Black Box Theater

We saw a show about Billie Holiday. Great performance and nice, intimate theater, with ample parking and snacks that are surprisingly at good prices. Looking forward to catching more shows, since it's close to us.

First time here, for Runaway Stage Productions' "Avenue Q" (straying from their usual 24th Street Theatre location). Located on the second floor of the West Sac Community Center, this building felt brand new and altogether inviting. Grabbed a vanilla chai tea latte (although the spiced chai tea latte is just as good) from Cafe La Boutique (La Bou), which we were free to take inside the theater as well. The second floor boasted a Sunshine Deck and beautiful "Fluttering Canopy" glass art piece above the main stairwell. Restrooms downstairs with plenty of signage so you couldn't miss them very clean. The Black Box Theatre itself could seat about 125 people max capacity, seats were comfortable (but not the norm cushioned folding type) for the ~2 hour show. Very intimate setting, absolutely perfect for the puppeteering (should I say, Muppeteering?) in Avenue Q, with actors utilizing the onset stage as well as the aisles and exits. Not sure where the orchestra was hiding, although I'm pretty sure there was a live orchestra, hah. Two flatscreens included for the show, not sure if those are normally part of the performance space. Bravo! Easy to get to off of Jefferson Blvd/Tower Bridge Gateway, and we were able to use the Joint Use Parking Area shared by the Community Center and the Library. My only regret? Not getting a photo with Trekkie Monster or the Bad Idea Bears.

Thus was a nice intimate venue and the crew and actors did a GREAT job. It is a very casual and laid-back theater and I saw Avenue Q - it was GREAT. I loved that I could take my wine and snacks that I bought at their little cafe into the theater to enjoy while watching the show.

We went and saw "Next to Normal" and thought it was great. I'm not a theater critic so I won't try to get all fancy and unpack the performance and all that. However, it was intimate with almost every seat in the house being a good seat. The actors were passionate and obviously had spent the time learning the lines...nobody messed up as far as I could tell. The live music was great...good job band (I've never seen a drummer read music before). The venue is contemporary, the staff was super friendly, and the parking was easy peasy. The play itself was a musical (my first) and enjoyable even though the subject matter, mental illness, was pretty intense, which needs no apology as mental illness is not a funny matter. Even so they took a serious, dark subject and made the play very informative in an entertaining way and I left with a softer heart for those who suffer from grief, depression, and anxiety. The only downer was I had to sit behind a lady the entire first half who reeked of baloney, urine, and garlic. Yeah. I literally stuffed my nose down into my shirt so that my cologne masked the smell. My girlfriend who sat next to me claims she never smelled a thing. God bless her. Idk, the rest of the crowd looked good and well washed..but she reeked. Thankfully the usher allowed us to move to the other side of the theater for the second half. Obviously, the stink lady isn't the theaters fault...but wanted to give them kudos for letting us move. Great play, great performace....we'll be back.

Awesome venue hosting amazing shows. It's mind blowing to experience such talent, right in our own backyard! Highly recommend checking this place out and especially recommend seeing Avenue Q. The entire cast is top notch talented, the puppets are unbelievable in a 'believable' kind of way, and the set, etc. was fantastic! Keep up the good work West Sacramento and everyone else responsible for this little gem.