Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
4.5
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4.5
361 reviews
Excellent
266
Very good
70
Average
15
Poor
5
Terrible
5
Pioneer746298
3 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Due to the City of Appleton's focus on filling city coffers with parking citation money and issuing steep citations to numerous patrons at the last three shows we have attended, we have switched to attending productions in Milwaukee and Minneapolis only. We just attended the Lion King at the Orpheum on Minneapolis and found both the parking and theater itself to outshine anything Appleton is able to offer. We may miss a few of the Appleton restaurants we frequented on show days, but have already found a new favorite in the Twin Cities.
Written 24 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ellen B
Hortonville, WI1,410 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
My husband and I just attended the opening concert of the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center It was a wonderful concert, featuring violinist Jeanyi Kim, who joined the orchestra for Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major, Op.11. She was transcendent, making the violin sing with subtle nuances.
I also want to mention the first two pieces, Benjamin Krause’s Brief as Lightning (world premiere) and Margaret Bonds Montgomery Variations.
We are so fortunate to have the Fox Cities PAC as a performance venue for these amazing artists! I’ve often compared it to a jewel box; it is so beautiful and has such amazing acoustics, you can hear each nuance of all the instruments!
I also want to mention the first two pieces, Benjamin Krause’s Brief as Lightning (world premiere) and Margaret Bonds Montgomery Variations.
We are so fortunate to have the Fox Cities PAC as a performance venue for these amazing artists! I’ve often compared it to a jewel box; it is so beautiful and has such amazing acoustics, you can hear each nuance of all the instruments!
Written 22 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lileire
United States7 contributions
June 2024 • Friends
Seating was horrible. I thought I had bought an aisle seat per the map looked like one. It wasnt it was 2nd floor and the seats were incredibly uncomfortable and no knee room.
The show Moulin Rouge was really good. Slow to start but became much better. Christian whom played Christian he was the best singer and carried the whole show.
The show Moulin Rouge was really good. Slow to start but became much better. Christian whom played Christian he was the best singer and carried the whole show.
Written 16 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GreenBay_WIKathy
Green Bay, WI25 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
Unfortunately the pac has started a totally useless security screening process that leaves long lines of patrons outside and accomplishes nothing. You can go through with no screening wearing heavy winter gear that could easily hide weapons/bombs but if you have a purse of any size you are forced to stand in inadequately staffed security screening line where yesterday the security guard took out my wallet and even unzipped the small side pocket and kept my adult daughter,s granola bar she keeps in her purse for emergencies, this a a farce. Either they need to set up useful screening with removal of coats, etc. Like airports with adequate staffing or they need to stop what they are doing which is worthless for protection.
Written 25 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pupster2
Wisconsin67 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
The Appleton PAC is an excellent place to view a show or Broadway production. However, they could have used a little more elevation in seating incline. The aisle seats are great, but if you get pushed in the middle and are sitting close to the front you may have some obstructive heads in the way, especially if they put seats over the orchestra pit.
Written 9 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelVlogger
Green Bay, WI705 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
We have been to several shows including Broadway in New York and Las Vegas. The touring companies but on the same show on the road. We just went to see the Lion King and it was well done. Bravo!
The theater is well laid out. As you would expect there are seats on the ground level closer to the stage called Orchestra Seats and multiple floors, with ticket prices varying according to your location.
We have been fortunate enough to sit in a variety of locations for different shows. Even the family circle seats, the most economical in the house, allow for excellent viewing.
Some tips:
Entrance:
Consider the entrance on the west side of the building along College Avenue. Where a line may exist at the main entrance I have never waiting at the west entrance.
Intermission beverage:
If you intend to enjoy a beverage during intermission go to the bar before she show starts, order and pay for your beverage and give them your first name. They have a table off to the side on each level. Just as the show is about to go to intermission the bar makes these beverages. During intermission rather than waiting in a long line your fresh beverage will be waiting for you.
Tickets:
Didn’t get tickets? We have been able to find tickets on Craigs Iist on the internet on the afternoon of a performance several times. Sometimes peoples schedules change and this has become a way for people who have tickets and people looking for tickets to come together. Its worked for us.
The theater is well laid out. As you would expect there are seats on the ground level closer to the stage called Orchestra Seats and multiple floors, with ticket prices varying according to your location.
We have been fortunate enough to sit in a variety of locations for different shows. Even the family circle seats, the most economical in the house, allow for excellent viewing.
Some tips:
Entrance:
Consider the entrance on the west side of the building along College Avenue. Where a line may exist at the main entrance I have never waiting at the west entrance.
Intermission beverage:
If you intend to enjoy a beverage during intermission go to the bar before she show starts, order and pay for your beverage and give them your first name. They have a table off to the side on each level. Just as the show is about to go to intermission the bar makes these beverages. During intermission rather than waiting in a long line your fresh beverage will be waiting for you.
Tickets:
Didn’t get tickets? We have been able to find tickets on Craigs Iist on the internet on the afternoon of a performance several times. Sometimes peoples schedules change and this has become a way for people who have tickets and people looking for tickets to come together. Its worked for us.
Written 22 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dawn
Plymouth, WI24 contributions
Apr 2013 • Family
Amazing show! costumes made you feel like you were being entertained by animals! A MUST see! The theater is a good size and the staff were so helpful! parking is normal...park in the ramp across the street and it will take a half an hour to get out after the show. I advise valet parking! Handicap persons valet parking is complimentary!
Written 21 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jpforr
Madison, WI4 contributions
I have been to see several shows at this PAC and not once have I ever gotten decent service or even a good attitude from any of the employees that work there. Almost every event I attended was purchased through "group sales" and those ladies were great. However, the people who actually work at the PAC leave much to be desired. Nothing but attitude and definitely a feeling that they hate their jobs, don't want to be there, and could give a rip about any of us. Every time we have gone we have been "yelled" at to get to our seats-we've never been late, or even close to being late.
Our very last visit was to see "Wicked". In the middle of the intermission, the fire alarms went off (happened several times during the "Wicked" run) and we were rudely shoved outdoors into a snow storm that had inevitably began and we were not allowed to grab our coats. We were all constantly being shouted at and literally pushed out the doors by the staff-which could maybe be understood if it was a real alarm, but they were telling us in betweeen shouts and shoves that it was a false alarm but still needed the fire dept. to respond. Just before the alarm went off, we had ordered some drinks and cookies for the kids. I had no sooner gotten done paying for the ridiculously over priced goodies and drinks when the alarm went off. When we finally were able to return, I approached the lady and said "remember, I had just purchased and paid for all these drinks and cookies before we had to evacuate?" She did remember the drinks I had ordered, but argued with me that I had not paid for a cookie-I actually bought 3, but she insisted I did not pay for 1 of them. I was just annoyed that after all this happened, she was really going to argue with me over 1 stupid cookie.
When we were all evacuated out into the snow storm, several people in our group took shelter in the bars across the street and waited and watched until everyone was let back in, and then they came back. They were yelled at and chatised by the employees that they had gone over into the bar. They were smart-they found shelter while the rest of us froze our butts off! We then had no time to use the bathroom or finish the drinks we had ordered because they immediately shoved us back into the show to get started again. Several girls from our group had to use the bathroom after we were let back in. Of course there was a line, and by the time the got done, the show had started and they were not allowed to come back in to see the rest of the show! They had to sit in the lobby and watch it on the tv's!! The whole experience was a joke! They clearly don't know how to handle situations like this. As the group coordinator, I was sent an email a couple days later asking how everything was. I expressed all of my concerns and how many people in my group were treated horribly-I never received any sort of response or follow-up.
Unfortunately, but I guess good for them, is the fact that this is the only decent PAC in the area unless you go to Milwaukee, and they do get good shows. I will continue to attend shows here because it's a great location, but I have come to expect attitude and not a pleasant experience except for the actual show itself.
Our very last visit was to see "Wicked". In the middle of the intermission, the fire alarms went off (happened several times during the "Wicked" run) and we were rudely shoved outdoors into a snow storm that had inevitably began and we were not allowed to grab our coats. We were all constantly being shouted at and literally pushed out the doors by the staff-which could maybe be understood if it was a real alarm, but they were telling us in betweeen shouts and shoves that it was a false alarm but still needed the fire dept. to respond. Just before the alarm went off, we had ordered some drinks and cookies for the kids. I had no sooner gotten done paying for the ridiculously over priced goodies and drinks when the alarm went off. When we finally were able to return, I approached the lady and said "remember, I had just purchased and paid for all these drinks and cookies before we had to evacuate?" She did remember the drinks I had ordered, but argued with me that I had not paid for a cookie-I actually bought 3, but she insisted I did not pay for 1 of them. I was just annoyed that after all this happened, she was really going to argue with me over 1 stupid cookie.
When we were all evacuated out into the snow storm, several people in our group took shelter in the bars across the street and waited and watched until everyone was let back in, and then they came back. They were yelled at and chatised by the employees that they had gone over into the bar. They were smart-they found shelter while the rest of us froze our butts off! We then had no time to use the bathroom or finish the drinks we had ordered because they immediately shoved us back into the show to get started again. Several girls from our group had to use the bathroom after we were let back in. Of course there was a line, and by the time the got done, the show had started and they were not allowed to come back in to see the rest of the show! They had to sit in the lobby and watch it on the tv's!! The whole experience was a joke! They clearly don't know how to handle situations like this. As the group coordinator, I was sent an email a couple days later asking how everything was. I expressed all of my concerns and how many people in my group were treated horribly-I never received any sort of response or follow-up.
Unfortunately, but I guess good for them, is the fact that this is the only decent PAC in the area unless you go to Milwaukee, and they do get good shows. I will continue to attend shows here because it's a great location, but I have come to expect attitude and not a pleasant experience except for the actual show itself.
Written 6 August 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucy H
5 contributions
Oct 2019
The show was spectacular. But chose your seat carefully. After a long, slow moving line just to get inside, they confiscated my sealed granola bar, but not the open mixed nuts. Then the drink line was long. But the worst was getting to my seat. I chose what I thought was an aisle seat, right orchestra, row H seat 160 and 161. On the seat map, it looks like an aisle seat, but it is right next to the wall, right below the box seats. It would be the same on the far left side too. Though we got there early enough, the line to get in, and the drink lines were both so long, I was the last to get there and had to crawl over everyone trying to balance two drinks, a purse, a jacket and my cane. Had I known it was not an aisle seat, we would have gotten there even earlier and skipped the drinks.
Written 19 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave Hoh
Kimberly, WI25 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
If you are looking for a Broadway show and can not afford to travel to New York. We have it right in our backyard, Appleton WI. The Fox Valley Performing Arts Center (P.A.C.) is one of the best performing arts center I have ever been to. It is nestled in downtown Appleton with plenty of food and beverage options for before and after the show. This venue is also great for concerts and bands. Check it out and downtown Appleton.
Written 14 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No show then. Always check the website for the latest information: foxcitiespac
Watch out for third party websites!!
Written 14 August 2017
Casual at best! In an effort to be a more 'family friendly' venue, the dress code has slipped radically over the years. You can often literally be sitting next to a couple in a formal gown and suitcoat, while on the other side you will find many people in shorts and flip-flops. Disappointingly, jeans and t-shirts are often a staple ;(
Written 27 August 2019
How dressed up do you need to get for a play?
Written 15 November 2016
Some People dress up other very casual. Wear what your comfortable wearing. You'll fit in either way. Enjoy the show
Written 16 November 2016
What will be playing the week of July 20, 2015?
Written 18 May 2015
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