Warner Theater in DC. . .seating.

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 2:31am

does anyone know how the seating is at the Warner theater in Washington DC? I'm getting tickets to see RENT there in May but I'm unsure as to where to sit. The front rows are for the student Rush but how good are seats in the orchestra vs the balcony?

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 8:27am

The Warner is a very large theatre, I think it seats something like 1800. I'd recommend the front half of the orchestra for the best seats. Front of the mid-balcony/mezz might be okay. If I'm remembering correctly the Warner has a small section at the very front of the mezz which is called suites or something like that. It's been a while since I've been there.

[exedore]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 9:33am

The Warner's an OK venue, but not one of my favourites. Should you choose to do rush for RENT, be warned that the side speakers will be obstructed and you will be sitting in front of speaker columns.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:42am

The Warner Theatre is beautiful, but for the amount of seats it has, the stage looks very tiny.

[camerangel]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 12:03pm

In the past the bass has been overwhelming at this venue for Rent.

Also erinrebecca and exedore are correct in regards to seating.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 12:31pm

The side orchestra seats aren't much better in terms of view. My dad purchased a full price orchestra ticket in a seat which honestly should have been partial view. I couldn't even see the Life Support meeting or the band.

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 12:52pm

I checked out the "grand suites" which are the first 4 rows of the mezz. they cost anywhere from 30,000- 5,000 dollars. I'll pass. I'm thinking mid Orchestra. Tickets are only 64, so it isn't too bad

[Mamie]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 2:44pm

Definitely go with the front half of the orchestra. The acoustics are fine from anywhere in the center to front orchestra. The balcony is WAY back there and you may want to bring opera glasses with you!

Seriously though - it is a gorgeous place. When you go, be sure and check out the sidewalk in front of the theatre, from Penn Avenue on up.

Here's a seating chart.
Warner Theatre seating chart

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 2:49pm

Mamie-- I have never had the chance to see anything in the inside other than the lobby near the ticket box. I went to buy Nutcracker tickets back in December, but they were sold out. From what I saw I loved, the lobby was very nice. I did see outside on the sidewalk--the names in the cement. I'm a HUGE Gilmore Girls fan and the first name I looked down to see was Paul Anka! It really is neat to walk around and see all the names.

[Mamie]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 2:56pm

Well wait till you see the inside - it's even better. In fact, the theatre has outshone a lot of the performances I've seen there. It's just about the most.....golden place I've ever seen. I remember it from way back - before the renovation and it was pretty bedraggled. It really did get a lovely facelift!

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:23pm

I'm really excited. A- Getting to see RENT again and with a great cast if what I'm hearing is true, and B- seeing it in an amazing theater. I'm worried that the beauty will be out of place with the concept of RENT (given that the NYC theater is made to look rundown)

[camerangel]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:30pm

Once the show starts you wont even notice the theatre anymore.. But it is truely beautiful inside.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 4:15pm

I saw Miss Saigon there. I think I sat row N on the side. It was a fine view, but the theatre did strike me as quite large. I felt further back in their row N than I do at most regular Broadway theatre's row N if that makes sense.

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 4:25pm

wickedrentq-- haha, yes that makes sense.

So what I'm getting at from people is to sit mid orchestra, but not too close, but not too far back.

[Mamie]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 6:43pm

I thought you might like to see a few pics from inside the beautiful golden Warner.

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 6:48pm

wow, that's amazing. Awww look at the itty bitty stage, too cute. It's a wonder people fit on that

[Sandy in Sable]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 8:48pm

I've been given tickets to two shows at the Warner. For "Cabaret" we sat way back across the Potomac in x/y/z land. Honestly, it made little difference to me. I still clearly saw Teri Hatcher and her b*tchy anti-Liza rendition of Cabaret. Man, I can still hear her saying, "Hello Dahhhh-lingz!"
For "And Then There's Bea" we were basically looking up Bea Arthur's nose in row C or D. It was a nice, intimate feeling, but my neck would have been a little more comfortable a few rows back. Seeing those legendary deadpans up close was priceless though. "Not NOW Ma!"

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 9:15pm

I was in the theater when they first started renovating it

Not as breathtaking as was the Capitol ( demolished when Kennedy Center opened) but it is quite nice in its own way