Avo Playhouse Rentals

We saw Sweeney Todd there last weekend. I asked for a refund.
On the technical side, the microphones were feeding back the entire time, while other actors were almost impossible to hear. Many lighting cues were missed and several times the house lights came up for no reason at all. Additionally there is no assigned seating so you have to line up early if you want a decent seat.
To the production: The sets and costumes were fine. Everything else was not. This was billed as an adult production, yet most of the cast was high schoolers with little to no previous experience. One actor playing Mrs. Lovett was good. The rest ranged from passable to laughable. If it had been advertised as a high school or amateur production I would have understood, but paying $ 25/​ticket I think I have the right to expect more.
The cast needed to learn theater etiquette. I’ve never, even in a school production, seen cast members run out to the lobby during intermission to say hi to their friends. To cap it off, intermission ended with a couple of the cast members literally BEGGING for money. It was distasteful. I’ve read that other attendees actually LEFT at intermission. I probably would have as well, had I not been on a date.
Finally, for some unexplained reason they dual cast the show, having most actors play a lead one night and ensemble the next. The only reason I can think of for doing this was so that everyone can feel good about themselves. That’s fine if you’re in an acting class, but shouldn’t happen in a paid production. They really could have used the extra polish that having a single cast would have afforded them.
I’ve read many other reviews that have indicated this is a fairly normal experience for this location. Given that they’re under the auspices of Moonlight, I’m quite surprised. I won’t be going back here again.

The AVO is quaint and intimate! For being a smaller theater, it sure does pack quite a punch! The stage and seating are constructed in such a way as to allow sound to travel well and voluminously! Ah, that stage! Allows for a lot of detail from both the vibrant actors as well as the stagecraft itself (scenery, props, lighting) to come through!
While the circular lobby might not be the largest, it is quite comfortable, and when the doors are left open to allow in an evening’s breeze, it becomes all the more inviting, whether one be just entering from outside after procuring a ticket OR stretching their limbs during intermission!
Located in the most adorable part of Vista, the AVO is a jewel on this gorgeously strung necklace of mom-​and-​pop shops, bars, cafés, and salons! Plenty of parking!
For the sake of sharing, my husband and I saw Blithe Spirit here and I recommend not only the theater, but the play! We will surely come back for future productions put on at the AVO.

February 2013
We just saw Life Could Be A Dream and it was totally cute! Our seats were comfortable and it seemed like every seat would have a good view of the stage. We sat in the 5^th row, not too close but not too far. I highly recommend this show and the venue!

My first time to this location. We came here for a program graduation. It is an older building but a good venue to use for a smaller event. I like nostalgic feel and look and it is in the older part of Vista where there are plenty of food nearby stops to try.