Akron Civic Theatre

Reviews & Tips

• 0

  10 stars!!!!  absolutely the most gorgeous theatre i have ever been to.  and i live in chicago, where we have lots.  akron took the time to restore this one.  there's not a bad seat in the house.  the drinks are priced properly & they have mixed drinks & pretty decent beer (stella & heineken).  the place is run like clockwork.  the workers get you into your seats in an extremely organized fashion.  the sound is totally unbelievable.  i would have absolutely NO problem driving another 6 hours to see a show here again.  hell-i would almost move to akron just for swensons & the civic!  wow wow wow wow wow!!!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 11.15.11 Lisa H.

  • Report
• 0

  Amazing. I've always loved it, but if you haven't been back since they restored it- you have to check it out! The colors are so bright and... well the whole place is fantastic. So many happy memories here. You'd never know how beautiful the interior of this place is from the outside.
  
  The civic is most famous for it's ceiling- twinkling stars and clouds that move across the ceiling! The place used to be a movie theater back in the day. It's a lot like The Fox Theater in Atlanta, but smaller.
  
  I had my dance recital here for years and years growing up. I wonder if the restoration improved the downstairs/dressing room area. I loved hanging out down there for pretty much two entire days when I was a kid, playing (and practicing when I was older) on the downstairs practice stage.
  
  In addition to dancing here, I've seen quite a number of performances over the years and 3 graduations. It's a fantastic venue for anything.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 02.17.11 Jaime B.

  • Report
• 0

  Very nice on the eyes, The Akron Civic Theater is a breath of tradition and a break from the increasingly contemporary landscape taking over public design. Humble on the outside, hardly are you prepared for the beautiful artistry throughout the building.  Everything is designed, liken to Caesar's Palace (interior clouds and night sky).  Simply put, when you visit this theater, you're going to enjoy more than just the show.  Have a beer, sit down, and enjoy your night.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 01.30.11 Dom R.

  • Report
• 0

  I was here for the Todd Rundgren "A Wizard, A True Star" show.  Todd is one of my favorite artists of all time and I was hoping for a very memorable evening, especially since Akron is a bit of an inconvenient location to travel to.  The Akron Civic Theater did not disappoint! The building's exterior looks like a pretty ordinary old movie theater - you maybe expect some art deco, some chrome, some winged statues inside, ho hum... but the inside is breathtaking, even by old historic movie theater standards.  Absolutely fabulous!! Or, as I said to friends elsewhere, Holy Moroccan Gingerbread, Batman!
  
  Add to that the fact that the Akron Civic staff, many of whom are senior citizens and probably wouldn't know Todd Rundgren from Bobby McGee,  were all super, duper nice.  Unlike most of the "historic" venues I've been to, or "non rock venues hosting a one-off money maker of a rock show", none of the staff, from the door guy right down the little old lady usherettes and the young couple selling the Akron Civic posters and t-shirts, copped an attitude or acted like they were phoning it in.  They seemed pretty happy to have us there actually, and it helped make the night that much more special.  Also, you're allowed to take drinks to your seat, which is a bit of a mixed blessing as someone had obviously spilled Coke on the floor in my aisle and created an everlasting sticky mess, but it was still better than the places that make you stand in a mile long line for a beer and then gulp it in 30 seconds in the lobby before intermission ends.
  
  Even with all the transportation and hotel hassles, I'm very glad I saw Todd at the Akron Civic.  It was a perfect setting for old hippie hijinks, and a wonderful show.  The Strathmore in Bethesda, where he played a few days later, is much closer to my house, but also much more sterile, less intimate, and less playful.   I would also add that the Akron Civic is very convenient to hotels and parking - you can find both within a few short walking blocks.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 09.09.09 M. M.

  • Report