Hippodrome Theatre

Address:	12 N Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Phone:	+1 410-837-7400
Site:	france-merrickpac.com
Rating:	4.2

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 5

Ashley Huber

Ive seen several performances at the Hippodrome and each has been a pleasure. I would like to address some of the negative comments others have left. First, many reviewers have mentioned the theater seats are too cramped. Larger theater-goers might feel a bit squished, but not so uncomfortable that they can not enjoy the show! My husband is 64" and though he will tell you the seats are tight, they are not uncomfortable. I would compare the seating to airplane seating. Other posters have mentioned the dress-code at the Hippodrome is too relaxed. This, of course, it a matter of opinion. Personally, I am grateful that the Hippodrome, (as well as many other arts venues in Baltimore, from the Lyric to the Meyerhoff and Centerstage, and all of our lovely museums) do not enforce a dress code. I think this opens the arts to everyone, and no matter what you wear to a performance at the Hippodrome, you will not feel out of place. Wear your ballgown or your jeans--youll see them both at the Hippodrome! Another poster has mentioned that the view is sometimes obstructed. This is true, especially ina theater that is one hundred years old. I have never been to *any* theater that didnt have some obstructed views--and those seats are cheaper for that reason. I will say, many of the performances Ive seen at the Hippodrome have made a special effort to make sure the people in the cheap seats were privy to all aspects of the show. Actors will often perform in the upper walkways and balconies of the theater so everyone can see. Most importantly, the acoustics in the Hippodrome are good (though not fantastic) and hearing the performers or the orchestra is rarely an issue. As far as the staff, other than ticket sales and bartenders, I have not had to interact, but my experiences with the staff have always been pleasent. I will say the drink service at the Hippodrome leaves something to be desired. I have had flat sodas and at $5 a pop, thats simply outrageous. And I do wish theyd use higher-end liquor. If theyre going to charge me $8 for a cocktail in a Dixie cup, at least use the decent stuff. Of course, the fact that you can usually take your drink right to your seat during the performance does help alleviate the pain of over-paying for beverages. Most importantly, the theater itself is truly beautiful--take your seat early and take in the gorgeous view *before* the show when the theater lights are all on. Parking is some of the easiest in the city. The Lexington market parking lot is very affordable and right down the street and there are parking garages very close by. Ultimately, the experience of seeing a performance at the Hippodrome is something every Baltimorean or guest to our wonderful city should experience--and with reasonable ticket prices, easy parking, relaxed dress code, and a variety of performances to satisfy everyones taste--theres simply no excuse not to go!

Tanya Goodman

Where to begin.. BEWARE when going about ordering tickets! I was going to order tickets on-line until my husband said," its probably best to call and speak directly with a representative so they can help you find seats". Big mistake! The representative was very knowledgeable and found seats for my sister-in-law and I very quickly and even helped us to save a few bucks by choosing Zone E. Soon after hanging up I went to my email and found an email from the ticking agent that there was a problem and to call. We immediately phoned and spoke with a representative that needed to put us on hold to speak with someone else to find out what the problem was. When the rep came back to the phone they said that my husband would need to fax a copy of his Id, maybe because of the email address not matching his name on the card. Who knows, we never got a straight answer. My husband said ok but its 10pm and I cant do it until tomorrow morning. The rep said not a problem. The next morning first thing, I faxed a copy of his drivers license and called and was put on hold again. They said that they never received the fax and that it could take up to 30 minutes to receive a fax (to receive a fax- Ive never heard of such a thing!). 4 calls later, they said that they still havent received that fax. Mind you, I received confirmation sheet every time AND verified the fax number with them 3xs. Four reps later, I asked to speak with a manager and was told that they couldnt disclose any information to me because I wasnt the card holder AND that our tickets were never held for us AND that the card was never charged!! If this was the case why didnt, A. the rep tell us this last night and B. why wasnt I told this first thing this morning. POOR communication skills for sure!!! I gave my husband their contact information. This has left a really sour taste in my mouth with ever ordering tickets from the Hippodrome again...Good luck with your purchase.

A Private User

My husband and I went to see Celtic Woman at the Hippodrome, which we have never been in before, and it was simply gorgeous inside. We were very much impressed with the beauty of the building both inside and out. But we do have some negative issues with the theatre. The seating is horrible-the seats were too crammed together so it felt like we were sardines in a can. There is no dress code. Some people were not dressed well at all for going to such a beautiful and classy place- Jeans, T-shirts, stretch pants and tennis shoes is too home casual. A cafe serves light fare, but its crowded; arrive early or eat somewhere else before heading to the theater. We had to wait in the lobby before the doors were opened to the actual theater. But there were several benches along the wall, which were nice to sit on but there was definitely not enough seating. People were allowed to bring their drinks back to their seats, which is a negative in my book. With such crammed seating there is nowhere to put your drinks, unless you put them on the floor and if they get kicked over, you have a mess. I would not go back to the Hippodrome unless its a show I ABSOLUTELY must see.

A Private User

AMBIANCE WAS GREAT BUT STAFF/SERVICE LEFT ALOT TO BE DESIRED.....My womens group plan a wonderful holiday event every year and this year we went with the Hippodrome as our venue. First off just to book it was an ordeal, we spoke to several unprofessional people before we finally spoke to a manager to get our head count increased. They even tried to increae the amount we owed for food once our event started because of miscommunication. Good thing, our coordinator kept her texts and e-mails from the manager as proof, The staff was rude and inappropriate. For example, one staff was observed rolling her eyes at guests and stating " I am ready to go" in a very belligerent manner. They would not dim the lights to make the atmosphere more conducive to dancing and partying. Have you ever been followed in a department store by security as you shop?...well thats how this experience felt. The drinks were completely watered down and cost too much as compared to the amount of pre-measured liquor they gave us. The Hippodrome will never see our business again nor will we recommend them to anyone.

Erin La

This is a beautiful hundred and two year old Theatre. Both the exterior and interior of the historic building have been well-maintained. As others have said, the seating is very tight. I had very little, if any, extra leg room and Im only 5 foot 4 and 125 pounds. We were lucky enough to see Beauty and the Beast and enjoyed the show very much. Our seats were located in the right middle balcony row H seats 208 and 210. Our view was completely unobstructed, and my nine-year-old could see well without a booster seat. We had the opportunity to tour the whole theater during intermission, and I dont believe there was any bad seats in the House. Please note, there are seats for sale that say obstructed View, and they werent kidding. Save yourself some time and frustration and money and book a different seat. If I had a complaint, it would be that the theater allows food and drink to be consumed during the show. It never got quiet in the theater because there was always a low rumbling of people eating or package crinkling.