Below is a list of the top and leading Theatres in Bakersfield. To help you find the best Theatres located near you in Bakersfield, we put together our own list based on this rating points list.
Bakersfield’s Best Theatres:
The top rated Theatres in Bakersfield, CA are:
- Doré Theatre – space for wheelchair placement in the 495-seat mainstage
- Gaslight Melodrama Theatre – the first privately owned theater that has been conceptualized
- The Ovation Theatre – experience with their annual Flex Pass
- Bakersfield Community Theatre – promotes local artists through its annual One-Act Festival
- The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater – one of the last remaining Fox Theaters
Doré Theatre
Doré Theatre was dedicated in May 1979 and was named after Frances B. Doré. In 1915, Mrs. Doré immigrated to California. For many years, she and her husband—the vice president of Superior Oil Company—lived in Bakersfield. They worked together to help many Kern County nonprofits.
Doré made a lasting gift of one-fourth of a family trust to the California State Bakersfield Foundation with the request that it be used to build buildings on the Bakersfield campus. There is space for wheelchair placement in the 495-seat mainstage proscenium theater, which offers continental seating. 34 feet deep and about 32 feet broad would be the dimensions of the stage. It contains a 48-foot proscenium, a 24-line fly system, an orchestra pit atop a hydraulic elevator, and other amenities.
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Theatre
LOCATION:
Address: Doré Theatre, 9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311
Phone: (661) 654-3150
Website: www.csub.edu/theatre
REVIEWS:
“Dore” Theater is quaint, clean, and comfortable. Also not far from home.” – Michelle R.
Gaslight Melodrama Theatre
Gaslight Melodrama Theatre was founded in August 2005. In Bakersfield’s history, it is the first privately owned theater that has been conceptualized, developed, financed, and built. The Gaslight Melodrama Theatre is dedicated to presenting enjoyable, family-friendly live entertainment to Bakersfield. It is situated next to Linda Larma and Daughter’s Academe of Dancing at 12748 Jomani Road.
The melodrama engages the audience by having them cheer for the hero and boo the villain. In addition to mouthwatering pulled BBQ pork sandwiches, their Moosehead Lounge also proudly provides great sides, soups, and Hebrew National hot dogs. Get your drink on with a refreshing beer or soda, or sip wine as you eat.
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LOCATION:
Address: 12748 Jomani Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93312
Phone: (661) 587-3377
Website: www.themelodrama.com
REVIEWS:
“Loved it. live theater great entertainment great food. Awesome place for entertainment” – Bobby L.
The Ovation Theatre
The Ovation Theatre is a semi-professional theater that presents public productions of the highest caliber. They are a group that is ahead of the curve and unafraid to take risks with their art to impact the community and advance Bakersfield theatre as an art form.
Theater, in their opinion, is a crucial component of Bakersfield’s entertainment and must be maintained at any cost. You may create your own unique Ovation Theatre experience with their annual Flex Pass and alter it as the season progresses. Enjoy every performance or keep seeing your favorite production the option is yours.
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Theatre
LOCATION:
Address: 1622 19th St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (866) 568-2846
Website: www.theovationtheatre.com
REVIEWS:
“I had such a wonderful experience with the ovation theater they truly capture the art of the theater community. They will never disappoint me with their performances. The actors are also amazing people. Sending all my love to the ovation theater.” – Ashlynn S.
Bakersfield Community Theatre
Bakersfield Community Theatre was established in 1927 and is the oldest continually operating theater in California. Aiming to promote local artists through its annual One-Act Festival and a free Youth Theatre Program to provide kids a space to express themselves, learn, and be a part of their lovely community, BCT has directed works that promote diversity and inclusivity.
Their goals are to organize and create a permanent theater for the study and production of drama, to give local residents the chance to stage plays for their own amusement and delight free of charge, and to annually stage a number of plays for the community’s cultural enrichment.
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LOCATION:
Address: 2400 S Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93304
Phone: (661) 831-8114
Website: www.bctstage.org
REVIEWS:
“Went to see Blithe Spirit and loved it. Every cast member was fabulous and kept me laughing nonstop throughout the show’s entire runtime. The set for the show was also great and I loved the effects toward the end when the pictures on the wall started moving. Bakersfield Community Theatre never fails to offer some of the most entertaining and highest-quality theatres in the entire city. Blithe Spirit is a 10/10.” – Logan S.
The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater
The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater, the Fox was one of the final structures of its sort constructed during the Gilded Age and opened on Christmas Day 1930. “Just Imagine,” a science fiction story set in 1980, was the first movie to play on Fox’s large screen. The Fox presented the first “talkie” movies, and its stage was graced by live performers, including illustrious performers like Bakersfield native and Metropolitan Opera baritone Lawrence Tibbett (1933), internationally renowned soprano Kirsten Flagstad (1939), the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (1939), and the legendary pianist Arthur Rubinstein (1940).
The Fox Theater in Bakersfield is one of the last remaining Fox Theaters with its unusual Skouras distinctive interior intact and is now regarded as a community treasure for its excellent acoustics.
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Theater
LOCATION:
Address: 2001 H St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 324-1369
Website: www.thebakersfieldfox.com
REVIEWS:
“A beautiful old-fashioned theater that was restored and refurbished with its ornately designed interior. The exterior is the familiar clock tower with “Fox” theater on the front. It’s a historic landmark, the design is an architectural signature that’s fairly uncommon now. Glad to see that it’s been repaired and restored to its former beauty and stature. The main auditorium isn’t large, but it’s more than enough for current performances and shows.” – Charlotte C.
Ermily has worked as a journalist for nearly a decade having contributed to several large publications online. As a business expert, Ermily reviews local and national businesses.