The Arts Asylum

Arts Asylum provides a wonderful intimate theater experience! They always have really interesting, funny, quirky, and inclusive productions going on. They have tons of community partnerships, and they are one of my favorite Fringe Festival venues every year! They have a huge parking lot, which makes parking in this busy area easy! The entrance is by the garage door on the NE corner of the building. They have gender neutral restrooms and typically will have a small bar operating for evening performances. Excellent dining options within walking distance -- make a whole night out of it!

Opening in 2012 The Arts Asylum advertises itself as "A Safe Place To Create". The safeness is questionable when looking around the neighborhood; It is surrounded by derelict apartment buildings, homeless shelters and a park notorious for drugs and crime. They did have visible security outside during the event so I have no issues attending, I just wouldn't want anyone to think that they could walk to an evening performance since it's only a few blocks away from tourist areas to the west. The structure is an impressive looking old large stone behemoth that surely has much history.The interior space is nothing fancy, but serves the purpose of allowing mainstream community theater groups such as the Barn Players to more experimental groups such as Faust Theater and The Fringe Festival to practice and perform. There is also studio and gallery space available. The theater holds around 200 I'm estimating. I attended this week to see Lizzie - A Rock Opera by Faust Theater Co. It was a great production and well performed by all 4 actors and a 6 piece rock band. A few minor issues. Each seat row has only one entrance and there are a couple of poles to avoid when picking your seat. The sound was not the best and I moved from the 2nd row to the back row at intermission to get a better listening experience. They were only serving wine and Bud Lite at the concession stand, since we are here to support local arts, stock some BLVD or KC Bier options! Even for the minor issues, they deserve at least 4 stars for giving artists and patrons another option in this great arts city.

This place is amazing. Right where you'd least expect it (1000 E 9th St) surrounded by brown brick and empty sidewalks, is this intimate Off-Broadway-Style theater producing remarkable shows. Sure, the street parking leaves something to be desired. (There is also free parking in a lot behind the building across the street, but I've never had to use it.) But they do have people patrolling the area/watching the cars, and the front doors are well-lit, with folks waiting to welcome you in. Up a few steps to a modest lobby and concession area, you may think you're in for an evening of low-budget theater. But there you'd be wrong. This is professional theater without the frills, but with all the talent and gripping intensity people come to the theater for.The lobby doors open onto a wonderfully versatile stage area, with just enough comfortable seating that everyone can see the expressions on the actors' faces and hear their voices clearly. I've seen two productions here, Rock of Ages (Nov 2018/The Barn Players), and Jesus Christ Superstar (Sep 2019/This Happy Breed). Both were absolutely top notch. I'm talking excellent singers and actors (many are Equity members), high-quality sound - not too loud, not too soft, juuuuust right (I counted at least seven lavalier mics, and there are probably more). In 2018, I was amazed at what a great job was done with a plain rectangular wooden stage and folding chairs. Rock of Ages was the best performance I attended all that year, and I see a lot of theater!But this year I was amazed how much this little venue has improved. Jesus Christ Superstar had a circular stage with several rows of seating to the left and right, as well as new tiered theater seating. They're not recliners, but they're padded and very comfortable. And as in 2018, the production used every bit of the space. Actors entered and exited from the aisles, the sides, from all over. It was completely immersive. And mesmerizing. During the intermission I texted my go-to theater partner that we absolutely HAD to see this one together, and we agreed on a date. You know those chills you get down the back of your neck when something really affects you? That happened to me three times during Jesus Christ Superstar. And that was just the preview.After the production I just sat there, stunned. Then I turned to the lady beside me, whose daughter was in the show and said, "Wow." For once, words failed me. I was sorry there wasn't a DVD for me to buy.Then I went back into the lobby to buy two more tickets. After which I spent 20 minutes hunting down the actors, shaking their hands, and actually obtaining their autographs, something I NEVER do. It was that good.Oh, and one of the security people was happy to accompany me back to my car, which was parked around the corner from the theater. I'm really sorry I missed the other productions this place has turned out. They're performing Victor/Victoria this November (2019). I'll be in the front row.If you haven't attended a production at this place, you are absolutely missing out.

I went to see a friend in a performance.....the first time here. I was not too excited with the location, but security around the building was great and very helpful in parking and maneuvering out after the show. It is a nice venue for a show, obviously newly renovated. Very nice!

The newly renovated space is amazingly beautiful. The event space is always well maintained and the security for the event space is always friendly and visible. This place is helping bring arts and creativity to the city and those who may not always have access.