Academy of Music
Academy of Music
4.5
About
Home of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Philly Pops.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: City Center West
How to get there
- Walnut–Locust • 2 min walk
- Lombard–South • 6 min walk
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3,003 within 3 miles
Attractions
688 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
274 reviews
Excellent
159
Very good
75
Average
20
Poor
13
Terrible
7
Michael Minarik
New York City, NY289 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Maybe, when you spend over 100.00 to see a show and then go to the stage door to congratulate the performers and get programs signed, maybe don't be a jerk and tell at people for standing.
Hire better doorman at your stage door. The fans are there to see the amazing performers, not be belittled by doormen who think they have more power than they do.
Hire better doorman at your stage door. The fans are there to see the amazing performers, not be belittled by doormen who think they have more power than they do.
Written February 22, 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.
LisaonWheels
3 contributions
Oct 2019
We saw Fiddler on the Roof at the Academy of Music. These were the worst seats that I have ever had. The seats were obstructed view with a large pillar situated directly in front of my seat. These tickets were not discounted nor were they advertised as obstructed view, which they should have been advertised as then I would not have purchased them. Overall horrible experience since I haaad to crane my neck to see around the pillar and was extremely uncomfortable and probably missed much of the performance. There is no way of knowing that you might have an obstructed view therefore skip seeing anything at the Academy of Music! Particularly sad since we also had a whelchir acccessible seat and had to move that seat out so that seat was not also obstructed.
Written March 8, 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.
dragonphan
Lafayette Hill, PA56 contributions
Apr 2022
Many people like coming here for theater because it's old and pretty. It's a good experience for live theater if you're lucky enough to have a very expensive orchestra level seat. But balcony seating at all levels is either very far away, at a weird angle for viewing, obstructed view, very tight with poor legroom, or some or all of the above.
The Academy of Music was built over 100 years ago and intended as a concert all, not as a venue for live Broadway quality shows. Sadly, this is where most of the large traveling shows go in Philadelphia as part of their Broadway at the Academy series. The shows are staged here because it's a large venue that generates a lot of revenue. But it doesn't mean that it's a good place to watch shows.
Many people give this place good reviews because it's old and pretty and they perform top level shows. But The Kimmel Center really needs to consider knocking this place down and rebuilding it as a modern venue that provides a better viewing experience for all guests. If they could afford to build the Kimmel Center next door, they could afford a new Broadway show venue.
The Academy of Music was built over 100 years ago and intended as a concert all, not as a venue for live Broadway quality shows. Sadly, this is where most of the large traveling shows go in Philadelphia as part of their Broadway at the Academy series. The shows are staged here because it's a large venue that generates a lot of revenue. But it doesn't mean that it's a good place to watch shows.
Many people give this place good reviews because it's old and pretty and they perform top level shows. But The Kimmel Center really needs to consider knocking this place down and rebuilding it as a modern venue that provides a better viewing experience for all guests. If they could afford to build the Kimmel Center next door, they could afford a new Broadway show venue.
Written April 4, 2022
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.
Michele Z
3 contributions
Jun 2023
Seats in the amphitheater are very tricky. There are MANY limited and obscured views seats due to the many columns. Even the seats that are marked as unrestricted view are iffy. My seat was unrestricted Section G Row F Seat 27 and the column still blocked my left edge view of the stage. And the railing at the front of the section cuts across the view of the stage. Besides the typical tight seating, it’s very steep in the amphitheater section and at 5’4” my knees were against the seat in front of me. Then comes the gray area. Due to the many bad view seats, half the patrons are sitting forward in their seats, leaning back and forth or like the woman next to me in a limited view seat, laying forward on the seat back in front of her. There were people standing on the sides of the amphitheater as the view was so poor in the “limited view” seats (and those were average size men). I noticed this even on the level below us too. I had to ask my seat neighbor to sit back in her seat because all I could see was the back of her shoulder and head. I paid more for unrestricted views and you can’t really get them in this section. To add to the lackluster experience, you can’t see the facial expressions very well that high up, the ac was broken and everyone was sweating profusely (this obviously is a fluke and shouldn’t come in to play for other performances) . At intermission, there was ONE drink cart for the whole entire level, with ONE employee. We waited the entirety of the intermission and didn’t make it to the front of the line, and had to go back to our seats. They also didn’t offer any free water, or extra drink carts despite the lack of air conditioning. With a hefty 20% off coupon code the seat was still over $71, and with fees came to over $86! I would not recommend the entire amphitheater level, and would recommend not being even the seat next to limited or obscured view seats, as they certainly have no shame in selling iffy views for top dollar. The theater looks beautiful from the outside and the employees were friendly, but I’m used to smaller theaters where even balcony seats are good.
Written June 3, 2023
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.
Douglas S
Dresher, PA6 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
They decided to go ahead with a performance of Ain't Too Proud, on a night (1/19/2024) when Mayor Cherelle Parker requested people to stay off of the roads due to a snow emergency. In addition, nobody would answer the phone on any of a dozen extensions. And there is no chat or other means of contacting them. Maybe the staff stayed home as requested by the mayor? All I can say is to be careful when buying tickets. I won't make that mistake again.
Written January 19, 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.
Greg
Morrisdale, PA63 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
We went to see John Mulaney at The Academy Of Music. It is a beautiful theater with a ton of history. Seating is tight as expected for an old theater. There are seats with obstructed views so do your research when buying tickets to a show. We had a great experience overall & would definitely go back for another event.
Written October 23, 2021
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.
Bryce S
New Hope, PA2,272 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
We went to the Academy of Music to attend the presentation, “An Evening With Ina Garten” last Wednesday. This was our first visit.
Here are a few observations.
We booked seats in the Amphitheater. This is the top of three balcony rings above the seating on the floor level. This seating is incredibly high up. The figures on the stage were tiny at this distance. There is virtually no legroom. Fortunately our seats were in the center of the row, so we would not to stand to let anyone pass.
The acoustics are excellent.
The staff is very, very helpful. I approached the ticket office to ask about handicapped access. They showed me to a side door. About an hour early, I met a staff person who showed me the location of the ramp. When we arrived together, she was there and ready to help. When we left at the end of the event, she was standing at the same door.
This was a very good experience, but I think the next time we plan to attend an event, we will try to get better seats with more legroom.
Here are a few observations.
We booked seats in the Amphitheater. This is the top of three balcony rings above the seating on the floor level. This seating is incredibly high up. The figures on the stage were tiny at this distance. There is virtually no legroom. Fortunately our seats were in the center of the row, so we would not to stand to let anyone pass.
The acoustics are excellent.
The staff is very, very helpful. I approached the ticket office to ask about handicapped access. They showed me to a side door. About an hour early, I met a staff person who showed me the location of the ramp. When we arrived together, she was there and ready to help. When we left at the end of the event, she was standing at the same door.
This was a very good experience, but I think the next time we plan to attend an event, we will try to get better seats with more legroom.
Written October 13, 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.
Richard S
2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
This was one of the best Broadway shows we’ve seen in Philadelphia in years. Both the female leads were fabulous. Glinda was bubbly & reached unbelievable high notes. Elphaba (Olivia Valli) was fantastic. (Small wonder since she’s the daughter of Frankie Valli.). Don’t miss this show.
Written November 2, 2023
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.
Rob C
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Friends
I just wanted to send a big thank you to the Kimmel Cultural Campus. :) Friday night I had 2 tickets for Beetlejuice, and it was my friend's first time seeing a Broadway show! But when we got to our seats, the usher said our seats were already taken, and that those people also had legit tickets. Yikes! We went to the front box office, and the staff there were very helpful, polite, and understanding... And the got things cleared up for us, and that salvaged what could have been a VERY disappointing evening. The theater was also really beautiful, and I'm looking forward to seeing other events here in the future!
Written June 5, 2023
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.
Andres72423
Bridgeport, CT4,925 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
This it’s our second time watching a show at the Academy of Music. What a wonderful venue to catch a show. There is no bad seat in the house. We first watched Hamilton and now Les Miserable. Both sores were spectacular. The service was excellent, they were very friendly and helpful. The seats were super comfortable and you did not feel like three person sitting next to you was all in your personal space as you do in other theaters. We enjoyed the presentation and will definitely be back for other shows.
Written November 5, 2022
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.
my question is about the experience in the amphitheatre section of the kimmel center. how were the sight lines from that section? the venue is designed for a good visual and audio experience but just wondering if the view of the stage is clear.... thinking of taking my daughter to Frozen in 2024 and hoping to snag good seats
Written December 8, 2023
Almost all of the seats are good. But it is an old theater & relatively small. Try something in the middle about half way back.
Written December 9, 2023
Is there a restriction on the size of purse allowed? Will there be metal detectors upon entry (knee surgery sets them off)?
Written February 16, 2023
What is the general dress code for attending this venue?
Written September 23, 2019
The dress code is not very formal. Some people show up very well dressed. Others casually. The best guide that I can suggest is to make yourself happy with your apparel choices for your visit.
Written September 24, 2019
Is it possible to just tour this venue with out attending a performance?
Written May 19, 2019
My guess is that they do have tours. I would suggest calling their box office as I found them to be quite helpful and full of information.
Written May 20, 2019
I am going to see "BOOK OF MORMON' :)
what is the difference between normal row and BOX, the seats in the box have more leg room?
Written February 10, 2019
Re: Nutcracker. What time do doors open for 7pm performance ?
Written December 15, 2017
Most shows/theatres will open the front of house an hour before the performance that means the doors to the lobby. The doors to the auditorium open about 1/2 hour before the scheduled performance unless there are technical issues being addressed.
If the doors are not open to the venue walk to the Kimmel Center. You can check out the shows that are coming and stay warm.
Written December 16, 2017
Is there a list of what musical events are going on for September? We will be visiting there around Sept 21?
Written September 9, 2017
Yes...check the Kimmel Center's Website
They have different events at all three venues. It looks like Operas are planned for September. More musicals like Kinky Boots start in October. Good luck, I hope you find something you would like to see.
Written September 9, 2017
Going on 12/31 - noon show time for the Nutcracker. We always pre-reserve parking at the Kimmel Center garage. Unable to reserve parking for tomorrow. I was wondering whether parking will be a problem there, or anyplace else in the area and road restrictions for set up of mummers parade?
Written December 30, 2016
There is no cheap parking nearbye. On Wednesday nights there is an early bird special and one can park for the evening for $12 in a garage across the street from the Academy.
Written June 5, 2018
What hotel is the closest to the Academy of Music?
Written December 14, 2016
Doubletree by Hilton, one block away, is THE CLOSEST hotel to the Acadamy. Hyatt, Holiday Inn Express, and Ritz-Carlton (next to City Hall) are all withing a few blocks.
As Philadelphia Center City is very compact, many additional hotels are within easy 10-15 minute walking distance. Rittenhouse Square is one of the best areas of the city and full of restaurants, cafes, and site of weekend farmers' market and art shows. It is next to the high-end shopping street, Walnut Street. Rittenhouse Hotel is an excellent boutique hotel at the Rittenhouse Square.
A bit further to the northwest, if you want to hit the museums - Philly has world-class museums - you can stay on the "Museum Boulevard" where Philadelphia Art Museum, Rodin Museum, Barnes Museum, and Ben Franklin Institute are all located.
To the east near the Delaware River, you have Penn's Landing and Society Hill. Many excellent restaurants there as well.
Depending on the price point and what other things you are looking for, you can use Google Map or an online travel/booking agency (such as Priceline or Expedia) to expand your search.
Hope this helped a bit and good luck.
Written December 24, 2016
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