Raleigh Memorial Auditorium — Attraction in Raleigh

About me - I've lived all over the country and am an avid theater/ concert goer, so I've got alot of experience with different venues. Have been attending concerts, the opera, the ballet, and plays/musicals at Raleigh Memorial for about 5 years now, and I have to say this is just a really awful venue. When sitting on the main floor, there is no staggering of seats between the rows, so you're pretty much guaranteed to have the head of the person seated in front of you blocking your view of the stage. Also, if you're seated on one of the outer sections on the main floor, you'll have to turn your head at such an angle to view the stage that your neck will absolutely be killing you 20 minutes into your show. The sound in the theater is pretty bad as well. The lobby at the entrance is rather small and there are only 4 or 5 small, high-top cocktail tables to sit at, so the number of times I've seen disabled, aged, pregnant, &/or injured folks struggling to stand while waiting for the theater doors to open is innumerable. There is no coat check, which is a HUGE pain in colder months, and the staff are typically pretty grumpy/unhelpful. Outside of the theater there's a large sign that states "no outside food or drink"; a few months ago while going through security we got stuck behind a lady who was carrying a giant water bottle and a humongous purse. The security person told her she couldn't bring the bottle in and then asked her to open her gigantic purse so she could search it, at which point the guest reaches in to her purse and pulls out the biggest homemade muffins I've ever seen in my life, innocently asking if she can bring them inside. The security person says "I don't know" and has to call over another security person for advice who also "isn't sure...".... :(

On the plus side, they no longer allow food inside the theater, including food purchased from their snack bar, which is fantastic given that listening to crunching wrappers, chewing of food, etc will no longer distract from the show. Plus, people are disgusting and don't clean up after themselves, so when the show is over and everyone is clearing out I no longer have to look at food wrappers, napkins, and food left on the floor for someone else to clean up. Parking is plentiful and very easy and they recently changed up their entry screenings which has sped up entering the venue immensely.

Update: just saw another show this past week and sat in a section / area I've never been in before: section F (a mid-theater side section). The seats face completely forward, no angling towards the stage whatsoever. Hello sore neck. Just crazy anyone would design a theater...

Box office review.. Box office was RUDE!!!!!!!!!. I asked for a printed ticket. Going to lots of concerts, still collecting tickets stubs. Was told they couldn't print them and Asked why I needed them .I was then lied to and told well they could print them but they would scan it then I have to go directly into the venue at that moment and would not be able to leave again before the show which wasn't due to start for an hour. This was a lie because I had several aquaintances who got their tickets printed and were not forced into the venue at 7pm. The man in the box office was condescending mansplaining how e tickets work and how they are just the best. I don't need a random guy to tell me how technology works because he cannot fathom why I would want paper. Not your business guy!!!! The female in the box office with him seemed confused and was also very rude about everything. Really lacking southern hospitality. Time for that man to retire and go yell at kids to stay off his lawn!!! Please put someone friendly in the...

George and I went to see the Jersey Boys tonight. The venue was clean and it was quick and easy to get in. They served a nice array of top shelf beverages and light food. I paid $8 for a top shelf Vodka and soda. I do wish there was more places to sit when you are waiting to be seated. Jersey Boys was amazing! The show was top notch and I am comparing it to my experiences with the shows I have seen on Broadway in NYC. We were not disappointed. George got an opportunity to take a pic with one of the cast members. So sweet. That’s my 2...