Moonlight Amphitheatre

I’ve lived in north county my whole life and never have I ever come to this place. I’ve been to the park where the amphitheater is located at but never here and I absolutely loved it.
My nieces school had their 8^th grade promotion held here and it was just perfect. They have ushers providing each person with their own beach chair which is pretty cool. It may be hard for the elderly or those with bad knees to use the chair as it is pretty low to the ground but there are other options that could work-​like sitting along the concrete wall at the amphitheaters back end. Views are great too as everyone can see perfectly fine from wherever they’re seated.
Bathrooms are well kept and fully stocked with paper goods. Parking can get pretty crazy when there are events here, we had to park in the dirt lot-​to the ladies don’t wear heels or wedges… trust me. I ruined a great pair of booties.
I’m sure I’ll be back again sometime soon, a birdie told me that they have classic movie nights during summer nights here.

Beautiful area. Terrific staff. Love that there’s a concession stand. Bring a sweater in the evening– once that wind kicks up, you’ll wish you did. Bug spray isn’t a bad idea, either– at dusk, the little gnats and mosquitos come out.

Ahh, the first review of the new year…
I’ve been coming to Moonlight for years, seen many a musical, and I realized that if you’re going to write a review for the Amphitheatre, you can’t do it just because you didn’t like Shrek: the Musical (though, that stinker could sink many a forum). No, you really just have to look at the venue in general. And now that I’ve run out of synonyms for ‘theater’, let’s do just that!
Moonlight Amphitheatre is spacious, rows of seating with plenty of leg room and slightly stadium style seating that gives fairly good vantage points from most spots (barring a 6’6″ guy, wearing a 10 gallon hat, sitting in front of you). The chairs themselves are fairly comfy, though bringing your own cushion couldn’t hurt. They offer patio chairs for sitting in the lawn sections and there is plenty of space for all to have their own little picnics before shows start. There are two mini restaurants that dish out snacks, one featuring a nice dining area with wine and fairly good food. To top it all off, there is plenty of walkway to help get around without having to worry about bumping into too many other patrons of the arts.
All in all, a great place to watch a show. On the bad side are two small gripes.
One, the parking consists of a dirt and grass lot that always seems to be kinda muddy and a row of parking in a half ring downhill from the main theater. Both of these only empty out through one exit, making the end of the musical a hassle that could take another hour of your night as you sit and wait in line.
Second, there are only two bathrooms nearby and both are a bit sparse when it comes to stalls. Intermission means braving the queue, staring at your watch, and hoping that you can do your dirty, sinful business and still have enough time to grab a small bag of peanut M&M’s before the curtain rises again. And this is if you’re a guy; there isn’t one of us boys standing about that wishes to trade places with the ladies on the other side with three times the line. I swear, we think it must be like Gladiator in there, fighting over what few toilets there are.
But, those are both short term problems that only mildly hinder a great time out at the theater. Four shows by a fine troop every season make for a fun evening every time. It’s great to grab a few seats on the green and season tickets if you can find them. So far, I’ve seen Spamalot, Catch Me if You Can, Music Man, Kiss Me Kate, Cabaret, and quite a few others, all while very much looking forward to the 2016 season.

I’ve been to several community theatres in my day, and this one ranks among the top venues. It’s super fun to go here in the summer to enjoy a play, and the prices are much cheaper than going downtown or to a bigger theatre, but the quality is right up there with the best of them!
Moonlight has seated and turf («lawn») tickets. We always get the lawn tickets since they are inexpensive, and they give you a little fold away chair anyway. You do need to get in pretty early to secure a good spot. Picnicing is very popular, but you must buy all alcohol onsite, so sadly not *quite* as cool as the Hollywood Bowl. It can get a bit chilly at night even the the hottest summer, so bring a hoodie. It’s also nice to have a small blanket down on the turf.
Parking is in a dirt lot, so don’t wear your white shoes!

Just the cutest little place ever. It’s been years since I’ve been back, and I am so sad I saw the second to last show of the summer!
I recommend buying a lawn ticket because you can sit very close for a fantastic price, and you have so much room to relax. I really don’t know why anyone wouldn’t buy a lawn ticket, it is the best! It’s the fake grass, and they hand out law chairs to everyone, it’s the cutest thing in the world.
They have GREAT wine and food, but I suggest bringing in dinner and getting treats there. Can you freaking believe it, they have COLD STONE there! My heart did jumping jacks I was so happy, and they had my favorite: Chocolate Devotion :) They have prefrozen ice cream so it’s not like the creamery is on the premises, but they are like mini pints!
The play I saw was Big Fish and it was quite adorable. I would urge you to see it, but sadly, I saw the second to last performance :(They have an amazing line up for next year and I think I’ll go to each show!
They do other little concerts here too, so if you have an evening free, go and relax. Everyone who works there had a smile on their face, and I don’t blame them!

I think this is the cutest venue in SD county that I’ve ever been to in my life. I’ve been wanting to go for awhile and got a credit to one of the discount tix sites and decided to watch Big Fish last night. I got there pretty early like 45 min to curtain bc I heard that parking is sparse. For the amount of ppl at tonite’s not sold out show, I think the parking lot was enough to fit everyone at the show I don’t think it was all the way filled. Nice that there’s a shuttle that takes you to the gates. It’s not such a big deal to walk, I mean I would have bc it’s pretty close it’s just I was wearing heels and the parking lot is dirt. It’s at a slight incline tho’ so if you’re older I would wait for the shuttle. The wait should only be less than 5 minutes bc it’s really really close.
The amphitheater itself reminds me of the hollywood bowl but shrunken down to a more intimate crowd. I had a pretty good seat in the 11^th row center to the stage and I think I was prolly like halfway to the front, so it seems to me that most all seats in the entire arena are great seats, except maybe the ones on the far periphery. A lot of ppl came bearing picnic blankets and baskets, the only thing that you’re not allowed to bring in is alcohol but no one even looked in my bag or anything, they just asked if I had any. But anyway as I said earlier the venue is SO cute! They have a gigantic projector screen that they incorporate into the backdrop, unlike any other venue I’ve been to so it really helps the story come to life. And the stands are so welcoming! Very green with the strips of the lawn in between the rows of the regular seats and in the back of the amphitheater. Lights were strung around the property. There’s a big shaded patio area to order food and drinks from. And everything is out in the open. You start off with a beautiful sunset and end with the brilliant night sky. It’s quite romantic.
I actually went by myself, minus my date (a slice of carrot cake from yellow deli of course) bahahaha. but a lot of people are elderly folk who have season passes. It seemed like everyone knew everyone like on the shuttle and in the amphitheater. The gentleman next to me referred to me as the newcomer lol. They were all really nice! The people working at the venue were courteous as well. It was SOOOOOOO hot when I went like 85 degrees and hella humid so I bought a soda since I didnt bring a drink and it was like $ 2.75 for a can! Besides that my only other complaint was that the chairs are super uncomfortable! I brought a blanket bc I had it in my car and didn’t know if it was going to get a bit chilly bc the show ran until like 10 pm. Thank God I had it so I could sit on it bc my lower extremities were getting numb I was sooo uncomfortable! I overheard other people also complaining at how bad the chairs are so bring a chair pillow if you have one. Also I got bit! By mosquitoes! So if it’s not too hot I would cover up.
Until late September, Big Fish will still be in production and I highly recommend y’all check it out! I guess it was a movie turned musical? Idk I’ve never seen either before. The beginning was kind of slow and all over the place for me and it was so frick’n hot I was considering leaving during intermission but I’m really glad I stayed until the end bc it really was cute! I’m just catatonic when it comes to heat dude I can’t stand it and this heat was like the hottest of the year. But yeah I mean it’s a feel good musical, great cast minus one girl who looked really scary! Terrifying how skinny she is, the girl who played the campfire? The ppl around me were also commenting about how skinny she is and like not to be an internet troll but she looked like a dancing skeleton and watching her made me twinge. Otherwise the cast was magic! I regretted not asking anyone else, especially my mom if they wanted to come with me I think she would have really enjoyed it. Will definitely come back, preferably for the lawn seats! And as I hinted to earlier they have lawn seats towards the middle of the stage as well, it’s not just in the back. And they provide you with chairs to sit on so the people in front of you won’t obstruct your view.

Just saw Shrek the Musical at Moonlight Theater in Vista. Who needs Broadway when you have this fantastic theatre in Vista. I was blown away at the quality of the production. Truly one of the best theatre productions I’ve ever seen… and I’ve seen them all!!!
Amazing job!!! You could charge more and I’d still go.
Great family outing too… picnic under the stars and watch theatre.

What a gem. Tucked away in Vista, we never expected the level of quality at the Moonlight. Live orchestra and very professional cast. We’ve seen several performances here and are never disappointed.
A couple of recommendations:
Don’t bother with the reserved seating – get there a little early and bring a picnic and buy lawn seats. They provide comfy lawn chairs and you are interspersed between rows of reserved seats, so you can get close (although there is not a bad seat in the house).
Bring blankets/​jackets. It gets cold after a while and you will need them.
We did not purchase food so can’t speak to that, but this has become a very enjoyable annual tradition for the family.

We saw Music Man here. It was our first show here and we were delighted at how nice it was. The tickets are pricey, so if you’re cost-​conscious, opt for the lawn tickets.
And get some prosecco during intermission. But if you have woman parts and need to tinkle, good luck. They just aren’t ready for that action.
Secondly, there are two turns to get in. Enter at the second turn and drive in as far as you can. It’s SO much easier to get OUT after the show lets out!

Great place to see a play. We use to belong to the starlight in San Diego but now we’re at the moonlight!

Always a great summer tradition. Get here early if you want good lawn seats, or come during the week when it is a little less crowded and the prices are a little cheaper.

Wonderful productions, good clean fun, music, dancing and comedy. Quality acting, staging and the grounds are kept very clean. Most of these plays are just as good as the one you can see at the Civic Center in downtown San Diego but for a lot less money.

These productions are always outstanding. I would put most shows in the «as good as Broadway» category. Always very talented casting, spectacular sets and costumes and what could be better than a glorious night under the stars seeing a world class production. Live orchestra too and new stage.
I have been going off and on (I haven’t always lived in the area) for 20 years. Much has changed and been improved upon. The $ 10 lawn seats have definitely gone up in price over the years and you can no longer bring in your own bottle of wine to enjoy with your picnic before the performance. But it is still an excellent value for your entertainment dollar. I still do the lawn seating and they loan you the chairs now so you don’t have to carry your own in and up the hill which is nice.
I have taken my grandchildren to several productions and they love it too. Most shows are older child friendly but if not they will let you know.
If you haven’t been to a show at the Moonlight be sure to go next summer! You won’t be sorry.

We have been here a number of times for a few different productions and every time we’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! The shows have always been entertaining!
You have options as far as seating goes. You can pay for the actual seats and the prices aren’t bad at all. Another option is to utilize the grass, some located by the built in seats and others are higher. Moonlight actually provides lawn chairs there on site for those who are utilizing the grassy areas, but a blanket will also do! The area has always been clean when we’ve gone and have plenty of staff available for any and all questions.
The only reason I’ve given 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the lack of parking. The parking space next to the amphitheater is limited and the other available parking is a pain so if you want a good parking space, come early!

I am so happy that an awesome, high class entertainment venue is located here in north county. Moonlight is a great place to see a show, preferably a play but anything really. I have to mark it down a tiny bit just due to the crappy parking. Make sure you arrive early! The whole venue is clean, beautiful and has good sound quality. All the seats have a nice view. If you have lawn tickets don’t fret, they supply you with a lawn chair for free. The food is delicious but you can no longer bring in your own booze. It’s Ok though, they have very reasonable prices on drinks. Great place for friends, family, a date, anything.

My first musical here was My Fair Lady. or the abbreviated version, as I’m pretty sure there were a couple scenes missing… But throughout the production were great singing, casting and costumes… And the latter were so close to the movie version I’d swear they were ordered from a Hollywood costume shop. The crowd was tiny, facilities immaculate, and security ridiculously tight. I’ll probably be 86’d if they ever connected me to the pic I bootlegged before being asked to stop taking pics by security… And why are they searching bags? For what? (Cameras? LoL)

Do you want to take your wife or girl out for a wonderful evening? The Moonlight Amphitheater is a must. They have limited production-​running June through September. There isn’t a bad seat in the house. The performances are always wonderful. We are never disappointed in what we get for the price.
Bring a blanket and a picnic backset filled with your girl’s favorite foods or make reservation at Artisan café. It’s sure to make wonderful evening out and score the gentaman a few points.

I have been seeing plays here for almost all of my life – a great place to go with family or friends in the summertime. We always go early and bring food for a picnic as we sit on the grass.
They always have about 4 musicals per summer with a good variety in selection (one is always geared towards kids/​family). This summer I saw Spamalot, which was great! Super funny and great quality production – the singers/​actors and the musicians were all very talented. I will probably go back again this summer for Mary Poppins or Catch Me if You Can

I think it is about time that I officially admit that I love the Moonlight Amphitheater! I think I’ve always thought it was taboo to admit that I’m into seeing plays and musicals but I’ve enjoyed it as long as I can remember. I’m a huge nerd like that. I think it all started when I was in second grade and I saw the Nutcracker ballet and then after that it was Musicals like Annie, and Grease… but I digress… The Moonlight amphitheater is a different play viewing experience because it is an outdoor theater so you can watch plays in the summer out in the open. I think it’s a great date night, if you can find a guy that is actually romantic and into that kind of stuff. Coming here was definitely not my ex’s cup of tea but he suffered through a couple musicals for me. You can also watch plays for a girls night or in a large group. So now it’s a given that every year I will plan some trips to the moonlight. If you are a friend of mine; you have been warned! I love sitting on the lawn and picnicking while watching a musical. The gates open at 6:30 pm and plays start at 8 but I recommend that you get there at 6 to buy your ticket and stand in line because once those doors open you’ll have to run to get a good spot on the lawn. Then between 6:30 and 8pm you just sit there and eat and drink and hang out while you wait for the play to begin. You can bring all sorts of food into the amphitheater but you cannot bring alcoholic drinks in anymore. I won’t even complain about that though because they sell good wine and other alcohol there and it’s not overpriced. Every play I’ve ever seen here has been really good, the acting and singing is top notch. This is a hidden gem in Vista!

This is the best place to go in the summer in North County San Diego! Live productions and musicals galore — plus community sponsored events. The best place to sit is on the lawn and you are welcome to bring your own food and wine. It’s so fun to picnic while watching the show. There are restrooms (often with long lines) and food stands — although food is limited in selection. We ALWAYS choose to bring our own. However, it’s nice to grab a hot chocolate or coffee on a cool night. Layer your clothing as things can become brisk at night in this open, seated theatre. For those who do choose to sit on the lawn — chairs are provided and comfortable. This is great for your convenience and prevents others with higher level chairs to sit in front of you! Please support this theatre — it is truly one of the best around San Diego and one of my favorites in the country as well!
PS The shows are always wonderful — and choices are fantastic!