Los Angeles Touring Shows: Dolby Theatre

This week I attended Escape to Margaritaville at the Dolby Theatre. This was Broadway in Hollywood's first show at the theatre, as the Pantages prepares for the sit down production of Hamilton.

I won't comment on what I thought of Margaritaville- but I will comment on the theatre. I was disappointed in many aspects of it. The sight-lines are terrible in the theatre, as the stage is simply too big. They had speaker towers on stage placed in a way that it caused many seats to become partial view. The touring stage was set very far back. As many people on this board put, the show felt dwarfed.

I don't know if some of these issues will improve from show to show- but I heard many upset subscribers around me. That being said- bathroom availability at intermission was great!

Have you attended a show there? What are your thoughts.

I watched Ben Platt's solo concert here and sat center orchestra row A and my god is this place massive. I remember thinking that I would never watch a musical here unless I was very close to the front. Even the front of the mezzanine seemed terrible because it's pushed so far back.

This is where the Oscars are held. While it's pretty to look at on TV, I can't imagine it being a great venue for any musical.

It's worth mentioning the depth and position of stage decks will vary by show based on how they're built.

I haven't seen the ETM tour... do they use a pit or is the band onstage/backstage? Sometimes if a show doesn't use the pit, the pit is covered and thus the deck seems further back then it really is. But as I said, I haven't seen the tour so I don't know their configuration.

I will say for my money, I’d rather see a show here than the Pantages any day of the week. Even though the Dolby is bigger, I find the sight lines to be better and it not to feel nearly as barn-like as the Pantages. The sound is also better.