Once - a New Musical

Our experience at the FOX THEATRE was delightful!! The performance of ONCE was rather "slow" but very enjoyable! We loved how the cast did an Open "warm-up" on stage, but then we weren't sure when the play was beginning. The most wonderful part of the play was the music performance! Well-blended voices and talented instrumentation gave us goosebumps! The storyline seemed to drag though. We left feeling there would have been more climax... maybe even more volume. Still, No Regrets.

best play/musical i have seen in many many years this group of actors and actresses are so talented sing, act, dance, then play 4 different instruments each wow

This was such a unique musical in how it is presented. I loved being able to go up on stage before the play! What a treat! Plus the pre-show music! Like how everything happens on stage - hard to describe. And THEN on top of all that the acting and singing was phenomenal, along with the writing and scores! I was enthralled from start to finish! I'd see it again in a heart beat!

Great love story and music. I thought the acoustics were not as good as they could have been. I could not hear the words to the first two songs. I thought that the audience should've been able to hear the "specific words to the songs.".

My wife & I were given tickets ($98.00 / each) as a gift. We could have gone to the local bar room in our town and heard the the same profanity for a lot less money.

Disappointed..especially as a noted Tony Award Winner!! Low key...not enough notable moments. Sound was terrible up in the balcony...hatd to hear...don't they test run these and then should have amplified the music. Wrong venue being in the Opera House...not a large production !! Will not recommend to others..

The performance was excellent, many talented musicians. Patrons really seemed to enjoy being invited on stage prior to the start of the show and during intermission. I wasn't sure my husband would like the play, but he really enjoyed it too.

I had seen the original cast of this show on Broadway, so I was a little leery to see it again. This touring version, however, does not disappoint. Equal in talent and production value. This show is full of great music, has a great story line and is very creatively staged. Audience members are invited onstage before the show and during intermission (in limited numbers) and are able to purchase drinks at a bar that is part of the set. This is a feature of the show I wasn't sure would follow the touring edition. Makes for a truly unique experience!! Sound quality suffered a bit at the beginning, some audience members complained they couldn't hear. This seemed to rectify as the show went on.

A wonderful way to maximize, talent, space and resources to tell a story. Sure a little more boisterousness during the quiet times would have kept me more alert. Like opera, I couldn't always tell what the words were being sung so scrolling text or a cheat-sheet would have been helpful at times.

Wow. What an amazingly talented cast and beautifully choreographed production. Perfection.

I really enjoyed the show and was a wonderful evening of entertainment.

I'm a frequent Broadway theater attender so I was hesitant to purchase tickets to see Once at the Lexington Opera House. I received a ticket deal too good to pass up so I took the plunge...and boy am I glad I did! The actors/musicians were on stage beforehand playing their instruments while patrons visited the cash bar on stage which set the mood as relaxing and entertaining. There were many laughs and an overall great time was had - great music, great songs, and great performance! I'm very glad I went!

Neither of us enjoyed Once in the least. We left at intermission. IMO there was too much dialogue which was not easy to understand. Too many four letter words considering there were a number of children in the audience. The Irish music was lame and did not mix well with the equally lame Czech music. I always like attending events at the Fox but 'Once' was definitely not my thing.

This was my second time seeing Once on stage and it didn't disappoint. I am a huge fan of the movie but I would still recommend the stage show to any musical lover. The music is beautiful and the story is so well told. Brilliant!

I've seen Once 4 times. This was by far the weakest cast. Guy did not have a great voice and while Girl had a very good voice, her dialog did not sound very Czech. The play itself is wonderful and it is almost always worth seeing, but this was not nearly the best rendition of it.

My wife and I saw this show last year on its initial national tour. We knew nothing about the show, but just loved it. We have since seen the movie it was based on, but both agreed that the musical was slightly better. The company on this tour seems to bring even more to the show. They clearly have added a level of passion/enthusiasm that can sometime be lacking in a touring show. We loved their performance so much (Friday night), we turned around and bought these tickets to see them on Saturday night.

My husband and I went to see Once for our 17th anniversary and I am still thinking about it three days later. Once has always been my favorite love story as a movie and the live show was even better. It was like being at a concert wrapped in a play. The music accompaniment and singing was beautifully done and it brought tears to my eyes when they sang the duet "Falling Slowly." I've been to dozens of productions, but none that I have felt like it could really be happening in real time.. The musicians are also the actors and the way they're incorporated into the story is really smart. Plus, they are amazingly talented as musicians and actors as well. They also allowed patrons to go on stage before the show to watch the musicians warm up and perform. They had various stringed instruments playing and together it sounded awesome!

Very slow moving, good singing but was drawn out too much. Wouldn't recommend this musical and hard to understand the accents.

This production was amazing! We loved it! Performers were so talented. Music was unbelievable.

I thought the play was very good. The acting especially by the main lead actor "Guy" was terrific. The music, excellent. There were a few holes in the story that left me scratching my head.

All 4 of us wanted to leave at intermission. Worst play we've ever seen. The only good part was the music before the play started. Slow, boring, couldn't hear the dialogue or words in the songs & we were in row D. People were sleeping. Iit was like watching paint dry.

We didn't like the show. It was dull and slow . Expected more upbeat Irish music. Only heard that during the pre-show.

My expectations were far greater than the show delivered. Storyline could have had more depth

I've seen several large production plays and didn't know what to expect from a smaller cast and set, but it was absolutely incredible! Way more intimate. Hoping it comes back around because I want to go see it again.

Rather uneventful or unremarkable play. Poor sound and poor accents (Irish) made it difficult to engage in the production. Not much of an introductory foundation the the story made me wonder what the hell was occurring, or what the characters were suppose to be feeling, etc. Music was so so... comic lines were few and far between and more difficult to grasp with the poor sound and poor accents. Unfortunately I would not recommend this play for the money I spent, nor would I recommend a play at the Fox. The Fischer Theater would be my 1st choice, not the Fox, although it is restored lovely!

We could not wait for intermission to leave. What a pointless, awful show. There were families with young children and the dialog featured a number of four letter words. The Irish music was forgettable. The Czech music worse. Maybe the 2nd half was better but I wasn't in the mood to find out. A waste of money in my opinion.

We enjoyed every minute of this show. It was filled with energy, great acting and of course, some of the best music in theatre today.

"Once" is an absolutely wonderful show and should not be missed. The incredibly talented cast is amazing in their versatility as actors, singers, and musicians. The musical score is fabulous and this cast did an outstanding job from start to finish, showing great energy in portraying this great story. The problem is that "Once" is a very intimate show and should be performed in a smaller theatre. Detroit's Fox Theatre is a beautiful setting but has the intimacy of a sports arena hosting a tractor pull. The sound quality is mediocre at best in this cavernous venue, which unfortunately detracts from the overall enjoyment of the performance. Yet while the facility may not have provided the best setting for a show like this, the production itself was top-notch and still brought the audience to their feet. It really is an outstanding show.

This was my 3rd time seeing Once so it is a show I enjoy. The staging and choreography are always excellent. I will have to say that the leads are certainly talented but I have seen better. The rest of the cast is strong. I like that they made the banker character a female where the last 2 times, the banker was a male. I hope this means they are casting the best talent and not just finding someone to fit a mold. Bottom line is that Once was entertaining and a nice way to spend an evening out on the town.

Such a good show, love the music and the staging was lovely.

This entire production left me breathless... the set, the music, the acting, the everything about it. A beautiful story told in the here and now, it draws you in from the opening number and doesn't let go until days after it's ended. Absolutely fantastic, well done. Thank you.

My seat was at a very good location considering I was in Row V. However, I found it very hard to understand what the actors were saying. I think it was due to the accent they had used.

Story line was great! Music was even more great! Well rounded musical !

Once was amazing. The music was beautiful, and the acting was wonderful.

I loved the play and was amazed that the audience was allowed to go on stage before the performance and during intermission. The music and singing was pure Irish. The only problem I had was that sitting in the very last row in the Orchestra section, I sometimes was not able to understand what was being said because of the Irish brogue.

Took my mom with me who had literally no idea what the musical was about and absolutely loved it. So much energy from the cast and the songs and everything just felt right about it! Would definitely recommend to anyone thinking of going!

Decided at the last minute to get tickets to see "Once" and so glad we did! The cast was fantastic and so enjoyable to hear them all really playing the musical instruments. Would highly recommend this production!

The music is great. We laughed a lot. We cried some. There is some language, so be aware, if you are sensitive to that. When a Guy meets a Girl over a song and a vacuum cleaner their lives are changed.

I knew next to nothing about this show when I attended. My wife had tickets for this show on her wish list of potential Birthday gifts, so I bought them. I have been involved in and am a fan of live theater all my life, the most recent show I've seen being the revival of Pippin on Broadway last October. This show was literally the best show I have ever seen. The cast was perfect, the sound mix was beautiful and the stars aligned for a flawless performance. The cast providing it's own music was another pleasant surprise. We had fifth row seats on the aisle and the State Theater was very comfortable. My wife and I loved the performance. All in all, a wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone!

I am just beginning a tradition of bringing each of my granddaughters to the theater for their 15th birthday and I brought my oldest who absolutely loved it! She did not know what to expect (she has been involved in local theater and is a very gifted singer) but loved the story, the humor and the talent of the actors! It was truly a memorable evening that we shared!

My beautiful wife has been involved in theatre all her life, as an actress and most recently the Director of Dramatic Arts at Northlake Christian School in Covington. March 4th is her birthday and as you may expect she loves to go the Saenger. Tickets to national touring company productions of various Broadway productions are always received with joy and gratitude. I heard nothing of ONCE, but saw it had won 8 Tonys, watched a trailer or 2, and said hum this looks pretty good. Well it was wonderful. The quality of acting, singing, and music are second to none. It was a great night and a great story.

The music was fantastic, from the unexpected 'pre-show' to the end. The set changes were very well done, and quite interesting during the show. The cast of twelve folks were great. The cast producing all of the music was a great thing for the show. The only negative we had was the artistic use of the 'F-Bomb' in the show. Did not bother us, with the use in context of the storyline, but perhaps there should be some warning for those who it might bother. All in all, as a lover of musicals, I would highly recommend (and already have via Facebook) seeing the show.

The musical is SO well done. Set changes, music, storyline; it's all incredible! I was, however, rather surprised at how many instances the "F" word is utilized. I wasn't expecting it and was slightly turned off by it.

Just so refreshing! Enjoyed the atmosphere, music and storyline.

I wanted to see this show in NYC but didn't get the chance before my move. I'm so happy the tour made it to San Diego and I was not disappointed. This isn't your typical Broadway show as the music is somewhat Irish folk (in a modern way) and the set changes were on the smaller scale but great (integrated into the acting). The cast is super talented in the acting, singing, choreography and playing their own instruments. The story is very inspiring and lovely! Before the show begins, the audience is encouraged to come up onto the stage to buy a drink at the bar. Very interactive. The band gives a pre-show. Excellent!!!

The ensemble of actor-musicians was amazing. No pit orchestra, just them with their guitars, mandolins, cello, violins, accordion, piano, and occasionally drums. I think everyone who is an actor should also be a musician and can sing, play, act all at the same time, as this wonderful cast did. The male lead, who carries most of the show (it is his story), sings Glen Hansard songs better than Glen Hansard himself. This was a glorious afternoon for my husband and me. We thank the cast for their energy even though it was their last day at the Pantages with another performance later that night. We loved that they took a bow as an ensemble, no individuals singled out (though Stuart Ward certainly could have been). Our favorite moment was when we got to go on stage while members of the cast played Irish music (pre-show and intermission). It took us back to an experience we had in a community center outside Dublin where multiple generations gathered for the joy of sharing music together.

Great show, great music and a great atmosphere! You will definitely regret missing this one.The set is a bar and patrons are welcomed onto the stage before the show and during intermission.

Excellent show. Better than I thought. Music is phenomenal.

My wife and i sat in box seats. The cast's voices sounded like charlie brown's school teacher. We could hear the music though. At intermission we were told the sound would be fixed but it never happened.

We were back a ways, but could see well. I like the seating arrangement because I am short and both times we have attended, my ability to see the stage has been good. Was difficult to hear some of speaking. Show excellent, loved the Irish music.

This show was very enjoyable. The music was wonderful and memorable. We truly enjoyed the cast. It was a bit difficult to understand the male lead - he spoke quickly in an accent, but we caught enough of what he was saying. Very energetic cast. Quite a nice show! Womens restroom- Not enough stalls, one with broken latch & another not functioning

Great show! Unbelievably talented cast. Go see this show!

One of the best musicals out there and have seen 3 times now

The show was outstanding. Great voices and music. I found it to be very moving.

We went to see Once on Saturday, March 25 in Peoria. Great seats, 3rd row orchestra. I didn't really know what to expect, because we watched the movie a week ago, and I didn't really love it. Well, was I surprised. The talent of the cast was outstanding. The were entertaining us (warming up) on their instruments when we were getting into the theater. Even that part was great! The show has a much more in depth storyline than the movie. And it was funny! I want to see it again, really soon.

If you've seen the movie, you MUST see the stage performance. The musical has so many more comedic moments, and touching romantic ones too. It is definitely worth seeing if you have the opportunity. You won't be sorry!

The "Irish" accents were a bit over-the-top and difficult to understand. Music was great btw.

Once was great fun. I had seen the play in New York with girlfriends and this time in Lexington with my husband. Wonderful music and just an overall enjoyable evening!

The songs are good. The vocals are Impressive. The musicianship is skilled And fun. This show deserves the awards. Once is a hoot. At Once you will witness lives And songs that grind to a halt, only to be quickened Again with love and hope. Still, the awareness That life, love and music are tricky is handled With a thrill ride of a story/show that will leave You smiling that you were smart enough to attend.

I just love this show. Saw it on Broadway. Very unique with music that sticks to the soul!. Poignant story where morals win and the ending isn't necessarily jolly. Would see it a 3rd time!

The play was very good. It has a good plot and was well executed by the cast. The single stage scene was different but again well excecuted. The ending ... let's not spoil it.

Loved the movie, loved the soundtrack, LOVED the live show even more! My husband and I enjoyed every last minute of the show! I would highly recommend everyone go see Once! You won't regret it!

Having seen original movie & listening to our Once soundtrack, musical at Opera House was an enjoyable event.

One of the best shows I've ever seen. Loved the movie, but seeing and hearing it live is such a unique experience!

This performance was phenomenal and nearly brought me to tears the entire show. I also loved that the musicians were incorporated into the performance as opposed to being in the pit.

Story so bittersweet & realistic, very good! Play is a unique experience with open bar onstage where patrons purchase drinks before & at intermission. Very cool. Lead actor reminded me of lead singer for Mumford & Sons. Everybody in cast is talented...wonderful experience!

My husband & I have seen this play in NYC, St. Louis, Louisville, New Orleans and now Lexington. It's a great story based on true life; outstanding choreography and music. Total thumbs up!

We really enjoyed Once. It was musical, humorous, and just touching enough to make us care about the characters without leaving us in tears. A great night out.

By far the best show that we have been to in years. The cast was absolutely amazing!!!

We were extremely disppointed. Not the uplifting foot stomping kind of music we thought we'd hear. Plot was so so. Totally predictable. Words were also extremely hard to understand. Would tell people to save their money, and we wouldn't recommend the play.

I'm a fan of the movie and especially the soundtrack, but the story just did not translate to the stage. Some parts were slow and left me wondering what exactly was going on. The music is the only reason to see this. The songs were all performed excellently. Looking back, I would have saved my money and skipped it.

The cast was brilliant and the simple set design along with the transition between scenes was flawless. This very talented group of performers provided a most interesting performance. The choreography was so very simple yet elegant. The only complaint was the sound mixing. Male lead voice was distorted, female lead was perfect but most of the dialog from the male lead was very hard to understand. If taken into consideration we were in the balcony and it is possible that contributed to the problem. Overall we enjoyed this last minute decision to have a look at this play. The cast did not disappoint!

Amazing, touching, great cast and great music...not to be missed!

I was expecting some traditional Irish music but it was mostly slow moving love-type songs. I had a hard time understanding what was said, mainly the lead male, and the gentleman seated next to me said the same thing at intermission. It seemed to be a combination of the accent and mumbling. We were up front, too, in the 4th row. This was the main reason I was disappointed in this show. I missed a lot of what was going on. I did think the way the show was structured was very creative with the cast being onstage at all times but just seated off to the sides until their role was involved. I know someone else who just loved the show and another who hated it. That being said, I feel the show was enjoyable but did not live up to my expectations.

Surprised my mom for her Birthday.. Along with my sisters. We paid big money to sit in 2nd row. This performance was not what I expected!! Swearing!! Music was amazing! Seats were awful! So be aware when you think you're paying hundreds for your seats.... Be prepared for things in your way at the theater!!

The show was very slow. There was hardly any dancing and I almost fell asleep multiple times. It wasn't very engaging at all. The acting and singing was great, just not what you expect a Broadway show to be like.

We saw the movie, and then sought out the show. It was better than I could have hoped for. So well done. The cast/musicians playing before the show and during intermission was a perfect segue. I couldn't have imagined this, but was absolutely brilliant to have the entire cast as the musicians, remaining on stage the whole time, and no set changes. I would go again in a heartbeat, and would HIGHLY recommend to anyone. Very, very, nicely done.

We arrived in the theater 5 minutes late despite arriving 30 minutes early because the university where the theater is located likes to schedule multiple events at the same time creating traffic jams. We were not allowed to enter the theater for 25 minutes which, of course, was blamed on the touring company. I would note that they did keep all of the money I paid for the tickets. The part of the play I saw was great expect I was completely lost as to what was going on having missed so much. To fill in the blanks we bought a copy of the 2007 film on DVD which was actually better. My advice- save money and buy the DVD. I will not return to this venue.

Talented actors, singing was top notch...but the whole story line was very confusing & difficult to follow. Wasn't really certain when play started given the "pre-show", there was really no climax or turning point in story, and just kinda "ended". For Broadway show expected more theatrics...same stage setting whole time, all actors on stage whole time, was just overall confusing to understand what I should be paying attention to.

The play was pleasant but slow paced. The music before the show started and in between scenes was the most enjoyable part. Maybe it was the venue, but the dialogue and lyrics were often difficult to hear.

My husband and I were spellbound by the beauty of this story, and the music! I cannot begin to tell you how speechless we were as soon as we got to our seats. Immediately, we were mesmerized. I do not want to ruin any part of the experience, so I will merely say, make sure you see this show!

it was fine. actors were fine. music was fine. it was ok... but, alas, it was not broadway great... could have been community theatre. not the fault of the cast, just not a very interesting musical

Two things I wish were clearer in the advertising: 1. I am used to lush beautiful musicals. This does not meet that level. It takes place in a bar, not a lovely Ireland countryside with glorious music. 2. I was surprised by the use of bad language in the performance. If this was a movie it would have had an R rating. I would not have attended. The bad language certainly was not necessary to the plot of the movie. My husband and I attended on Valentine's Day--my gift to him as we love musicals. I wish I could get my money back. The players received the shortest curtain call I have every witnessed.

Excellent music!! Wonderful storyline! Didn't want it to end!

Powerful voices, interesting staging, non-predictable ending! Love that the performers play their instruments live on stage! Very talented cast! Do not park in the Clowes garage on the Butler campus. Took us over an hour to get out, and our car was nearly hit several times before we even backed out of our parking spot!

Clowes Memorial Hall is just a phenomenal venue. My first time being there was to see Once for Valentine's Day weekend and what a great show in a great place.

The unfortunate part of Once- a New Musical is that it came out after the movie of the same story. I've seen it (the movie) at least a dozen times and found myself trying to figure out the differences between the movie and musical the entire time and why a couple of the songs were moved around in the sequence of events. And, while I thought Irish pub set was very cool, and it was amazing audience members could get a real drink on stage during intermission, I didn't quite get how it fit with the story. The story was still great and the musicians/actors were true talents. Had such a moving experience I wish I could see it again this weekend! Bravo!

The dialouge was weak, but the music as fantastic!

Once had great music. The beginning was weird, there were just some random musical numbers by the supporting cast...then the lights went off and the lead actor sang and then the lead actress began the dialogue after his song. It seemed very forced...her immediate strong care for his problems and her unwillingness to let him go on his way was hard to believe because they were total strangers to eachother. But, it got better as it went along. Some of the supporting characters were great, while others flat out annoying. Then as we get in to the middle/ end of the second act after intermission, things felt rushed. The emotional conflict between the two reaches a climax...which also feels rushed. I don't know why they love eachother to be honest...their connection never really seemed to be believable besides one sweet scene looking over the city. They should have built on that, unfortunately things were rushed after that scene. The ending, I honestly was confused over if they ended up together. I had to look it up online just to be sure I followed correctly. I did, but just adding one more scene with some lasting dialogue between the two would have been not only memorable, but would have made it cohesive. All in all, we were entertained by the majority of it...but people were saying the movie is better so maybe just watch that instead.

Once was a great show!! Loved how all of the cast was on stage for the entire play, and played their own instruments. Very cool production. Singing was amazing. I already want to see it again!!

A couple of really good songs, but not enough to carry an otherwise lackluster story.

Exquisite show. The music was amazing and the cast did a superb job. Script was witty and it held you for the entire production.

The music was incredible. the book was imaginative in how it was presented. The voices and the musicianship was wonderful. I enjoyed the different instruments which were played. Allowing the audience to go on stage before the show and at intermission to get a drink was special.

Wonderfully talented actors/musicians, a meaningful story, and the delightful artistry made this show an awesome experience.

Low energy. Bizarre staging. Underwhelming. Fortunately the musicianship of the cast was solid.

I had trouble understanding the lyrics. It seemed like the acoustics in the hall did not do justice to the music.

Love the music. Very interesting use of set design. Very theatrical. Loved it.

This musical had it all! Fantastic acting,great actors and actresses, fabulous musicians and a great love story. Once of the best shows I've seen and enjoyed. How the acting and music become one in this great experience is truly amazing. BRAVO!!!

It was a great story but both my husband and I felt the lead performer was weak. He didn't seem to really be into the role and the music was quiet plus the words were hard to hear. Very different then clips we have seen on TV.

This play has it all! Great music you will tap your feet to, phenomenal musicians, wonderful humor, heartwarming, heart tugging, genuine! And who doesn't love an Irish brogue?