Sanders Theatre
Sanders Theatre
4.5
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- Harvard • 6 min walk
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4.5
64 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
11
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Traveldoc
Newton, MA70 contributions
Nov 2019
This is a wonderful intimate theater at Harvard. The structure is almost entirely wooden, and has a warm resonant sound that is instantly compelling. The theater is small, and every seat is great. No blocked view anywhere. There are many events taking place throughout the year. Chamber music is some of the best anywhere. Choral music is spectacular. Plan your trip around an event. You will rarely hear better.
Written 28 January 2020
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.
CocoVieja
Cambridge, MA58 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
First time back after Covid, for Brad Mehldau contemporary jazz piano performance which was amazing. Such a joy to be there in small space (1,000 seats), amazing acoustics. It is a beautiful venue! Short walk from Harvard Sq. Only drawback is the bench seating which can be very tight.
Written 4 February 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.
jroihl
Cambridge, MA1,751 contributions
Nov 2011 • Family
My son was in many Harvard singing groups so I have been in Sanders many times. It could not be build today. The wood with which it is constructed would be prohibitive..
The best seats are in Mezz section D. Check locations of pillars for any seats. Balcony seats near the front have partial view. I don't recommend floor seats which are below the stage and difficult to see past any front row performers.
The best seats are in Mezz section D. Check locations of pillars for any seats. Balcony seats near the front have partial view. I don't recommend floor seats which are below the stage and difficult to see past any front row performers.
Written 24 August 2012
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.
naturegirlcitygirl
cambridge203 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
The Sanders theater is so amazingly beautiful! It has an enormous amount of priceless stain glass windows. I used to walk by this everyday for many years - this building makes me want to be a better person!
Written 12 October 2016
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.
OldRoadWarrior60
Natick, MA363 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
This is a beautiful space.
The architectural details are inspiring, as intended. The building memorializes those from the Harvard community lost in the Civil War. Walls bear stone tablets inscribed with class years, graduates' names and the battles where they fell. Combined with the richly carved wood and handsome stained glass there is the feel of a well executed church of the late 19th Century.
But this is also a performance space and it a treat to see a stage production here. We have twice attended the annual production of the Christmas Revels and enjoyed them both.
A word about the Revels, as another reviewer noted the show changes every year. And few may realize this is a national organization with productions in New York, Washington DC and several other locations. Details @ Revels.org
But back to Sanders Theater, it is a wonderful venue. The acoustics are very good and it an intimate space. I have sat in the front and back of the house and I doubt there's a bad seat anywhere.
And if those seats are not plush they are more like the benches of Old North Church than the punishing old foldups of that other venerable Boston house of worship, Fenway Park.
The architectural details are inspiring, as intended. The building memorializes those from the Harvard community lost in the Civil War. Walls bear stone tablets inscribed with class years, graduates' names and the battles where they fell. Combined with the richly carved wood and handsome stained glass there is the feel of a well executed church of the late 19th Century.
But this is also a performance space and it a treat to see a stage production here. We have twice attended the annual production of the Christmas Revels and enjoyed them both.
A word about the Revels, as another reviewer noted the show changes every year. And few may realize this is a national organization with productions in New York, Washington DC and several other locations. Details @ Revels.org
But back to Sanders Theater, it is a wonderful venue. The acoustics are very good and it an intimate space. I have sat in the front and back of the house and I doubt there's a bad seat anywhere.
And if those seats are not plush they are more like the benches of Old North Church than the punishing old foldups of that other venerable Boston house of worship, Fenway Park.
Written 2 January 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.
Mohemian
Marshfield, MA132 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
I had the pleasure of attending this show two years ago.... Decided to go again... BIG mistake!
The show this year represented many egos that couldn't really decide what they wanted to present..As a result, it was a lot of nothing.
I will never spend my time or money a attending one of these shows again!
The show this year represented many egos that couldn't really decide what they wanted to present..As a result, it was a lot of nothing.
I will never spend my time or money a attending one of these shows again!
Written 21 December 2014
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.
Anne-Christine R
Boston, MA105 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
I go to the Sanders Theater every year to see the Christmas Revels and I love it every time. It is warm and intimate with a lot of natural wood. The hall has stained glass windows. The seats are a bit hard, it's more like a church than a theater but the view and sound are great.
Written 20 July 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.
William A
Quincy, MA32 contributions
Mar 2016 • Family
I recently attended a concert with my brother and daughter. For lack of a more accurate category, it was folk music and was even better than I expected. Not to take anything away from the performers, who played their hearts out, part of the experience was the venue. I have also heard classical music and rock music played here and I can't think of a better place to listen to music of any kind. The old world elegance adds immensely to the experience.
Written 14 March 2016
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.
Curtis S
Toronto, Canada40 contributions
Sept 2015
Went to an event sponsored by Harvard Book Store - Lee Child in conversation with Stephen King! Theatre was great - definitely old school, but comfortable enough for an hour-long event.
Written 10 September 2015
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.
Indstrl
Los Angeles, CA159 contributions
Sept 2014 • Business
It was built after the civil war to honor Harvard's dead. The theatre lobby is etched marble slabs, invoking said casualties and stained glass windows to give it a somber, spiritual feeling.
The main theatre is all intricate wood in a 3 tiered amphitheater design, invoking a Socratic style of teaching. Holds about 900. I have never known for the theatre to be open to the public, just for certain large lectures and official Harvard functions. I believe the public can access the lobby (inspiring in its own right.)
The main theatre is all intricate wood in a 3 tiered amphitheater design, invoking a Socratic style of teaching. Holds about 900. I have never known for the theatre to be open to the public, just for certain large lectures and official Harvard functions. I believe the public can access the lobby (inspiring in its own right.)
Written 16 September 2014
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.
Nancy, I don't understand why you wrote a negative 1 star review of Sanders Theater? I don't understand and perhaps I am missing something. Being a performer, musician and actor, I love seeing a show at Sanders. If the show is not good, the review should be about the show so I'm not sure what you saw. Sorry. Alan
Written 27 October 2016
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