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GALA Hispanic Theatre
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Performing Arts, Music Venues [Edit]
3333 14th St NW(between N Kenyon St & N Monroe St)
Washington, DC 20010
Neighborhood: Columbia Heights
(202) 234-7174
- Nearest Transit:
-
Columbia Heights Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat 4 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 4 pm - 8 pm
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
The exploding U Street area is bustling with nightlife. DC9 (celebrating 8 years in the U St area) has been serving people delicious food and music… read more »
12 reviews for GALA Hispanic Theatre
12 reviews in English
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Review from Ryan B.
Manheim, PA
5/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
A beautiful Hispanic theater in DC! The staff caters to groups very well. My college's Spanish club took a trip there and the tickets were very reasonably priced. Even if you don't speak Spanish, the productions have subtitles!
The location is excellent! Right in the middle of a very pretty area of DC with plenty to do before or after the show!
If you're looking for some authentic Hispanic cooking nearby to complete your cultural experience, visit Pupuseria San Miguel. It's only a 10 minute walk! -
Review from Tasha M.
7/27/2011 23 Check-ins Here
This is about one of the coolest theaters I have been to in the DC area. It has a small capacity, but the acoustics are phenomenal, and aesthetically speaking, the place just looks beautiful. The foyer is warm and inviting - big enough to congregate in before or after a performance. It is normally adorned with very interesting photography or artwork inspired by the themes of the plays. Originally the theater was much larger, which you can obviously tell from looking at the decorative ceiling that seems unusually massive for how close it is to the seats. However, original features like this are charming and maintain the character of the building. The entrance isn't super easy to find though. It's located on 14th Street between Alero and Wachovia.
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Review from Les D.
12/17/2010
Considering my review, the word that kept coming to mind was "treasure." then I read several other reviews and, as you may have noticed, that word is peppered throughout the reviews. So, it must have some resonance. It really is a unique place and i recommend getting on their mailing list.
First, it is an elegant facility in a terrific location. One block from the Columbia Heights Metro and accessible to 14th St. buses, it's also surrounded by restaurants. Will call is easy to find and they have a pre-show bar. There's also a nice display in the foyer that describes the Tivoli reclamation project.
About the shows? Just wonderful events. I highly recommend their annual flamenco festival held each autumn. It is spectacular. They bring together some of the world's top performers as well as the best local talent to produce an innovative, original program. And they leave it all on the stage. The theater is small, it seats less than 300, so you're very close to the action.
This is a terrific place for a date. I recommend the local restaurants such as The Heights, Alero, or Commonwealth Gastropub. They are relaxing places to start your evening. you can return to them after the show, or down the street to Meridian Pint or Red Rocks.
GALA really is a gem. If I had one complaint, it's that you never know when the curtain will rise. They sometimes start the shows between five and twenty minutes late. Be there on time, but don't be surprised if they don't start on time. -
Review from Elina T.
3/5/2011
Went for the first time last night to see the one-man production "Extraterrestres, Inmigrantes y Otros Malhechores" (Aliens, Immigrants and Other Malfeasants). A good representation of experimental theater, this was a highly emotional and thought provoking performance. This performance was biligual, so even if you're not a Spanish speaker, you would have no trouble enjoying it. I believe that all their performances have subtitles.
The theater itself was beautiful. Located on the second floor of an outwardly average building on 14th St in Columbia Heights, it is an elegant and intimate venue, with none of the usual pretense of theater. There's no assigned seating, but the theater has stadium seating and there are only about 15 rows of seats, so you're upfront and personal with the performers no matter where you're seated.
You could tell that the company puts a lot of thought into the performances that they commission and show here. After the performance, they held discussion with the artist. At $20/ticket, this is some of best money you can spend on art in DC. -
Review from Sean M.
10/18/2010
Gala Hispanic Theatre is a treasure and I feel so spoiled that I can just walk up the hill a few blocks to see quality productions of plays staged in Spanish right here in DC. There's just something about a small theatre giving their all that makes me want to support Gala, especially in Columbia Heights, which has so long been a Latino enclave.
I am not a fluent Spanish speaker, but not to worry, because works done in Spanish always include "surtitles" in English above the stage. For that reason, if you need to read, you'll be better off 6 or 7 rows back so you can better read while still focusing on the actors. Sitting in the second row recently I had to look up to read and therefore had to constantly take my eyes off the actors.
Another standout that Gala does every year is the annual flamenco festival with its focus on both international and domestic flamenco artists. Overall, Gala is an A+ contributor to DC's cultural landscape. -
Review from Áine F.
Baltimore, MD
12/8/2009
In 1924, Harry Crandall opened his 9th theater in DC, the Tivoli. It was designed by the same designer that did Madison Square Garden! The theater was operated by Warner Brothers for many years but closed in 1976. In January of 2005, it reopened as the GALA Hispanic Theatre. The acoustics are phenomenal. The theater itself is a deco treasure...it is being restored, lovingly and professionally through a capital campaign that has already raised more than $4 million.
American cities often neglect the old treasures in favor of new development. I cannot express how much I appreciate being able to attend a performance here and marvel at the kind of craftsmanship and care that used to go into our community spaces. It makes me cringe when I look around our modern cinemas.
We are blessed to have this wonderful theater open and home to such a wonderful group. -
Review from Gayle G.
Woodbridge, VA
1/3/2007 2 photos
Caliente! GALA is predominately theater for Hispanic and Latino productions, but if you don't speak Spanish-- don't let that scare you. GALA's productions have something called "surtitles' which is basically Spanglish for subtitles. At GALA, the English is projected onto the screen in an easy to follow format.
The shows at GALA are typically classical Spanish plays or musicals, as well as flamenco dances. The building in which GALA resides, the Trivoli, was originally constructed in the early 1920's and was one of the most elegant movie theaters of that day.
Sometimes, you can catch some really cool stuff here like Trey Parker's "Cannibal the Musical" and a Bill and Ted spin on The Brothers Grimm. -
Review from Amita R.
Herndon, VA
9/29/2008
We've been to GALA twice now and have really enjoyed the plays there. My fiancee is a fluent Spanish speaker, where I only remember a little bit that I learned in college. The English surtitles really do help! I would definitely recommend getting a seat high in the stands, in the middle if it is your first time going and need to take advantage of the surtitles. Your neck can get a little strained from some of the other places (trust me!)
This past time that we went, we went on a Saturday night and saw their production of "La edad de la ciruela / The Aging of the Plum". I felt a little bad since the theater was about half empty for a Saturday night, but I'm assuming the show had been going on for a while.
The tickets are not that expensive, compared to a lot of the other theatres in DC. And the area that the theater is in is really easy to get to (about a block from Columbia heights Metro station). I would definitely recommend this theatre to any one who's looking to try something new. -
Review from YaiUs C.
Woodbridge, VA
3/10/2011
I went to GALA for the first time last month and it exceeding my expectations; it's less than a block away from the metro and very well organized. I saw a play that was in Spanish but had subtitles that were big enough for everyone to see and understand. The actors were great and highly professional. I bought my tickets online and ended up sitting on the second row :-), I guess everyone else bought tickets either at the door or later than I did. I'm looking forward to revisiting GALA whenever they have a play that catches my interest.
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Review from Brian K.
Silver Spring, MD
11/8/2009
This is a really great theater spot that I've been meaning to check out for a while now. The space is gorgeous, and there doesn't seem to be a bad spot in the whole place. As mentioned in previous reviews, they do have English translations projected above the stage for Gringos like myself.
Highly recommended - I'll definitely be back for more. -
Review from Keisha D.
Alexandria, VA
4/4/2010
I went to an event here last weekend and it was the first time I had been here. My review is on the space moreso than the performance because I did not attend a Spanish language event. The event I attended was upstairs and the decor was very elegant. My only caution would be if you are a smidge over 5'6 your knees will touch the seat in front of you so be warned its a little tight when you are seated. Parking garage behing venue was a huge plus, as the theatre validated parking for a reduced rate and the lot didn't close allowing time to grab dinner/drinks after the performance. Overall it was a really great space and I look forward to attending another event here in the future.
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Review from Brian R.
Berkeley, CA
2/8/2009
It's an interesting concept to have a Spanish-language theater in DC.
