Tempe Center for the Arts

You need to come here Friday nights. You get some of the best comedy around for only $ 9 – 10 bucks. There is a buffet for like $ 7. There is a live music performance in the waiting area, where there is also a bar and lots of fun people. I highly recommend this as a place to have a super affordable, great time on a Friday. Full disclosure: I sometimes perform there as a comedian, but everything I say is true and can be validated with one visit.

We went with the Litchfield school on a field trip. They were pretty schoolers. The play was goodnight moon. It was super cute. The kids enjoyed it. I laughed a few times. The place was cool and clean. Great environment.

Field trip day with my daughter’s preschool class brought us here. What a delight. We watched the Goodnight Moon play. The set was exactly like the green room in the book. I was amazed a whole bunch of 3 – 5 year olds sat through the play mesmerized. Had a great time.

I was just about to purchase three tickets for Goodnight Moon because my three year old loves that story. Then I see that you have to purchase tickets for infants. We have a 5 month old who will sit in my arms and sleep the whole time and I have to pay $ 18 for her? Really? For a 70 minute show? So instead of getting over $ 60 for three admissions from me, TCA will get nothing. Smart business model. Even Disneyland lets little kids in for free.

We have been wanting to see a show at the Tempe Center for the Arts since it opened and we finally had the opportunity this weekend. We purchased tickets for Carnival of Illusions well in advance and really looked forward to seeing not only the show, but also this beautiful building. The theater is beautiful and it is perfectly situated on Tempe Town Lake — truly stunning views!

This is a beautiful facility right on the West end of Tempe town lake. I have gone to two presentations by Childsplay this season and have liked both. Childsplay is theater geared towards grade school aged children to give them an early love of live theater. I got my love of it working stage crew in junior high and high school. Both of the shows I attended were in the main theater. There are no bad seats in the house including the second balcony. In addition to Childsplay there are other arts presentations throughout the year. Truely a first class facility!

This is a nice arts center. We were there for the AriZoni Awards for Arizona Theatre Excellence. The seats were comfortable however being in the 2^nd row was not really the best. There us no center aisle so since we were in the middle of the row, am middle aged and had some drinks before the event it was not inconspicuous to go to the ladies room. The ladies room is very clean and easy to find. The staff from the box office to the ushers are very helpful and friendly. Always nice to support local arts in Arizona. We will definitely go to this facility again! We had a good time even if the awards show was a MARATHON and didn’t appear to be anywhere near ending. When the hubby didn’t win the award he was nominated for we decided to leave — 2 he’s in!

Never been disappointed by any event I have attended. Great place with many opportunities to spend time with family, and even time alone. Peaceful premises.

Love this place. We come a lot for Child’s Play and other performances. We came for a Flamenco performance and two years later the whole family was dancing Flamenco. Now we perform annually the the TCA. There is also a great tiny museum to entertain you during intermission or if you arrive early.

Great water fountains and beautiful view by the dam. Great place to run and exercise!

The first time I visited TCA, I went to an open mic night for musicians, and it was then that I realized what great talent and support we really have in this city. Not only were the people pleasant to be around, but they were so open to newcomers. How cool is that? TCA is such a beautiful building, so original — you can see water literally everywhere. The lake, the running cascade of water, people watching, and the abundance of birds that fly about. This is one of Tempe’s gems!

What a gorgeous and interesting building! Go and check it out!!!

I came for the second Welcome to Nightvale performance in Phoenix, and it was soooo great. The people were nice, the place was tidy, even if the food was a bit pricey. But being a theater, you kind of expect that. I will definitely be coming here for more of my favorite performances.

It’s just a beautiful place along the Salt River. Love the bridge that goes across, especially at night it’s very romantic, even if we are with our children. The place is truly lovely. I’ve seen some plays with my kids here and the theater is just the right size — not huge or too small. The acoustics are great.
The water area outside of the place is very chic and I love the lines. Whomever designed this building and the surroundings did an awesome job.
My husband and I have also attended events in their meeting rooms and they are also very nice. This really is such a gorgeous place and I love it!!! I always feel very calm here amidst the hustle and bustle of life.

Headed over here to take a peek at their Pop Culture exhibit and were blown away once we walked inside. The place is really nicely done, and has great ambiance. They have regular free exhibits in their smaller gallery, which is where our Pop Culture adventure was located.
The exhibit had a variety of pieces from local collectors on display and it was fun to take time and look at everything. They were nice enough to allow us to take photos of the collection and we were able to get some fun ones with a «life-​size» Marvin the Martian, which was really nicely made.
The greeter and art exhibit staff members were both extremely helpful and nice both to us and to the others we saw venturing through. They were also hosting a dance recital for little ones, so we saw some adorable little ones in fun outfits as an added bonus.
Overall: A
Nice layout, helpful staff, fun exhibit. We’ll have to find a show we can make it to, just so we can visit here again!

This facility is gorgeous! It’s very practical, innovative, and stream lined. From entering, parking, to finding your event, it’s all relatively easy here! The staff is extremely helpful and kind from ticket purchasing to finding the room of your event.
I came here on a Friday night for a stand-​up comedy show and the whole experience was great. There’s an outside area where you can walk along the water and bridge. Also, from the room of the comedy show were tall glass floor to ceiling windows so you can see the lights and water outside, very beautiful! I loved the view from the room, especially at night.
The bathrooms were very clean and beautiful. The whole facility is fantastic.

Friends and I visited TCftA after having our fill at the Aloha Festival today. Loved the pond/​waterfall in the front, with the pebble formation off to one side, as well as the Sculpture Garden. The gallery was open and admission was free, so we went in and enjoyed seeing «American Pop,» an exhibit that included black and white lithographs taken on the moon, vintage comic books, lunch boxes, and spy paraphernalia, as well as vintage photo prints of Yvonne Craig as «Batgirl,» Vincent Price as «Egghead,» and George Reeves as «Superman,» to name a few. There were even knitted onesies and photographs of slides of meteorites as viewed under microscopes. It was a nice combination of stark black and white photos and eye-​popping color.
So nice to be able to use the restroom facilities, as I was not looking forward to using the port o’ potties at the festival! Also nice to be able to escape the heat. Funny that, as we’re soon going to wish we still had 78 degree weather…

Beautiful venue, love the architectural style of the building, love the location. Inside, it’s bright and airy and the best part is despite the large number of people it can hold, there are no bad seats in the house. Anywhere you seat, you can get a good view of the stage. Keep this in mind if you are purchasing tickets and are on a budget. Even the least expensive seats are good seats!
If you are here for a matinée show, pack a picnic lunch and go out to the patio area or stroll to the Tempe town lake, sit away, have your picnic and enjoy yourself!

All the reviews here are true! TCA is gorgeous and worth the visit. I have only ever gone in for Childsplay shows. But I’ve been in both their smaller intimate theater and their larger theater. Both have excellent sound capabilities, the chairs are comfortable, and I have enjoyed myself every time.
The architecture is a beauty to take in when you are inside and out. It’s worth coming in just to look around if you are in the area. They have walking paths outside with one of the new pedestrian bridges. Stop just looking at it from the freeway and come in for a show!
Don’t expect to be chintzy in their little snack bar though. Even the chips cost an arm and a leg!

I’ve been to Tempe Center for the Arts a handful of times, mostly for really fun events such as the Epik Dance Troop performance this past weekend, Ignite Phoenix, and the annual 20 – 30 Club Noche de Gourmet.
The facility is gorgeous. It sits right on Tempe Town Lake. It has ample parking, and it’s pretty centrally located. There are three levels with stairs and elevators, and plenty of restrooms as well.
Whether you’re considering going to an event at Tempe Center for the Arts as a guest or thinking about hosting an event there yourself, go for it! Just make sure I get an invite as I’d love to join you!