Booth Theatre — Attraction in New York

I saw Gary at this theater last night and was unpleasantly surprised by the level of customer service. I think perhaps the employees and management at this establishment forget that it is in many cases the tourist dollars which ultimately fund their paychecks. I witnessed grouchy employees bark at elderly tourists as if they were young children. During a huge rainstorm, employees were kind enough to let us wait inside, but barked at us like we were a herd of stupid sheep.

No water bottles! Don’t cross this velvet rope, what do you think it’s here for? Get away from the door, it opens outward! Don’t stand in front of that door because that’s the stage door and someone could come out! You need to make room for people to get to the box office so go stand back there! Where? Back there behind some other guy.

If you are going to run an establishment that caters to many tourists in one of the most visited cities on the planet, then you should hire people who understand tourists may not know your rules. We won’t know exactly where to stand. We won’t know that doors open outward because there was a fire in New Jersey many years ago and all New York doors are required to be opened outward. We won’t know what is and isn’t allowed in a theater. We won’t know that the air-conditioning will be turned down so low and even though many of us are sitting in wet clothing due to the rain storm it will not be adjusted. Perhaps some people come here to be spoken to as if they are idiots. But I saw people who could have been my parents or grandparents being talked to in ways that I found very offensive. I will never visit this theater again. And I hope management reads my comments and takes them seriously. It’s clear some of your employees have been at their jobs for way too long. The one exception to my review is a charming usher named Phil. He was friendly, outgoing, engaging, and spoke to everyone in a fun and welcoming manner. Aside from Phil if I wanted to be treated like I was in preschool, I would visit your theater more often. Never again. I take no pleasure in writing reviews like this. But I felt I had to speak up on behalf of the elderly folks visiting...

⭐️⭐️☆☆☆ Compelling Show, Appalling Security – Put Safety First!

My wife and I attended "John Procter is a villain" on 4.30.25. While the production took a bold, entertaining spin on John Proctor (portraying him more as a self-serving villain than a tragic hero—a fresh take we enjoyed!), our experience was completely overshadowed by the theater’s shockingly dismissive security team.

The Issue: Upon entry, security aggressively confiscated my wife’s keychain pepper spray (legal and tiny)—her only safety item in this high-crime city. When we explained her vulnerability (she’s petite and walks home alone), staff refused to let her temporarily store it or even step outside to return it to our car. Their tone was rude, dismissive, and devoid of empathy. My wife left feeling humiliated and unsafe, which soured the entire evening.

Feedback for Management: Train staff to prioritize both safety and respect. A simple locker system or temporary holding area would solve this. Common sense exceptions matter. Banning weapons? Understandable. Confiscating a woman’s legal safety tool without alternatives? Unacceptable. Apologize and adjust policies. In a city with safety concerns, this approach is tone-deaf.

The play itself was gripping, but we’ll never return—and caution others, especially women, to avoid bringing any protective items until this theater modernizes its policies. Art shouldn’t come at the cost of patrons’...

First week in March, I snagged tickets to catch Kimberly Akimbo on a Friday evening.

Booth theatre is one of the smaller venues, where there appears to be no bad seat. However we were seated in the orchestra, so we had clear sight lines to the stage.

Upon entry, you go thru the metal detectors (unfortunately standard for the times we live in) and scan your tickets. There was a very unpleasant older woman ordering people to put their doggie bags on the floor @ the door (most people go for a pre-theatre dinner) and retrieve them after the show.

That was an absolutely no for me, once out of my sight my food can no longer be consumed.

The show was sweet, but a bit disjointed in away. It didn't really have a flow. A teenager with a condition that ages her rapidly, dealing with some teenage things. No clarity on her disease or the lack luster parental guidance she is raised under. While a wayward aunt who is an adult comes along and influences kids to commit a crime. There were some laughs in a production that is seemingly heavy.

Overall I enjoyed the show, as the 2023 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, I respected the cast and the production but have to admit I just didn't love it.

Just A Note:

-Do not bring your left over food to the theatre.

-Kimberly Akimbo closes on 4/28/24

-While I am happy that I did not pay ticket price for this show, there are people who love it, check it out before it closes and see...