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American Repertory Theater
Rating Details »
Categories: Performing Arts, Colleges & Universities [Edit]
Neighborhood: Harvard Square64 Brattle St
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 547-8300
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Harvard (Red)
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37 reviews for American Repertory Theater
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7/9/2007
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8/17/2005
One of American Repertory Theater's Favorite Reviews What's This?
Bold, daring, intelligent theater. Great acting, amazing set design, and imaginative productions of everything from Shakespeare classics to a stage adaptation of Wings of Desire. I dare say this little theater in Cambridge offers a more thrilling experience than anything I've seen in New York.
People thought this was:
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Re: Sleep No More
This is one of the coolest things you will ever see or do in your entire life.
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This review is for "Sleep No More." It is a new show co-produced by the ART and Punchdrunk Productions out of the UK. It is the most innovative and inspiring piece of theater I have seen in a very long time. It is a total immersion and engages all of your senses, fusing elements from Macbeth, Hitchcock, and more.
Sleep No More is set in a giant old school building on Route 9 in Brookline. When we arrived, we were directed to a little path off to the side and then entered and the adventure began. We were welcomed to the "hotel" by a 40's bellhop and a jazz singer and taken onto an elevator. We were all given masks to wear and I soon ended up separated from my friends. Also there's NO TALKING as you walk around and explore! It's not scary so much as surreal. You can go at whatever pace you want - stumble upon crazy scenes - unexpected things happen. Choose to just dart from one thing to the next, or maybe follow one particular character around for the whole night.
I don't want to give too much away but if you are like me, your first thought upon leaving will be, "I need to go back!" I was talking to someone after the show and she said she's gone ten times and still hasn't seen everything. That's because you create a different experience every time.
It's like soaking your soul, mind, and body in a big bowl of rich juicy art stew for several hours.
One thing to remember is that although it is (kinda) the story of Macbeth, it's not a very literal or linear version. So if you expect a direct storyline from start to finish, or approach it in an analytical way, you may get frustrated. I found it was more enjoyable when I just gave myself up to the experience and let it happen, even if I didn't exactly understand everything. More emotional than intellectual I guess - although I expect that people pick up on more of the meanings and influences the more they go. Layers upon layers.
After the show I was all, "Oh my god! I loved the part where a guy was naked with a goat head dancing around to a pumping beat in strobe lighting!"
And my friend was like, "I didn't see that but did you see the live eel swimming in a bathtub upstairs?"
"NO!"
And so on.
Clearly this requires a repeat visit.
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- Useful (2)
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I attended the ART's recent production of "Sleep No More," a new work by Punchdrunk. I love theater, and was a techie in school and generally think of myself as having a good handle on the theater realm, but this show/experience went far beyond anything I have ever seen/done before. Best acting, best sets, best value; one of my most memorable nights in Boston to date.
I can't say too much without ruining the experience, just GO. Grab a friend, your running shoes, and your imagination, and GO. Go now, go again at Halloween, go with your best friend, roommate, boyfriend, save your lunch money to afford the $25 ticket, GO.
Oh, and (re)read MacBeth beforehand, or you'll spend a really long time trying to remember who the "good guys" are.
Since this is an ART-general category, here's the link for this particular show, which was held at an abandoned school in Brookline Hills (but an ART production all the same):
http://www.americanrep...
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The ART was hard for me and my friend to find due to not being familiar with Cambridge, due to being lost we were a few minutes late and we had to wait a few minutes to be seated. Before we were seated we were informed that our seats had been given away due to a cast members family member coming in as a surprise, therefore we were seated a few rows back. No seat is a bad seat, but still I rather sit where I was suppose to be sitting. The actors and set were great though I found this show to drop the F bomb way too much. I was too the point where I was like oh my god are they serious, just about every other word was f---. The best part was the gay guy in a thong banana hammock, yeaaaaa baby!
Good show, very funny.... I got the tickets from a fundraiser, not really my thing but I'm sure this is something other people would really enjoy it.
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I've been a season ticket holder on and off since the mid. 80s. This is a repository and springboard of greatness - Cherry Jones got her start here. Several years ago their production of Hamlet was as good as it gets. Take a tour of the lobby and see the depth and breadth of their selections, their casts, their incredible stagings and their ability to do Beckett, Sartre, "The Servant of Two Masters", "School for Scandal."
Only the recent Julius Caesar was disappointing. I saw Sir John Gielgud (sp?) do it in London so that is a rather high standard.
I've gone to the theatre all over the civilized world and beyond and the ART and its satellites rank with the best.
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Why are they always naked?
Every play I have ever seen at the ART has incorporated some manufactured excuse for someone on stage to drop trou at some point during the production. Not that there's anything wrong with the human body or anything, and if the script or interpretation calls for it then I say go for it, but, like, NAKED SHAKESPEARE??? Really, ART?
I'd comment on the plays themselves, but I'm always so distracted waiting to see how they're going to work in the obligatory gratuitous nudity I'm not sure I'd be the best judge.
I've never heard so many racial slurs in my life and enjoyed myself as much as I did when viewing a production of David Mamet's Romance at the American Repertory Theater...
I am no Broadway junkie or regular theater-goer but this was a great experience for an excellent price ($15). If all spectacles here are as good as what I just saw, I have surely been missing out in my years of thespian-free life.
Get over here as soon as you can to see the next production. The acting company has some top-notch talent and the venue is great - would be an excellent spot for an upcoming Elite Event...ahem Leighann?
The Donkey Show (most simply described as a disco version of A Midsummer Night's Dream) was the first show we'd seen at the A.R.T. and we were totally impressed. The show started before we even got inside the theater. The audience was lined up outside as if waiting in line for a club. There were bouncers, burly guys checking IDs, and actors chatting up audience members. Inside, there were coat and bag checks, two bars, black lights, a disco ball, a DJ, the works. The audience (and the cast!) were free to dance before, during, and after the show, and the actors moved around and interacted with audience members in a way I'd never seen before. It was such a fun and unique night that really blurred the lines between club and theater. I haven't danced that much since Clarchen's Ballhaus in Berlin! And I've definitely never seen so many beautiful men covered in glitter. So much fun. I can't wait to see what they do next.
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I love having good theater so close by! I've seen plays here since I was a kid and the quality has consistently been good to excellent. I loved Copenhagen, which was performed several years ago, and most recently saw Endgame, which was done really well, though the play itself is vaguely disturbing. I've seen plays in both the main stage and black box theater at the Loeb Drama Center, but have yet to see anything at the Zero Arrow over on Mass Ave. Hopefully that will change with Trojan Barbie.
Also the student ticket deal (5 tickets to be used any way you want for $60) is fantastic.
I was given some great tickets for Elections and Erections here. First time and I'm a huge fan. We sat at a table and could drink throughout the show. Drink while watching a play! Brilliant!
They open indoor layout was very inviting and gave me ample chance to mingle with the lovely people there. Modern motif with no pretension. In the future, I will look here first for plays.
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$15 for third row seats -- you can't beat that. We went over the weekend to watch the play Cardenio, a lost play attributed to Shakespeare. The set was amazing, and we really felt like we were sitting in the cloister of a Umbrian monastery. The actors were fun, entertaining, and captured our attention for the 2.5 hours, and the seats were mostly comfortable. The bathrooms are located on the basement and second-floor level, and there's a nice little booze stand right outside the main door.
I would have loved to grab a glass of wine from the stand (can't drink right now) and gone outside to the courtyard with the beautiful landscaping and fancy lights (too many smokers - gag), but the wait for the bathroom killed my 13 minute intermission. We signed up for the email list, and will definitely return for future performances.
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I saw Donnie Darko here which I didn't like that much, as it was merely a copy of the movie with running in place of scene changes. Luckily, I got my tickets for free.
As for the theater itself, perhaps it was that the director that did not utilize the stage, but it was essentially set up like an enormous black box. I felt that with so much space, set changes may have aided with transitions and taken away some of the "kicking-and-screaming our way through this-story-as-fast-aswepossiblycan" feeling. It may be that there is little room for sets in the wings, but with such a large stage, a proscenium and wings could've easily been built to make some room. I just wasn't impressed with the utilization of the space.
I think this is definitely an interesting space though. I suppose I should see a show under other direction for a more thorough judgement.
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Very modern theater in the heart of Cambridge. I've seen several Shakespeare plays here - the acting is terrific and the sets are very well done. It is a small theater, so it's hard to get a bad seat. The crowd is very diverse - many older patrons as well as students.
If you drive, get there early. It's impossible to find a parking spot by the theater (or anywhere in Cambridge!). Also, we've gotten last minute tickets (day of) for a discounted rate. So check it out!
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I am just a theater fan.
I like it anything on stage, live show.
I like theater better than movie.
Well, you'll pay a lot more than movie for sure but , you know, I just get tired watching TV , movie, computer monitor and cel phone monitor.
Theater is easy on your eyes.
This theater is well built, feels like you are in the open-air theater.
It is more casual, relaxed and modern design.
I do recomend this place no matter what is showing there.
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We saw Cardenio there... Play was OK..... not spectacular
More of a traditional theatre... Seats were comfortable and since it wasn't full we managed to move closer to the stage
I liked the theatre especially the outdoor courtyard with the strings of lights -- great place to sit with a glass of Pimms (or substitute your fav summer EtOH beverage here) on a summer evening...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/16/2008
Pleasant evening
Elections and Erections by Pieter Dirk-Uys- funny satiric and sometimes biting… Read more »
What a beautiful space. Cambridge-funky without losing its aesthetics. I've only been to one show, but can't wait to go back and see how it is set up for different styles of theater.
Also they have a liquor license! How many theaters can say that?
Oh p.s. I just realized I should note that I was at the smaller of the two - Zero Arrow Theatre.
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A truly great theatre, with first-rate amenities, dynamic acting and daring productions. Their production of Julius Caesar this past winter remains the best Shakespeare performance I have ever been fortunate enough to see. The location, just to the edge of the square, means that it is in a slightly quieter area, while still close enough to walk to from the red line.
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When you've had enough of the cheesy aromas that prevail in the so-called "theater district", head to this locale for a refreshing breath of creativity and original theater.
Mostly smaller productions, experimental work, and the occasional one-man show. I've seen some shows that were plain stunning, some that were full of ideas - but I couldn't necessarily appreciate all of them, and some that were unmemorable.
Beyond the shows, one has got to appreciate how management lets artists do their thing, take risks, and experiment.
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I've seen quiet a few plays here. The theater is very intimate and you can see the stage perfectly even form the last row. I suggest getting the cheaper tickets in the front but on the side. Island of Slaves was hilarious and is typical of the Repertory. They take old works and interpret them in a totally bizzare and inventive way. No Exit was excellent and I hear its coming back. The only reason I did not give it 4 stars is because of plays like Chekovs Three Sisters..that play was butchered beyond recognition..a bit too interpretive. Otherwise, i'm considering buying a season pass.
Updating the review because the ART has gotten progressively weirder and weirder without any added value. Once they stuck superman into Julius Caesar I had to draw the line...
This review is for the 0 Arrow Street Location:
Mad props to any place that has live goldfish at the ticket counter. That is awesome. They also have large, comfy couch like seats for you to relax on while waiting for friends before the show starts. You can sit down and stare at the fish till your peeps arrive. The theater itself is a nice, intimate venu. However, as you walk in, be sure to veer to the left and not the right, regardless of where they try to steer you. The seats on the left side are way more comfortable than those on the right.
Also, they have great student discounts. Remember to show your ID.
Last night I caught a production of the American Repertory Theater's "Seriously Funny: an evening of short works by David Mamet, Harold Pinter, and Shel Silverstein." Previously, the only ART show I'd seen was a two-man production of "The Importance of Being Earnest," which, you can probably tell, was a crazy (but hysterical) take on the Wilde standard. Otherwise, I'd heard that ART could go really experimental, which isn't always the kind of theater I enjoy, so I wasn't sure what to expect from their latest show. "Seriously Funny" was far less experimental than other ART productions I'd heard of, but was one of the most enjoyable evenings in the theater I've had in a while. Held at their One Arrow Street theater, the intimate, almost lounge-like space worked well for the show, a collection of very short, humorous plays. All the actors were fantastic--they had great comic timing and did a fantastic job.
Their 2009-2010 season looks great. After "Seriously Funny," I think I'll be going to American Repertory Theater shows a lot more often.
ART is so beautiful -- it's a great venue for live performances. I saw Carmen here in the fall of 2005 and it was outstanding. The roster is always creatively varied and interesting, and the neighborhood is easily accessible and gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. This venue is just one of many cultural institutions that makes Cambridge such a special place.
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I used to work here & I still recommend it...Imagine that! Great theatre. 2 theatre's comprise the A.R.T. The loeb in Harvard Sq. on Brattle and the Zero Arrow graciously donated by the Carr foundation. They do lot's of cool gimmicks to get us television watching primates in the door like: bring in a movie ticket and they will charge you that price..or 50 tickets for $15 on the day of a show...when available. If you are a student you can wield you i.d. and get a season pass for $60, thats a deal!! Great theatre. Marissa Tomei was in a show forever ago..rumor has it she was a diva but I don't believe it..John Malkovich is a fan and supporter.I saw the entire season thus far..(for free!! b/c of prior employment) and it was pretty eclectic, diverse and never torture..the chairs are comfy. It is not Harvard affiliated which makes me like it even more!! Its more of a symbiotic relationship that exists...Go!
A.R.T. and Am Rep are the same. There are 2 categories for the same place on here....
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Often the shows here are experimental directors taking on classics like Shakespeare's, or Greek tragedies, or O'Neill, Brecht...you get the picture. Always noteworthy for the standout sets. Great building to get lost in with tons of pictures and statues and weird theater gnomes skulking about.
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Even though I do not always agree with the modern interpretations of classic plays, A.R.T. is the theater to check out for its incredibly talented casts, and comfortably liberal mise-en-scenes! Shy of 600 seats, they perform a play (if not two!!) a month, offer student passes and rush tickets, and provide cheaper tickets to Harvard affiliates. One of the biggest downsides of A.R.T. is the student setting outside the theatre, bringing a rather amateur feeling to high level performances.
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The ART is an amazing theatre space in Cambridge. There literally isn't a bad seat in the house. No obstructed views, no balconies, no nosebleed inducing seats-nuthin. The ART has 19 rows so it is also pretty intimately sized. There is a new program called "50 at $15" which enables the general public to get the same day rush price that in the past was just reserved for college student rush.
The fare can range from the experimental and freaky-see "Orpheus X"- to genre crossing and crowd pleasing-"The Onion Cellar"- to campy -see "Island of Slaves"- to just plain beautiful -- see "Wings of Desire." Not everything shown at the ART is to everyone's taste. Don't go here expecting a family friendly version of a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Not all of the experimental stuff performed here works all the time but---hey---at least they take creative risks and those risks are always executed beautifully.
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I loved this theater...if you are around and enjoy a bizarre French play with drag queens, go see Island of Slaves! It runs til June 4th...wacky and lots of fun. The theater itself is really convenient (right by Harvard) and the area is really nice. It's pretty cool on the inside also, but not anything I'd put in my house :)
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Just saw ART's production of Brittanius. This theatre is the result of that really weird guy you went to college with actually getting some money, but in a good way. Excellent theatre. It really made me feel good to see a non-traditional show on a Wednesday night play to a nearly full house. I was the youngest person in the audience, which made me wonder. Of course, I am very young.
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i saw Donnie Darko (play version) here (which I'd probably give a 3.5 or a Low B- ,it was OK) and the place is small and cool and unique, kinda expensive ($39 tickets for this event at least) and right near Harvard Sq. I'd definitely come back here - hopefully to see something better for less money.
join the a.r.t.'s mailing list and get thee to a show! performances range from avant garde to classical, and the space is intimate and engaging. the a.r.t. provides some of the most culturally enriching experiences in boston.
I have been going here since I was 14 and I love it. Student discount tickets are a plus. Some great plays go through this theater. Their tendancy to slightly "modernize" some plays is usually pretty refreshing, though on some occasions falls short. But it's going to happen if you experiement, right? They currently offer package deals where you can pay one flat rate for three shows of your choosing during the season.
They have a really good variety of shows, and if you are a student, you can get a good deal on season tickets. There is also the Loeb Experimental Theater, where many of the shows are free and written/done by Harvard students. Some of them are pretty strange, but hey, its free. Call ahead.
Excellent theatre. Nuff said.
By sheer luck got comps to opening night of Copenhagen. Beautiful little theater, interesting patrons. All the seats are good. The play is a monumental examination of the famously ambiguous meeting in Copenhagen between physicists Bohr and Heisenberg. It is a marathon for the performers, especially as the script is dense with physics terminology. But it is fascinating. It is as if the author holds up three crystals for us to look at: Bohr, Heisenberg and the relationship between the two; and turns them this way and that, illuminating with reflected light this most fascinating period in the development of modern physics and nuclear weaponry, as well as the deep humanity of the physicists themselves. Heisenberg's soliloquies on being in Germany at the end of WWII are particularly fine, as is the treatment of how physics put the human individual back into the center of the universe. The actors were for me totally convincing. I liked the sparse electron-themed set too. See it.
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saw Donnie Darko here a couple of months back and really liked the layout of the place and the discounted parking at Harvard is a big plus. although their sales department wouldn't take 'no' for an answer when they later called to see how i liked the show and then tried to sell me a subscription.
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Amazing shows that are ever changing. The actors are fantastic and the directors are creative in a way that isn't too extreme, but pushes the limits just enough. Students also get great rates.
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