The Phoenix Theatre Company — Attraction in Phoenix

For my husband’s birthday, I surprised him with two tickets to Spamilton. To say that we were disappointed is a gross understatement. We were confused and bewildered, staring at each other in a disbelieving stupor at the utter nonsense being laid before us. Although the actors voices were amazing and the choreography was great, the content was frankly the most bizarre thing I have ever seen, a befuddling mix of references to not only the original Hamilton actors themselves (Lin-Manuel, Leslie Odom, etc.), but also containing the most obscure facts about each of the Hamilton actors, which nobody in their sane mind would ever know. I mean, I consider my husband and I to be RABID Hamilton fans (I was lucky enough to see Hamilton in Gammage) and even we had no clue what was going on. And if that wasn’t strange enough, they also chewed up and regurgitated every single Broadway reference that ever was, including, but not limited to: Annie, The Book of Mormon, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, Into the Woods, The Music Man, Rent, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Kinky Boots, Cats, The Lion King, Steven Sondheim. And that list is being conservative. It was so confusing, that I wouldn’t even call it remotely entertaining. I honestly had no clue what was going on 90 percent of the time. My husband and I considered walking out, but since we were on narrow risers with seats placed on them (we weren’t even in a real theater!), we couldn’t move without disturbing other guests. At $78 dollars a seat, and with a well-established company celebrating its 100 year anniversary, I expected a lot more. I just wish I could get my money, and the hour of my life spent listening to that nonsense, back. Sorry, honey- worst...

Spent a terrific afternoon at this location. Great show (Jersey Boys). Theater is very intimate. Not a bad seat in the house and chairs were comfortable. Place is very clean and parking is very close for being near downtown. Sound system is excellent.

The food was reasonably priced for portion size and menu was excellent. My eight year old nephew ordered a Cesaer salad, my mom and dad split a caprese entree (I wasn't hungry). My nephew thought the salad was excellent, especially the fresh shaved parmesan (it must be good because he is Italian and eats Italian frequently). The Caprese was excellent. Fresh mozzarella, perchutto, basil, and tomato.

So, I am guessing you are wondering why four out of five stars? Well, here's a pretty big problem. We took an eight year old to what we thought would be an innocent show for someone that age. There was a lot of very foul language within the show.

I witnessed Jersey Boys in Las Vegas around 10 years ago and I do not remember this amount of bad language (not even close). I looked on the theater's website afterward and could not find any disclaimer regarding any potential bad stuff for kids (language, sexual content, violence, etc). I could not find anything

Granted, I know it is unusual to present this type of entertainment to an eight year old, but it was a last minute thing. It would have helped if the theater posted a warning or two ahead of time on their website (maybe they do and I just missed it). I only saw a handful of children at the show, so this is obviously not...

Location is easy to find, and parking is close to the box office. The area is ADA friendly. There is a large wonderful garden to use as a backdrop for photos. To rehydrate whether via water or colorful alcoholic beverages, there is a bar with seating and small tables. Offered is the ability to buy a drink now and another for the intermission break. Since it's about a 30-yard walk between the theatre and the bar, you'll find your drink brought and just outside the entrance. What a wonderful idea! There are plenty of personnel to guide you to your seat. Be aware . you purchase a seat in the rear, and you'll be shoulder to shoulder with a stranger. However, to avoid that, there are seats with a small table closer to the stage. Attire was unusually casual. A light sweater wasn't needed. Restrooms were clean. What you need to know: a. The entire set up is conducive to everyone treating you as a valued person. b. Smile and staff will approach you. c. Drinks: are pricey. The four alcoholic drinks I purchased cost $60. d. Hang out: It's definitely worth arriving early 20 minutes to get your drinks (should you be with another), walk the garden, and leisurely get to your seats. e. Age range: I would say 50-upwards. If you're younger, try it out as you'll be welcomed and laugh. f. The audience, as well as the staff, were friendly.

Always Smile and say Hello to a stranger, on that day, they may need it...