The Box

Contrary to what the reviews may read, I actually liked this particular venue. The Box in Riverside is a small auditorium space located above The Fox Theater in Downtown Riverside, where you can easily spot by its large neon signage. The intimate setting is great for theater so that you can fully engage yourself as an attentive audience member and capture the expression and emotion conveyed by each actor.
The seating inside The Box is not as comfortable as the seats inside The Fox Theater, however, the quaint space allows you to view all angles of the stage. There were 6 rows of office-​like chairs (not theater chairs) lined up in front of the stage. I was surprised at the acoustics from The Box as I thought it would echo in the hollow auditorium but that was not the case. The sound system is crisp and clear.
The easiest way to get to The Box is to use the stairs (located to the right side of The Fox Theater building’s entrance before the parking structure). There is also an elevator that will take you up to the The Box. There are several places to park for a nominal fee and a parking structure right next to it.
Before you enter The Box, there is a concession stand to the left where snacks and drinks are available for purchase including beer and wine. Our red wine was poured into small, clear plastic cups with a lid and straw (lol) so to avoid spillage in the theater. The box office window is located to the right for any ticket purchases or questions. This roof top area is pretty big and very spacious!
Once you enter The Box, there is a small foyer before entering the auditorium. This is also where the actors/​performers come out after the show. There is a set of double doors where you enter.
Overall, I liked this intimate performance setting. I prefer this over a large, crowded place. It’s definitely for someone who appreciates the arts.

They had two rows of seating on each level. If you happen to get stuck in the second row plan on not seeing the show. It was a attempt to cram in the most seats possible. We will not be returning to see any shows there.

Online sales said my seat would be guaranteed. Arrived five minutes late thanks to traffic and they sold my ticket. Drove an hour and a half to see my friend as the lead in Peter Pan on this one weekend engagement. Hurts a lot. Would have given one star but they did refund me my purchase upon request. Now I only am down $ 10 in gas. I really hope that my friend doesn’t perform here again because I want to support her but not this theater.

Yes, it is a quaint theatre and has the potential to be a perfect venue. I’ve been there once so maybe it’s not an indicator of every performance. So here’s the thing: the seating was not well designed for having a view of all areas of the stage. The rise/​pitch of the bleacher style seating was not high enough as you move to the back, and every two rows of seats were on the same level. The effect: if in the back rows, you are unable to see the play if the actors moved to the front area of the stage. So I just sat, looking at the back of the person sitting in front of me and tried to focus on the dialogue. I’m certainly open to going again, because the location and ease of parking was awesome.

I was there for «Fiddler On The Roof». New, quaint and intimate facility located near the Mission area. The play, performances were outstanding. The theater staff was there greeting people during the intermission, going out of their way to assure everyone was enjoying the show. I have liked them on FB, will keep an eye out for more shows!