The Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts — Attraction in Boone

As a concert venue•

PROS: good acoustics, no blocked/bad seats, helpful & friendly staff, extra wide stage, easy parking, restrooms close to theater doors, box office & will-call 🎟️ lines very short.

CONS: very small lobby, overly crowded at intermission with multiple lines intersecting for bathrooms, concessions, merch. Theater needs more aisles in sections w/ extra long rows (for accessibility, less glut after shows). No large projection screens on either side of stage was surprising as back seats are way too far from stage on both levels for clear viewing. Seating diagram on venue site was poorly labeled and confusing when buying tickets. For such a massive stage, I have never seen such a tiny dressing room for artists/headliner & there was no green room! Having no designated area for VIPs or after show meet-&-greet was awkward and bizarre for such a massive stage… It seemed space was not at all well utilized, very amateurish, and could be dangerous for patrons as sets are torn down, heavy equipment packed up, cords everywhere. Not trying to be critical, but as a friend of Keb’ Mo’ for decades, I’ve seen him in 3 countries, dozens of cities, every venue type from Royal Albert Hall to outdoor stadiums, festival tents to intimate, church sanctuaries … & never have I seen such an odd set up, before or after a show. A movable spotlight is needed from rafters, rather than moving lights from the back lit area of stage. Steps are needed from floor to stage, rope them off, if needed, as Keb’ Mo’ rarely wanders into audience to play for them up close… And this time he did, but had he not been almost 7 feet tall, getting back up on stage would have been difficult at best. Monitor in lobby showing stage performance was helpful, but without audible sound, weird.

**SIDE NOTE SUGGESTIONS: Signs taped to theater doors, prohibiting photos or recording of any kind was a first for me at any previous Keb’ Mo’ concert. I understand not allowing flash photography or disruptive recording, but I know in this case, the artist himself has no problem with pictures or videos unobtrusively made from ppl’s phones during the show, so I hope “Appalachian Summer Fest” will loosen policies to align more with...

We were appalled with the handicapped parking at this venue. A total of 6 spaces for this entire complex. Additional parking for handicappers was a “short drive down the road and to then board a shuttle bus”. If that wasn’t enough, last week at a different event we were permitted to park in a closer parking area as a handicap person. Tonights event those same spaces we parked at last week were reserved for donors that contributed $3,000.00 or more. This is the worst experience we have had at this venue. The entire complex IS NOT suited for a person with special needs to navigate safely or efficiently. I will notifying the ADA of these situations.

FYI I never write a negative review unless it is called for....

Very nice place . The venue was intimate . The personnel working there are very accommodating especially those at the front desk . They can not refund my like a scam ticket from ticketcity but they did apologized how they were able to get in the way to get a ticket from them . I appreciate it .

The Lea Salonga’s concert was a blast ! Her voice is amazing ! Tho unfortunately there’s no meet and greet but it’s a dream come true for me to attend her concert . I watched her in theaters but her concert is my...