Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts — Attraction in Reno

Our family has been coming to the Pioneer Center for many years to see the Nutcracker, various ballet performances, various plays, the Reno Philharmonic and the Spirit of the Season. We have sat throughout the Pioneer Center finding that we tend to navigate back to balcony which allows us to have a bird eyes view of the stage along with the talented Reno Phil.

Although there is not a dress code for the Pioneer Center meaning wear what is comfortable for you with out going too casual (flip flops and bathing suit might be frowned upon - LOL) but for us this has always been a treat reminding me of when I was a little girl going with my Grandmother, family or friends family to the ballet or another performing art featured performance. My husband and I along with our family will don our best dressed with him in a suit and I in either a cocktail dress or gown to make the night special occasion as I have remembered from when I was just a little girl. There is a complimentary coat check to keep your jackets by will call so that you can sit comfortably at your seats with out having to juggle your coat in chair.

The bar is cash only but there is an ATM on site, it is a full bar with wine, beer, alcohol and non-alcoholic options to include coffee and tea along with a variety of snacks. It is asked that you open your snack options prior to the start of the performance as not to disturb other patrons or the cast/performers (rustling of snack wrappers can be a bit noisy) so keep that in mind when ordering also there are no cup holders for your beverage choice as this is an older theater. Which with that being said leads to my minus one (1) star with no cup holder and it being an old theater the seats can get uncomfortable during the performances but the intermissions allow you to stretch your legs - thank you.

Tradition in our family has carried on as we continue with seeing the Nutcracker with the AVA Ballet Theater troupe along with the Reno Phil every other year, make it to at least a few plays and an every other year of the Spirit of the Season if we are here in town.

Pioneer Center has been GREAT about getting an excellent variety of performances here: Reno Jazz Orchestra, Broadway and family friendly shows - I hear this year they even have Baby Shark Live! and Reno Phil's Disney in Concert. We look forward to our continued special occasion experiences with many years to come. Staff is ALWAYS friendly, helpful and we recommend you catching a...

To Kill A Mockingbird, was a show I wasn't totally certain would be adapted for the stage well. At least as far as the "Broadway" spectacle is concerned. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the adaptation. It was only minimally tweaked. Mainly for pacing, and to fully act out a lot of the more narration, as well as the wordy internal monologue Scout has in the book's publication. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of comedy that was added, or emphasized more on the stage. Particularly, in regards to Scout, Dill, Jem, and mostly Atticus. A healthy amount of actual laughs rolled throughout the audience, more often than not. Especially since the source material is very heavy, and has a lot of uncomfortable, and very adult aspects, (Particularly, in regards to the south, and the views of some in the late 40's). Regardless of the content, the value of the message Harper Lee had in the original publication. Felt just as equally impactful on the stage, that it do through the words on the page. The cast did an incredible job! You could tell that they enjoyed the material, as well as their co stars. They all worked very well together. Even with the sensitive topics that I mentioned earlier. You will enjoy the characters you are intended to. The whole Pinch family, (Atticus, and Scout mainly, but Jem, and Calpurnia as well) Dill, are fantastic! You will also dislike the people you are supposed to Bob Ewell specifically, but the county Prosecutor Horace Gelmer, and Mayella Ewell are almost as close in being detestable in their roles. If you can play an unlikeable character well enough. That an audience is on board with disliking your character. You are doing a great job in acting out that part to its fullest potential. This was a truly great showing, and if you have the opportunity to ever get to see it. I very much encourage you to do so. Just beware of the more mature aspects of it. Particularly regarding the more sensitive, and younger children. Either way I'd give it 10 stars if I could!...

Watched Peter Pan ballet show. Loved the orchestra. Peter Pan and Wendy had some great skill. Was an interesting concept with the fly wires. The main issue I had was with the staff working the event. From the minute my friend and I entered the building we kept noticing staff members glaring at us. We weren’t poorly dressed and we entered the building in a great mood. There was no communication either written or verbal for the show schedule. No verbiage saying the doors open an hour before showtime to get tickets, no verbiage saying the theater is open a half hour before performance, and no notification that there was a intermission or how long it would last for. The staff grouped together and talked amongst themselves and provided no direction for show goers that hadn’t been to the establishment before. Numerous people were unaware that the doors to the theater weren’t open and attempted to enter the theater and staff snapped at them and even pushed the door shut in front of them and blocked their path while snapping at them. We would’ve enjoyed the show more if the staff didn’t leave a bitter taste in our mouths. Honestly, after the way the staff treated us, if the tickets were refundable we would’ve left the venue and...