Orpheum Entertainment Group Reviews

What a neat place to see a show. Too bad there isn't any air conditioning. I probably wouldn't come back in the spring, summer, or fall unless its a really good artist.

This place was full of great energy and friendly but staff that knew what they were doing w such a crowd and a high intensity evening! Great drinks w fair prices and top knotch DJs spinning constantly on Freak Fest 2017! I AM definitely going back!

On 10/26/14, I saw Dave Chapelle perform at this venue. Great performance by Dave & his opening comedian. If this review was on this alone, you bet it'd be 5 stars. Its only 2 stars due to this... My experience was ruined because of the security (Event Staff) in the facility. Nothing that affected me directly, but it brings up the old addage, "Say what you mean, and mean what you say!" On the doors leading into the seating area and all over the place from what I saw, there were postings about the conduct expected while attending. Perfectly fine by me... simple rules to follow if you ask me. The very first rule (in all CAPS mind you) was "No using of cell phones DURING THE SHOW!" Apparently the management of the Orpheum deems it ok for their security (Event Staff for those who don't like the simple word) to dictate and change the posted rules to their advantage. Like I said it didn't bother me as I wasn't on my phone at the time, but for the people who wanted to get a couple of photos of themselves & friends to have for memories sake, the "Orpheum Goon Squad" had their flashlights, stern pointing fingers & radios ready to rock to eject people from the place (while others were being seated mind you). This really bothered me for the entire time I was there. Everyone there paid good money to attend, but yet we get herded in like cattle and expected to just sit there with our faces toward the stage as soon as we're seated! That was my first time attending an event at that venue, and probably my last for a very long time! Before those who my think of this as dealing with race, it does not. It covers the entire board. The 3 goons who ruined my experience and probably received their gold stars for the night were a chunky white woman with long hair & tats with glasses, a tall bald black man with a serious pot belly, and a short hispanic guy with a buzz haircut that thought his all black shirt actually slimmed his big belly. Again, my experience there was ruined for the shoddy way this venue operates its support staff!

If an event I want to see is held here, I will not attend it. There isn't another place in Madison that I hold that opinion with. In the two concerts I've gone to at the orpheum, the staff were total jerks. The seats aren't removable, and there's no room to dance when the event permits it. It's astonishing how bad the experience is. Literally any other venue in the Madison area is superior to this place.

Attended my first show here last night. An old place with tiny bathroom stalls. My seat was in the balcony. For a rock show, the crowd sure didn't seem into it. The sound for the first two bands was awful and I couldn't hear anything. Not sure I'll come again.

Love this Theater! Have been to this venue multiple times for a variety of performances, from orchestra to shopkins live, just a gorgeous venue with very kind employees!

Great venue and good sound. I would come back over and over

The sightlines and lighting have been pretty good. The sound has always been mediocre at best. The seating is crazy uncomfortable. Unless you're 5 feet tall, your knees will push into the seats in front of you. Bathrooms are tiny and inefficient.

Great place for live music and the ability to get close to a band you really enjoy.

Security doesn't do a very good job of checking people.

Drinks are expected to be expensive and they are.

It has plenty of room, nobody was pushy, and we were able to move forward to get closer to the band. We were also able to leave to use the restroom and come back close to where we were standing before.

Attended a concert. Amazing sound system, and lighting. The entire place was beautiful, and clean. Great view of the stage no matter where you sit.

Come to this place for my son's wedding. The place deserves a good cleaning and a renovation (many seats broken chewing gum glues on the ground ...)

Cool old-style movie house that's been refurbished for stage shows.

Love it. Personnel there are extremely accommodating. And definitely want you to have a good experience. I've never had a bad experience at this venue.

I would have given it five stars, but I didn't much care for the way some of the seating, etc. was handled. First I was told there were no seats up front and that the VIP seats were in Balcony C. When I arrived, I was told they put seats on the floor up front but I could sit in Balcony C still if I wanted. I was not told, however, that all the other people sitting where I was sitting got their tix for $65 (as opposed to my $150). I did get a bunch of VIP stuff, too, but didn't care about the swag, just the seat. Had I been given the option, I would have paid $65 for the Gold Circle like those around me and foregone the swag. I saw the same show at another venue and they handled it much more professionally and I got what I paid for, as did those sitting nearby me. I don't know if I would return to the Orpheum, even though it is a very pretty venue and the sound was good, considering the guys cranked their sound a bit louder than they should have.

Beautiful theatre, great music. Acoustics not always the best but always a great time

Seen a lot of shows here; comedy, music, even blippi live. Orpheum is a classic Madison venue staff is great, drinks and food are pricey but on par with every theater. Overall I've never seen a bad show at the orpheum

Great atmosphere! Clean building and easy to navigate.

Gorgeous interior, bars stage side and in the lobby.

Awesome venue for concerts. They have four bar areas strategically placed around the crowd area, very wise on their part to keep the concert goer rocking on!

Great concert, great venue. Loved the classic theater feel of the place and the staff were super friendly and helpful.

Show was great the drunk chick that spilled beer down my back and head no so much

Me and a group of friends went to see tech n9ne at the orpheum and it was great! Such a big venue and always has some of the best artists playing! Alcohols a bit pricey but they make some great drinks!!

Security is a joke. Some guy was ripping my girlfriends jacket off of her, so I grabbed him and pushed him away to protect her. They let that guy stay but kicked me and my girlfriend out. Traveled to Madison for the concert, so cost us a lot for a hotel room, tickets, food, and drinks. Didn't even make it through the second song before all of this happened. Then security wouldn't even try to listen to everyone about what happened. Just kicked us out and wouldn't even give us back the jacket.

Bring some friends and enjoy some fun shows at a unique venue.

It was a good venue for Walk off the Earth. They rocked it. It appeared to be original style with chandeliers. It was cozy and very crowded. Seats were very close together so if you are over 6 foot you will be uncomfortable. The sound was great.

Security was nice and had a sense of humor everyone was kind would rate 10 if i could

Venue is clean. Staff competent. Booking on point.

Not aging well...the seats need to be replaced. At 6'1" 225 lbs I literally don't fit into the seats...makes it hard to enjoy anything. Vending is inadequate--expect long waits. Definitely plan ahead for parking. Lots of other venues to pick from that would be better.

A beautifully classic theatre in the heart of Madison. It's an original gem where magic happens.

Really liked being in this venue. Showed a lot of love for strange.

I paid lots of money to see Dave Chappelle last week, and for absolutely zero reason whatsoever was ejected with 15 minutes left in the show. The tried to inform me I was heckling, but at no point did I offer anything towards the stage other than my applause and laughter. When I informed them that it had to be a mistake they led me to the door. Upon asking to speak with a manager about a refund because of how rude they were to remove me without cause I was able to speak with more rude staff who told me to "get over it," "you only missed the last 10 minutes," and "go to be bar across the street and get a drink, you'll feel better." This happened three days ago and I am still trying to contact a legitimate manager in regards to a refund. Their staff is awful. When I asked them exactly what I did that went against the rules they could offer me no justifiable reason. It was a horrible experience.

Cheap tactics where they charge an extra unexpected $10 for a better place in line. Turns out Orpheum is now run by American Airlines :-(

Will not return...

Great venue for live music! Intimate, great sound and visuals!!

I caught Elvis Costello and the Imposters on his 2019 tour. Sat in the balcony which afforded excellent views of the stage and prices precise acoustics. Lovely old theater for shows!

Great venue, helpful staff. Very nice concert experience.

Great Venue for a show. Seems like every seat is a good seat.

A few great performances a year, hopefully they can keep the doors open.

Old downtown establishment, right in the heart of Mad Town

Great venue, but it has surprisingly overbearing security staff

Beautiful historical building. Somewhat too small of a building for the high level of sound bands wish to produce. At one break, the man in back of me commented that he believed his ears were bleeding :) Easy entrance and exit, safe and well lit parking nearby, nice and helpful staff at venue. I would visit again as the price is affordable. Give them a try.

Wonderful atmosphere. One of the beat theatres downtown madison.

Awesome small place to see a show don't spend that extra money to get tickets for front row anywhere you sit is close enough

Great view of the stage! Easy parking and the show was terrific.

Very cool place. It's an old venue but it gives character to place.

I love the Opheum, I don't think any other live venue comes close, I just wish they would book more named artist.

Went to see Stone Sour...great place. Would go again!

It's a very limited menu, only four entree items. What I've had was good. The portion sizes are a little small for the prices.
The service was good both times that I've been there. It's a weird old little building. The location of the restroom is not at all obvious, and requires that you go being the counter, which is a little uncomfortable, especially if nobody working there is available to ask.
It's cash and check only. There is a sign inside that says that. It would be nice if that were on the door.

Classic Madison Theater, glad it's still around. Even the nosebleeds aren't awful (photo is from very last row).

Not a bad seat in the house. Great place to see a band up close and personal. Beautiful place, rich in history.

The lighting really sucked!!! Blinded me! Change please or I won't come back!!!! Thank you!