Valley Performing Arts Center

Very elegant, clean, organize, and a decent size venue in the heart of SFV.
Came here for my nieces dance show and I was amazed how beautiful the building and architecture is!
Seats are easy to find and the staff are also very helpful to direct you to your seat and help you with any question.
During the show the lights are off and you are not allowed to take pictures with a FLASH light on your camera or phone.
There was no reception inside the building for ATT careers, not sure about the rest of phone careers.
Parking is $ 6 in the campus, however you can park on Lindley Ave if the event is on a Sunday otherwise it’s a 2 Hour parking.
I had a great experience and definitely will check out their concerts schedule for future dates for my favorite bands or singers.

the VPAC is getting more variety in the line up of shows offered. Discounted parking would be appreciated but it is cheaper than going downtown to the Chandler or Disney hall. Ticket prices are reasonable and if you are staff or a student at CSUN you can get discounted.

I’ve seen sever performances here now and the space is amazing. The acoustics are great and most of the seats have good sight lines. I recommend you don’t get seats in the way way back unless that is all you can afford. You should spend another $ 25 to move up to the next section. Trust me!

There is no bad seat in the house and the sound is impeccable. Yes, the seats are tight so try to get an end seat. They also have swivel seats on certain levels; can’t go wrong there. There are performances for everyone here and even for the wee ones. Everything from a conversation with Linda Ronstadt to Mariachi Vargas de Tecolitlian (that was one big party), Okee Dokee Brothers, Savion Glover also will be showing up, Jewel, and this weekend I am so looking forward to The BAND of the ROYAL MARINES and the PIPERS, DRUMS and HIGHLAND DANCERS of the SCOTS GUARDS. I even attended a naked ballet (truly, the dancers were naked). Some shows you will actually be sitting on the stage (when it is a smaller production). It is a treat to have this center in the S. F Valley. They are signing very popular artist, but some of the best ones are unique and in particular catagories; so worth the experiences.
A great night out and an opportunity for «dress up».

This afternoon was my first visit to this venue, and I was surprising my girlfriend by taking her to see one of her favorite shows, «Stomp». I had seen the show at least twice before and would never have given it more than two stars for those performances. As far as this theater, it is beautiful, the acoustics are great, the seats are comfortable and parking is easy. I got my parking pass online for just under $ 7.00. There are two large parking structures nearby, and at least one of them has shuttle services. For what it’s worth, this was the best production of Stomp that I had ever seen. For once, only one of the 8 fantastic performances kept her urban scowl attitude throughout the show. This is what I always found distracting in the past, as the skill level of the performers has always been high. Today, the rest of the performers were skilled and actually smiled most of the show !!! They actually looked like they were enjoying being there (for a change). Anyway, this made the whole event and venue even better. Beautiful convenient place.

Beautiful venue, very very reasonable ticket price. We came to see Spanish Harlem Orchestra and had a wonderful experience from parking, getting tickets at will call, and ushers guiding us to our seats. Audience base are educated and polite, more of a mature crowd for this performance.
The outdoor landscape is beautiful and quite serene. I love the lighting and trees that compliment each other.
For those who park in the further parking, they got free shuttle service:)

Great space! I came here this past weekend with a friend to see David Sedaris. It’s a large, clean venue and I would be happy to check out more events here soon.

Absolutely beautiful venue with stunning architecture!
I came here for a David Sedaris performance and I was blown away by the building. The outside looks like a beautiful piece of art and the inside of the theatre is so aesthetically pleasing. It is so spacious inside too and they had an area for drinks, food, etc. The night was that much more enjoyable simply based on the beauty of the venue.
If you come here for a performance, you will not be disappointed.

First time seeing a show at the VPAC was last weekend. I saw the National Acrobat and Circus of the People’s Republic of China. It was a great show!!! Just amazing!
The VPAC was a great venue for this time a show, it made it feel intimate yet not cramped at all. The facilities are so clean and it’s very beautiful architecturally.
The only cons are, you cannot bring drinks into the theater. Any drink you purchase they pour into a tiny cup. And water is $ 3 a cup…
They have lots of shows so make sure you check out their website!

I recently attended a concert event at VPAC — my second visit there — and cannot rave enough about how much I enjoy this venue. It is a jewel in the San Fernando Valley, and I would wholeheartedly recommend seeing a performance there.
THE BUILDING
It is beautiful, inside and out. If you’re a fan of architecture or a design fan, there’s much to take in here. Arrive early to your performance and explore. There is a gallery on the loge level featuring rotating artists. There is also a patio café on the balcony level. Even without these additional destinations within the building, there is still much to see and soak in. The tiled walls, the grand staircase, the glass-​planked balcony overhangs — it’s simply a fantastically designed space.
THE HALL
It is a thing of beauty. Once you enter into the performance hall, you will be surrounded by wood. Wood accents on the chairs. Curving wood on the walls. Curved wood clouds suspended from above. These are likely acoustical treatments that serve a specific function to amplify or tune sound, but they also make the space very inviting.
SOUND
Exemplary
SEATING & TICKETING
The great hall is actually deceptively small — only 1,700 seats though it looks twice the size since much of the seating on the floor and parterre levels are open to the ceiling four floors above. (The rear portion of the parterre section does have the loge overhang above it, and the loge level has the balcony level above it.)
The parterre, loge and balcony levels also each have a row of single seats that straddle both sides of the hall, approaching the stage. These chairs swivel and angle toward the stage, so the view from them is quite good though they are on the sides of the hall. If you attend a show solo, as I enjoy doing, I recommend these seats. How nice to not have to stand to let someone out of your row or have someone sitting right next to you.
I have seen concerts on the balcony and loge levels. The balcony level was quite high, but I found the viewing from the loge level to be very nice. I suspect that the side seats on the parterre level are the best in the house, though admittedly I have not tried them yet. Of course, the higher you go, the cheaper the seats.
I purchased my tickets AND parking permit online, printed both at home, and had no issues. The seating chart at VPAC’s website is pretty easy to navigate. Just remember, the floor level is obviously the lowest and closest; the parterre level is slightly elevated and BEHIND the floor level, with a row of single seats along the sides of the hall ABOVE the floor. The loge level can be considered the third floor. Think of the balcony level as the fourth floor.
CONCESSIONS
I did not try the concessions at either show I attended, but here’s what I know. There are refreshment tables on each level. You can actually pre-​purchase food online. There is also a small café with mostly pre-​made items on the balcony level of the venue. Additionally, there is Orange Grove Bistro, an on-​campus restaurant a short walk away with a pre-​fixe menu that friends have enjoyed. Reservations for the bistro would be recommended as it is not large.
SERVICE
It appears many of the ushers and attendants are CSUN students who go the extra mile to be helpful. I was offered an escort to not only my seat… but also to the restroom. :-)
BOOKINGS
The performers are quite varied — Broadway stars, dance companies, lectures, symphonies, ballet, opera.
CONS…
LOBBY SEATING
There is not a lot of seating in the lobby or on the other levels outside of the main hall, so if you arrive early for your show, prepare to stand for a while before seating in the hall begins twenty minutes before the show. (Or use the time to explore the gallery.)
NARROW ROWS
Not a lot of leg room in the balcony, so everyone will be standing to let someone out of the row.
PARKING
This will not be a con for those who would enjoy a bit of a trek from the car to the venue, but if you expect to park «near» the venue, you’ll be out of luck. Let me be clear that there is ample parking available for $ 6 in a few lots on the CSUN campus. It’s not a struggle to find a spot; the issue is that the spot will not be very close to the venue, and the walk may be a concern for those with ambulatory issues, or those in heels, or if the event falls on a rainy night.
VPAC has tried to mitigate the inconvenience by providing a free shuttle from CSUN’s Lot B to the venue. If it’s raining, or you’re in heels or with someone who is, you might consider using it. Both times I attended, I just parked in the Lot G parking garage (where there is no shuttle service) and hoofed it – once in the rain.
NUTSHELL
First class venue with unique performers. I love that there is a performing arts center of this caliber in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. I hope valley residents will support it and the varied acts they have been booking.
Despite the cons listed, 5 stars

I don’t have much to say. I came for the Mayor’s «State of the City» speech.
The venue is beautiful. It looks brand new and so it still shines. I’d love to see a concert here.

Beautiful performing arts center. I came here for the mayoral address and was seated near the front and in center. This is my first time at CSUN and this campus is beautiful.
The performing arts center is nice, cozy and supports a large amount of people. It looks brand new and I like the wooden color touches inside. It has about three floors of seating if I remember correctly.

Took my 2 yr old to see Dinosaur Train live show. The place is beautiful and was easy to get around. Only negative is that the parking lot is a far walk from the entrance (esp. with little children in tow)

Its so great to have a nice performing arts center in the valley. This venue is very pretty and clean. They don’t keep the theater too cold which is nice. The auditorium is not that big, so no matter where you sit, you will have a decent view of the stage. Parking for events is only $ 6, and close enough yo walk OR they offer shuttles. They offer concessions of snacks and drinks, but DO NOT allow you to take it into the theater, so if you purchase a beverage before the show, be prepared to chug it.
My only complaint about the venue is that the entire time since it has opened, they don’t really offer a great selection of shows here. I have only had (mild) interest in two performances here, and wish they would offer a wider range and better options, as the venue is convenient and it is nice.

Amazing acoustics and beautiful venue. It’s such a wonderful surprise. I hadn’t been here before and was so impressed with the space, sound, design and staff. They book fantastic talent. This should be considered a premier performance destination for talent and audiences!

Beautiful venue — the auditorium is warm and pretty. The building itself is a wonderful architectural design. We saw Sarah McLachlan last night. The sound of her voice and the accompanying instruments were amazing. We sat closer to the stage and the seats were very comfortable. The seats were appropriately leveled though my seven year old had a hard time seeing around the person in front of her. She was able to check in her big fluffy pink elephant at the coat check in which she thought was the best thing in the world — the gal at the coat check-​in was very sweet. The people who worked at the venue were very very nice and helpful. Our friends sat in another section and loved their seats and the venue.
Some points I would make are on the practical side:
1. Women — there are bathrooms on all floor levels so do not get stuck on the first floor in that long line during intermission.
2. Do not go to event hungry — there are not a lot of food options outside of a few snacks.
3. IF IT IS YOUR FIRST TIME HERE BE PREPARED FOR PARKING! We got a parking ticket inside the designated parking structure!!! The parking attendants were not helpful, we got lost a few times even trying to find parking — no signage or anyone helping past the start of the street. We again got lost finding the actual performance building — again no signage — we had to stop students along the way to ask for help.
I still cannot believe we ended such a wonderful night with a parking ticket in the parking structure. There was no signage where we parked that it was designated for faculty or anything else. That is why I am taking what otherwise would have been a 5+ experience down to a 4 start rating.

Enjoying a night out with the family at the performance art center at CSUN. The concert hall is beautiful! We’re here for the Sarah McLachlan concert!

Wow! This place is sweet!
Go valley! Go Csun!
Second only to Disney concert hall for best place to see a symphony is LA.
Yes my wifee wanted to see Swan lake and this place rocks!

My darling husband got us tickets to see the Moscow Festival Ballet on Valentine’s Day. He’s golden but this review isn’t about him so let me proceed. We got to the CSUN campus with half an hour until show time. We parked on the street on Darby to avoid having to pay the $ 6.00 parking fee. If you don’t mind paying the parking fee, park in lot B1. There’s a bit of a walk from the lot to the Arts Center so, ladies, bring some flats to walk in, which you can later stash in your purse when you reach the building. Apparently, there’s a shuttle that picks you up from Lot B1 and takes you to the Arts Building, but we didn’t use it.
Anyhow, the actual building itself is impressive. It’s got nothing but windows and you can see all the floors lit up at night. There are benches outside if you’re waiting for someone (or changing your shoes) that you can sit on. At the entrance, theater personnel will scan your tickets and direct you to the floor you will be on and you will be allowed into the lobby. There is an area to your right where they were serving beverages, looked like alcohol; lots of schmoozing was going on. There are plenty of theater employees around to guide you in the right direction. We took the elevators up, checked out the restrooms, which were nice and clean, and took our seats.
Upon sitting down, we realized the rows were tight. We were sitting in the balcony and had seats right at the beginning of the row. After standing up 3 or 4 times to let people through, we just walked up to the top of the balcony and waiting until they announced the show would be starting. It was a little annoying, but not enough to ruin my mood. The ushers were really fantastic and even volunteer to take your picture if they notice you attempting awkward couple selfies during intermission.
The show was fantastic, the sound-​great, the view-​okay, considering we were high up in the balcony. I say you’d have a pretty good view from anywhere in this theater. And if you’re there to listen to live music, I’d buy the balcony seats and save some money because it sounded fine up there but that’s just me.
After the show, it took a while to catch the elevator to get down. In retrospect, as able bodied, young adults we should have just taken the stairs. Getting out of the place was not an issue as we didn’t park in the lot. Just as a note, there is no food or drink allowed in the theater. The only gripe was the tight rows. Other than that, we had a nice evening overall. I hope to come see more ballets here.

One of the perks of being a faculty member at CSUN is that I get 20 percent off tickets at the VPAC. Recently, my wife and I took in a show — and we had a delightful time.
The venue is quite large — I’d guess over 2200 seats. We sat in Parterre — the second of four seating zones. It was a great view!
The seats are a bit cramped — for a 6’1″ guy — I found them to be pretty close together… not a ton of aisle space.
Also, the ushers are more pushy than they are helpful. I mean, they do a good job but they won’t win any awards for friendliness.
The lobby is glamorous and massive. And the building, overall, is quite beautiful. Do yourself a favor and catch a show at the VPAC — you won’t be sorry.

Being an OC girl I don’t get up to the valley much but when I saw Jacque Pepin was doing a demo here I had to make the trek. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by VPAC!
The parking was a breeze, the staff was super friendly and helpful and the venue is gorgeous. Great acoustics and comfortable seating.
I’ll definitely not hesitate to come to another event here in the future!

The VPAC is located on the CSUN campus and has been a wonderful addition.
I had classes at VPAC and the lecture rooms were spacious, modern, and clean; same goes for the actual center itself. The center is gorgeous and has a nice vibe to it. Tons of big windows and lights making the center feel open and fresh.
Parking
There isn’t an actual parking structure right next to the VPAC. However, I would recommend paying $ 6 to park at the G3 parking lot. The parking lot is probably the closest structure to VPAC and actually has a nice paved pathway to walk through. You’ll end up passing the Orange Grove that houses orange trees and looks lovely at night.
Tickets
Last year I saw the Monterey Jazz Company and got an amazing discount. Tickets are cheaper to CSUN students which is definitely a perk because tickets can be pretty pricey.
Overall
Nice center that has a lot to offer to the community.
Tip
They have drinks for purchase but don’t let you bring it into the performance room.
Note
They have amazing design when it comes to sound (according to my nerdy musician boyfriend)
We did notice that it was hard to see over other people because the seats were not off-​set and were directly behind one another.

It’s good to know that my alma mater has built such a beautiful performance hall in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. The exterior of the building looks amazing and the surrounding gardens add to the look. The interior acoustics and seating was well done. I went to a folkorico performance and I was blown away. Make sure you see the small art gallery on the second level.
My only critique: there are ventilation fans below every seat. It can get chilly, so come prepared.

I came here to watch the Los Angeles Ballet perform Swan Lake. Being a fan of dance, I always enjoy watching dance performances, in particular ballets. The tickets were pricey, but well worth it (it was also nice that my bf gets a CSUN discount at the VPAC). We bought our tickets about a week before the show, and managed to get orchestra seats in the 5^th row.
The VPAC is a very new, modern looking building. I immediately noticed the building as we were driving towards it because of the way it stood out. Since this place is new, everything looked shiny and clean. The auditorium looked nice and was pretty big, but the seats were kind of small.
Since parking wasn’t free, we parked on the street across the VPAC.
Overall, I was impressed by this new structure. It’s definitely a nice place to go to when you’re attending a big show.