Lobero Theatre — Attraction in Santa Barbara

Title: A Night to Remember at the Historic Lobero Theatre

Review:

Stepping into the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara is like taking a walk through history. The beautifully preserved landmark, which was originally constructed as an opera house, exudes a sense of grandeur and intimacy that's rare in modern venues. Its status as a historical building only adds to the charm and significance of attending an event here.

Upon arrival, the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture immediately caught my eye, with its classic white stucco and intricately designed wrought iron work. The courtyard, which once welcomed patrons to an open-air experience, now serves as a picturesque gathering place for theatergoers before performances and during intermissions.

Inside, the Lobero's acoustics are simply sublime. Whether it's a live concert, a dance performance, or a dramatic play, the sound fills the space with clarity and warmth. The seating, though reflective of the theater's venerable age, offers a cozy and personal viewing experience, ensuring there's not a bad seat in the house.

The Lobero Theatre staff deserves applause for their professionalism and hospitality. From the moment I entered, I felt like an esteemed guest, with ushers and attendants going out of their way to ensure my evening was enjoyable.

During the performance, the historic ambiance of the theater added a layer of depth and connection to the show. It was easy to imagine the myriad of artists and patrons who have shared in the Lobero's storied past. This connection to history is palpable, making every visit here more than just entertainment—it's a truly enriching cultural experience.

The Lobero Theatre is not just a venue; it's a treasured gem in the heart of Santa Barbara. It stands as a testament to the city's commitment to preserving the arts and maintaining the integrity of its historic sites. My visit to the Lobero was an evening I will treasure, and I eagerly anticipate my next opportunity to be part of the living legacy that graces its stage. An unequivocal five stars for the...

TL;DR: Zorro has used genAI (stolen/uncredited artwork) for their show.

TL;DR 2: I felt a little cheated of the opera experience seeing that they skimped on the sets by stealing artwork. It was my first opera, so I was originally looking forward to it!

I recently watched Zorro at Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara -- at first, I really enjoyed it! The cast were charming and immensely skilled singers, the hair and makeup were flawless and fit the period, and I love the idea of projecting scenes onto movable white curtain units. I could tell there was a lot of love that went into this production.

It would have been a perfect production, but it was marred by AI being used for the projected scenes. For example: I noticed that the door to Moncada's office was tilted and uneven, the room set was warped in odd places, and some of the figures depicted in the comic scenes were also off. Once I noticed, it was hard to pay attention to the show, as I was distracted by the AI assets. My enjoyment of the production was also somewhat dampened as a result.

I understand this production might have not had the best schedule or budget to provide the level of art/scenic design that was initially desired. However, using AI felt like an uneven compromise when so much love was put into everywhere else in the production. Generative AI is trained on the work of many artists who are uncompensated for use of their materials -- there is currently ongoing litigation against AI companies, and the US copyright office has recently released a statement that AI work cannot be copyrighted.

I am sad to see the way art was disrespected at the show, and hope that Opera Santa Barbara can consider better options...

The people who run the theater or are in charge of its FB page, are very unprofessional & immature. When my sister & I left comments on their FB page, they were not only "hiding" our comments, they also organized 3 or 4 people to leave "counter comments" ... yay sayers. What an unprofessional immature move!!! Ridiculous & appalling at the same time!!! They ask a ridiculous amount of money for their shows. Like for example to see Tom Russell you'd have to pay almost twice as much for a ticket than you'd usually have to pay to see him. It's called ripping people off. I ask everybody to not spend the money to see Tom in Santa Barbara but come up to see Tom at the Felton Music Hall in Felton the next day. It's a cool venue which will be packed with people. You'll only have to pay 40$ there to see him AND you have your choice of seats! Nobody should support venues like the Lobero Theater! Also heard that they are harassing people who look homeless or are homeless. Not surprised. Guess that's why they ask crazy amounts of money for their tickets because they don't want "poor people" to come to their shows! And hopefully they won't come. Then Tom will have to play to empty seats. But actually Tom Russell should actually cancel that gig and not play at this venue at all. Tom who always talked about seeing himself as an outsider and who has always supported homeless people...