About Altria Theater
A stunning, historic 100-year-old theater featuring beautiful Islamic-style architecture and vintage charm, offering great stage views and friendly service, though seating is notoriously tight.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with older kids or teens attending plays, concerts, or operasArchitecture and history enthusiasts looking for a vintage venue experienceTeens and older children who can tolerate sitting still in tight spaces for performancesNot recommended for toddlers or restless young children due to the highly cramped seating
Why families love it
- Gorgeous architectural details and unique Islamic-style vintage design
- Friendly and helpful staff members
- Convenient parking garage located directly across the street
- Good stage visibility from almost any seat in the house
- Excellent location within walking distance of many food and hotel options
- Stunning vintage interior and exterior design
Insider tips
- Absolutely avoid balcony seats if anyone in your party is over 6' tall or needs extra legroom
- If you are 5'5" or shorter, be prepared for potential sightline issues in the Orchestra section if a tall person sits in front of you
- Utilize the parking garage directly across the road for a simple and easy parking experience
Good to know before you go
- Balcony seats if physical comfort and legroom are priorities for your family
- Orchestra seats if you are short and want guaranteed unobstructed views
- Extremely cramped seating with very little legroom, especially in the balcony
- Shorter guests (5'5" and under) may struggle to see over others in the Orchestra section due to a flat incline
- Seats are very narrow and highly uncomfortable for tall (over 6') or larger individuals
- Crowds
- Seating is very close together, meaning you will be in tight proximity to neighboring guests
- Value
- Drinks are reasonably priced and well-made, but the lack of physical comfort in the cramped seats may impact the perceived value of the ticket price.
- Food
- Drinks are available for purchase, described as well-made and reasonably priced
- Accessibility
- The extremely tight seating rows and narrow seats present physical comfort challenges for larger guests or those with mobility issues
What parents say
"We went there to see the Neil Diamond play, A Beautiful Noise. The theater is very nice, clean with a friendly staff. The seats are a bit small, but that is pretty much expected given the age of the venue. The drinks were a reasonable price and well made."
a week ago
"This review is for BALCONY E: ROW D: SEAT 504 Staff was great. Location was great. It was simple to park at the garage across the road. The view from any seat in the building is good, however, if you're tall avoid the balcony seats. I have never been so uncomfortable at a show in my life. I've flown in the cheapest dinkiest airplane seats a man can imagine and never have I been in more discomfort than the balcony seats in this theater. If you are over 6' tall I cannot stress enough how tight it is. My knees were literally smashed against the seat in front of me no matter which way I contort"
a week ago
"This is a beautiful venue, inside and out, with gorgeous architectural detail and decoration, and this theater brings outstanding entertainment to Richmond. However, the seats and rows are tiny. At 5'4", my knees were almost touching the seat in front of me, and if anyone in your party is even slightly larger than the average American woman, they might be extremely uncomfortable before the show is over. (My guest had to get up and move around.) The basement ballroom is also beautiful, with Egyptian-looking columns, and I've been told that the ballroom is used for weddings and receptions."
2 weeks ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
