Ford Theatres

Performed a dance program a couple times here. Absolutely gorgeous! One thing about the stage is that it is slightly slanted, so every time we spin, we would slide down towards the audience. But the staff are nice, parking’s good, and absolutely amazing background! :)

Without a doubt is this by FARRR my favorite LA theater.
Luv Luv Luvvvv this place!!!
Located on Cahuenga within what I believe to be the «Universal City» portion of LA, this theater has never disappointed. Serving «Grown and Sexy» upon a silver platter, you’re able to drive up, park and partake in wonderful performances from the establishment’s lovely and intimate venue all beneath the moonlight’s glow.
As most have mentioned, parking can become a bit chaotic as it’s «stacked» if not tandem however, thus far (and I’ve been here a number of times) I’ve always lucked out and been able to inform the attendants that I was performing a «drop off» or wouldn’t be staying long and well… to date, they’ve accommodated my request (s) allowing me to park front-​line and center enabling my exit to be short and relatively simple.
Additionally and as referenced within other reviews, the concession stand is a bit overpriced. By no means is that a complaint however as it’s relatively expected in locations of this sort.
Let’s face facts: We rarely see anyone visit an airport and complain on the price of parking let alone head out to a local cinema and gripe over popcorn being $ 10 and sodas being just as absurdly overpriced. This place is no different. My recommendation is to GTFOI …
An added perk would be the fact that guest (s) are permitted to pack their own goodies; this is inclusive to booze.
—– I tend to go for a small charcuterie platter (gouda, …perhaps brie, drunken goat and/​or chalet and pair it with some nice peppered salama, soppressata, capricola or mortadela. Add a few grapes or raisins and a handful of cashews and you’ve personalized your «goodie bag».
Unlike those somewhat «new» to wine, I tend to stray from Moscato and Stella Rosa… and go for a dry sherry or perhaps a fortified white. —–
Yazzz yazzz…
This review has honestly managed to solidify that I really do need to plan and attend another damned event.
Suffering succotash!!!
Anyway. I much rather this location as opposed to say, the Hollywood Bowl simply due to the level of intimacy conveyed here.
Loosely translated: The Bowl ^ is HUGGE and what I’ve noticed (and this is just me…) is that aside of foraging for parking amid a larger crowd there, when you attend a performance within a larger venue, you’re opening «Pandora’s Box» for all sorts of riff raff let alone the presence of knuckleheads.
I’ve personally smelled and viewed all sorts of «doobie’s» being passed around within the Hollywood Bowl and/​or various other larger locations however, bearing the size of «The Ford» in mind, I can’t fathom such to be achievable.
Thereon and lastly, while I’ve attended Asian, neo-​soul /​spoken word, jazz and Jamaican-​esque performances here (I’m diverse), I’m in love with the facility’s acoustics. You can literally feel the beat of the drums rumbling like a Zula tribe… from within your soul!!!
In short: Arrive early (for parking), pack a platter, embrace the ambiance and leave —- with a smile!

It has always been a great experience but I really miss the Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre. The British Beat was awesome a couple of years ago. I wouldn’t mind seeing them again. When are they coming back?

Love doing Jam Session here! Basically every Monday during the summer months they offer different free and interesting dance/​music classes on the stage. Last year I tried Swing, Bollywood and Drumming, and this year I tried Chicago Steppin’ which was tons of fun!
Parking is free but stacked; the event is free but still requires a ticket for entry– you just go up to the box office and they give you one. Starts at 7pm and goes til about 9pm– In my experience they usually have a lot of class instruction towards the beginning, some partnering up to practice and then basically a free dance period at the end.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to do something fun, free and did I mention fun, and educational all in one, on those otherwise very boring and dreaded Mondays.

Great venue with awesome staff. It is a mini Hollywood Bowl with great local performers. Picnic areas are small and intimate, their bar offers quite a few options to snack on, obviously nothing healthy. They have 4 different types of beer on tap — Heineken, Shock top and 2 others that I cannot remember. Event tickets are inexpensive and any seat you get is great, unless you end up sitting next to girls that talk about her relationship all night. That happened to my sister ha-​ha!
Arrive at least 1 ½ early if you want to find parking in their main lot, otherwise you will do a bit of walking. You might have to park at metro station and take a shuttle. Parking ranges from $ 5 — 10 depending on performance and YES it is stack parking.
Don’t forget to bring your picnic :)

Summer Movie screenings with Outfest; a beloved Family Summer tradition ! Across the 405 from the Hollywood Bowl, with a tunnel underneath. But parking is cheaper at the Ford, but remember it is stacked, so there will be a wait afterwards. And, remember you can picnic beforehand as they updated a few years ago, with many tables and seating areas. Last year, brand new, very comfortable seats for this outdoor ampitheatre.
Enjoy Summer here after checking out the L.A. County website for the John Anson Does Theatre!

What a beautiful place to see a show. Picture the Greek Theatre but on a much smaller scale. Pretty much wherever you’re seated, it’s a great view of the stage and you’re surrounded by the hills and treelined backdrop of whoever is performing.
The acoustics sound great and the seats are decent in terms of comfort. Each one comes equipped with a drink holder in front, but be warned, if you’re seated in the middle of the aisle, you might want to stay put because getting out can be a little rough.
There are two areas for concessions and I recommend hitting the outdoor one. There is one on the fourth floor indoors, but it’s freaking hot inside with little to no ventilation. Add in a line full of people wanting to buy snacks and beer and it’s like taking a hot yoga class without ever getting into a downward dog. Even some of the concession workers were complaining about how miserable it was. For beer, the difference between a large and a small is $ 1. Definitely go all out to get those extra ounces of brew — if you’ve waited patiently in line, you definitely deserve it.
Parking is a little chaotic since it’s stacked. It fills up pretty fast and they force you to park at a metrolink station nearby close to Universal Studios. From there, a free shuttle takes you to the venue and drops you right off in front of the box office. It’s easy in theory, but if you’re really trying to see a show and get there when it starts, you’ve ended up missing pretty much all of the openers by the time you’ve gotten to your seat. Just give yourself about 20-​minutes for the whole shuttle situation. When you leave, it’s just as fun as you have to wait in a line of people in order to get back on to a bus to get back to your car.
If you get there early and buy your drinks before the rush, it’s a-​okay. Just give yourself time to park, maneuver the venue and find your set and you should be fine. They open the doors two hours before the show, so take them up on it.

I always love going to a concert at the Ford Theater. It’s smaller than the Hollywood Bowl and thusly more intimate. I love how they used the greenery of the landscape as the background of the stage itself. I’ve been to a few concerts here and I’ve never been disappointed — both with the acts AND the venue/​staff.

What a great venue! Give yourself the opportunity to check out a show here, you won’t regret it!
The perks:
*It’s BYO… Anything! Dinner? Snacks? Poison of your choice? Bring ‘em all! But if you choose not to (for whatever reason), they do have concession stands throughout. Just be mindful that their items are not cheap! $ 4 for a bottle of water? No, thank you.
*The venue has plenty of picnic seating to accommodate big groups or small, if you choose to picnic prior to the show! (Word to the wise: Definitely picnic before the show. Makes the night that much more fun. Trust.) So get there a bit early and claim a spot. Once the show starts you’re more than welcome to take your snack/​drank (‘cuz we’re keeping it classy) to your seat and munch/​sip away!
*Parking is only $ 5. It’s stacked parking, but you won’t wait for too long to get out. You also have the option of parking at the Universal City metro station lot and taking a shuttle up. And depending on the show, this option is free! This works perfectly if you enjoy taking the metro :)
*The theater is super quaint. So every seat is a good seat!
Enjoy the show!

I am in love with this theater!!! OMG! This is an open air theater with a very intimate feel… as one performer last night put it, «this is a sexy theater.» I came here for the first time for the Fly Poet showcase with Rahssan Patterson, Evelyn Champagne King, and all of the amazing poets and it was a great show!!! Ok, back to the theater review… the parking is stacked parking so be aware of that before you go, you might have to wait for other patrons before exiting. I will say that we didn’t wait long… people can’t linger though… if you know you are stacked especially toward the front of the line, hurry your butt up and get to your car! You are able to bring your own food and drinks inside which is awesome!!! The theater had two concession areas, one upstairs and one downstairs which served regular movie style concessions but had sandwiches and veggies with hummus which is what I had and it was soooo goood!!! The bathrooms were large enough to accommodate the crowd during intermission. One note about exiting the concession stand or bathrooms and returning to your seats, they have these weird handle– less doors that can only be pushed open from one side… if you have a lot of food in your hand you are going to have a hard time opening those doors if they are closed…
I loved the feel of this place where the stage is backdropped by the mountains and because it was enclosed by the mountains and the frame of the buildings it wasn’t cold or breezy, I didn’t have a need for the light sweater that I brought (granted it was a summer night).
This is an awesome place to view a band or theatrical production (think Shakespeare in the park or something along those lines). I would love to see another show here!!! Awesome night! Awesome times! :)

Had the opportunity to take in an event tonight at the Ford Amphitheater tonight and was blown away on my experience.
As with the bowl, it’s stacked parking or a free shuttle from a nearby metro station. Parking was not an issue tonight and upon our return to our car, the stars aligned and despite being 5^th in our row, the first four came all at the same time and we were out of there.
It’s a bit of a walk to the theatre, with several flights of stairs OR a criss-​cross ramp for the handicapped (actually there is handicapped parking up top, on the third level, near the entrance of the amphitheater). Super well designed and easy.
The theatre itself is outdoor, and completely redone this year. It’s about 1100 seats, all brand new with excellent sight lines and sounds. It’s built into the mountain and is just gorgeous.
Staff was very pleasant and attentive, you can arrive early and take your own food, beer, wine to enjoy before, and during (on your lap) the event. Tonight was a TaikoProject concert, which was excellent!
If you have a chance to see an event, don’t hesitate — pack up a basket, and enjoy.

We went to the Ford for the Antics «Illuminated Manuscript» show. We got the tickets for free through our Fill A Seat LA membership (
). It was a hip hop dance interpretation of a classical epic, and it was amazing. It is not something we would normally pick out, but the tickets were free and the Ford is walking distance from our house, so it was a no brainier. Plus we ended up loving it!
Everything at the Ford was extremely easy, it is basically a smaller version of the Hollywood Bowl (which we also love). You can bring your own food/​drink inside but there are also concessions available if you wish to purchase. The show we went to was GA but we were able to get great seats even only arriving about 10mins before show time. The space feels much more intimate than the Bowl and it is very easy to navigate. We’ll be returners for sure.
Foursquare special: on every 5^th check-​in you get 2 free tickets to a show.

I attended the J.A.M session West African Dance and it was much different than I expected. I thought it was going to be something I would just be watching but I was very wrong it was interactive and they were teaching us how to dance and use it as a form of exercise. The drumming was amazing and the atmosphere was very laid back, it was just a really nice way to spend a monday evening.

I think I found my new favorite music venue. Great location, gorgeous, outdoor, intimate, and just plain easy.
I went here recently to see The Tallest Man on Earth perform with Strand of Oaks as an opening act. I had seen them earlier on their tour at the Wiltern, which I thought was an amazing experience until I came here! Traffic getting into the area was horrible (always is), but getting here was so easy. The theater is literally located off the 101N. When you enter, you can get stacked (cars parked in front of other cars) parking for a varying amount ($ 10). The staff there help you guide your car into a spot. There are also various shuttles that run during the summer time from parking lots elsewhere (free). When I left, I thought it would be nightmarish due to the stacked parking. It was actually relatively painless. I got out of there within 2 minutes!
The courtyard is really pretty, and I saw a lot of people eating homemade meals and drinking wine. You can also buy snacks and souvenirs here.
I arrived relatively early, but I never once felt like this venue was jam packed, even though it was full. The ushers help you find your seat. If you’re in the front row, you’re in for a treat, because you can literally extend your leg and touch it if you’re tall enough. You’re so close! It’s a fantastic view, too. You can sit and gaze at the mountainous landscape until the sun goes down.
Acoustics are great here. And if the weather is nice, you get a pleasant outdoor experience that is really comfortable. The venue holds about 1,200 people max, so you still get that intimate feeling.
Love you, Ford Amphitheatre! I’ll be back.

Great place to watch a show! Beautiful theater and wonderful summer weather make this place a must on your LA to-​do list.
Biggest plus?
BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic). Get there early, grab a table, and enjoy some wine (and snacks, if that’s your thing) while catching up with pals. Then, take some more wine to your seat ‘cuz you don’t wanna be one of those suckers who pays for a drink at their overpriced bar.
Only gripe?
Parking! Stacked parking is a pain… but that goes away with each sip of your wine.
PS: Grandeza Mexicana’s performance (Magia del Sureste) was AMAAAAZING!

Lovely and stunning venue that is part of the L.A. Parks system! Who knew?
Well, this hidden gem is so valuable, with their interesting programming and their expansive community outreach — bringing arts to those not necessarily getting it. The main space, The Ford Ampitheatre seats 1200, while their Inside The Food small almost blackbox theatre seats 87. Outdoors or in, you can’t go wrong.
Got a grand tour by Community Events Manager Bill Berry. (Hope I got his title right). Effusive, casual and professional all in one, is he. Learned the history of the space as well as the modern day versions, too. It was destroyed once in a fire back ’29, but rebounded nicely — and has weathered many storms. (This includes mudslides from the fairly recent big fires!)
So wotth a visit.

Intimate theater! Loved it. Saw a Kina Grannis showing here :)
Park at the Universal City Metro Station (free) and there’s plenty of shuttles going to the theater every 10 minutes 2 hours before the show (also free!)
Some annoying helicopters during the show but it adds to the charm of the outdoor theater.
Bring your own food/​wine/​drinks as the fare is typical and overpriced.
Would definitely come back again if our artists are playing here!

This place is pretty. Outdoor theater.
Reminds me of the Hollywood Bowl but smaller and more intimate. It’s really big and I wouldn’t mind watching a show here!
I saw a dance how here and sat in the front VIP area. Great view. Great show too.
Parking
Stacked and shuttle… Good luck. It’s really bad here. That’s why I’m not giving it five stars… Parking is a bitch.
Items for sale
Overpriced
Overall, beautiful theater.
Lots of stairs.

Only been here once and I am quite impressed at how nice it was. Its beautiful at night here!
Summertime at the Ford Theatre is full of events and is an awesome spot for music events especially. =]
A few tips I’d like to share with you since I knew nothing of this place before I went:
— you can bring in food! I’m talkin’ about coolers worth of food!
— bring a light blanket if you’re attending a night event, trust me, you’ll be glad
— although the theatre offers $ 5 STACKED parking, you can also choose the free-​nonstacked route which is:
Ford Amphitheatre Summer Season evening performances only:
Shuttles start running 2 hours before the show time at 20 minute intervals
A FREE shuttle to the Ford stops at the
— Universal City Metro Station at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga in the «kiss and ride» area. Parking is free in the Metro Station lot.
The address of the Universal City Metro Station is:
Lankershim Blvd & Universal Terrace Parkway
North Hollywood, CA 91 608

If the Hollywood Bowl had a baby, it would be the Ford Amphitheatre.
Nestled in the Hollywood hills, this intimate 1200-​seat historic and outdoor amphitheare is the perfect venue for a summer concert.
Come to the Ford during the Summer Season series for Music, Dance, Theatre, Film & Family events. The last times I was here were for Kollaboration Acoustic 4 & Culture Shock performances.
Tips:
— Picknicking: For the Summer Session, the Ford grounds are opened 2-​hours prior to show time. I usually bring a picnic basket of fruits, cheese, sandwiches, chocolate to eat at their terraced entryway.
— Parking: There’s FREE, NON-​STACKED parking & shuttle ride to the Ford at the Universal Metro Station (at Lankershim Blvd & Universal Terrace Parkway, North Hollywood 91 608). The shuttle leaves from the «kiss & ride» area 2-​hours prior to show time, in 20-​min intervals.
You can also park at the Ford for $ 5, but it’s always congested and it’s stacked. Annoying when you leave because it can take a while.
Summer Session 2011 is just around the corner! Check out their website for upcoming shows. I’m excited for Kollaboration Acoustic 5!
Bring your date, your friends, your family! There’s a show for everyone in your life.