Garde Arts Center — Attraction in New London

I visited the Garde Arts Center for the first time on my birthday, so I went in with high hopes. Most of those hopes were dashed.

The first problem was the website. I attended an event featuring William Shatner. The Center showed “The Wrath of Khan” on their big screen, followed by a Q & A session with Mr. Shatner. You could also upgrade your ticket with a VIP photo op add-on. Ordering tickets for the add-on was confusing, though I finally figured it out (for context, I develop websites for a living, so I’m tech savvy).

Having purchased tickets, I expected to receive additional info. Did the VIP ticket include autographs? Was it JUST photos, or a meet & greet? How do we submit questions for the Q & A? However, the website provided none of those details. Instead, I received an e-mail from the Center about 30 minutes before the event—but by then I was already on my way to the venue.

The venue itself is beautiful, but the parking situation is abysmal. You must park on the street, in one of the nearby paid garages, or in unused municipal parking lots. We settled on the courthouse lot, which was crammed full of cars parked too close together. We then walked up a poorly-lit hill. It’s not a long walk, but New London at night seemed a bit scary, dark, and deserted. Once we arrived, the box office seemed efficient, and the staff was friendly.

The movie was fun to watch on the big screen, and the surround sound was excellent. However, light spillage from the lobby & aisle lights made the theatre too bright. This was compounded by super-bright flashlights wielded by the ushers; we were often blinded when they helped to seat latecomers. A red lens would allow them to do their jobs, while preserving the enjoyment of audience members who bothered to arrive on time.

During the event, we were also unhappy with how the ushers failed to monitor the crowd. People around us talked at conversational volumes (sometimes louder) throughout the event, yet no staff member ever addressed that disruptive behavior.

The Q & A session was another bust. Evidently, questions had been collected from the audience, but we had no idea how questions had been solicited. The Q & was part of the ticket price, but we were never even given the chance to submit a question.

Finally, there was the insulting photo op. We paid $100 each for that “privilege.” We couldn’t really afford it, but it was my birthday, so my wife encouraged me to splurge. What a waste.

VIP means “very important person,” but I neither felt important (“very” or otherwise), nor even like a person. We were herded into a corridor like cattle while they set up the photo room. We were not allowed to ask for autographs (something we should have been told at the point of sale so we didn’t drag memorabilia in with us), and we were hustled past Mr. Shatner like we were part of an assembly line. We couldn’t savor the experience, shake his hand or even look him in the eye.

Adding insult to injury, we were not allowed to take pictures. Instead, a pro photographer was there, and he took the photos in front of a huge ad for his own company! Wow. As of the writing of this review, he still hasn’t posted those pictures. Yes—we didn’t get to leave with the photo we paid so much to have taken. What if it’s blurry? What if someone made a dumb face? That once in a lifetime moment, not to mention a cash, will be lost.

I don’t mind spending money if the perceived value offsets the cost. But the entire event felt like a cheap money grab that left me feeling disappointed and disillusioned. How much of this was actually the Garde’s fault? I have no idea…but neither do I care. At minimum, the Center knew what they were presenting, whether or not they were responsible for the details.

As a consumer, I tend to be concerned with the end result—not with the moving parts that led up to that result. What I took away from this experience is the fact that I will never attend an event at the Garde Center again…which is too bad, because it is a...

Extraordinary theater worth seeing. Pretty well preserved. $20 each to watch a movie from the balcony seemed okay given how unique the venue was. Festive atmosphere with plenty of bars everywhere but no prices posted. Box wine in plastic cups, no biggie, but didn’t feel like trying it. Boozy but not rowdy.

Movie started late and people were still being seated 30 mins after start so that made it hard to see. No biggie — life at the movies.

Main problem was that, unlike every other theater I have been to which tends to be well ventilated and run cool, this one was pleasantly warm in lobby but actually hot up in balcony. Not just hot but very stuffy and stinky from old upholstery, mildew, a hundred years of behinds, etc. Really, no air moving and downright smelly.

Also, seats were narrow with weird back support angle and little knee room, and every seat was full. The total experience was like being stuck for a long time on a hot runway in the middle seat of an old airplane delayed for takeoff. I should point out that neither of us are tall or heavy, so if you are either one, you will have more discomfort than we did.

Neither my companion nor I felt that we could face going back in after the intermission. That surprised me as she tolerates heat better than almost anyone I know, so I thought maybe it was just me, but the crowding and stuffiness got to her, too.

Asked if ventilation could be increased a bit during intermission and was simply told no (honest answer at least), and that we should have got non balcony seats instead! So I guess to heck with the balcony peasants, although their money will still be accepted. Politely asked if the person could let management know we were leaving without seeing whole show because of the situation and they said they are management. They didn’t have much else to say. Strange interaction — wouldn’t call it openly rude just more an attitude of “this is how we do things and we are right” thing that you sometimes encounter. I have worked jobs where you have to deal with complaining customers so I can understand how one can get like that but I would also say turning heat down a degree during a packed showing is not an outrageous request.

Went home during intermission after watching half a movie for $20 each.

My advice for having a better experience is: 1) Don’t go for any events that are likely to sell out; 2) don’t book anything past first row of balcony; 3) don’t go for just a movie because you could see it better on a phone — go for something live; 4) maybe try going in summer when the AC is going instead of the heat; 5) maybe see if they have any larger seats in certain parts of theater; 6) if you do end up in balcony in winter, be sure you can unlayer down to a thin t-shirt and bring a mask (and maybe a nosegay LOL) to offer a bit of buffer from the smell and the many sick people who are always out and about in winter instead of staying home.

Again, place is worth seeing if you are not too large or have a back problem, but takes planning ahead. Maybe see if they do theater tours so you can learn all about the historic building while skipping all the rest of the experience? That would be...

I had the luck of being a band support member here for the ELO tribute, Evil Woman and thus, this was my personal experience.

A beautiful Vaudeville theater built in 1926.

Awesome acoustics, huge stage. An authentic theater in all its glory.

You don't see many of these art deco gems left, so it's a real treat to see the place shine with lights and music.

The whole place had a great vibe, I was impressed with not only the beautiful venue but also the acoustics.

The secret sauce is always behind the curtain, tho.

The house staff here are the real stars, Queen Charlotte and Sara(h?) really made the green room feel like a home away from home. The back of the house staff was impeccable in every way. Everyone I met was courteous, helpful and professional.

It was a great experience to see the place from the front and then the back of the house here. I'll remember it for a long time to come.

Highly suggest, would...