The France - Merrick Performing Arts Center — Attraction in Baltimore

Just got back from Lion King. ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL show, as usual.

My problem is, how do the staff at this theatre think that a 15 minute intermission is nearly enough time for close to 2,000 people to use the restroom and buy snacks for the second act, when it takes close to five minutes to get out of your seat and into the lobby alone? I took my daughter to use the restroom. Before we even got it, the second act warning bell sounded in the lobby. Five minutes later, she finished up and we hurried through the lobby. Only to be stopped by ushers for a "seating hold." Okay, fine. Whatever. What really irked me was it was it was another 10 minutes before the second act even started. More than enough time to let me and my daughter return to our seats. But no. Would it REALLY have killed them to extend the intermission an extra five minutes? Then, when we finally got let back in, the people in the seats in our row made barely any effort to let us squeeze in. I kept getting pinned against the seatbacks in the row ahead of us and tripping over people's feet and belongings on the floor. This totally spoiled the night for me and it took almost halfway through Act II for me to really settle in and get back into the show. Also, at the beginning of the show, there were a bunch of audience members in the row in front of us who suddenly realized they had to go back out into the lobby after they closed the doors, and tried giving the ushers a hard time before they finally got back to their seats, and the show was finally able to start. All in all, a great evening for our first time at the Hippodrome, but unfortunately the Act II seating hold left a huge blemish...

Great venue! I saw Boyz II Men here. Had second row center seats which was almost like we were sitting on the stage. Lots of leg room and it didn't feel like we were bunched together like sardines. Majority friendly and helpful staff. One star off for the two staff members who rudely told us the show was over while we were waiting in our seats at the end as the crowd died down. This was my first time at the Hippodrome; I would...

Saw Chris Rock perform here last Friday. I don't really travel to Baltimore, but glad that I did. Obviously the show was amazing, but this venue is a real jewel. The vertical nature of the seating arrangements allows for very good viewing angles from every seat. Fairly modern, I would definitely come back for another show hopefully sooner than later. Great place to see a...