Rivercenter for the Performing Arts

I was super impressed with how large and well-​run this venue is here.
Went here for the Dave Chappelle show, and the ushers helped us find our seats in a manner of a minute. They ushered people out discreetly during the show who were causing a disturbance, but were very professional.
Will be back again (hopefully) to see a musical or something.

This was my first time at this theater, really my first time in Columbus GA. I went to see Dave Chapelle on April 8^th, the 7pm show. My visit started off fine, but I was a bit disappointed when I found out that the theater did not have a concession stand. I would soon find out that this was the least of my worries. They were extra strict about people having their phones out, like you couldn’t even have it off and hold it in your hands. When I say strict I mean excessive/​FBI, SWAT, and DEA all in one style. I was in the mezzanine area, you had to enter through mezzanine D and we sat in seat 206 and 205. The ushers/​FBI agents closest to us took their jobs way to serious. Throughout the show they continued to block our vision and disrupt our hearing by walking into the aisles and accusing people of having or using their phones when they were not. I unfortunately ended up being one of these people. I was leaning forward trying to enjoy the show and maybe 20min into Dave Chapelle, the same short fair skinned usher with a short black weave came to the end of my row and started saying several times and pointing to me «you, come here.» At first I thought she was talking to someone else, so I looked to my left, but didn’t see anyone. When I realized she was talking to me, I insisted that I had done nothing wrong and refused to get up. She then left and returned with a security guard and 3 cops who came into my row, forced me to get up, and escorted me out of the mezzanine area. They were so loud that even Dave Chapelle stopped his show to ask what was going on up there and he also insisted that the people they were trying to kick out should stay. After showing the cops the gallery on my phone which had no images or video of any of the acts, the manager of the theater insisted that I be escorted out of the building and not allowed to return inside. They also wouldn’t refund my money despite the fact that I showed them I had nothing on my phone. This experience was unbelievable and one of the most awkward and embarrassing moments in my life. I will not be returning to this theater.

While the venue seemed very nice, but I was sooooo disappointed with the staff.
Venue: First, and maybe yes, I should know this, but when ordering drinks minutes before the show started, it would have been nice to know that we couldn’t bring them inside, so there were a bunch of people chugging liquor and beers. Sorry, but in Atlanta, we can drink in the theater. I was crushing wine spritzers with my niece at Fox at The Nutcracker and vodka sodas with my bestie at Tori Amos, so I don’t get forcing me to chug and not mentioning it as I pay for my $ 6 vodka on ice. But I digress, that’s not the main problem.
Staff: The problem I mostly had was with the staff! They were so mean and crazy and disruptive, and it really ruined the experience. Two older women guards were so disruptive, coming in and out of ilses and pulling my friend out half way during Dave’s set for no literally no reason. Earlier in the evening before Ashy Larry’s set, one of the two women asked my friend to put her phone away. After some very mild grumbling (and no curse words either), my friend put her phone in her back pocket.. . and never took it back out!!! And the lady with the short buzz cut actually yelled at my friend too! It was already weird, but whatever. Phone away, not coming back out. Ever. Everyone around us vouched for her too. I see Rian A. was there and said so too. So about half an hour in to Dave’s set (mind you after Ashy Larry, and music break, and now Dave, no phones out. Ever), the fair skinned security guard came in and beckoned my friend, but she didn’t get up b/​c we were enjoying the show. Like, hello? Leave us alone you psycho. She came back with another male security guard so my friend got up, left, then came back and said they accused her of recording the show, and that they were calling the cops, even though she showed them her phone which had nothing on it. So my friend comes back in, tells me, but I don’t believe it so we go back to enjoying Dave’s hilarious set. Lady comes back with older cop, and escorts her out, even when my friend proved she had no evidence of recordings! Even Dave was confused. Everyone around us were so annoyed, because this woman kept coming in all night for various ridiculousness.
Sooo, it would be different if she was actually recording, but she truly wasn’t. It was unjust and humiliating, and disrupting. Those security guards came back in and tried to take someone else out later, but they refused to get up, so they let them off the hook.
I’m not sure if they escorted my friend out because they were offended that she grumbled an hour and a half earlier, or if they were discriminating against an openly gay woman, or just being evil, hateful women on a power trip, but it was wrong. And it ruined her night, dented mine, and disrupted everyone around us.
At the very least, Rivercenter needs to refund her money and discipline those workers. Absolutely ridiculous and humiliating. AND FOR WHAT?! SHE WAS INNOCENT!!!
I’ll update my post and let everyone know what happens.

Although I had recently read the one star review this place received, I figured going to see Dave Chapelle was special enough to warrant «bad acoustics and uncomfortable seating.» Initially I was correct. Dave’s performance rocked. However; during the performance a member of the theater staff kept coming to the row in front of me and harassing one of the guests. From what I heard, the lady supposedly had her phone out (I don’t know if she did or didn’t but I didn’t see any lights glowing around me, it honestly looked like she was just leaning forward and laughing at Dave) but it got so messy security came and took her away. It was so disruptive that Dave Chapelle himself acknowledged the noise and then, not even kidding, the same member of the staff came back again and accused another woman in my section of having their phone out.
I totally get having to monitor things like that but they have got to figure out a better way to manage that without lessening the experience for other guests. It’s already unpleasant to sit there… and they don’t even offer concessions!
Over all, next time I’ll just book them earlier so I can stay in the city.

Amazing performing arts facility in downtown Columbus. The lobby is a bright and open area to socialize in before a show and during its intermissions. Bathrooms are clean and the facility as a whole is well-​maintained. Attended a few broadway shows and a ballet here in the 2011 – 2012 season. The ushers who work the shows are very professional and helpful. The Box Office and Will Call in the interior are pretty efficient — I’ve never had to wait too long to pick up tickets prior to a show starting. The theater seating provides great vantage points. Even the nosebleed seats aren’t that bad at all. It’s a modern facility (about 10 yrs) and overall a great place to go for a show in season.