intimate vibe than the bigger theaters.

Love this place for shows! I hope when they figure out what is going to happen Horton Plaza / mall the theatre will survive

Smaller theater setting but quaint and intimate. We saw Rent and it was my first time seeing this show and I thought it was good. The music and singing was good but could have been a bit louder. Parking is easy to get into and you can get a 4 hour validation. Tons of eateries around in walking distance. Also walked for a drink after the show. Fun night.

CALLING ALL YOUNG PEOPLE: Sun-Thurs folks under thirty years of age can get discounted tix. Just show your ID! I saw tons of SD Rep shows here for $10-13. Live theater is always a gamble but nearly always worth it if not just for the sheer performance aspect. This is a good, little venue. I did have some difficulty finding it the first time as one had to walk down some steps from the main level at Horton Plaza...but after that, it was all golden.

We went here for the first time to see Hairspray and I was quite impressed. They said it was the biggest production in the 35 year history of the Theatre. I had no idea that it had been around that long. Given how much I enjoyed the performance and the theatre itself, I will definitely be looking to come back. The theatre itself is great. It is decent size but all of the seats seem to offer a good view and they are comfortable, unlike some other places in town. If you get a chance, definitely check out Hairspray. It is there through the middle of August. As for the parking, you can park in Horton Plaza and they will validate your parking for 4 hours. So, don't validate in Horton itself...wait and do it at the theatre.

I came here to watch Doubt in 2009, and I recently came here to watch Hairspray the musical. I had a good time when I first came here, but when I came to watch Hairspray, I was blown away. The whole production was just fantastic. The theater itself isn't a very large theater, but it's not tiny either. It's clean and well kept, and the setup is nice and organized. They have a bar area where you can order snacks and drinks while you watch the play. (I think you can only order before the production starts and during intermission, but I'm not sure) Parking isn't too bad, as long as you come a little earlier. MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER YOUR NUMBER/FRUIT OR VEGETABLE IN THE LOT! Parking can be confusing so if you remember what area you parked in, it'll save you a lot of time.(i.e. I parked on level 5, tomato) There are validation machines for your parking slip, but they vary on where you go - there were 3 hour and 4 hour validations, and I heard that there was a 6 hour validation, but I didn't see it. I took off one star only because leaving after the production is a nightmare. The whole lot becomes a parking lot while everybody tries to leave. The show ended at about 10:40, and we got to our car about 5 minutes after, but we didn't exit the parking structure until about 11:35. As a theater, it's great, but beware of the parking!

The Lyceum Theatres (there are 2: The Stage & The Space) are a fantastic, centrally located (if not a bit hidden) place to see live theater. While the San Diego REP makes their home at the Lyceum, I think it's important to note that this review is for the theaters themselves & not the companies acting within. The REP has a specific season (usually September-May) and even during that time period other theater companies (both community & professional) use the space. The Lyceum is also a place for gallery showings and other events. The Stage Theatre (the larger of the two & a proscenium theatre) is a fantastic place to see a play because there isn't a bad seat in the house, so even though it seats about 540. The Space Theatre (seats less than 300) is a black box theatre meaning that the set up of the seating & stage can differ depending on the show. The Space is very inmate & some of the best plays I've seen have been in this location. The ushers (like a lot of San Diego ushers --- because they are ancient volunteers who usher as a way of seeing plays for free & not because they are beacons of customer service) are horrible for the most part, but the actual staff at the Lyceum are top rate. They have an very effective and considerate box office & house management. One of the best things about the Lyceum is that you are in the heart of downtown and yet have ample, free validated parking in the Horton Plaza garage. It makes the process of coming to the Gaslamp, even on a weekend night, painless. My biggest complaint about the Lyceum is that they have been going through remodel for what seems like forever, so it's not the prettiest lobby to behold. It's almost off-putting, it's so ugly (though before they tore the carpets out, it was pretty dated and godawful in its own way).

I hadn't been to the Lyceum Theatre in a long time but we recently came to see a showing of "Vietgone" and I was glad to revisit a smaller venue to support live theater. They have gone through renovations since I had last been here and it's got a bright clean feel to it. Tickets are a reasonable for a live show, come for a fun night out!

Just watched VietGone and was so impressed. The strong point for this venue is the small intimate size the theatre, every seat was pretty much a good one. I had a seat all the way against the wall and was still engrossed in the performance. If I can get quality performances like VietGone... I would have enough of a reason to be a season subscriber. I really don't like the big shows... I can't relate. Bring more small independent and culturally diverse shows. Now that you've caught my eye... bring it on. I'll buy another ticket!

I absoulutely love this theatre because parking is free at the mall when you get it validated at the theatre. This theatre is an informal theatre because it isn't as big as Balboa or Civic or Copley theatres. The staff are always friendly and I always have a good time when I visit! There are 2 floors where you can enter into the main theatre space. I highly recommend coming to see a show here!

Only downside is it is looking a bit tattered in appearance. The stage does not reflect the quality of the production. Seating is good. Sound is good. Follow Melodie T's tips below. Take your parking ticket to the validating guy inside just after you enter before the stairs. You get 4 hours. Drinks are served below and you can take them to your seat. Quite inexpensive but also quite small.

Unfortunately there is so much construction it kinda ruined the experience, BUT I know the new renovations will be amazing and will happily review again then! So, just make sure and expect construction and no bathrooms down stairs.

Never a bad seat! I adore small theater, and it is so tough to keep them going. I am grateful to all those support this theater and it's programs. I wish we had the extra income to go more often. It really is a SAN DIEGO gem and the best theater for great seats anywhere. I'd rather pay $50 to a show here than at Civic Center where you can't see or feel a thing because $50 gets you SO far back. This theater feels more like community coming together. A Hammer, A Bell & A Song to Sing - was a delightful musical with political messages. Not surprising. But what was surprising is that four people sang their hearts out and played many different instruments for 90 mins. While I loved the sing alongs with the audience, singing "This Little Light of Mine" together. It makes people of any age happy to sing together. The shining light of the performance for me was Lisa H. Payton. It took me back to the days of enjoying such great community singing at a Baptist Church in Lands Park Sacramento. Thank you for the joyful experience. We are at peace, we have overcome and we will continue to be peace keepers if motivated by joy and kindness. My only minus is that you can only use cash at the bar for drinks and snacks. I'm looking forward to seeing two more performances (cross fingers) in 2013. Parking: make sure you validate IN the theater so that you get 4 HOURS of free parking at Horton Plaza. Personally I'd rather walk a mile than park in that place - I get turned around every time just about.

My girlfriend and I recently went to a performance of the play called "Love, Loss and What I Wore" at the Lyceum Theatre. The ambient temperature within the theater itself was very warm throughout the entire performance. The heat, the continuous 90-minute dialogue without a break, and the very limited stage props (the majority of props were drawings of outfits that were projected onto a screen suspended over the stage) was almost enough to put me to sleep. If it wasn't for the very uncomfortable theater seats, I probably would have fallen asleep three-quarters through the play. The uncomfortable theater seats were therefore a mixed blessing, although you couldn't convince my posterior of that! I thought that the plot of play was very thorough but almost on the verge of overkill. The actresses were very good in their roles and their characters very believable. This is the main reason that I rated this play 3 stars; otherwise I would have rated it only 2 stars. This play is not for children. Not because the content is adult-rated (even though the script does contain strong foul language -- including several F-bombs), but because young children could not relate to the content, tone and theme of the play and would be bored to tears. On a positive note, the theater validates 4 hours worth of parking, if you park within the Westfield Horton Plaza parking garage. Since my girlfriend and I had dinner at a nearby restaurant previous to seeing the play, we were lucky to score metered street parking that cost us less than $3 for the entire evening. [Note: downtown parking meters are now enforced until 8 PM and they enable you to use credit cards, if you don't carry change.] Despite the essentially free validated parking within the Horton Plaza parking garage, I would prefer to park my vehicle on the street where I can easily find and access it, rather than searching the maze of various parking levels and corresponding fruit names that must be deciphered within the parking garage and wait in long lines to exit the structure. Overall (even at the GoldStar discounted ticket price of $43 per person which I paid), I did not feel that the ticket price for this play was worth the entertainment value that I received.

A cozy venue with no bad seats in the house - at least in the Lyceum Space. Usually, the plays in that theater are not mic'd. The ones that are amplified have hearing assistance available. I like the size of the theater because it feels closer to the stage and you really feel part of the production. It's also nice that drinks are very reasonably priced - Margaritas are only $4 Ave you can take them into the theater. This is handy since the last play I went to here lasted for an hour and forty five minutes without an intermission. The Lyceum also validates Horton Plaza garage tickets for 4 hours, so sometimes you can grab a quick bite to eat before or after the show.

We were there for "Fiddler on the roof". First, remember to park at Horton Plaza, we parked at NBC building across and got charged for 10 bucks bc the validation doesn't work there. The theater is underground which feels unique and fun! And it's a a small theater, so any seat can get a good view and sound of the performance. So if there is any good show here later, I'd love to come here again! The crew were friendly and helpful. Love it!

My husband got tickets to see Les Miserables which was performed by a mix of Professional Actors and lots of kids and young adults including the orchestra. WOW where our minds blown. My husband has seen the show in NY on Broadway and me the newbie first time to see the play and we both were fascinated by the high quality. The theater layout may not be the most glamourous but extremely functional with steep seating arrangements where everyone can see well without ducking or elevations. If you haven't gone yet, go!!!!!

I've been here several times, but twice in the last few months. The first was when we went to see Oedipus Del Rey. The coziness of the place made it a little uncomfortable at that show because the actors were simulating naked sex right in front of us (we were in the front row. My eyes! My eyes! They've healed now, thank you very much. What I really liked about the stage during that show was the fact that it moves. it's basically a huge lazy Susan, so watching it move was very interesting. We thought that every seat in the house would be good because of the size of the theater, and of course, ours were because we were in the front. About a week ago we went was to watch "Everybody's Talking, the Music of Harry Nilsson". This time we were not in the front row, but we were on the right side of the theater. I don't recommend those seats because the sound system doesn't really work there. Since we were there to listen to music, the sound mattered. On the positive side, our seat mate kept eating (you can take drinks in but not food) and the noise from the wrapper was really annoying. The usher shut that down FAST! I literally thought that I was back in high school. She kept telling them to stop and giving them dirty looks. They did put their food away finally, and after intermission the usher was sitting somewhere else. So my advice is to see shows here, all the seats are good, unless you are here for music. Then stick to the center portion of the theater. And don't forget your 4 hour validation.

This place is pretty nice, I like the location a lot, it's down those cool stair in Horton plaza, the place is pretty nice and all.. the actual theater .. well it could be nicer but it's not horrible either. I'm not real big on plays, I just went here to see ain't misbehavin for my theater class and well I pretty much thought that it was the worst play/musical I'd ever seen, but that's not the theater's fault of course :) I would definately come here to see more plays..(hopefully more interesting ones)

Every seat in there is great, as it's a small roundabout theater. Validate inside the theater (NOT in the mall) and you get 4 hours, which means you probably get some time to shop after your show, which is a big plus in my book. I saw The Tortilla Curtain earlier this year here, it was a fairly low key production but well performed in this venue. You can usually get 1/2 price tickets for shows here through Arts Tix.

Theater experience is nothing short of excellent. I was here for the opening performance of Everybody's Talkin. They have a large open foyer with a cash bar. Prices for both drinks and tickets are quite reasonable.