The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts image

The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

Event venue Live music venue Performing arts theater Non profit organization Arts organization

One of the Most Reviewed Performing arts theaters in Louisville


Address

501 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Website

www.kentuckyperformingarts.org

Contact

(502) 584-7777

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (3K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: great (20) show (16) seats (13) venue (12) experience (10) seat (9) garage (9) time (8) stage (8) staff (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Kelsey Diane B. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a fantastic venue to watch a show! Always love getting to enjoy the performing arts at the Kentucky Center.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Pattie C. 2 years ago on Google
    Had a SPECTACULAR NIGHT at the "JUNK YARD" with the beautiful CATS!!! I love this show, and these performers were the best I've seen in AWHILE-- BRAVO!!!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Dave H. 1 year ago on Google
    I’ve been twice. I like the shows, but this is a badly designed building. The lobby is mobbed and confusing before every show, and it’s hard to get any refreshments, merch, or find the right door for your seats. There aren’t enough aisles so you have to squeeze by 50 people to find your seat. I’ll go back, but I curse the architect every time.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ben H. 1 year ago on Google
    Saw the Broadway Across America production of Hamilton. Great show! Regarding the venue, the seats can be slightly snug for those with shared armrests. From what I can tell, every seat in the house has a good view of the stage. More beverage stations are sorely needed to serve patrons during intermissions. Additional restrooms would alleviate being rushed during intermissions as well. Arrive at least 45 minutes early for large productions.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Miguel C. 1 year ago on Google
    It was a wonderful show got to see Hamilton they have a lot of plays going on this summer, only thing is that seats are really uncomfortable hopefully they get those seats replaced but other than that it was enjoyable and had a great time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michelle Diaz O. 1 year ago on Google
    Pruvit rented this space for the whole weekend for our Hacking conference. The staff from the theater was wonderful and super friendly and I want to say a warm and sincere thank you to them for everything that they did for us! The only thing that I would suggest is possibly providing more chairs or places for persons with disabilities to sit while waiting to be able to go upstairs into the theater.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James Smith (. 2 years ago on Google
    We go to the Nutcracker every year during Christmas. The Kentucky Center for the Performance Arts is a great facility that is very clean and very spacious. The grand tier seats are amazing. The Nutcracker is always a great performance.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Heather P. 6 months ago on Google
    We just went to see Wicked and it was a great experience. The lady helping with seat location was friendly and helpful. The place was clean and organized. We parked on the street, so I don’t know how garage parking was. Overall, a great experience.

  • 5/5 Paul H. 5 months ago on Google
    We went to see Joanne Shaw Taylor last night. Tickets were very reasonable. The venue is very cool. Everyone was nice and quite helpful. The seating is set up at a steep angle, so unless someone is standing up in front of you, you'll have an unobstructed view of the stage. I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. As far as the show is concerned, it was fabulous! I think she should get more attention than she's getting. She's a great guitarist and singer and gives 110 percent. Thanks for a great experience!

  • 4/5 Shell R. 5 months ago on Google
    Handicap drop off was excellent. Mom uses cane. She was escorted inside by a friendly volunteer. Seated in Orchestra Left. The row of seats extends from one side of the room to the other with no middle aisle. So all patrons in your row must enter from one end or the other and squeeze past others to get to the assigned seat. Distracting if someone gets up during performance. The first level seating floor has no incline, so my view of center stage was blocked by the big and tall guy in front of me. Otherwise comfortable, clean, nice environment. Great performance.

  • 5/5 Alexandria O. 6 months ago on Google
    Saw Wicked for the first time here. It was a wonderful production. The staff were also very friendly. The view of the stage is great, no matter where you're seated.

  • 4/5 Joey W. 6 months ago on Google
    The performance was excellent! Parking was easy and organized. We parked in the parking garage and were able to enter the center from the garage. Ushers and greeters were nice and friendly. Opportunities: lengthen intermission time or renovate or add restrooms. A high number of folks in line for the facilities were not able to use the facilities in the time allowed for intermission. May also need to add an additional refreshment staff or an additional refreshment station. Similar to the restroom issue several folks had to leave the extensive refreshment line without getting anything as the ushers were stating it's time to take your seats or you will have to wait an additional 9 minutes to enter the theater.

  • 5/5 Kenneth R. 5 months ago on Google
    Great experience! We went to see Nightmare before Christmas performed by the Louisville Orchestra and it was great! Incredible to think of all the music throughout the movie that they played and were near perfect!

  • 5/5 Dolly 10 months ago on Google
    They know how to get people in and get them out. It is a beautiful venue. They even have enough leg room for this type of place. I had just been to the Brown Theater and it was horribly disorganized. So nice to come to a place that has all their ducks in a row. Even the parking garage help Was helpful.. we were all waiting to get on one lane and a worker waved us over and showed another entrance. Good job workers.

  • 5/5 Joan E. F. 2 years ago on Google
    The K.C.A is an amazing venue. Plays, concerts, and general entertainment - it doesn't matter - each seat has a great view.

  • 5/5 Dale B. 6 months ago on Google
    Saw Manheim Steamroller roller perform and it was truly amazing. The center was absolutely beautiful and the box seats are just wonderful. Whitney Hall is so beautiful we will definitely return. Came back again and saw Wicked and it was truly phenomenal.

  • 4/5 Angela I. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a great place to see so many kinds of performances, from community theater to poetry slams to touring Broadway shows.

  • 5/5 Janet C. 9 months ago on Google
    Security, ushers, and center guides were attentive, helpful, and wanted to provide best environment possible. The Center and its facilities (restrooms, hallways, stairs, garage) were clean. The play "To Kill a Mockingbird" had attractive and unique scenery. The actors were great.

  • 5/5 Terrence J. 9 months ago on Google
    I happened to be in town and had the opportunity to take in opening night of To Kill A Mockingbird. The place was beautiful! My only complaint is that my seat was in a tight location. Was sitting in the balcony, on the end and just didn't have much legroom. Great view and great show though! Like the show specific drink options too...cool touch!

  • 5/5 Bill W. 1 year ago on Google
    Tuesday, April 18, 2023 for John Mellenkamp performance. Whitney Hall is an outstanding venue for concerts and theater. Located in downtown Louisville between Main Street and the Ohio River. Covered parking is available at the KCA or adjacent Galt House garage. Sound and views are great from any seat location. No obstructions. Full bar serves spirits, wine, and beer.

  • 5/5 Tiffany W. 1 year ago on Google
    🌟Venue was gorgeous. Went for. 🎼 🎶KMEA KY High School State Choir Showcase🎼🎶; as my daughter auditioned & made it.. I was blown away at the acoustics in the facility and how well the seating arrangements were. Also, how easy the seats were to get to. 🎼✨Had a minor problem with an event security guard involving my niece. Which truly ruined her experience and a big part of it for me as well... As we missed the second choir entirely trying to get her calmed down (He put his hands on her for no reason. She was doing what was asked by another event staff. When she walked off, he walked over and dragged her by her hood to a chair and forcibly pushed her down in it). It was taken care of quickly, professionally, & most important - quietly by the head of security. He was calling the owner himself when we left. We also have the his & the owners private numbers). They were a privately hired company, I later found out & I was guaranteed he no longer works for the facility. They were very compassionate to her experience, as he was very out of line. It made it hard with the mixed emotions I felt because my daughter was 3rd choir to go on stage... I was beaming with pride and ecstatic, watching her showcase, but directly after that incident just happened; we had to dry our tears so she wouldn't see us upset and we wouldn't ruin her pictures or the experience for my daughter...(we were 5 rows apart. She could definitely tell we were upset). I wish it had been different. 🎼✨Otherwise the venue itself was great. The other staff couldn't have been better. Everyone was very friendly, helpful and courteous. Everyone knew their job and their exact place. Especially the head of staff and the way said incident was handled. Everyone functioned like a well oiled machine. We will definitely return and for sure 10/10 recommend to a friend! 🎼🎶Thru the bad, we still made many wonderful memories and had an amazing time. Those children are blessed to be able to sing that way; and I thank you for allowing them to use your venue to showcase their incredible talents!! 🎼🎶

  • 5/5 Dale M. 1 year ago on Google
    My wife and I went to see Pretty Woman at the KY Ctr. for the Arts last Tuesday evening. As always, a packed crowd and a clean house. This year all of my tickets are on my phone, and I know showing my age, but I was having a little trouble pulling out tickets up. Fortunately the nice lady at the entrance patiently waited while my wife and I struggled to locate our tickets. She was about to go get help for us when lightning struck and we found them. We took our seats in the nosebleed section, third row from the top and waited for the show. I brought my binoculars which we switched back and forth throughout the evening, but could see well even without. The show had great singers, dancers, humor and the Cinderella story is always one of hope for this sorry world. They handled the most mature matters with discretion. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our middle of the week date night and encourage you all to see this wonderful show.

  • 4/5 Marcia Mc C. 1 year ago on Google
    The Kentucky Center for Performing Arts is a wonderful venue for your most anticipated theater productions. After seeing "Hamilton" there I was committed to coming back again and I recently did that to experience "The Nutcracker," which was amazing!! The only downside of this venue and most other theaters is the small seats and narrow aisles between rows. While either of those things make my seating a bit less comfortable, I will definitely return!!

  • 5/5 Melissa C. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful venue, nice comfortable seating. Tons of friendly staff to help direct you to where you need to be. Accessible and affordable parking in garage right past building on next side street off of main street.. Saw fiddler on the roof here 2 weekends ago (great performance by entire cast, loved it!), just a great experience all around.

  • 5/5 Dirty Mike & The B. 1 year ago on Google
    We came here for Hamilton. Getting into and around the venue was a breeze. Parking garage around the corner is a blessing. We loved every minute of being here. All the lines to the bathroom, bar and souvenirs moved exceptionally fast. No issues seeing or hearing the performers. We'll be back here again. BTW if you haven't seen Hamilton, it is worth the time and money. The chemistry between the actors is real. The power in their voices, connections to their characters and with the message of each song is amazing. We've seen a fair amount of shows in NY on Broadway and we were blown away with this group of performers for Hamilton. I don't cry. Ever. But their performances were so real, so well delivered that you could not help but connect with them. The whole show will stir a sense of patriotism in you and seeing such a diverse cast boldly underlines what is great about America!

  • 5/5 Eugene Junie Barlow J. 2 years ago on Google
    I went to see the musical play CATS, and it was excellent. The staff were very helpful in finding my seat. Especially finding my car in the parking garage. Who does that today? They went beyond the call of duty in helping me. They deserve 5 stars.

  • 5/5 Wild 2 years ago on Google
    Saw Cats with some friends. Strange show, but amazing performances. Beers are priced how you'd expect but mixed drinks were very expensive.

  • 5/5 Elias F. 2 years ago on Google
    Common Threads by Looking for Lilith was great show. It shines a light on the struggles many people in the community and the world has felt but also in the worst of times still found strength in each other and through humor. I loved and recommend it. 🎭🥰

  • 3/5 Sauni D. 2 years ago on Google
    My family and I had been waiting to see this show since last year. When we heard that they were coming to Louisville, we were extremely excited and couldn't wait for the experience. Sadly we were disappointed in more ways than one. The theater seats were very congested and uncomfortable. There were open private balcony seating that was not available when we purchased our tickets. The theater informed us that we needed to provide a vaccination card or a 3 day prior negative Covid test. They were so concerned about social distance, that they had several unoccupied private seats that I'm sure people who have purchased to ensure their safety as well as comfortably. The aisle ways were narrow, slippery and overall unsafe. The production play was beautiful but the advertising was very exaggerated. At the most, there were only 12 performers on the stage until the last stage play. The stage was small and you could see the hot pink tape on the floor that marked the performers positions. The orchestra was flawless and the commentators were very knowledgeable and entertaining..For the amount of money that we paid for the tickets and the distance we traveled to see the play, I doubt that I would make another $500 investment in the Kentucky Center for Performing Arts again..

  • 4/5 Grant B. 2 years ago on Google
    Wildly entertaining Alton Brown, show Beyond the Eats. A mix of anecdotes, stories and of course some food displays, with Altons Scientific Touch. Very funny and entertaining, especially if you're a fan of the culinary world and Altons variety of talents.


Call (502) 584-7777 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Checks
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Assistive hearing loop
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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