About Lantern Theater Company
The Lantern Theater Company is an intimate venue known for its high-quality, thought-provoking theatrical productions, particularly strong Shakespearean performances and powerful dramas. While critically acclaimed for its artistic merit and acting, parents with children, especially those with special needs, should be aware of potential challenges regarding staff's understanding and accommodation.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Adults and older teenagers (e.g., high school students studying Shakespeare or drama) seeking high-quality, intimate theatrical experiences.School trips for older students where the educational content of the play is the primary focus, but with a strong caveat regarding special needs accommodation.Theater enthusiasts looking for critically acclaimed acting and thought-provoking productions.Not suitable for young children (toddlers, elementary school) based on the mature and thought-provoking nature of plays mentioned (Shakespeare, raw dramas).Best suited for older teens (high school age) and adults interested in classic literature, sophisticated theater, and powerful dramatic performances.
Why families love it
- Intimate theater setting, described as 'small and intimate'.
- Exceptional acting and cast performances (e.g., 'amazing job', 'impressive actors handling Shakespearean dialogue beautifully', 'Phillip Brown was so powerful and real').
- High-quality productions of classic plays like Shakespeare ('Much Ado About Nothing') and powerful contemporary dramas ('American Moor').
- Artistic Director Charles McMahon is highly regarded, especially for directing Shakespeare.
- Considered a 'Philadelphia gem' and 'the best theater company in the Greater Philadelphia region' for its stellar and thought-provoking play selection.
- Intimate theater experience allowing for close engagement with performances.
Insider tips
- Parents considering bringing a child, especially one with special needs or sensory sensitivities, should contact the theater *well in advance* to discuss specific accommodations and staff training.
- Inquire about the specific play's content and potential loud moments before booking tickets for children or sensitive individuals.
- Be prepared that staff may not be equipped to handle special needs with understanding or appropriate solutions, potentially suggesting isolation over inclusion.
Good to know before you go
- Families with young children (under 12-14 years old) looking for child-specific entertainment, as the plays appear geared towards mature audiences.
- Parents of children with Autism or other special needs without first confirming robust and understanding accessibility protocols directly with management, as staff response to an Autistic child was very poor.
- Individuals highly sensitive to loud noises without prior inquiry about specific production elements.
- Significant lack of staff understanding and appropriate accommodation for children with special needs (specifically Autism) as reported by one parent. Staff suggested isolation (balcony alone) rather than supportive solutions.
- Potentially loud moments in plays that might scare sensitive children ('scare due to the loud moments in the play').
- Crowds
- Described as 'small and intimate theater', suggesting it may not experience large, overwhelming crowds often associated with bigger venues.
- Value
- Pricing is not mentioned in the reviews, so no assessment can be made on value for money or hidden costs.
- Accessibility
- Significant concern regarding accessibility for individuals with Autism or other special needs due to staff's reported lack of understanding and inappropriate suggestions (isolating a child in the balcony).
- Safety
- No specific safety features are mentioned in the reviews.
What parents say
"Very nice, small and intimate theater. The cast did an amazing job. Went on a trip with a school and I was one on one with a student with Autism. The student did have moments of showing his excitement by rubbing his hands together and making light noises. During intermission an employee came over and asked "is there a reason he is making noises and the movements he is making?" I let the employee know that the student is Autistic and he is showing signs of both excitement and at some points scared. The staff instead of understanding and apologizing for asking such a stupid question he asked if "
a month ago
"Very intimate theater, with a wonderful production of Much Ado About Nothing, with about 7 actors playing 12 roles. Impressive actors handling Shakespearean dialogue beautifully. Eager to retire to see another show."
a month ago
"Phillip Brown was so powerful and real , I felt it in my bones and it's very familiar to me because I am a black man. I never saw a performance so raw... this play would be banned in Florida... for sure"
4 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
More kids theaters in Philadelphia
Kids Theaters Walnut Street Theatre
4.7(2,417)4.7 out of 5 stars, 2417 reviews825 Walnut St, Philadelphia
Kids Theaters Arden Theatre Company
4.8(994)4.8 out of 5 stars, 994 reviews40 N 2nd St, Philadelphia
Kids Theaters Miller Theater
4.2(2,130)4.2 out of 5 stars, 2130 reviews250 S Broad St, Philadelphia
Kids Theaters Forrest Theatre
4.5(763)4.5 out of 5 stars, 763 reviews1114 Walnut St, Philadelphia