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American Repertory Theater
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Education Colleges & Universities Performing Arts, Colleges & Universities [Edit]
64 Brattle StCambridge, MA 02138
Neighborhood: Harvard Square
(617) 547-8300
- Nearest Transit:
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Mt Auburn St @ Story St (71, 73)
Mt Auburn St @ Brewer St (71, 73)
114 Mt Auburn St (71, 73)
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
55 reviews for American Repertory Theater
55 reviews in English
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Review from Jolene S.
Updated - 2/17/2012
This is a review of Wild Swans--it was amazing! I liked the puppets and the moving screens and the songs and the acting. Go see it before it goes to a London. Should not be missed if you're in the Boston area. This show brings together great storytelling/set design/ and music. I went with a bunch of friends and we all liked it (a lot).
Listed in: Culture Vultures...Events I…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/9/2010
Over the last two years, I have become a regular at the A.R.T theater and its partners. From… Read more »
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Review from Vivian C.
3/17/2012 1 photo
A simple walk from the Harvard Square T stop, the theater is a few blocks down Brattle Street on the left. There is plenty of room to stand or sit while waiting indoors before the theater doors open. It is a cozy theater with a nice rise between rows so the person's head in front of you doesn't block your view too much, but if someone wants to pass by to get to their seat, you would likely have to make room for them to get by.
They validate for parking at the Charles Square Garage (One Bennett St.) and the University Place Garage (124 Mt. Auburn St.). And a coat rack is available in the hallway to the left of the ticket windows.
PS - Wild Swans was really good!
I also liked how they decorated the walls with artwork specific to the performance. -
Review from Kiki L.
Lexington, MA
2/3/2012
I am not sure what appeals about this place. Difficult parking to get to mediocre shows. I've been going since I was a kid, several decades ago. I was even an intern there 25 years ago. I loved Christopher Lloyd despite his engaging the downward spiral of shows no one cares about. It's like the academics have gotten further and further away from accepting any projects which take a risk. Oh, yeah, risk is they get naughty and show a naked part. That's it. That's all they can garner.
Porgy and Bess had an amazing cast. But as I sat outside afterward drinking a tea and having a cookie from that wonderful place almost next door, some locals saw me reading the program and asked me the same I always hear: "Was it any good? Why don't they do shows we actually might get interested in? I haven't been able to stand it in twenty years." I looked them over like maybe I should know them, but I didn't.
The price is really high for a theater event. They think it's Broadway or something, but Broadway doesn't even cost that much. I shake my head.
I enjoy art for art's sake, but that aint it. I don't know what to do with those people. They need somebody still breathing to step in and take over.
Academic Runamok Theater. A.R.T. -
Review from Ian Y.
10/8/2011
This is a great theater with great, high quality shows. More than that, their Loeb Drama Center is intimate enough such that you feel like you are getting great seats no matter where you sit. To prove my point, go to http://www.fas.harvard... and scroll all the way to the bottom to see REALLY good diagrams of how seating is arranged at the Loeb Center
If you are a student, the best deal around is to buy a tax-deductible student membership. For only a $10 donation, you can get $15-25 seats anywhere in the theater -- no joke. I saw Porgy and Bess in a center, 3rd row seat for $25. There's no way you can beat that price. -
Review from Michael S.
Schaumburg, IL
8/27/2011
Just saw ART's production of Porgy and Bess and loved every second of it. What a great place to see a show! I found everyone working there to be friendly and helpful and the performance/venue made for a wonderful night.
I would love to see another show at ART the next time I find myself in Boston. If you are local to Boston/Cambridge take advantage of this amazing repertory theater! -
Review from Ellie W.
10/11/2010
Such a quaint theatre, I love it! I recently caught Alice vs. Wonderland here, and it was fantastic! Between falling down a rabbit hole and eating flying cupcakes, they belted out Radiohead's "Creep", Lady Gaga's "Poker Face", and a ton of great, classic songs that somehow went along with the theme of Alice in Wonderland perfectly. Granted, I arrived late, couldn't find my friends (and didn't want to have to sit on 16 people while trying to find my seat in the dark), so I stayed at the top of the theatre and watched the show sitting next to a group of 7 year olds mesmerized by the world of theatre. BUT, the show was great regardless, with some standout performances. And made me feel 7 again. YAH!
It's a small theater, so it makes any show feel a lot more intimate than it would in a huge sell-out theatre. They showcase some incredible shows here--I hear The Donkey Show is really good. Very camp and hilarious.
I think this would be a great place to take friends in town for a short visit, b/c they have shows every weekend, and you're bound to find something good here. Yay, major fan! It made me remember just how much I've missed great theatre productions.Listed in: The Best of Boston
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Review from Caroline A.
Chicago, IL
10/22/2007
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! -
Review from Ali A.
Boston, MA
1/31/2010
This review is for the Donkey Show at the Oberon.
BEST. NIGHT. EVER. After two hours of disco and dancing, my cheeks actually hurt from smiling so much. It's pure enjoyment! Lovely glitter-covered, pasty-wearing, roller-skating, disco-dancing enjoyment. I don't want to give any spoilers, but anyone who likes FUN will love this show! Girls night out? Perfect. Friends visiting? Done. Grandma's feeling saucy? Absolutely. Make sure you get a ticket for the floor and you'll find yourself in the middle of all the action - perhaps even part of the show!
Nothing is certain in life except for death and taxes and the fact I will be BACK to the Donkey Show!! -
Review from Ryan B.
Brookline, MA
10/23/2009
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. -
Review from Nobu K.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2006
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. -
Review from Krys A.
7/10/2009
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. -
Review from Sally B.
10/15/2009
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...Listed in: Spotlights and Showstoppers
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Review from Shaina S.
Somerville, MA
1/13/2008
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. -
Review from May N.
10/31/2010
I recently caught the theater's run of "Cabaret." I was very much looking forward to it because I'd read about the development of the local production in the Globe, had never seen "Cabaret," and was excited about seeing Amanda Palmer after missing her stint with the Boston Symphony last year.
The Oberon theater is an intimate venue with small round tables on two levels and a standing space. In addition to the stage, there's a loft space above the bar and the orchestra plays above the standing room-only space. The actors use all the space to tell the story so you may have to adjust your viewing at times to make room for their dramatics. The musical itself was fantastic. I've never seen the live or the movie versions. Scantily-clad men and women, some dressed in drag, made up the ensemble supporting the emcee played by Amanda Palmer. She and the actress playing Sally Bowles had the best voices. I admit that for me, "Maybe This Time" is now going to be owned by Kristin Chenoweth when she performed it on "Glee." However, the show's title song was among the best I've heard.
Sold-out crowd. I think this may have been one of the first fine art performance venues where I didn't feel like the minority youth - my friend and I were in the majority of the standing room because we couldn't afford the seats. The company puts on some great shows so I hope to catch more in the future. -
Review from Ashley M.
Boston, MA
12/14/2006
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. -
Review from Nick H.
5/21/2009
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? -
Review from Leslie T.
Boston, MA
9/10/2009
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. -
Review from Greg C.
Cambridge, MA
11/5/2009
Re: Sleep No More
This is one of the coolest things you will ever see or do in your entire life. -
Review from Haley S.
Cambridge, MA
9/2/2008
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. -
Review from Vanilla P.
San Lorenzo, CA
5/20/2008
$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. -
Review from George A.
Berkeley, CA
11/9/2006
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. -
Review from Sarah A.
2/18/2007
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. -
Review from Dorise G.
1/31/2010
Came here for Gatz, a 7 hour play (8 hours if you include the one hour break for dinner in between).
Since I can't really review the play itself on here (though I highly HIGHLY recommend - one of the most amazing cultural experiences I've ever encountered), I'll say the seating was extremely comfortable given the fact we were sitting there all day (though I did bring a back pillow just cuz I was in for the long haul), and the seats were set out in such a manner that there was no fear of being able to see over the person in front of you - it was an ideal sort of quasi-stadium seating that I wish more theaters had. Also, it was very smoothly run and quite reasonably priced, with an option to order dinner there in between from Chez Henri, which was also quite delicious! Would definitely like to hit up the ART again soon, and if you can still get tickets suggest you go see Gatz post-haste! -
Review from Miriam L.
Manhattan, NY
3/31/2009
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. -
Review from Natasha A.
Cambridge, MA
5/31/2006
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... -
Review from Mary C.
Somerville, MA
3/10/2011
I am a long time patron of the A.R.T. The work is always fresh and innovative. In 2010-2011, however, I have attended three shows and been blown away every time. Kudos to their new Artistic Director for taking chances and reaching out to younger audiences!
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Review from Stephen Y.
Updated - 6/4/2008
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 »
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Review from Colleen M.
Revere, MA
3/19/2010
Oh, I am such a fan of the A.R.T. I really don't know how to articulate this, except to say: BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT.
Every show I've seen has been spectacular. Really intelligent, smart theater - theater that makes me excited about the art form again. I find myself wanting to see their shows again and again (and with both The Donkey Show and Sleep No More, I've indulged the repeat customer urge). Tickets are affordable and they offer a wide variety of discounts and group ticket offers. A.R.T. really seems to want to broaden the typical theater-going audience, and I think they're succeeding; I've seen a lot of diversity in the audience at their shows, which is so refreshing.
Also just need to give a shout out to their promotional teams - the A.R.T. has some of the best publicity I've seen in ages. Good job. -
Review from Micaela L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2007
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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Review from Tracee D.
Boston, MA
4/16/2007
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.... -
Review from John W.
Los Angeles, CA
7/9/2007 1 photo
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.
Listed in: Culture Vultures - boston
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Review from Robert B.
ROSLINDALE, MA
11/23/2010
I am so hoping that the ART re-finds its feet. I have been going to the ART for over 20 years, and subscribed for about 10. The shows thus far under Diane Paulus' tenure have been puzzling, amateurish, and cringe-inducing, eschewing experimentation for gimmickry, deep exploration of themes for declaration, explorations of the taboo with ham-handed college-level explicitness (sorry, not edgy), and worst of all a sense of wonderment the ART could so often conjure for blunt gimmickry. I hope that the ART again becomes one the city's, let alone the country's, most exciting theaters, and not just the successful producers of self-congratulatory fluff like "The Donkey Show" (which promises to be Boston's new version of "Shear Madness").
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Review from Ellie L.
New York, NY
8/23/2005
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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Review from Lalin A.
Durham, NC
10/4/2007
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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Review from s c.
Waban, MA
9/29/2011
I also just saw Porgy & Bess there. The production was amazing, even for those new to "opera." The theater @64 Brattle (as opposed to the ART at 2 Arrow) is fantastic - intimate yet acoustically magnificent. There's no bad seat in the house.
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Review from Mandy H.
MA
3/11/2007
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. -
Review from Merri H.
Boston, MA
12/10/2007
Small theatre in the heart of Harvard Square; great views no matter where you sit. I have seen just a handful of plays here and they have all been unusual and really well produced. The best part - you can show up at noon and score $15 tickets for same-day performances. I think this is usually true (at least it was this past weekend), but you should double check to be sure. Considering how pricey theatre can be this is a great thing to know about!
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Review from Anthony L.
Cambridge, MA
10/31/2008
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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Review from Irene F.
5/25/2006
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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Review from erin d.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2007
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.
