Freud Playhouse

Our first visit to the Freud Playhouse was to attend «Rhythmic Relations –2015» the Taiko drumming festival organized by Taiko Project… we were pleased with the «old school» depth of the seat rows (plenty of knee-​room for other attendees to reach their seats without stepping on our feet). We were delighted with the access, lines-​of-​sight to the smallish stage, and the entrance courtyard, which faces the Sculpture Garden…

This is a nice tiny little theatre on the UCLA campus near the sculpture garden in McGowan Hall. It was a little tough to find. I would recommend parking in lot number 3 which seems to be the closest. That’s in the northeastern part of UCLA, where Sunset and Hilgard meet. Once parked, when you walk out to the street (Charles E Young, I think) just turn right and walk towards the garden of sculptures. Once you see the sculpture garden, make a quick right, McGowan is on the right side of you.
Parking is $ 8 all day. You can park for a couple hours, if that’s all you need. That will set you back about $ 4. The parking station we paid at wasn’t working for credit cards, so make sure you have cash on you, just in case.
The sound inside the theatre was great. The seating was good too, not too cramped where your legs are (like some theaters). I would go back for another play.

This review is for the perfomance of «DonGiovanni» on Sunday Feb. 16 by the UCLA Opera.
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This performance was definitely a delight to watch. Considering this is a «student» production, with performers from the UCLA Voice and Music, it is really well directed, well orchestrated, on par with professional .
The UCLA Philharmonica orchestra was full, soaring and simply stunning.
The set design was ingenious. I am so fascinated by how simple sets come alive with the use of creative lighting and scrims.
I enjoyed the nodding references to more updated, modern take on the story of that lovable, debauched rake Don Giovanni (Don Juan). I thought I recognized an «Indecent Proposal» style scene, pop singer Madonna’s «Like a Virgin» outfit, the excesses of the 80’s through the 90’s «Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous». Cell phones, texts and Facebook references.
This opera combines the comedic aspects with the serious — Don GIovanni’s shenanigans ending in a fiery condemnation.
I am told that the senior graduating Opera class headlined this production. Their voices are UNAMPLIFIED (no extra microphones!)
The whole collaboration with the Department of Theater, Orchestra and Opera was a true visual and auditory delight — captivating in it entirety.
Fantastic! Bravo! Brava!

Saw Jason Alexander here last year and he was nice enough to come out after his play and take pictures with us! The playhouse is pretty small and holds about 300 if I had to guess. The stage to work on is kind of small but it’s a nice place to relax for the evening.

Freud Playhouse… aka… MacGowan Theater… they are both located on UCLA and are across each other. Easiest way to get here– travel North on Hilgard and right before you hit Sunset (literally abt 500 feet) take a left into UCLA parking structure ($ 10).
Ok– now for the theater, acoustics and space– all very good! I saw the Black watch (bleachers were not very comfy) a couple years ago and thought it was excellent and last weekend saw Medea and was in awe of the excellent production and design team. Seating provides ample leg room and comfort. Concessions are limited to the very basics. Only challenge are the restrooms both male and female had 10 minute lines so try to empty out the bladder prior to arriving.

This is a lovely little theater. Not as small as the Macgowan «Little Theater» across the hallway but just right for small productions. I’ve seen a bunch of UCLA Live events here and all of them were wonderful. It’s so small that there isn’t a bad seat in the house no matter where you sit.
I see some complaints about the amenities. You can go to the Ahmanson, LA Phil, or LA Opera and they have lots of amenities. The intermission is 20 minutes long and by the time you navigate the line to the front it’s already time to go back in. Pointless.
The seats; I found them to be quite comfortable.
I’d rather see a production here than most other places because you can actually see everything. I’ve been in enough stratospheric balconies in many a theater to know.

I saw a play on a Sunday at 2pm produced by the Reprise theater company (Man of La Mancha). You would think since this is a great company that they would play at a nicer venue, but this venue is not only small, it’s quite uncomfortable. The chairs are so old when a person 5 people down shifts their legs it rocks your chair. They don’t have a snack bar but sell random cookies and stuff before the show. Our show didn’t have an intermission so they really didn’t need one but a food or drink selection would have been nice. For a show the price of shows you would see at the Pantages or Ahmanson with big name players you would hope for nicer amenities.
The great part about it though, is because it’s such a small theater, parking is a snap. Extra star for that.

I hosted a party here for 80 kids this past weekend. I have to say that the venue was terrific and the stage manager, Jeff, attended to every detail with mastery. His crew is highly capable and really very sweet. It was a night to remember.
The stage itself is gigantic. The seating accommodates around 400 patrons of the arts. The theater is well-​equipped technologically, and the crew was able to project our video montage at movie-​screen size and put on a fantastic light show.
The lobby and dressing rooms are expansive. Access to the stage is easy from the loading dock and from several doors, which made setup and breakdown as simple as possible.
I couldn’t have asked for a better place to host a performing arts party.