Merryman Performing Arts Center — Attraction in Kearney

If I could give a negative review I would.

While the play was fantastic I have to say that the service we received while at the Merryman was the worst I have ever had. I went to the Merryman with a small group of friends. One of these friends is a young mother who brought her two children to the play. We went to see Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

While at the play one of the children became fussy and my friend stepped out of the theater so that the other viewers would not be bothered. While out of the auditorium on of the employees of the Merryman, a woman named Denise, stopped my friend and verbally assaulted her. She told my friend that she should not have brought her child to see the play, that the play was not meant for children. She continued to abuse my friend, not allowing her to get a word in edgewise. My friend's cell phone, purse, and seven year old daughter were still in the theater with the rest of our group, but Denise did not know that, nor did she seem inclined to listen when my friend tried to tell her these facts. She stood in front of the doors back into the auditorium like some sort of medieval sentry and glowered at my friend, making it obvious that she was not welcome back into the theater. Once the play was over and the rest of the group found her, my friend was embarrassed, angry, and had been made to feel like a terrible mother.

When another of my friends attempted to talk to Denise about the situation, she grabbed her by the arm, repeatedly until my second friend had to tell Denise to quit touching her. Denise then informed our group that my first friend was not the only person she had told that children should not be brought to the Merryman (unless, of course, the play was specifically designed for children, since we all know that Seven Brides is so terribly risque). She had berated a man for bringing his baby to the play as well.

If the Merryman has some sort of rule against children being brought to certain productions it needs to be clearly stated on their website. I checked, none of the upcoming productions say "No kids allowed" so I am pretty certain Seven Brides for Seven Brothers did not have a warning either.

In short I will NEVER go to the Merryman again. I would advise any parent against going to an establishment that disdains them for bringing their children and who hires verbally abusive and bullying...

I was here to watch my daughter and friends from her school perform a veterans Day program, during my most recent visit. It's set up to where you have a pretty good view from almost anywhere you sit. Also they have a plug in for the hearing impaired!!! The kids were super cute in saluting the veterans and singing their songs, looking sharp and patriotic, all in red, white and blue! The music teacher is amazing and does a fantastic job with the kids, as getting that many kids to listen and pay attention well enough to get them all on the same page obviously requires a lot of talent! It was yet another great show, in a beautiful building, and I plan on returning to see more...

Amazing facility. Saw my son's performance of Seussical there (Sunrise Middle School), and was blown away with the facility. The sound system and acoustics were great, the seats were comfortable, and I had no problems finding a place for me and my family to sit (I need handicap accessible access). The bathrooms weren't easy to find, though, but that is my...