James R Armstrong Theatre

Nice, clean easy to find venue with plenty of free parking. Seats were comfy and there didn’t seem to be any bad seats. Staff was very friendly. There was also a small bar in the lobby which sold drinks and snacks. I deducted a star for 2 reasons:
1) The air conditioner was set an a near freezing temperature. Lots of people were sniffling from the cold air and kept on big coats and scarves during the entire play because it was so chilly.
2) This venue has pretty steep seating. You have to walk down a decline because there’s no steps down. For people like me who wore heels, it was scary. I also saw elderly people being walked down the aisle ways. Be extra careful!

Really pretty venue! My sister had her high school dance recital at this venue and it has been several years since I was last here! Typically, all TUSD related events are held at this venue. It’s quite big and nice inside and I was quite surprised by how relatively cheap it was to host an event here (compared to UCLA’s Royce Hall LOLOL). There’s lots of free parking so no worries about that. Very spacious and lots of breathing room. Hopefully I’ll be back next timer for another performance here! :)

For starters, this is a nice, convenient venue with plenty of free parking. The seats are comfortable and there are no bad ones as far as I can tell. I will mention that I’ve noticed that some elderly folks need assistance navigating the aisles as they are somewhat steep, but they’re fine for the rest of us. I went to a performance of The Music Man and while it was enjoyable, the air conditioning was set to a temperature that was very low, and I was freezing all night despite having worn a heavy sweater. Many other patrons felt the same way; some in the group I was with were thinking of leaving the theatre before the show was over, they were that cold. The manager said she had no way of turning down the Arctic air. I took off one star for that; someone needs to address this.

Been coming here since I was a little kid. Great staff. very clean. Great volunteers every event. It is not fancy as some other civic centers but I think this place is greatly being used throughout the years.

This local venue in Torrance is outstanding. I have only experience as a performer, not in the audience. I have played here many times over the past 15 years. Spacious dressing rooms make you think you are in a much larger venue. The green room has a good flat screen monitor and the sound is good. The stage techs seem to change often but all have been quite capable with good knowledge and always friendly. Easy access from the loading dock into the shop or use the artists entrance. I am pretty sure it is a non-​union stage.

Come early!!! It is sooooo hard to locate this place especially in the dark! I’ve been here twice for two different events located in two different buildings and the signs are terrible the gps can’t help you and you really can’t see the building markings from the street or parking lot. Basically I just parked where I saw lots of cars and walked around until I found the right theater. Once the theater was located everything was wonderful! Came to see Lilly Cai great show and price btw… back to the theater! The seating is great no matter where your seats are! My seat was in the 3^rd row however I came in about 3 min into the show and didn’t want to be the rude obnoxious theater go’er looking for their seat in the dark with a flashlight so I took a seat in the back row until the first intermission and that seat was great as well as my 3^rd row seat! The bathrooms were clean, staff extremely friendly and helpful, and the location is very central to the southbay so going for dinner before or after a show is very easy with lots of options.

A great community theater with friendly volunteers, comfortable seating and a good stound system. There is also ample free parking, and a big restroom. We saw their showing of the San Francisco Opera Cinema Series for Elixir of Love. A delightful evening.

Small theater but classy and clean with plenty of free parking available!

This theatre is amazing! I recently performed a show (All Shook Up) and the 500 seats were almost filled! Very clean and proper, I will definately perform here again!

Newer, clean venue in the South Bay. Lots of parking, with several ways to get in and out of the parking lot. Lots of nice restaurants within a few blocks.
The space is small and intimate, but very nice inside. There are usually other events taking place at the Nakata (?) theater nearby as well.
If they’re any good, shows will sell out here very, very fast. It’s a great venue, but it doesn’t get more than one or two acts a year that I enjoy. As such, I’ve only been here 3 times in 3 years. Wish they had more top-​quality shows, like the South Bay Civic Light Opera does over at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts center. By the time I hear about a show coming to the Armstrong Theatre, it’s usually the day of the event or its sold out. More marketing dollars outside of Torrance and longer show runs would be great, because I really like this venue a lot.

First time here last night to enjoy the Festival of Music posted on the Los Angeles Free Concerts Group from
:
Spectacular evening’s performance of March 21^st, 2009:
Margaret Zhou, Cello
Midsummer Night’s Dream (Overture and Scherzo), Mendlessohn
Pastorale Symphony, Beethoven
Cello Concerto, Saint-​Saens
Friend & I definitely enjoyed a total sensory treat from this classy event. Though on a bit smaller scale compared to the South Coast Repertory, this onclave’s acoustics with well-​spaced cushy seating help provide a pleasant experience nonetheless.

I went there over the weekend for a co-​workers Choral of Land and Sea performance. I have to say I have been the library countless times since middle school, and have not once stepped into this theater. I think I’ve even been in the courtyard for some festival, but I guess never bothered to notice.
It’s actually very nice and there’s not a bad seat in the house. The red-​velour type seats are pretty comfy and all the volunteer women who hand you your programs and help you locate your seats are just way too cute.

I went there last night as an invited guest of my landlords to see a performance of Annie. They’re the greatest landlords ever and it turns out that they have a very talented 11 year old granddaughter, Jessica Lombard who had a small role in this performance. She’s got a myspace page if anyone is interested in checking her out:
She’s also performing at a venue in Hollywood in July which would be a fun thing to check out too. She writes her own piano music and lyrics. A singer, songwriter at age 11? Amazing.
But back to the theater. The place is on the grounds of the Torrance Civic Center right off off Torrance Blvd and Madrona. It is a great little theater, clean and up to date. Those little Annie orphans sounded wonderful in the theater, I’m sure there’s some technical acoustic reason for that and this theater had it.
If you’re ever invited to the Armstrong theater for a performance I say you should definitely go, I’m sure there are some future Hollywood or Broadway stars on that stage now and again.