Royal Alexandra Theatre

The Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto was a fantastic place to see the last performance of The Sixes in downtown Toronto! The theatre itself is old but still beautiful and well kept. They do a great job organizing their bar, snacks, and merchandise spread throughout the lower level. The acoustics were great, and the seating was comfortable. There is a great view from pretty much any seat in the house. All in all, it was a fabulous evening!

From the marquee and entrance to the artful ceiling, the red and gold decor and through the years photos, this theatre takes you into another time of elegance and showmanship. Admission process was easy and bathrooms and and lounges in every level with seating was well thought out.

Smashing IT! It's grand. It's majestic. It's breathtaking! If you're a true theatre connoisseur then this is the perfect place for you to truly enjoy and take in all of the magical essence of the theatre world. The Royal Alexandra is like no other theatre. Take in a show whether it's a theatre production or a film during TIFF, also the seating design is set up so it really doesn't matter where you sit. The view from all areas of the Royal Alexandra are just perfect! Below is a little snippet of it's Historical Beginnings taken from the Mirvish Production Website. "The Royal Alexandra Theatre is a national historic landmark – the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in North America and the continent’s first truly “royal” theatre, granted official letters patent by Edward VII entitling it to the royal designation, along with his permission to name it after his consort, Alexandra. Built in 1907 by Cawthra Mulock (Toronto’s “boy millionaire”), and designed by John M Lyle, it is a masterpiece of beaux-arts architecture that also holds distinction as the city’s first steel-framed structure (allowing cantilevered balconies), one of the first “air-conditioned” buildings in North America, and the first theatre to be deemed legitimately “fireproof”. Its proscenium-stage has seen almost 3400 productions since its opening and has been graced by such legendary performers as John Gielgud, Mary Pickford, the Marx Brothers, Edith Piaf, Paul Robeson… to name just a few." © 2024 Mirvish Productions

Lovely theatre experience. Took my girlfriend out to see Mean Girls here. Purchased the cheapest seats available and they did not disappoint! Anywhere you sit here you will have a good view. They also do a great job of keeping the sections separate and not overflowing the lobby between intermissions. Bar and snacks available at a premium price, of course - but nothing outrageous. Thanks for an amazing night and a great show!

My boyfriend and I visited the Royal Alex during TIFF to see K-Pops by Anderson Paak. We were sitting in the front row and still had a comfortable view of the stage/screen. The theatre itself is stunning and has a lot of character. We will definitely be coming back!

Saw "Come From Away" on Saturday night. The theatre is beautiful, and the show was wonderful. Highly recommend visiting the theatre if there's a show you want to see here . We were seated about halfway back on the floor. Seemed to be a great view from everywhere on the floor, though the seats at the back on the floor may have the upper part of the stage cutoff by the balcony. Would not be an issue for this show though. There are some basic concession stands right in the main entry way, and there is a bar off to the left after you enter. There is also a spacious area downstairs with another bar, coat check and washrooms.

I recently had the pleasure of attending *Mean Girls* at the theatre with some friends. While I haven't had the opportunity to see many live productions, the ones I have seen have often been Mirvish events. Originally, I planned to bring my 10-year-old daughter along, but unfortunately, she fell ill, so we’ll have to take her another time. I found it beneficial to watch the movie beforehand, as it provided helpful context for the performance. The singing and dancing were particularly enjoyable!

Tradional theatre. Comfortable chairs, but very close together Hard to get in and out of theater. Washrooms are either on lower or upper floors. I saw SIX the musical there. Amazing pop style musical based on the six wives of Henry the 8th. 90 minute high energy "concert" like show. No intermission. The costumes and the performers were amazing!

The Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto was a fantastic place to see the last performance of The Sixes in downtown Toronto! The theatre itself is old but still beautiful and well kept. They do a great job organizing their bar, snacks, and merchandise spread throughout the lower level. The acoustics were great, and the seating was comfortable. There is a great view from pretty much any seat in the house. All in all, it was a fabulous evening!

From the marquee and entrance to the artful ceiling, the red and gold decor and through the years photos, this theatre takes you into another time of elegance and showmanship. Admission process was easy and bathrooms and and lounges in every level with seating was well thought out.

Smashing IT! It's grand. It's majestic. It's breathtaking! If you're a true theatre connoisseur then this is the perfect place for you to truly enjoy and take in all of the magical essence of the theatre world. The Royal Alexandra is like no other theatre. Take in a show whether it's a theatre production or a film during TIFF, also the seating design is set up so it really doesn't matter where you sit. The view from all areas of the Royal Alexandra are just perfect! Below is a little snippet of it's Historical Beginnings taken from the Mirvish Production Website. "The Royal Alexandra Theatre is a national historic landmark – the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in North America and the continent’s first truly “royal” theatre, granted official letters patent by Edward VII entitling it to the royal designation, along with his permission to name it after his consort, Alexandra. Built in 1907 by Cawthra Mulock (Toronto’s “boy millionaire”), and designed by John M Lyle, it is a masterpiece of beaux-arts architecture that also holds distinction as the city’s first steel-framed structure (allowing cantilevered balconies), one of the first “air-conditioned” buildings in North America, and the first theatre to be deemed legitimately “fireproof”. Its proscenium-stage has seen almost 3400 productions since its opening and has been graced by such legendary performers as John Gielgud, Mary Pickford, the Marx Brothers, Edith Piaf, Paul Robeson… to name just a few." © 2024 Mirvish Productions

Lovely theatre experience. Took my girlfriend out to see Mean Girls here. Purchased the cheapest seats available and they did not disappoint! Anywhere you sit here you will have a good view. They also do a great job of keeping the sections separate and not overflowing the lobby between intermissions. Bar and snacks available at a premium price, of course - but nothing outrageous. Thanks for an amazing night and a great show!

My boyfriend and I visited the Royal Alex during TIFF to see K-Pops by Anderson Paak. We were sitting in the front row and still had a comfortable view of the stage/screen. The theatre itself is stunning and has a lot of character. We will definitely be coming back!

Saw "Come From Away" on Saturday night. The theatre is beautiful, and the show was wonderful. Highly recommend visiting the theatre if there's a show you want to see here . We were seated about halfway back on the floor. Seemed to be a great view from everywhere on the floor, though the seats at the back on the floor may have the upper part of the stage cutoff by the balcony. Would not be an issue for this show though. There are some basic concession stands right in the main entry way, and there is a bar off to the left after you enter. There is also a spacious area downstairs with another bar, coat check and washrooms.

I recently had the pleasure of attending *Mean Girls* at the theatre with some friends. While I haven't had the opportunity to see many live productions, the ones I have seen have often been Mirvish events. Originally, I planned to bring my 10-year-old daughter along, but unfortunately, she fell ill, so we’ll have to take her another time. I found it beneficial to watch the movie beforehand, as it provided helpful context for the performance. The singing and dancing were particularly enjoyable!

Tradional theatre. Comfortable chairs, but very close together Hard to get in and out of theater. Washrooms are either on lower or upper floors. I saw SIX the musical there. Amazing pop style musical based on the six wives of Henry the 8th. 90 minute high energy "concert" like show. No intermission. The costumes and the performers were amazing!

Went to go see Mean girls and it was quite a good experience. The theatre is quite clean and easy to find your seats. The staff were extremely accommodating and friendly the whole time. The small break concession had an ok selection but nothing that was amazing. The roof of course is gorgeous but that is to be expected with the history. Our seats were in CC and it was quite closer to the stage in person than it looks on the website during booking. Overall experience 10/10.

A beautiful theatre! The sound and lighting were great; I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. There is a concession stand near the entrance, but there is a bigger concession area downstairs. It's way faster!

Charming theatre. It is always a treat to watch something here. The venue plenty of seating. The Ushers are friendly.

Too loud. The music is too loud. The singing is too loud. Everything is too loud. It's like they forgot that all these music theatre grads are belting it out like there is no tomorrow and yet the theatre has the volume on 11. Half the Hadestown singing was so shrill that it was not only hard to understand, but also painful. This isn't a knock on the case - the volume is too loud!

Enjoyed yesterday here a fantastic musical, Dear Evan Hansen. The story is about teenagers struggling life like trying to fit in, social anxiety, etc. Winner of six 2017 Tony awards. Check out the amazing theme song "Waving Through A Window". This show will run until Sept 29, 2019. Be sure to bring some tissues.

Pros: - the Royal Alex is a wonderful historic theatre - the fairly recent renovation was very well done. The historic features of the theatre were preserved while the comfort was increased with wider seats and more leg room. - the sightlines are great even from the cheaper balcony seats. Short theatregoers can still see the stage no matter how tall the people in the row ahead are. - the shows presented are often top notch - the walk from St Andrews subway station is not long Cons: - due to the age of the building (built around 1907), there's no elevator. This limits the choice of accessible seats for anyone with mobility issues. - the area around the dress circle concession stand is small leading to difficulty getting past people in line in order to reach the stairs to the balcony CAA Lounge (Major Con): When Mirvish partnered with CAA there was great fanfare about the benefits for those with a CAA membership. This is a joke at the Royal Alex! I lined up at the CAA lounge for my complimentary tea only to be told when I finally reached the front of the line that I would have to go to another concession stand where my CAA card could be scanned and a voucher given. This is because there's no scanner at the CAA lounge. I had to line up at the other concession stand and wait my turn for the scan and voucher. After my card was finally scanned, I had to return to the back of the line at the CAA lounge to wait my turn again, hand over the voucher and get my cup of tea. MR MIRVISH, PLEASE BUY A SCANNER FOR THE CAA LOUNGE. I'm pretty sure you can afford one! At the very least, there should be signage at the CAA lounge directing us to the other concession stand before we waste our time in the wrong line.

This theatre has a really nice interior featuring red and gold detailing. It makes you feel as if you are stepping into the past. The seating is pretty good whether you are in the orchestra or on the balcony but some things are run a little weird. At this theatre, they send you to one station to pick up your CAA voucher and then you have to go to another booth to redeem your beverage. I think it's a little wonky and could be better organized. The food options are quite limited if you have any food allergies (I'm both gluten and lactose intolerant) and the washrooms stink like sewage. I think they have a sewage problem that needs to be addressed. Besides that, all of the plays I have seen at this theatre have been fantastic!

Just got back from watching a fantastic new musical called Come From Away. The theatre has recently undergone renovations (which saw the removal of over 200 seats) which allowed for new seats to be installed, which are wider and have more legroom. I still love this theatre...it's a grande old dame worthy of our respect.

By far one of my favourite theatres in Toronto. The seats are comfy and I like that they have a tall back. If you're taller person, I'm sure this is definitely something you can appreciate. Sitting in the balcony area, the only issue I had were the stairs leading down to the seating area - they are quite steep and a little daunting. However, if you hold onto the rail and walk carefully, it's not that bad. Even from the balcony, you could get a really good view of the stage. It can also be a little difficult navigating through the theatre (esp if you're sitting higher up). However, the staff are really good at redirecting you where to go. Bathrooms are clean and located throughout the theatre and there are also plenty of refreshment stations dispersed throughout. Would definitely return to see another show here. :)

Gorgeous theatre I was thoroughly impressed by the outer and inner decor. A friend mentioned they had just redone the space and it's absolutely beautiful with great views regardless of where your sitting. Sound us incredible and there are multiple exits and entrances which mean your in and out quickly. The cafe is surprisingly mid priced and there is service on the first and second floors which is great for intermission. Overall thoroughly enjoyed watching the lorax here!

It's been ages since I've watched a musical and I had a blast watching this show! I saw Kinky Boots and the show was great. It was full of comedy, nice musical performance, and colourful costumes. I sat at the balcony and had a good view of the show. Seats were comfortable. One thing that the ushers will do is tell not to put things at the edge of the balcony, presumable so you don't drop things on the people sitting below. If you're into Arts and want to have good laughs, I highly recommend watching this. It's a heartfelt story about two boys growing out of their father's shadows and pursuing their dreams. I should mention the nature of the story revolves about a drag queen, so it's not exactly a kid friendly show ;) Anyways, go watch it and have fun!

After walking around Toronto today, I was hankering for a cultural activity in the evening. One Canadian tradition was a home game between the Maple Leafs and the Bruins. And there were certainly a lot of blue and white jerseys around just before this installment of Hockey Night in Canada. However, I was more in the mood for theatre and for a "feel good" production. And after considering Jersey Boys and the Sound of Music, I settled on another "classic" - the stage version of Dirty Dancing. The Globe and Mail review of Dirty Dancing includes comments about fabulous choreography, enticing music, and exquisite visuals. Spot on. In particular, the actors who played the 3 main characters (Penny, Johnny, and Baby) were just plain fun to watch. That included a favourite dancing scene featuring music by Eric Carmen (Hungry Eyes). As for the Royal Alexandra Theatre, $40 got me a 2nd balcony seat with an acceptable obstructed view, an elegant venue, and a very pleasant and relaxed evening. This theatre has a lot of history and class and I enjoyed the opportunity to be here. And although Todd V. and I don't share the same opinion about musicals, I too would love to see a well-staged dramatic piece here.

I love this theatre. It is small and cozy and the seats are fairly comfortable. The washrooms are either up a flight of stairs or down a flight of stairs and there is a bar on both those levels too. View of the stage is pretty decent wherever you sit in this theatre but I prefer aisle seats in centre orchestra or side orchestra seats on the aisle closest to centre orchestra. Front balcony is also very good.

What a great show! Come from away musical, it's funny, sentimental, and so energizing, I feel like dancing with the music. The theater staff are polite and always willing to answer any question. They accept Apple Pay witch this is a +++ for me since I left my debit card back home (Miami). I sped 50 something for my seat and it has the perfect view. If you are in Toronto you must visit and watch a Show!!

My wife and I came here to see Dear Evan Hansen. The theatre is one of the larger ones amongst the Mirvish Theatres, having been to at least 3 but I will say I enjoy the Ed Mirvish Theatre as well. The seating is great, the building has a lot of old world charm to it, and the show itself was fantastic. I will say I am reviewing this months later having watched two musical that IMO offered a more enjoyable experience and better take on mental health than Dear Evan Hansen, but I don't this to take away from the building of the show. Dear Evan Hansen has the most memorable songs out of the three. Like if you were to look at my playlist or ask someone to sing our a show tune, Evan Hansen's song's would be right there. The concession are the only thing that make this theatre not great, and that has to do with pricing and the variety, but this is pretty standard. Also this theatre based on its location does get more packed and leaving presents more of a headache. Aside from these minor flaws, loved the show I saw. Loved the seats and the theatre itself. Can't wait to see the next show here.

We had an amazing time ,very worth it to drive tow hours to come and enjoy the show. We were a large group and we loved everything

Some places will tell you there is no bad seats in the house. This place could not say that. The upper balcony will have you cramped far worse than this review will ever make you believe. Your legs are forced apart because the seat in from you you prevents you from putting your knees facing forward. The person beside is dealing with the same issue. You will be physical contact buddies with them. And I hope you don't need to cross your legs, or move them at all, because there is no room. The seats are cramped and terrible up there. Still - it's one of the only theatres in Toronto. Just be forewarned. Avoid the upper balcony.

We went there last night September 17th to watch the musical "Kinky Boots" The show it self was great. The humour as well as the story was warming. This was the second time being in this theatre but the first time sitting up at the top balcony and I must say that it was an entirely different experience. My first impression of the upper balcony was it was highest decline of seats I have ever seen in my life. They were almost giving you a sense of vertigo while sitting and watching if you were getting up to get a drink. Luckily the theatre wasn't completely full so we didn't have to worry about the seats feeling all that jammed. I could also see a potential with that as well. Previously we sat on the lower balcony and even down below and have had great experiences with this theatre. If you are looking for a cheap evening out, the upper balcony will be just that but if you are looking for a more enjoyable night out with a little less discomfort I'd look at getting a seat a little closer to the stage. Over all the theatre's history speaks for itself. I believe we were told that the seats were 108 years old. Also strange that the bar is cash only but doesn't give access to an ATM unless you all the way back down to the main floor. Would have been great to know.

The older sister to the Princess of Wales theatre (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-princess-of-wales-theatre-toronto) down the street from it, this is your more elegant and smaller of the pair of theatres that bring life to the theatre district of Toronto. With a seating capacity of around 1500 or so, the interior brings to mind the more historical elements that have made this theatre somewhat of a landmark. Having staged such performances as "Hair" and Godspell", the venue has seen many greats grace its stage, from Mary Pickford, The Marx Brothers, Maggie Smith, and Orson Welles. And why not? At the time, and even to current day, the history of the venue makes it a place you'd want to perform at. The theatre itself has great acoustics for musicals as well as more dramatic pieces, and the staff are kind and do their best to get you seated for the performances. Recently, they've been putting on musicals such as "We Will Rock You" and "Dirty Dancing". Me and musicals do not get along much. So, I guess I'll just wait until the next dramatic piece is put on there. It's worth the wait.

I can't remember the last time I was at the Royal Alex. I guess everything I've been going to the last few years have either been at the Princess of Wales, Canon or Elgin theater. I went to see Rock of Ages on the weekend in the upper balcony and it completely reminded me that I don't like heights! It has got to be one of the steepest inclines for any theater I've ever been to. It's an old building, the lineups for the bathrooms were long (even for the men) and well the seat's a bit tight even for my ass (yes it's big). I guess I'm glad an old theatre like the Alex is still around, but with all the great quality facilities in our city, I'm not sure if I'd go back to the upper balcony. I think it's either the Orchestra or nothing. I guess this is another reason I know I'm getting older. I'm getting grumpier.

Saw Kinky Boots here. It was a great show. The theatre is obviously very old. It is very uncomfortable. There is barely any legroom and I'm 5'4". I'd skip a show if it was playing here. The ushers are very disgorganized and unprofessional. I brought something in a bag (a purchase from earlier) and was told after I had found my seat that it would have to be stored behind the bar so 'the smell wouldn't bother other patrons'. The item, I can assure you, was not smelly. It was an inanimate object, brand new, in its packaging. I didn't feel like arguing with the usher ( I wasn't taking it out of its bag to show her) so I slowly made my way through the oncoming wave of people to put it where she asked. Thankfully, it was there after the show still.

Obviously, Mirvish knows how to put on a great show - and they prove it once again with their production of Kinky Boots! Such a fun show - and Holy Moly the lead cast can really belt out the tunes! My daughter had seen it in New York w the original cast and she was impressed, and it was my first time - SO entertaining! I saw Mamma Mia here over 20 years ago, and the classic theatre has continued to stand well against time.

Jesus H on a triscuit, could the seats be any closer together? Was everyone 4'2'' in olden times when this theatre must have been built? Was it built before the English invaded and kicked the oompa loompas out of Toronto? The view from the balcony is pretty sweet, but my 5'2'' friends were cramped and since i'm 5'8'', I had an imprint of the chair in front of me in my knees for a day. I can only imagine what it's like for someone approaching or past 6'. Otherwise, the theatre is quite nice, albeit it dated (which lends to its charm), but the close quarters hinders the experience of watching a show considerably.

One of Toronto's preserved Victorian Theatres. I saw Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking here this past weekend (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) and ended up in the not so cheap seats in the upper balcony. I agree with fellow Yelpers that if you have a fear of heights be careful up there! It is steep and you get the feeling that if you slip going down the stairs into the section, you will tumble down and fall off the balcony. I am a small person and my knees were hitting the seat back in front of me, so even if you are an average sized person, you may find it a bit cramped. It is an older theatre, but that is part of the charm. We are lucky in Toronto that this building was not torn down because it certainly has character and history. The bathrooms are a bit outdated and there are a lot of stairs to climb if you are sitting in the balcony, but the fact that there are bathrooms and drinks/snacks on each level is great. The Royal Alex is a true Toronto landmark with excellent shows all year long.

The Royal Alex has been here forever. I remember going to watch plays or musical as a child here and I can safely say that the décor has not changed one bit. The red velvet wallpaper, the red carpet and red velvet chairs make the theatre seem like a decadent time piece. In the center of the theatre you will notice an enormous crystal chandelier sparkling over the audience. The seating is cozy so be ready to get friendly with the people around you(that can be a good or bad thing). My only gripe was at intermission, I was parched(not sure if that had anything to do with the three glasses of red wine I consumed earlier) but, I was in need of a bottle of water. I lined up and before I could get to the front of the line to make my purchase the lights started flickering and we were ushered back to our seats. My suggestion would be for them to have someone walking around offering water and snacks during intermission. Perhaps more than one staff member at the refreshment area would be useful? The last half of the musical was a bit uncomfortable as my mouth felt as dry as a desert. Bah I survived. I would recommend that if you go to see a play or musical at this theatre you should tour the entire place. Its quite a lovely piece of history.

Positive: the place looks cool and the sound system is great, it's loud enough to pump up your heart when the music is loud and be drawn to the play when the music is slow. Furthermore, on each floor their is a small bar for food and drinks. Also on each floor washroom are available. For those who use ttc, it's just one block away from st. Andrews. The bottomline, however, the shows that are being held here will nonetheless be awsome. Negative: pricy food and drinks therfore I recommend that you eat up good before going. Well if popcorn is enough for you then don't worry about it. If your seats are located in the far side of the balcony, upper and lower, you can't see the whole stage completely because some props are blocking the view. Lastly, I think it's universal, but still it sucks when it's not allowed to take pictures. Memories are important and pictures preserves it.

Came here on Jan 2, 2015 to see the Heart of Robin Hood. This show offers a nice twist on the Robin Hood story, focusing on Marion as the star. I absolutely LOVED this show... it's a definite, hands down, MUST SEE! The set was phenomenal and had so many surprises to it. The actors/actresses were VERY skilled, had a bit of a cirque du soleil type feel with a few acrobatic moments in it. I bought two tickets (one after another), but for some strange reason, the seats didn't end up beside each other. I made a request at the box office to have the seats transferred so I could sit with my guest, and they rearranged our seats very promptly, without any sort of hesitation. Venue seats are a little steep - at some points, makes you feel like you're going to have one bad trip and faceplant onto the railing of the balcony, or worse, onto the floor of the orchestra level. Be mindful when walking down the stairs of the balcony, as I almost witnessed an eager child do almost that before the show xD.

Just saw Kinky Boots, while it was a good show, I wouldn't want to see it a second time which I did and second time it is quite boring. I was invited for a third time and I declined. It is really just a glorified drag show and Toronto has no shortage of Drag shows. Parts of this show reminded me of the former group The Great Imposters, now that was a touring group to be seen. Maybe I have seen to many drag shows and I am spoiled. As for the theater itself, I love this place as I do most old theaters. This place is not about comfort because it is not comfortable, it is not about modern décor because it is not, it is about history. Any time I sit in a place this old I imagine all the people that have come through those doors over the years. Kinky Boots didn't do it for me but reviews on live shows is very subjective, I say go if you haven't seen it and decide for yourself.

I believe one must to differentiate whether they review the show or the theatre itself, so it it goes: The show: KInky Boots. My opinion - exceptional. If it is worth anything, I went to see it two more times after seeing it with friends first time and will probably go to see it again before it wraps up in March 2016. Fantastic vocal, acting, dance, choreography and costumes, impressive connection with the audience and great chemistry between all actors. It is an exceptional treat, I highly recommended to see it. The theatre: here I am less then impressed. The good: 1. The theatre is small so you will be very close to the stage regardless whether you are in the orchestra or on the upper balcony. 2. Ushers and box office attendants are very friendly and helpful. The bad: 1. The theatre is old, so seats are smaller and close to each other. A friend of mine who is 6'2" has nowhere to put his knees. As he said, it was worse than in turbo jet planes...I am a bigger gal (but not too big) and on the short side, while I was fitting the chair fine, it was tight for me as it was for a person sitting next to me, so the closeness was a bit too much. As for the knees, I was almost hitting the row in front of me. If you are tall, get the aisle seats, so you can sit on the angle. 2. Have dinner before coming to see a show, if you are counting on the intermission snacks, you will be disappointed. Popcorn and cookies are not exactly what you might be looking for. 3. Washrooms are downstairs and are not clearly marked. First time when I was at the show, there was a huge line up to one of the ladies washroom while at the same time, the second one was almost empty because people couldn't see that there is another one. I noticed it only by fluk. 4. Sport event like sale of water. OK, while folks walking between the rows with bottles of water for sale, nobody tells you that it will be available during intermission, so if you are with a company, you might want to have some water but by the time you notice the runners, it is too late. At a minimum ushers should advise you of the services available during intermission while directing you to your seats.

Came here recently to watch the new "Heart of Robin Hood" production. This was the first time I have watched a show here in quite some time, and it appears not much has changed about the Royal Alexandra Theatre. GOOD: How can you not love taking in a show at the oldest operating theatre in North America? Perhaps it's just nostalgia, but the aged and classy setting of the theatre still works. The view from the upper balcony seats is good enough, and the selection of productions brought in is nothing to complain about. BAD: Now to completely contradict everything I just said about the strengths of the aged threatre. Preserving this site's original design is understandable, but really wish they could do something about the cramped seating! I am not a tall man, but the amount of leg room was so uncomfortable, I moved seats just to stretch out a little bit. Again, regarding the structure of the building, it does not appear to be wheel-chair accessible or an appropriate environment for any with physical limitations (e.g. the elderly) - this was apparent as I watched a few older folk struggling to climb the narrow flight of stairs to make their way up to the balcony level. SUMMARY: Come for the nostalgia, or if there's a particular production on board. Just be mindful of the spacing and structural limitations of the place.

I saw I Love Lucy at the Royal Alex and it was fantastic. The theatre is a wonderful preserved piece of history. Absolutely stunning. I don't understand these people that complain about the close quarter seating..... that is the way it was and to change a thing would be a crime. To be polite, yes people were much "smaller" back in the day. People who have no appreciation for history would rather see those seats pulled and 3 foot wide recliners put in there. Maybe you should stick with movies at the Galaxie or go the ACC. Don't change a thing Royal Alex - we love you just the way you are.

I went to see Blue Dragon at the Royal Alex last week. The staging is fabulous, the writing is pretty weak, but you almost forgive Lepage because 1) he had a co-writer and 2) the staging is so good. Adviso: do not sit to the far left of right in the lower balcony. The stage is very obscured, but the ticket price is still $86! Make sure you speak to someone live, and ask about the view. The staging was important in this play, and we couldn't see lots of it.

With the $100 seats I was expecting a little more - more legroom (Air Canada steerage class is roomy by comparison), more climate control, better acoustics - and I was definitely expecting a better theatre going public. What has happened to theatre where people think that it's OK to slurp the last of their soda with a straw or to dig to the bottom of their crinkly bag of almonds throughout the show. I'm not a theatre snob, I go to 3 or 4 shows a year at the most, but I always thought that a theatre is not a movie - that you don't need to stuff your face at every opportunity. But it's really the fault of the theatre itself - they're selling and encouraging you to crinkle. They sell the damn almonds - of course you're going to eat it in your seat. I didn't care much for the show either - Arcadia - but that is personal preference. I'm sure a lot of people enjoyed it. But I do care that I spent almost $220 for 2 tickets (with the mandatory ticketking charge upon charge) just to listen to people eating...

I covered some of this in my review for the Princess of Wales theatre, but I will mention it here. The Royal Alexandra is best when you have really good (close) seats. It is worth it to splurge on pricier tickets at this location. The Princess of Wales is a little better for distance seats. I always enjoy shows here. The last one I saw was The Boys in the Photograph and I have to admit, I didn't know what the musical was about until about 2 hours before it started - but it was awesome. Snacks and drinks are very expensive, so eat before you go. You can bring alcoholic drinks to your seats, so that helped him get through the show. The seats here are not the most comfortable - getting up and stretching your legs at intermission is key. You will regret it if you don't. Also mentioned in my review for the Princess of Wales theatre: I don't know how bad it is for men, but women, you MUST pee before you go. The lineups for the bathroom at intermission are awful, and you will get stabby-glares if you get up and have to shuffle through a row of people during the show.

Wonderful renovation! Seats are more roomy and much more leg room. Just saw The Audience with seats in the upper balcony and they were great! The Mirvish subscription package this season is fabulous.

Today I saw the matinee performance of Once. It was a fantastic show and would have been an amazing experience had it not been at the Royal Alexandra! We sat in the second row of the upper balcony. The tickets were 60 dollars a piece, not a bad price for to see a matinee show, but far too expensive considering the seats! There was no room between my seat and the seat infront of me, absolutely no leg room at all. I went to the staff requesting a seat change because it was SO uncomfortable. The usher seemed like this was a request they got quite frequently. She spoke to the box office through her head set and told me unfortunately the show was sold out. Understandable, of course. Thankfully the people beside us didn't show up and we could turn our legs into the empty seats beside us. My mom is 5'1 and even she was aching. The building itself is beautiful and the staff were very friendly, they were even helping people down the steep stairs to their seats. The people in the orchestra seemed very comfortable as I looked on at them with envy. I suggest if your show is at the Royal Alex you shell out the extra money for the orchestra seats, I know I will be doing that next time!

Beautiful theatre. Keeping the classic reds, and gold's alive. Very nice and classic. I went to see I Love Lucy live on stage and my seats were awesome, you could see everything. We were in the Lower Balcony row E, seats 6,5,4. Downside was how tight the seats are. I am a tiny girl and my knees were all up in the seats in front of me. If I were a 6foot person I would be so upset because my knees would be all up in my face. I was at the end of our group so I was sitting next to a stranger and we were so close to each other that I could feel his knee bouncing up and down. I'm not sure if he was nervous or uninterested in the show but it was annoying. Plus, you have to basically sit with your arms crossed, or in your lap because if you place your arms on the arm rest your arm will be all up in someone else's personal bubble. ALSO, seating is so confusing. I had to ask the usher which row was ours because there was no sign stating the row letters, and the seat numbers are on the arm of the chair so it's hard to tell if you're in seat 6 or 5 until someone who is in that seat comes yelling at you complaining that you're in theirs. Either way the show was FANTASTIC! I LOVED IT, and I'm small enough to fit in the seats so it wasn't a big bother. Seat numbering and finding was a bit confusing but there are ushers there for a reason. So I would definitely go see another performance at this theatre.

beautiful old theatre with zero comfort. the balcony seats will have you sitting with your knees in your chest and your back aching from the wooden seats. its horrible. we had a subscription for years but decided not to renew after our last visit there. shame for a city like Toronto