The Footlight Club

I have seen two shows at the Footlight Club so far, and I am definitely a fan. I always find community theater suspect, because production values are usually pretty low, and they make a point of asking for donations on top of your ticket price. All of these things remain true of Footlight Club except for the production values, which are awesome.
The actual venue is not much to look at. It is not far removed from being from a church, or a black box theater. The rest rooms, and tickets sales are on the first floor with a flight of stairs up to the theater on the second. The seats are really old, worn, and heavily cushioned. They work well enough for supporting your body long enough to watch a show, and are not uncomfortable while they do it, but they are definitely not the latest, and greatest in seating technology.
Fun fact: during my show the producers introduced the show by asking for $ 200k in donations to upgrade the 200 or so seats in the theater. That felt a little overpriced to me, but what can you do? Community theaters love to ask for money.
Footlight Club seems to attract some really high level, amateur talent. Most recently I saw their production of Batboy, and was thoroughly impressed with their performers, and vocalists. The directors definitely pushed the performers to put on a good show rather than going through the motions to put on just any show. They also shy away from no content, artistically playing rape scenes in the same show as a song, and dance number.
Footlight Club shows are definitely great. They pull absolutely no punches, pulling out all of the stops to entertain audiences in their historic /​dated building. If you are ever in this corner of the world with a hankering to support amateur theater, I recommend Footlight Club for some of the best.

If you don’t order online forget it if the show is popular. You will get only crappy seats at the door. Price at the door is higher than online as well. Community theater is great; community theater that knows its great is not. Save your money for a theater company that cares.

The Footlight Club is «America’s Oldest Community Theater» having «performed every year since 1877» at their location in Eliot Hall on a small residential street in Jamaica Plain off Centre Street.
Parking is street parking (read the signs) or at the public lot behind the «Blanchard’s» which is located on on Centre St.
Five shows are scheduled for the current season with show times on Fridays, Saturdays, and sometimes Sundays.
I watched «Monty Python’s SPAMALOT» and was completely entertained! The actors gave it their all, and the sets and costumes were just fine. Seats were a bit old and worn, but just comfy enough. Some rows were flat on the ground while others in the back were raised a tad on wooden risers.
Concessions are conveniently priced at a dollar apiece whether for a bottle of water, a soda, a bag of chips or a candy bar. Cash only of course. But only water is allowed into the theater upstairs.
My best guess is that they may not be entirely handicap accessible since there are a handful of steps at the entrance to the building, and I didn’t notice any elevator. But there was a large individual bathroom available on the first floor as well as the more public but still rather roomy gendered restrooms.

Just saw Wait Until Dark at the Footlight Club in Jamaica Plain. It was great theater and a great thriller. Don’t miss it! It runs Fridays and Saturdays through February 16^th!

Ok, so shoot me. I am not a theater fan and this place is just plain uncomfortable. Yeah, its the oldest theater around, but times they have changed… update the seating please!
If you are short and unlucky enough to sit behind someone like me, a giant, then you are screwed.
Parking is what it is. its in JP so good luck!

I saw Rent here a few weekends ago. Street parking around the JP area was not bad. The Footlight Club is a bit out-​of-​date. Names are handwritten on the ticket. However, they seem to be very accommodating to requests since it is a small community theater. Seats were not really comfortable and small. I sat next to a pretty big person so my experience might be a little biased. Avoid sitting in the last 5 – 7 rows from the back unless you are pretty tall.

I saw A Midsummer Night’s Dream last night. For the first time in many years, the FLC theater has been reconfigured in the round. Players enter and leave by all the aisles and doors, and sometimes sit among the audience (as Midsummer has a play within a play). The set is sparse and other-​worldly pale: three ghostly trees with filmy draperies make a triangle that frames the action. And there is plenty of that. Director Caitlin Lowans has chosen an energetic reading with physical presence and dynamic movement central to its appeal, and this is achieved without losing textual clarity. The young Athenians are full of quirky conflict, completely believable as young lovers and would-​be lovers, with Helena and Hermia (Lisa Dempsey and Jen Bean) delightful. Brian Moyer shines as Bottom with his wonderfully hammy acting as Pyramus, especially in his masterfully drawn-​out death. Puck is the most vivacious of all, played with crackling relentless nervous energy by Bobby Imperato. The Fairies are an enticing mixture of spices, especially Mote (Hannah Woodsum), who gets a cameo role cavorting cheerily with Puck. But the centerpiece of the play is, as it must be, Titania-​Oberon. Titania (Frances Price) inhabits her role with beauty and elegance befitting her status as Queen of the fairies, the embodiment of reasonableness and assured dignity. Oberon is a muscular and at times menacing presence, intent on having his own way by any means necessary. And yet they contrive to emerge as equals as the play concludes, maintaining a pleasing dramatic tension until the very end. I was delighted, as was the whole audience, by this fresh, youthful, and true reading of this timeless play. See it.

Wonderful place to see a show! A great opportunity to support local theatre as well as an accommodating place to bring a group.

10 stars. This is a lil gem of a place. It appears to be well-​maintained which can’t be easy given that it is a large, old building. but, alas it is beautiful. was impressed by their production of «oliver»

This is such a great, raw space to see some wonderful local actors in a wide variety of shows. And I say raw because the décor of the theater is so old world and funky.
I used to take dance lessons on the first floor of the building and loved hearing the echoing sounds of the actors during rehearsal. They put on so many great shows during the year. You may even get a chance to see one of the talented McIntyre family members!
Looking forward to the next show.

The Footlight Club is fantastic. I just finished my first show there and it was such a wonderful experience. All of the people involved are super friendly and inviting. I would encourage any actor to audition and any theatre goer to come check out and support this place. Maybe if enough people do… they’ll be able to put in air conditioning!

Why didn’t I know about this place before. I’ve been living in JP for 4 years and Boston for 9.
I went to see my friend perform in «All in the Timing» here. I found the Footlight Club to be cosy and charming.
Now that I know it’s there I hope to see more shows there, you should too.

So. I was a monkey. On stage here. For an audition this weekend. Probably shouldn’t have worn a skirt huh? Anyway, I haven’t seen a show here yet, but I did get to wander around a little bit.
The Footlight Club is America’s oldest community theater. The building itself is called Eliot Hall and she’s doing well in her old age (although they have some major renovations planned)! For SOME random reason. this place reminds me of Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. Anyone? Anyone? I know. it’s strange. So while I was here there was some rehearsal going on the first floor and the auditions were up in the theater. From the theater you could hear the the bottom floor singers. so sound definitely carries. No latecomers please. seems like you’d hear them on stage. The chairs have definitely seen better days. Some worn metal plates have been replaced with tape and written-​in chair numbers. The chairs, although rickety, are loads better than the Orpheum and on stacked palattes (?). I’m assuming so that they can be moved if needed. There was something charming about it. I don’t know. we’ll have to see how I feel after a show and if rickety/​old equals loud/​annoying.
From the stand point of someone looking to rent space. they have some really awesome prices. If you’re looking to do a show, definitely check out the room rental rates. If you’ve done business with them for at least a year and are a member, you receive a 20% discount. I’ve seen rental rates for one day in smaller spaces in Cambridge that equate four days here!
It’s literally a minute or two from several bus lines going back to Forest Hills. Back Bay. or Dudley. I’ll definitely be back to check out the theater. Their next show will be selections from All in the Timing by David Ives. I don’t know if I’ll have the pleasure of being in the show, but I’ll probably be there one way or the other. Ticket prices range from $ 16 — $ 23. There are discoutns for seniors, children, groups, students.etc.

OK, I’m biased. I am a volunteer there. But I only joined (a few years ago) because I really love this place! The first time I went to see a show there, it was «Sweeney Todd.» It was so good I just couldn’t believe it. It was a bargain compared to theaters in town. Now I’m a volunteer and I’ve met some of my closest friends there. Anyway, if you’re in JP and want a cheap, fun night out — totally worth a trip. And if you are a volunteery — theater geek type, it’s great fun.