Penn Live Arts/Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts — Attraction in Philadelphia

An event center for the masses!

The venue delivers on its promise of delivering engaging, intellectual, and cultural events for all interests.

The location is great - heart of UCity with lots of foot traffic. I went for a late show and was able to find close enough street parking, but that's more luck than anything else. I don't remember any garages in the area so in hindsight would recommend to leave early to allow for ample time to find parking.

Inside, it's split into multitude of event spaces, with the will call/ticket counter in the middle. It's a nice arrangement since you can pick up your ticket and then spin towards the right location without really getting lost since it's all a big circle. The employees are also helpful in guiding you to wherever you're headed.

I went for a live cultural show in the Zellerbach Theatre and there wasn't a bad seat in the house! It's stadium seating but there's a enough space between the stage and the chairs to not have to crane your neck in case you're in front and yet still see all the action without squinting your eyes if you're in the nosebleeds. There's plenty of doors to exit/enter which also helps in case you have to move around during the performance(s) allowing you to leave and come back discreetly without disturbing anyone. I found the seating to be comfortable enough and the space was overall clean but could use some sprucing. There was also ample walking room within the aisles and the rows which was nice since the show was full but didn't seem like we were packed like sardines.

It was nice to be able to enjoy the show given the comfortable/casual ambiance provided by the venue. Looking forward to more...

The DANCE CELEBRATION series is a Winner! I bought the Dance Celebration series subscription last year. I am not a great lover of dance but it was inexpensive. To my delight I enjoyed every show except 1. The subscription package came with all my tickets, parking discount and restaurants ideas. I highly recommend the series and the theater.

PRO: Now about the theater itself. The main theater is awesome. Its a medium size seating venue with a huge stage. I've sat front row and back row and had no problem seeing anything. The seats are comfortable and easy to get to. The lighting & sound system is worthy of Madison Square Garden. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Parking is just a block away with plenty of street parking. (Beware City of Phila Parking Authority - they are notorious for ticketing meter use even before time is up).

CONS: As its on an Ivy League campus I expected it to be nicer all around. Its rather bland, mostly concrete and the lobby has no seating. You won't even know you are on the UPENN campus as there is not a single sign. One time we sat in the front row and found the edge of the stage in sorry condition. The walls of the lobby are bare...they need to visit the Walnut Street Theater for some...

This is a fine performing arts center attached to the UPenn campus in the University City neighborhood. It is in a safe well lighted area. There is a parking garage a block West on Walnut Street. Some metered street parking is also available. Depending on how comfortable you are in urban settings, the walk from the subway is not bad. The main performance space offers comfortable seating with good views from every seat. They have a fine lineup of dance troups, visiting theater groups and a few concerts. A warm lobby but with limited seating. Small bathrooms with long lines. Crowds are generally quiet and respectful. If you get your tickets at the box office the envelope may have a coupon for a discount at one of the local...