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Arden Theatre Company
Category: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Performing Arts [Edit]
40 N 2nd StPhiladelphia, PA 19106
Neighborhood: Olde City
(215) 922-1122
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
21 reviews for Arden Theatre Company
21 reviews in English
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Review from Karen F.
Updated - 5/7/2012
Took our 7 year old to see Robin Hood - and she also participated in the FUN (Family Ushering Night) Ushering program. She loved it!
A great production with 5 actors playing 14 characters.
Neat!
We even got a chance to talk to the actors after the play - and saw them again eating dinner at Revloution house.
Arden is expanding to a new building for theatre camps and classes.
Can't wait to see it!Listed in: Flam: DD's choice (Kids&…, Flam's Olde (old) City haunts
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/12/2011
Boy do we ever love and value the Arden.
Our 7 year old was an usher (part of the FUN - family… Read more »
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Review from Patrizia C.
Philadelphia, PA
3/19/2012
Last Friday was only my second time seeing a play at the Arden Theater but I truly loved the experience.
I saw Cyrano, a story I was already familiar with, but I was so impressed by the way it was done. I love how the stage is surrounded by the audience, the actors run along the walkways, making you feel as part of the action.
The acting was phenomenal, many were crying at the end, and the performance overall was touching and beautiful.
This is a great Theater and I will surely be back! -
Review from Vincent J.
Philadelphia, PA
2/13/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I have seen several plays here, they were all fantastic. The actors are great the stage sets ups are some of the best I have seen. The staff is super friendly.
I took my niece to see Charlotte's Web and they get the children involved in the play. I loved it as much as she did. -
Review from Eric L.
Wynnewood, PA
The Whipping Man was a history play
3 Actors
1 Stage
Great!
Charlotte's Web is being staged now for the holiday season.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/30/2011
Pete Pryor says it's good ( http://ardentheatre.or... ).
He's wrong.
Superior Donuts is better than… Read more »
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Review from Ken H.
12/5/2011
Last night was our third journey to the Arden and continued the streak of nothing but great experiences with the productions and staff of this great theater company. We've taken our little ones to the Flea and the Professor and Charlotte's Web - both were great shows that had just as much to offer the adults as they did the kids in the audience. I love that the characters come out to take pictures with the kids and talk to them about the show. And I love all the offerings that they have for kids via the drama school - we dropped in on a Saturday afternoon and had a great experience bringing out the inner actor in our 5 year old. Can't wait to come back for some of the adult shows they have on the schedule this season!
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Review from Mikey I.
3/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My girlfriend and I have gotten absolutely hooked on seeing plays. I never thought I'd be the type. They're just so enjoyable. We've seen 2 in the past 2 months and are already interested in an upcoming show. One you purchase tickets to one show, they'll start emailing you tempting offers for their upcoming ones. That's how they got me. I'll have to look into their 3 & 5 play subscriptions to save me some coin.
Sidenote: ordering tickets online or over the phone is a breeze and everyone I've spoken to has been super nice and helpful. -
Review from Christopher M.
New York, NY
10/5/2010
My fave theater choice in the city!
They offer a healthy balance of new works alongside old works that have been re-envisioned. They always cast and hire very solid talent in both the performing and technical fields. They have great kids theater programming. A perfect night for me is dinner down the street at Cuba Libre followed by a show at The Arden.
GO!!!!!! :-)Listed in: Spots for Sweethearts
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Review from G T L.
Philadelphia, PA
10/13/2010
I've been a loyal Arden subscriber for a few years now, and I always drag my friends along to see shows--and they then become subscribers. There isn't a bad seat in either theater, and their productions are consistently well-chosen, well-acted, well-staged, and generally ovation-worthy. I've taken classes of students there for shows, and we have gone on nights when the cast comes out and talks to the audience. The actors have always been wonderfully receptive to students' questions and comments, and the kids themselves have been thrilled with the experience; they often go back to the Arden to see other shows.
The Arden is really a treasure. I love their choices, and often see their plays more than once. -
Review from Bryan P.
Collingswood, NJ
10/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What a way to spend an evening! Superb! Astonishing! Moving and memorable!!! Just what Theater should be. I want MORE!!!
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Review from Carol K.
Philadelphia, PA
7/21/2011
The Arden is one of the best things about living in Philadelphia. We've been subscribers for a decade now, and in ten years of frequent visits we have yet to have an experience or interaction with a staffer that wasn't excellent.
They produce both world premieres and classic plays, hire some of the best actors and set/lighting/costume/etc. artists in the region, and the customer service is spectacular. And even Saturday night tickets only cost about $35.
Both theaters have flex seating, which means they reconfigure the seats for each show to ensure great sightlines. You simply can't get a bad seat here.
I can't say enough good things about this place. -
Review from Rachel U.
10/16/2010
I still remember seeing 'Grapes of Wrath' here when I was in high school; the production was so great, and obviously really stuck with me. More recently we came to see 'Sunday in the Park with George' after hearing about the amazing video effects being used in the production. I was skeptical going in, worried I wouldn't be able to resist thinking "well that's not how Mandy and Bernadette did it" the whole time (theater nerd reference, anyone?), but the performances were really excellent and we really enjoyed it. The video stuff was cool too.
There aren't really any bad seats, and the size of the theater makes for a really intimate experience. The only downside is that they don't really have any ticket discount aside from student stuff. Which, of course, if you're a student, are pretty sweet deals like $5 rush tickets, but for those of us past our student days it doesn't really do us any good ;)Listed in: All the world's a stage...
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Review from George R.
Los Angeles, CA
4/17/2007
I recently attended this theater to see a production of "Caroline, or Change". The lobby and theater themselves preserve elements of the building (most likely a factory, but I'd have to check) by showing off exposed wood beams, pressed tin ceilings, steam pipes, and the original brick work. Beyond these historic elements, It is a modern theater space in every sense.
The actual theater itself is a jacked-up black box theater. There are close to 400 seats in this stadium seating auditorium, yet it is a black box because all of the seats are on platforms that could be taken down and moved around. And no matter where you sit, there really isn't a bad seat in the house (I'd just try to stay away from the far edges if possible).
During intermission, they have a rather opulent concession stand with all sorts of baked goods and other sweets, not just candy bars, bottled water, and soda.
Prices can be high for tickets, but there are deals here and there to get a seat if you can't afford retail prices.
The Arden is known for it's unique shows, so if something is coming through, definitely take a look to see what's playing. It is located right in the heart of Olde City, so there are plenty of places to eat before and after a show.Listed in: Philadelphia Theaters and…
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Review from Daniel D.
Brooklyn, NY
7/1/2007
I really enjoy the work that the Arden does. They seem to always hit the mark, or at least real close. After seeing a number of shows with other companies, in comparison, Arden is consistently of higher quality. They produce both new work and fresh looks on standards.
The offer great discounts for rush tickets too. Call the box office for info. -
Review from Ju L.
6/18/2009 2 photos
Saw "The Seafarer" here with a small group several days ago. For the sake of fairness: I had seen a different production of "The Seafarer" several months ago, by Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, and Steppenwolf's (acting, directing, and set design most especially) absolutely blew my mind.
I know it's unfair to judge Arden through Steppenwolf, so I write my review with as little comparison as possible. That said: Conor McPherson's script is brilliant, but it felt inadequately mined for creativity in its Arden run. More importantly, the acting faltered noticeably often (even though the show was near the end of its run), and the actors' Irish accents were sometimes pretty terrible.
The space/lobby itself is attractive and starkly designed. The theatre was small and cozy (F. Otto Haas Stage), but I'm not a fan of the thrust seating-- especially since our $15 (student group) tickets put us in the back row at the extreme far left, where we missed much of the comings and goings of the cast in each scene, whereas another friend's $5 rush ticket put her front and center.
The production was still engrossing at times, and I would see something here again, especially for $5 student rush. Just maybe not for $15+. -
Review from Kati S.
Philadelphia, PA
1/4/2010
If you are looking for quality, original theater for kids, the Arden is hands-down your best bet in the Delaware Valley. We have seen 3 different shows here, and they have all featured wonderful stories, creative sets & costumes, & talented casts. Most recently, we saw their steampunk Peter Pan, which blew me away.
Very accessible for kids, as they end every performance with a Q & A session with the cast & crew. -
Review from Linda M.
Philadelphia, PA
3/5/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I am a huge fan of the Arden. I have been a subscriber for about 10 years after a neighbor gave me a free ticket to "Into the Woods". Not a bad seat in either of the two theaters and the acting is top notch. My friends and I look forward to our dinner and theater nights here and at times there have been 15 people on my subscription. Some of my favorite shows include Cafe Puttenesca and Baby Case. I have never been a fan of Alice in Wonderland but the Arden's clever production and unique staging converted me. Great value for great entertainment.
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Review from Mary S.
5/7/2010
The Arden has, and always has, put on great theater at decent prices for both kids, students, and adults. Their shows have a quality that is sometimes lost in smaller theater venues. I've been going to see shows here since I was in high school and I've never been less than wowed (even when I didn't particularly like the play). The facilities are always in great shape, the sets elaborate yet intimate, and the staff friendly. I think it' possible they are one of the nicest theaters in Philadelphia- however, there are many contenders for that crown. Definitely if you see a show playing here get a ticket, or if you're a student, definitely consider student rush tickets, you can get a great price and see a great show. A huge win on all counts.
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Review from stephen s.
Philadelphia, PA
5/2/2011
dont spend money on a play in thats performed on the 2nd floor theater. youll sit under roof top air units that humm during the performance.
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Review from joseph M M.
Philadelphia, PA
5/7/2010
This is a really great theater. The prices are very affordable and the theater is kid friendly. They put on some really great performances here.
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Review from Kevin D.
Philadelphia, PA
1/31/2008
in a space where the focus should be on the actors, the arden's simple materials and bold architecture serve the theater well. mixing old and new elements gives the theater a historical, established presence that sits right with the neighborhood. the shows are almost always sold-out and the crowd makes for a fun mix of young and old. all in all, a good nigt out.
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Review from Kaitlin L.
Philadelphia, PA
3/12/2010
The Arden is one of those places that you just want to support and see do well. I remember going to see a few plays here as a kid and now that I've moved to the city, I have started going back to shows. Their children's theater is great for all ages; however, their normal plays are wonderful as well. The theater has a very homey, welcome feeling overall. The actors utilize all space available, making you feel right in the thick of the play itself. I know that for their production of Our Town, they actually utilized Christ Church for the wedding scene! The Arden also tends to put an interesting spin on many traditional plays. (Romeo & Juliet, which is going on now, is fairly traditional.) Tickets are very reasonable; you can get tickets to all 5 plays starting at $100. I also enjoy their marketing. Walking the streets of Old City, you can sometimes see them written on the sidewalks (right now-- "Who would you die for? R+J" for Romeo & Juliet).
Listed in: All Things Old and City-like
