Merrill Auditorium — Attraction in Portland

Brought my 3 year old son to see Daniel Tiger. Parking was available at "Top of the Hill" lot (open evenings for all Merrill auditorium events) as well as across from that lot for $10. Within a 3 minute walk to the auditorium. Ticket window is straight through the door on the left within a large open area. Auditorium entrance is through doors to the right and down the hall. Drinks and snacks were available and allowed within the theater with the $2 purchase of a travel cup with cover. Both non-alcoholic beverages and soda/water available. Theater itself nice not extravagant. Aisles are wide enough for a wheelchair and there are reserved handicapped seats available. There is balcony seating as well. Theater is small enough that even the back rows can see the stage and actors clearly. Sound for this particular show was very loud. There was a slight mix up in regards to the VIP tickets but only in reference to how things were going down for the photo op after the show. This part could have been more organized. When I purchased the vip tickets was written that I was purchasing a signed poster (got the same unsigned poster that I could have purchased separately) and a meet and greet with the cast(only got Daniel Tiger and a different Prince Wednesday than was on stage) and photo was taken with my cell phone (so if I had not brought it in to the venue with me I would not have gotten the photo). Because of the disorganization it was after 9 before we got to Daniel and 15m before they had formed a line for Daniel (each family was told to sit in their seats and they would come get us for the photo). Staff was friendly and professional, and very understanding of the theater being filled with restless infants and toddlers. Would use this...

COMPLETE SCAM !! I recently attended the Harry Potter showing this past weekend and was appalled to find the lack of professionalism this venue had. I arrived 20 minutes before our 7:30pm showing scanned my 4 tickets at the front that I bought months in advance only to find people were sitting in my seats who obtained fake tickets illegally. I don't understand how they were able to be let into the building knowing that in venues system they weren't assigned to them. Only after going to the front desk did management confirm that I was the rightful purchaser of the seats. Upon informing the group that those seats were indeed for someone else they refused to get up and management informed me they would not forcefully remove them. By this time the movie had started and my group and I was left standing in the dark in the back being told that I had to find new seats. I drove 45 minutes, spent $580 to be told I have to sit somewhere. What an embarrassment. I demand to be refunded for such lack of security during check in for this...

We recently attended TWO prestigious events at the Merrill after a somewhat long absence.  We have no intention of attending anything there in the future.  The behavior of the audience was unbelievable and showed a total disrespect for other attendees as well as performers.   Your usher staff also demonstrated a total lack of etiquette seating late arrivals during active musical numbers, some of which had periods of silence while shining their ridiculous flashlights everywhere.  They were also LOUD when seating these people.  Mostly elderly, perhaps hearing issues?? Constant flash cameras were a complete distraction.  Beer cans being opened during performance,  paper wrappers and litter were also on display.  Permitting snacks and beverages in a performance venue is a huge faux pas.  You need to step it up Merrill.  It's no wonder you are not able to attract any bigger names for performance, or...