What a wonderful little "Gem" of a theatre. Have seen 2 productions there and both were very good. A small intimate theatre with great productions, happening in Garden Grove. Definitely worth going to if you enjoy theatre.
The GEM is the very best! There is no other place in Southern California that gives you more bang for your buck. If you enjoy musical theater, this is a must do!
Obsessed with this theater!!!!!! I came to see the show Nine with a friend for a school project and the professionalism was insane! Singing. Acting. Dancing. All were outstanding! I loved every second and I highly recommend anyone looking for a special night come watch a live performance and support your local theater!!
Always a great show. Very entertaining plays with great costumes, choreography, music, and cast. The members of the team (coaches and cast) are always very happy, outgoing and friendly. Highly recommend going and see a show in this intimate venue.
Fantastic Christmas show, highly recommend seeing it.
The Gem is the best entertainment in orange county!
A charming local theater that has a great cast and directors. Really great show, "Disaster"! Wonderful fun!
I love this place. The musicals they present are entertaining with amazingly talented performing artists, young and old. So professionally done and so affordable.
Two of my favorites, Always Patsy Cline and Holiday Gem are returning this year due to popular demand.
Last year, they presented Beauty and the Beast and it was so fun and the actors did an amazing job. The actress who played Belle had a beautiful voice.
I like romantic comedies and one year they did The Music Man, another of my favorites.
The theater also now serves alcoholic drinks so you can have your wine, beer or special show cocktail while you enjoy the show.
At intermission, the bar is open as well as a delicious selection of homemade desserts and coffee and beverages.
The theater itself is not too small or not too big. The seats are comfortable. It is clean, well-kept and the staff is very nice and friendly.
Another show I can t wait to see this season is A Chorus Line. I have always wanted to see this one and was so excited when they announced that this was coming later this year.
I recommend this theater and the job this production company has done.
The Gem theater has been revived and is coming back stronger than ever!
Took in a show with my daughter. venue was nice the show we went to watch was cancelled and never received a notice not in till they opened the ticket window were we able to find out . pleasant enuff to help with the info we needed.
Such a quaint theater, so intimate. I highly recommend it. The talent is amazing.
We are season ticket holders. It is the best little theater. High quality acting and showmanship.
Wonderful good times produced by a delightful local theater company.
I love this hidden "gem". It's an intimate theater on historic Main Street in Garden Grove. Looking forward to attending more plays & shows in the future!
Enjoyed many plays at the Gem, but the latest production of The Tempest must have Shakespeare turning over in his grave! The Far Eastern theme and a dragon (really?) were out of synch.
Just something to feel comfortable and watching a show
Always have a great time here!! Love this theater group!!
Great deals! $5 movies on Sunday Tuesdays and Thursdays!!!!!
Love this little theater group! Very entertaining!!
It was great! A friend and I went to see Bullets over Broadway and the theater is so quant and cute and clean. Daniel, the owner greeted us at the door and it was just a lovely experience through and through. I would highly recommend seeing a show there.
Sure, those that perform in the plays and dedicate their time to this program are great and the performances are great. BUT, those that run this place are shaddy and if you have a young child, they should NOT be involved in this program. First, the Director Damien is very inappropriate while yelling expletives (F bombs, etc.) even though there are young children in rehearsals and in these programs (I have recordings of this from other performers and other that will attest to these activities). Those close to Damien that aren't even in the rehearsals or plays might just show up on stage on a particular night during the performance. Damien may even randomly jump on stage himself and distract performers.
Most disturbing is what my daughter and I experienced. My daughter who spent 5 consecutive years through Middle School and High School in theatre and still hold the record for the most hours provided to the high school theatre program, decided to try being in a play at this theatre during her first year in college. Both her and her performing friends spoke of the unacceptable behavior of their Director, Damien. And when he had a student collect checks and cash from performers to purchase custom apparel for the play they were in, my daughter turned in an envelope with $62.00 cash for a sweatshirt, she never got the product. I have sent emails and have called to try to connect with both Damien and Nicole Cassesso, Executive Director, for weeks with no response with the exception of one email saying I would be called by Damien this last Tuesday and he never called me. Today I received an email from the executive director saying the matter is closed. How about doing the right thing? It's not about the amount as much as it is doing the right thing for a teenage girl that volunteered countless hours towards the success of the play she was in.
HORRIBLE to take cash from teenage girl for a product and not give her what she paid for. I will continue to expose these folks and will file a police report for petty theft until this matter is resolved.
KEEP YOUR KIDS AWAY AND DO NOT LET THEM PERFORM HERE!!!
Hoping to update my review, but I can't get anyone to reply to my emails or phone calls. NO RESPONSE after repeated phone calls and emails!
Have been going for several years. Truly amazing performances. Highly recommend!
Awesome small theater. Came here for the first time and saw Westside Story.Nice clean place , refreshments,snacks I will be coming back for other shows.
Enjoyed a fun and creative production of Cabaret this weekend.
This theatr has the best performing arts.
The staff, Damian everyone involved couldn't be nicer. We buy season tickets every year. They never disappoint. Once you try it your hooked.
Had an amazing time. Saw the show Guys and Dolls. I recommend it to anyone. A very professional performance
We had a Great time at the production of West Side Story. This was a great performance, we enjoyed very much. We've been to The Music Man, Patsy Cline, now this.
Top performers, the singing, acting. Love this theater. Thank you for an enjoyable experience each time.
This is a great community theater
We had a great time and laughed alot and enjoyed the songs. We saw DISASTER.
Very nice theatre! Staff were helpful and accommodating. Bobby's performance was very entertaining. Would gladly return.
It may be a small local theater but The Gem is just that. This theater is packed with talent, spectacular productions and good times for young and old alike. The Gem of Garden Grove is not to be missed.
Beautiful theatre. Very proffessional . Made me feel I was at an actual Broadway production! Will be seeing The Secret Garden this afternoon!
Bullets Over Broadway - Awful, lewd, play with sound way too loud due to amplification. Staff was very friendly and snacks were delicious.
Just saw West Side Story. Very good and the talent was great. I would recommend it.
Everyone is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the facility & productions. Last night's performance of "Always Patsy Cline" was uplifting with the audience interaction and participation. The theater was very clean and well maintained even though they had drinks & pastries. The staff was attentive to my needs once I passed through the front doors. Being disabled on oxygen trends to be challenging at most public venues. Staff members made sure my equipment was out of the way during the production, and as soon as the intermission started they were at my side to render assistance. This was the first time I have been able to sit back, RELAX and enjoy myself, since I have required the need of assistive devices. I would like to send a big warm hearted HUG and THANKS out to all of the staff, cast, and crew at The Gem Theater for a fabulous night.
Had second row seats talking about up close and personal. Every seat is great. Love coming here very homie
Simply marvelous! Cabaret was brilliantly produced & presented. Director Damien Lorton has outdone himself. Nicole Cassesso as Sally Bowles and Danny Diaz as the MC ... wow!!! And the price is so affordable and close to Orange County residence. The performance is one you would see at the larger theaters. Their shows are done with heart and professionally. Love it ! I have never seen a show that wasn t just awesome. Bravo, Damien! Recommended.
Great little experience with good young and staple talent. Must see.
Best community theatre experience ever! Professional level cast. Lighting, costuming and stage craft at the highest level. Sweeney Todd is one hellaciously difficult score to sing and this cast nailed it. Truly a memorable evening!
Cute place....Has the nostalgic feel of old Broadway!! Really enjoyed being there!.....
We have been to the Gem Theater several times and every production has been a memorable experience. The theater is small and intimate with every seat enjoying the full angle of the stage. All the performers are professionals and the staging, make-up etc. are comparable with any mayor theater. The prices are reasonable and parking is easy.
Saw Westside Story-- very good. High quality singing and dancing. Small intimate theater in which you really see the actors.
Fun for the entire family! The GEM does a wonderful job bringing life to the stage. The actors and vocalist are just as good as Equity s Actors without all the extra costs. It s a good place to learn about the theatre and the entertainment always delivers.
A great place to go to enjoy local theater performances! I have never seen a bad play/musical there. "Cabaret " was outstanding.
This theatre is one of the best I've been too. Not only is the place itself lovely - retro, clean, and a touch decadent - but the atmosphere is one of 'your neighbourhood community theatre' from the friendly faces staffing the box office to the bake sale (and oh so tasty) snacks available at intermission.
The troupe itself is fantastic. The actors rotate show by show, year by year, depending on who's available etc. But they are consummate performers who clearly love their craft. Damien, the director, and Nicole, producer and actor, clearly know their stuff and work well together. They produced a brilliant version of 'Bullets Over Broadway' with a talented cast who can sing and dance as well as fully embody their characters.
Despite living in Ladera Ranch I am very tempted to get a season pass as I will be going back!
I recently tried this theater for the first time. The performance of Bright Star was wonderful. The theater is small and intimate yet performance was highly professional. Refreshments include adult libations for those so inclined. They also served coffee, cakes and other snacks. I will be back!!!
It is a gem. Wonderful theater. Everyone so polite and helpful. Plus we had the best German chocolate cake during intermission
This place is amazing you must go and see a show and support your local community
We went to the Gem Theater to see the show, The Producers last weekend. We haven't been to this theater for many (close to 20) years, but we decided that it's a fun show, very reasonably priced, and and close to home so lets go.
when we arrived, we were concerned because the amphitheater next door was having a hard rock concert and it was loud. The theater was soundproofed and you couldn't hear anything from outside of the theater.
The theater is well maintained and very homey, They have a bar, as well as a snack area with home made baked goods. Seats were comfortable and there was enough legroom to make my husband, who is almost 6 foot 4, happy.
The show was very well done. We had seen this (fabulous) show on Broadway with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, and you couldn't really compare the 2 productions. This is a local theater and everything is done at a much smaller scale, but we really enjoyed it. The cast did a great job, and Damien Lorton as Max Bialystock was fabulous.
During intermission, they did a couple of drawings, one for a basket, and the other a 50/50 raffle. Tickets for both drawings were $5 or 5 for $20. We didn't know out them until it was too late to participate.
It was a fun evening, and we definitely will go back to this "local gem" in the future.
Saw Debbie Ebert and band, "AWESOME" Performance!!!
I love seeing One More Production at The GEM Theater. Every show is unique and amazing with great quality acting, singing, choreography, music, etc.
We love this theatre. It's intimate.. the actors are a very talented group. It's interactive. Very enjoyable time.
If you have ever thought of enjoying the live theatre.. you really need to come to one of their productions.
And there is not a bad seat in the house! The seats are staggered so you are not sitting directly behind the person in front of you
We will be back !!
Next time to see West Side Story and Beauty and The Beast next !
What a great community Theater! So West side story last night and the talent was amazing for community Theater.. I would recommend to definitely go back
Great venue! Very comfortable seating, excellent performance!
It is welcoming and one of the best places to go it may be small but it is the best theater's you will ever go to amazing dancing, performing, and everything that you could hope for
This is a gem of a place. Went and saw hello dolly, the talent was superb. Great show and very personable. Every seat is a good seat. Awesome night out on the town.
A great theater. Small but great. I have been there twice, and I will go again. They do great shows with great performers.
Hello Dolly is the BEST production in a community theatre I've ever seen! The singers are Fabulous, the dancers are Amazing... the costumes are Fabulous... every little detail is perfect from the first minute to the last. I didn't want it to end. I wished I had more eyes so I could see even more of it !!!
I am just posting because I am watching an old flick called the Gorgon, I was a small child and went and saw it with my big sister back in the sixties, fond memories!
The Producers was a top quality show. The cast at the GEM really shocked me with their performance. Amazing!
Just saw NINE and had great time. It may be a smaller venue but the acting and singing are of a larger performance. Can't wait for the next performance.
Nice small intimate theater setting... Sound system leaves alot to be desired. Well rehearsed and choregraphed shows.
We come every year to see the "Holiday Gem". They put on a good show and for a reasonable price. The seats could use some help....they are a little bit small.
This place is Awesome! I loved the show! West Side Story was absolutely wonderful.?I laughed and cried ! Actually, I bawled my eyes out! The kids in this production who played Maria (Erika Baldwin ) was so good, her voice beautiful, and Brandon Taylor Jones was so good as Tony ! They were mesmerizing to watch as was the whole cast! Can t say enough! Well done!
Great theater to experience high level community theater. It's perfect for anyone who loves theatre. The Gem puts on high quality performances in an intimate setting that is beautifully decorated. Check it out!
We had the best time! I took my 2 daughters to "Always, Patsy Cline". We all loved it! The production, the energy and the singing, especially the singing, was amazing! And everyone involved with the theater is so welcoming. Go! You'll be glad you did.
Fantastic, intimate venue with a bar and a snack stand. Great, quality productions and wonderful people - both in the audience and on stage!
This place and the talent within really is a hidden GEM. Always enjoy my visits here!
Fantastic show (Sweeney Todd) in an intimate theater. Not much nearby, but tasty snacks and coffee at intermission.
Great venue, easy parking, comfortable seats, good bar and snacks.
Great fun. Community oriented. Great music and acting. Love the personal touch.
Wonderful local live theater venue. Very fun experience.
Nice theater to see performing arts on a small scale.
Fabulous performance of "Disaster! The Musical." The Gem Theater productions make this hometown theater truly a GEM!
