Lancaster's Top Live Theater

Lancaster has nearly a dozen live theaters. Of them, three are particularly noteworthy due to their overall excellence.

The Fulton Theatre

Of all the venues available in Lancaster, our favorite is the Fulton Theatre. Performances are held in the Fulton Opera House, considered to be the nation's oldest continuously operating theater since its founding in 1852. Don't let it's age bother you, since it's 1995 renovation it is a gorgeous 684-seat theater and a fitting site for live theater of all kinds.

To quote its web site, it "...is only one of eight theaters to be named a National Historic Landmark. Many of the 'greats' of the American and International stage have performed on her boards. The list is extensive and includes most of the Barrymore family, Sarah Bernhardt, W. C. Fields, Alfred Lunt, Al Jolson, Irene Dunne, Mark Twain, Helen Hayes, Marcel Marceau, and hundreds more."

Fulton Theatre performances include award-winning favorites, classic plays, and world premieres of commissioned work. A few of its more recent performances are Hello Dolly, Les Miserables, Annie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Grease, and The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie.

We've been to shows of all types across the U. S. and in Europe and Asia. Of them all (excluding some great performances on Broadway) my all time favorite is the Fulton Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Everything was perfect! The adaptation was right on for Lancaster, the acting was great, and the sets were possibly as good as anything on Broadway. Joan liked it too, it just wasn't her all-time favorite. (A disclaimer is appropriate here; she is a volunteer usher for some productions.)

As the old ad on television said: "Try it, you'll like it!" No, you'll love it; as have many others in choosing it over and over as the number one theater in local media opinion polls. Click on the picture above to go the the Fulton Theatre's web site.

The American Music Theatre

The American Music Theatre is our second choice for the best in the live theater category. Not because it isn’t excellent; it is. It’s second only because, overall, we prefer the kind of shows produced by the Fulton Theatre. The American Music Theatre specializes in celebrity performances and Broadway-style revues. Local media reviews and comments from guests near and far have been uniformly very strong.

We’ve attended a number of both kinds of shows at the American Music Theatre and have enjoyed every one of the celebrity performances very much. (Another disclaimer; Joan is a part-time usher for the theater). I’ve always liked Tim Conway, The Smothers Brothers, Yacov Smirnoff, and Bill Cosby; hearing them live is even better. The same is true of Chris Kristofferson, Jim Nabors, The Lettermen and the many other vocal groups. A few of the other top national touring artists appearing have been The Doobie Brothers, Ringo Starr, Charlie Daniels, and numerous rock, country, gospel, jazz, and contemporary groups. Grammy winners, CMA winners, Tony winners, Opry legends, and Oscar winners have appeared.

In addition to the celebrity performances the theater produces three or four Broadway-style revues each year: a Christmas Show and

typically two or three others with changing themes. Recent revue themes have been: Rocket Men (the music of Elton John and Billy Joel), Broadway’s Best, Classic Crooners, British Invasion, and Music of the 60’s and 70’s. Each features a combination of singing, dancing, comedy skits, and a live orchestra. All are very well done and audience participation is usually included. Click on the picture above to go to the American Music Theatre's web site.

Sight & Sound's Millennium Theatre

Our third choice is the area’s largest performing arts venue, Sight and Sound’s Millennium Theatre. It has more than 2,000 seats, a wrap-around 300-foot stage that encloses the audience on three sides, and first rate technical capabilities. With all that and a large cast, that often includes live animals, it can and does produce theatrical spectaculars based on stories from the Bible.

Over the years the theater’s shows have included, among others: The Splendor of Easter, The Eternal Flame, Noah the Musical, Abraham and Sarah a Journey of Love, Joseph, In the Beginning, and Psalms of David. I’ve been to two others, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, and The Miracle of Christmas; both were truly spectacular and inspiring. It’s not surprising that more than 800,000 people a year come from all over the world to see live theater in this top-notch venue. Click on the picture above to go to the theater’s web site.

Click to return from LIVE THEATER to PERFORMING ARTS