The Broad Stage

Don’t believe them when they say the box office opens three hours prior to a performance. On 2÷6÷16, I went there to buy tickets at 11:00 on a day that they had a 2pm performance. I waited for a half an hour for the box office to open. It did not. Other Broad Stage employees were very apologetic. They say it’s a constant problem, and that the box office is a separate department. Note to Broad Stage management and board: It doesn’t help your organization to anger and waste the time of potential supporters by failing to show up to sell them tickets when you say you will.

The theater itself is very attractive, the sound system is quite good, and the free parking is a great bonus — but I was humiliated when I attended a performance of George Orwell’s «1984». Although I knew Headlong Theatre (the sponsor) has a policy of no ins or outs, they never made it clear this also pertains to using the restrooms. During the play, I had an overpowering need to use the ladies’ room — my bladder would simply not hold out any longer, so I discreetly made my way to the ladies’ room. Upon my return, I was barred from entering, and no one would listen to reason. I will never go the Broad Stage again, and I will never see another play put on by Headlong Theatre — they are cruel and inhumane.

Oh my God, where has this theatre been hiding? EXCELLENT! Awesome parking area right in front of the theatre. Interesting folk working the box office, but it is what it is. Helpful folk as ushers. GREAT building décor. Usual exorbitant prices for theatre snacks. Good row seating inside. Excellent sound, lighting, and acoustics.
I will search this place out just to see what’s playing here. Good job Broads!

A great cozy little local theater, that made for a fun night for the family. A nice local spot, but it still feels really classy and upscale. Despite having a large lot, it can get pretty full, so make sure to get there early if you want to make sure to get parking. As far as the theater, I think almost every single seat in the house is a good one. It looks like a few of the really close balcony seats may get some cut off angles, but overall, I wouldn’t worry too much about getting a bad seat.

Wonderful opera concert last night with Angela Gheorghiu. Best part is pianist, Jeff Cohen. He is an amazing talent. His solos were a highlight if the show. Love to see him perform here again. His fingers are electric. He made Angela sound so good.
Venue is very nice. Great leg room! Served appetizers, drinks, then desserts that were a nice treat. Free parking too.

Whatever you do, do not get a seat in one of the balcony boxes! The view of the stage is obstructed and the seats are the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in in a performance venue! They are like stools with a corset around them. If you are any larger than a woman’s size 6 you will have trouble squeezing into and out of the seat. The «corset» section is not high enough for you to lean back against, nor to rest your arms on, so you can’t really relax and enjoy the show. But, you will be leaning forward anyway, straining to see over the rail/​wall. Horrid ergonomics! After the show I walked out with much more difficulty than when walking in due to being in such an awkward position for so long!

Had third row seats to the diavolo show ! It was such an awesome experience and got to see them perform «cubicle» for the first time! The theater itself was very nice, the bathrooms were very clean & staff was very helpful !

Gotta give a shout out to David Kessler who was our hero last night and saved what could have been a bummer of a night when we had a problem with group tickets. The venue was awesome, unique, expansive yet intimate, the staff were great and we really enjoyed the show!

Now why couldn’t the Performing Arts Center at CSUN been like THIS place? OMG, this has become my new FAVORITE VENUE for seeing live performances… yes, even better than the Fred Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks. Wellll, wait a minute, adding in the disgusting traffic factor from Simi Valley to Santa Monica, okay, maybe it’s a tie… BUTTTTTTTTTTTTT… this Broad Stage is wonderful. The parking IS FREE and completely outdoors and on one level (not a fan of parking garages), and it’s real easy in and easy out… just not easy to get to with all the stupid city traffic, but it goes with the territory.
As for the performance we saw, it was BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL. He is a wonnnnnnnnnnderful baritone singer of (mostly) Broadway show tunes and classic American standards. His voice, if you never heard (of) him is like «buddddaaaahhhh.» His voice is so rich and beautiful that when I saw him perform with Audra MacDonald at the Bowl a few years back, they brought me to tears… it was THAT beautiful. He puts so much feeling into his songs. For you trivia buffs out there, he’s also done some TV… he played Cam Winston on Frasier (Frasier’s annoying neighbor), and to show you how old I am, he played a VERY young «Resident» on Marcus Welby, M.D. !!! I had no idea the man could sing back then. But I digress.
The acoustics in this theatre are awesome, and you can hear a pin drop it’s so clear. Even Mr. Mitchell said it’s his favorite theatre to perform in because of the acoustics. Seats are very comfortable, and the leg room is ultra ample. I love the design of it, too… very cool and contemporary. The ONLY disappointing factor is that I looked at their current season of performers, and Brian Stokes Mitchell was the only one I was interested in seeing. While I’m sure they’ll have other good performers, I didn’t have a clue as to who they were/​are. I hope they bring more name acts I’m familiar with. I’d come to this venue any day.

We saw the Westside Ballet Nutcracker here and have to say this place is amazing. Not too big and not too small. Great architecture. The only tip I would give is be careful of the high balcony seats right near the stage. For the Nutcracker they had an awning on the front of the stage that blocked out parts of the view. If that awning is not there… you have great seats. Best seats are probably 5 – 10 roles in.

Had a film première at the Broad last week. Staff was amazingly helpful… they helped with planning every detail of the event from the red carpet to the catering to making sure guests were guided out of the theater post-​screening with flashlights.
Lovely facility. Especially the main women’s bathroom! OMG you have to check that out (if you’re a lady of course!)… it’s really something to see.
A great place to host or attend an event! Big fan.

This is a nice place to catch a live performance as it has a cozy, intimate feel. Parking is free if you manage to snag a spot, which is a nice perk.

My boyfriend got us tickets to watch the Magic Flute (get your minds out of the gutters people!) on Friday evening. This place has ample FREE parking! Which was so surprising for Santa Monica. Although, we ended up parking on the street because it looked like there was no more spots in the lot.
We got there about 5 minutes late (thanks LA traffic!). The place was really beautiful and clean. It reminded me of a much smaller version of the Music Center. We got in during the middle of the first song. Of course, the ushers made us wait outside until that aria was over.
The usher led us to our seats. The opera was fantastic! The singers were absolutely amazing! The stage was small, but the way the set was built, it was definitely sufficient. It was very minimalist, which is the point because why would you want it to detract from these people’s beautiful voices?
I completely enjoyed myself. I was floored by the talent and just the overall experience. I would definitely come here again.
TIP! Enterprise Fish Co has a great late night happy hour. Take advantage of that after you see a play here.

Not a bad seat in the house. A great local venue to see high-​quality music and theater. I’ve been here 3 times since I recently moved to Santa Monica and everywhere we’ve sat has offered a good view of the stage. They try really hard to get those ‘big city theater’ touches right, too — good snacks, wide selection of drinks, and a lounge in the ladies’ room. The décor is very modern and west-​coast, though some details veer toward the institutional rather than luxurious. Not a ‘hot spot’, but a good place to see grown-​up events. Perfect for us, as we move into yuppie-​hood from our hippie-​punk roots.

Ray Romano and Friends did a charity event here and I thought the venue was perfect for stand-​up comedians or for Q&A sessions because of how intimate the seating setting was here.
We sat in the rear orchestra but still had a great view of the performers on the stage. The sound was good too. The venue is also very clean. And they provide ample parking spaces on their parking lot and parking was FREE! Yes, FREE PARKING in SANTA MONICA!

Beautiful little theater,
Free Parking
Ticket prices on par with other theaters
Not a bad seat in the house
Highly recommended venue

This free festival celebrated and showcased many artists, food /​drinks and activities for the 2^nd year in a row.
Recently moved here, I’d heard of the Broad Stage but going today left me with a lasting first impression that this institution values the arts as well as the Santa Monica community, including kids! Yay!
We toured the inside of the Stage, got our faces painted, made crafts, sampled free foods, got discounts on future shows, watched musicians, and my favorite — danced Bollywood. Even my art-​hating son loooved it… awesome. All for freeeeee.
Free parking in the lot, but they encourage walking and biking. They even offer complimentary valet parking for bikes, too. Wow!
Can’t wait until next year :)

I came here to see the Yale Whiffenpoofs and Darren Criss. This place is beautiful and intimate! I had seats in the last row of the balcony and it was still an AMAZING view. I like that their security isn’t super strict and stuck up like at other theaters. And I loved that we were allowed to take photos with our cameras (no flash, of course). The free parking is also a great bonus. I would definitely come again.

What a beautiful and contemporary venue, and just a block in-​between Wilshire and Santa Monica… who knew? Not me – I’ve never seen it before. Pronounced «Brode», it has free parking, too. That’s a nice first impression as compared to anywhere else you’ll go to see a performance, let alone, grabbing a coffee anywhere in Santa Monica for that matter.
Outside: wood, metal, glass [
. Inside: a narrow lobby the width of the theater, with a small amount of appropriate books and CD’s to fit the night. A small bar with coffee, tea, soft drinks, casual snacks, and then offset with a barrel of cheese with crackers ($ 8, feed a family).
On March 22, an event promoted by Westside Connections «2″ with, none other than, special guest Jonathan Gold. I was most excited!
Billed as „The Pulitzer Prize-​winning food critic joins concertmaster Margaret Batjer, who both curates and hosts the series, for an evening of delectable music and conversation.“ Food and music, together in one night? Actually, it was a 3-​week series… I just missed the other two! Honestly, this combination of music and food together, is the most sweetest and tastiest as it’s gonna get!
The Performers:
— — — — — — — –
Elissa Johnston, soprano; Timothy Andres, piano; Margaret Batjer, violin; Allan Vogel, oboe; Armen Ksajikian, cello; Patricia Mabee, organ; Jeffrey Kahane, piano; Sarah Thornblade, violin; Roland Kato, viola; Joshua Ranz, clarinet; David Everson, horn
The Program:
— — — — — — -
* Bach „Ich esse mit Freuden“ („I eat with joy“), from Cantata No. 84
* Bernstein La Bonne Cuisine-​Four Recipes for Voice and Piano
* William Bolcom Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise
* Timothy Andres Sorbet
* Dohnányi Sextet in C major for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Clarinet and Horn, Op. 37
I don’t think I’ve seen „Chamber Music“ live before. It’s romantic, and this venue is perfect for it. I loved it. And, this my friends, features AMAZING talent.
The seating area:
— — — — — — — —
Stunning. A perfect 499 capacity, it’s intimate. With its amazing sound, and it is truly a wonderful place to see a musical performance. Having 3^rd row tickets, center, didn’t hurt my impression. Plus, it has the most beautiful wood floor [
.
Post-​Performance:
— — — — — — — — –
A Q&A with Jonathan Gold, Margaret Batjer (Violinist, Host), Jeffrey Kahane (LACO Music Director), it was really fun as they discussed, and answered questions on the idea of a themed night (such as this), and the love of both food and writing. [
I got a chance to meet Mr. Gold, tell him how much I appreciate and enjoy his writing, and had him endorse his new book, Counter Intelligence: Where to eat in the Real Los Angeles», he signed it «Tacos Forever, Jonathan Gold.» Yep, love this guy.
Conclusion:
— — — — — –
I can’t wait to go back! Encore! Encore!

«Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.» ~Twyla Tharp
Eli and Edythe Broad’s
philanthropy equals art for all. Make that music, theatre or even culinary; the reason I finally experienced The Broad Stage and Santa Monica architect, Renzo Zecchetto’s art,
.

Yup, it was grub, KCRW’s Global Street Food event,
that un-​bookmarked this venue. Now, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to enjoy dance, a play or a concert here. Must find out soon!