PlayMakers Repertory Company

Playmakers is my favorite location to watch a play. I love the stage set up here. The sets always look great. I always enjoy sipping on a cup of coffee while watching the performance. Tonight’s performance of «The Seminar» was very interesting. The story line was so realistic, it was easy to relate it to today and that the actors were just living the part.

I like this venue pretty well. Obviously, your experience will be determined by how much interest you have in the season’s offerings. This season, I saw a fairly clumsily-​acted production of «Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike», a nicely-​acted production of little-​seen «Trouble in Mind» and a really wonderful production of «Into the Woods» that utilized the playing space and the company’s resources to the fullest. It’s a three-​quarter thrust stage, so obviously the center seats have the best view, but don’t be too distressed by sitting on the sides, because everything I’ve ever seen here was definitely staged with the space in mind. There are only eight or so rows, so nothing is terribly far from the stage. The lobby area is large enough to accommodate a full-​house crowd and the intermission bathroom crowding situation isn’t dire, for the guys at least, since there are two rest rooms for each gender on opposite ends of the lobby. There are discounts for UNC students, staff and faculty and preview performances can often be had for $ 15. I’ve had occasional head-​banging issues with their website but the in-​person box office staff is a viable option. Rather than deal with the parking in the adjacent Cobb lot, I tend to park at the campus Boundary St. lot and just hoof it the quarter-​mile or so to the theatre. It ultimately makes it easier and more pleasant to get in and out, unless it’s raining.

I can wholeheartedly say that this was the best rendition of «Into the Woods» I have ever seen. The venue is unique. Staff is delightful.

LOVED IT
As a student at Chapel Hill, I am so thankful that we have such a well-​known theater within walking distance! I have now seen three PlayMakers shows including «Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike», «A Midsummer Night’s Dream» and «Into the Woods». I have enjoyed every single one of them, especially «A Midsummer Night’s Dream» because I’ve read that play and was very impressed by their version of it! The roles were cast very well and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance! I will definitely be back for their Spring semester shows!

LOVED IT.
We went to see «Into the Woods» and truthfully, just between us, Red Riding Hood stole the show, her and the princes henchmen. Holy cow, they were funny!
Wonderful time.

While their plays are great, the parking situation here is absolutely abysmal. We went to see Assassins a few months ago, and though we did arrive more than thirty minutes early, we were unable to find parking. Apparently, there were several events on campus that day. While I understand this is a mitigating circumstance, we had inadequate notice of this (they sent out an email less than 48 hours before the show — if we had known in advance, we wouldn’t have made plans to come that day. They were also not prepared to direct patrons to alternate parking — we were from out of town and not terribly familiar with Chapel Hill. While they could have held the house, they did not. And a lot of people missed the opening number (the theater had a lot of empty seats that people trickled into after opening number). In their email response to us, claimed that they held the house for ten minutes but this was untrue. A little advance planning and some organization and direction on the part of staff could have gone a long way to solve this problem. With plenty of other theater options in the area, we won’t be back.

Came by for a few plays when I was in college and was very impressed by the facility and the company. They have a great offering of shows throughout the year that no students should pass by!

Wow. We just returned from the first of Tony Kushner’s 2 part series «Angels in America»…and well, I’m speechless. I’m sure there’s a pithy quote that would fit here regarding the value of art, how awesome this place is, etc… yadda yadda yadda… but I can only say this:
Everytime, even in the worst of times when I’m stressed out and tired and have absolutely no energy what-​so-​ever, I *always* get drawn into the live theater performances offered here — for it’s sheer quantity and quality of acting. For 2 – 3 hours, I can suspend all belief, worries, stresses of life and sit as a child listening with eyes wide open and wondrous. I’m no theater geek… but everytime I take my seat and the theater lights dim, I sit on the edge eagerly awaiting my next adventure here.
I’d like to think that I’m not the stereotypical guy who likes team sports and hates theater… but then again, sometimes I can be[1]. And it’s on those particular days that I’m super appreciative that my wife bought us «community night» season tickets… one of the most economical ways to see some of the most intriguing, thought provoking, gripping and entertaining theater in the country. Seriously. PRC is like watching your favorite movie over and over again, but experiencing it for the first time each and every viewing while wearing your favorite comfy PJ’s and having a glass of wine or even popcorn to go with it! It’s unpretentious and captivating like a good Chardonnay — you can have it with your french fries and burger. On community nights, it’s also pretty darn cheap @ $ 10/​show for season ticket holders. And you can bring snacks into the theater from the lobby — sometimes it’s coffee, sometimes it’s a beer and sometimes, if you’re lucky, it’s the large size gelato Sugarland sells in the lobby. Dress up? Pssshaw! I wear jeans to these outings. No fancy shmancy night out — just a night with my favorite acting company… and my PJ’s if I had the nerve.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen my fair share of theater in NYC, Houston and elsewhere… and there are definitely better venues out there, but the best part of this little gem based out of UNC is that the theaters are small and intimate — even at their most crowded states, you still get a great view for any part of the stage and scene– it’s almost like you’re sitting right in front of your own personal performing troubadour (or trobairitz, if you prefer) esp. when they do musical numbers. Yes… they do. I’ve been consistently impressed ever since we signed up for season tickets almost 2 years ago. This, our second season, saw a *slight* increase in the ticket prices, but the level of quality and expectations has surpassed the last season IMHO. For the 2010 – 2011 season, we’ve seen the bard’s «As You Like it», August Wilson’s «Fences», «Shipwrecked!», and more recently Tony Kushner’s «Angels in America». The company rotates and there are new actors every so often… but if you stick around a few seasons, you get to know and recognize the characters as well as the actors that play them.
For the ²⁰¹⁰⁄₂₀₁₁ season, start times have bumped up to 7:30pm. It’s good and bad. The bad, parking is a chore. If you’re lucky, you can park for free (after 5:30pm) at the Cobb Deck behind the main stage Paul Green Theater (in the Center for Dramatic Art). Else, parking is also free in the NC-​54 lot (after 5:30pm as well), but requires a slightly longer walk for those inclined. The good news is you’ll get out 30 minutes earlier than last season! Some shows are not appropriate for younger kids… and I think this is addressed with each production (on their website). So just be aware. Also, keep in mind that there’s no free public wifi here…
Overall, 5 wholehearted stars for PRC! If I could, much like Spinal Tap’s iconic amps, I’d give it eleven… yes, because PRC goes to eleven. That’s one level louder than ten and it’s there when you need that extra push over the cliff. Yeah. Eleven.
[1] You know… sometimes (speaking as a guy, of course) you feel obligated to go to the theater with your wife but just don’t have the energy for 3 hours of non-​stop talking whilst sitting in a dark room — esp. after you’ve had a looooong day and only want to sit down in your man-​cave watching sports and drinking a beer?

I am really impressed with the variety and calibre of plays offered at this community-​based theatre. Many of the actors are professors in the Department of Dramatic Art or students enrolled in the Professional Actor Training Program at UNC. We have seen the following shows: Pride and Prejudice (2008 – 2009 season), all of the mainstage plays in the 2009 – 2010 season which include Opus, Nicholas Nickleby (I and II), All my Sons, and The Importance of Being Earnest. Although the repertory company is relatively small, they go out of their way to feature a well-​rounded repertoire including period pieces, classics, tragedies, comedies, and gritty modern dramas. The theatre layout is 180° so that every seat offers a fantastic view of the stage. Actors are extremely skilled in their craft and although a few of them may ‘overact’, the performances will usually leave you crying, laughing, or stunned speechless. Tickets are definitely worth full price, but for an even greater bargain, book on Tuesday ‘community nights’ where tickets are only $ 10. In my opinion, PRC is one of the lesser known gems in the Triangle arts scene.

I liked this theater a lot. I saw «The Importance of Being Earnest» there. I think it is great they can bring the stage out to the audience. It makes you feel more a part of the story. If there is a show being performed when I come down to visit again, I will definitely go.

While they might occupy one of the nicest theaters in town, I have never been impressed with Playmakers’ performances. I have seen a few productions here, and they’ve all been over-​acted and cheesy.
I guess the fact of having a great stage, and lots of money for sets has made them complacent or something. I much prefer no set, black t-​shirts, and great acting to spectacular costumes, award-​winning sets, and no acting.
I don’t want to put them down too much, I just think that they don’t measure up to the hype — or the ticket price.

I took a few drama classes that required attendance at Playmakers shows when I was a student and I found it a really fun and pleasant obligation. I’ve always loved live theatre, and the way that Playmakers runs their shows ensures that you can enjoy the art form to the fullest extent.
It sounds horrible to say, but it’s great that they don’t admit children under the age of 5. A kid that age shouldn’t have to sit in a dark, quiet room for 2 hours anyway. They do, however, have a service where if parents must be accessible by phone (in case of emergency) during the show, they can leave their name, cell phone, and seat location with the house manager and someone will come and get them if anything happens.
The acting and production values have been top-​notch for every single show I’ve seen. As Caroline mentioned, the main theatre has a thrust stage, which if you don’t know means that it’s kind of like a peninsula, with people seated on three sides. Tickets prices are pretty reasonable, and the stage is visible from all seats.

Playmakers is probably the largest theatre company in the area, so they’ve definitely got a following. Like almost every other theatre company in the area, you can expect a mix of both classics and newer plays.
Every play I’ve seen put on by the Playmakers has been with fine acting, and I’ve never had cause for complaint. I still prefer the productions put on by Burning Coal, but I have never had cause for complaint at any play where this company has performed.

I actually used to do a little work with Playmakers… nothing fancy, just tech work and scene construction and a little stint as a lighting tech.
The artistic output of PRC is really extraordinary. I have a problem a lot of the time with the typical university faculty ‘artistes’ that you find so often, but PRC actually keeps a pretty good hold of themselves and their perception of the craft of theatre. You get the impression upon watching any of their given shows, that the people involved not only love their work, but they have a sense of the community that they’re performing for.
One of the main, lasting strengths of the company is their versatility. They do everything from tiny, off-​beat contemporary shows with only a couple of actors all the way up to full-​on epics. You’re almost guaranteed to like at least one show each season, so make sure you keep your ears open for which one (s) that might be.
The theatre itself is a very nice facility. Those taller folks among you might have a little difficulty squeezing your legs in without kicking other people in the back of the head, but by and large is a very comfortable, well-​run place to watch a show.

Playmakers has done some excellent shows throughout the dramatic arts season. I’ve gone to several shows with complimentary tickets, since I knew more than half the cast– which helped some. Just to mention a couple of the shows– I thou roughly enjoyed Cyrano DeBergerac and The Bluest Eye; both of which were expertly produced and the actors were highly believable and superb at their art. They took «break a leg» to another level– they really out did themselves.

Playmakers is one of the best venues in this area for interesting, quality theatrical productions. I loved going here on the cheap tickets as a student and an employee, and even though I’m neither of those things any longer, I still like to keep up with what’s playing.
Single ticket prices range from $ 20-​$ 40, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. Paul Green has about 500 seats and a thrust stage, if you want the mental image. They run a second stage series in a smaller theater in the same building. On Tuesdays (Community Night), you can pay $ 10 and sit anywhere in the house. There’s something for everyone in each season’s slate of plays — from Shakespeare and Greek tragedies to recent Pulitzer Prize winners to small, unique productions that you won’t see anywhere else.