Ames Center — Attraction in Burnsville

On January 9, 2020, our church group from Abiding Savior Lutheran in Mounds View, MN traveled to the Ames Center in Burnsville, MN for a fun afternoon to attend "Hark, The Basement Ladies Sing". Their performance was remarkable! I think this production was the most excellent I have witnessed. The characters they portray, the environment and props, audience participation...it reminds me so much of the little country church I attended when I was young. All of their productions are just good, clean fun and entertainment. I have been to the Ames Center twice so far. Each time was to enjoy productions of "The Church Basement Ladies". The Ames Center is very, very nice. Their staff is courteous and accommodating, especially for our folks that need a little extra help. The seating in the theater was so much better this time. The last time we attended, the seating was not very stable. They now have more of a theater seat, which is more comfortable. The risers are on scaffolding-type supports, then the chairs are on the risers. It was much more stable, comfortable, more room, and the rows were a little higher apart between, so you could view the theatrical production much better! The sound system was excellent. The thing that I would like, is for the actors to be on a stage, but not too high. However, it may be safer for them to not have to worry about going off the edge. In my opinion, a stage just sets the actors apart, as more special, celebrity status. Currently, the performance is on the concrete floor. I've always been seated in the 4th or 5th row up, which is perfect for me. I don't know how it looks from the floor-level first row or one of the top rows. The rows are identified by letters, while the seats are numbered. You really need a keen eye to find the number on the seats, but maybe it's just my eyesight. This particular theater wasn't huge, seated maybe 250. It was a very appropriate size for this type of performance. There is a small concession stand with beverages, popcorn, candy, etc. The restrooms are nice, too. My overall review of the theater is very, very good and accommodating for most abilities and disabilities. I feel the seating/risers could be improved for my peace of mind. I guess I'm just used to a seat attached to the actual floor. I felt safe and secure with the seating/risers though. Maybe if they would just put up wood or some kind of covering so you can't see the underside of the risers, therefore hiding the scaffolding. They have a curtain there, but it has not been entirely extended, so you can still see the underside. I only gave it 4 Stars because of the seating risers. All in All, it's a wonderful theater!! But I also want to put in a good word for "The Church Basement Ladies" productions. The tickets are reasonably priced, in my opinion, and the laughs and musical numbers will stay with you for a long time! Each actor has performed in numerous productions in addition to "The Church Basement Ladies". They are all very talented and skilled. I highly recommend enjoying their...

I went here with a group to the play Church Basement Ladies, you smell Barn. It came with a prix fixe meal, turkey, mashed potatoes, salad, soup, choice of 2 desserts, coffee, lemonade and punch. Roll, corn, cranberry jelly. The play itself was fine, a Nordic MinnEsotaH play on the Minnesota palate which had music, laughs and was cute. However, the small chairs were set upon a row of escalated tiers that were hollow underneath. There was about 15-17 inches of room for each customer, and little leg room. Many of the guests were elderly and had canes, portable chairs etc. It was difficult for everyone to get situated as when the row was narrow, and invariably most were seated, then a new guest had a seat at the end of the row and everyone had to get up and move or change seats down one. I had been here before and had sat in another larger venue in the theatre which had stable set in seats. The meal was substandard mainly because my theatre ticket had a price of $25. including fee. But I paid $74 for the bus trip, play and meal altogether. So I was expecting good quality food. It was a rolled turkey breast, canned or jar gravy, cheap dinner roll, canned corn, soup wasn't even hot and the vegetables were too firm. Canned again. They put a powdered lemonade in a big dispenser adorned with real lemon slices to make believe that it was fresh squeezed. Hah! But No Pulp! Dead giveaway. The coffee was in a dispenser on a table, and when I put the paper cup provided under the spout, I could not retract my cup from underneath, or shut the spout off due to edge of cup not clearing room to take cup away!!! So spilled hot coffee on the dark tablecloth, and the cup was so full, it was not room for cream, which was unfrigerated dairy minicups (which means they have chemicals to keep from spoiling). When I got back to the table, after pouring out about 1 and a half inch to get my cream and sugar in, I wasn't too surprised that it was barely warm, had no taste - much like hot water. Another grievance was, you had to get to no less than 4 different areas to get all the stuff. So, salad bar, dressing at soup bar which also looked like cheap chemicalized type in generic plastic bottles!! The desserts were like kids specials- rice krispie bars with chocolate frosting or spice cake with caramel drizzle and again: fake whipped cream with stabilizers! I wouldn't be complaining so much, but I thought I was getting at least a $25 meal, because that still leaves $24 for the bus ride, which I doubt even cost that much due to the bus being filled and it was about 30 miles 2 ways. Anyway, bottom line, go for the play, and eat somewhere else. The glass of wine at intermission was ok for the price, $7 for an ok amount. Suggest Medterranean Cruz restaurant right in front. So the meal I rated about $8-9 and someone pocketed a tidy sum for the program and fees. Could not believe the bulk of the people were happy with the cheap meal for...

The venue was nice enough. We had decent seats. But we were in the last row by the doors, and the usher kept coming in and out during the show letting the light in from the lobby. During the intermission, the line for the ladies room was long. There were several women who felt they were entitled enough to bust into the Men's room while it was full of men, in cluding my husband. They demanded that the men hurry up and get out of the restroom, because the woman needed it. 100% unacceptable!! The head usher, or at least I think that's who she was, was made aware of what had happened, said she would take care of it. I was in line for the ladies room and watched her walk away from my husband and stop to talk and laugh with another Usher. Nothing was ever done about these women. They should of been removed from the venue! Had a man walked in to the ladies restroom, he would of been arrested! Its disappointing to know that they let it slide if women bust into a men's room, all while men are at the Open urinals. I don't think we will be attending any future...