Planning a visit to Circle Theatre? Welcome! Below is everything you need to know about attending a show at Circle Theatre.

Can’t find your answer here? Give our box office a call at 616.456.6656 or email us at boxoffice@circletheatre.org. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

What is Circle Theatre?

Circle Theatre is a nearly 73 year-old community performing arts organization located in the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College in the heart of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The mission of Circle Theatre is to enrich, entertain and educate our community through exceptional theatrical arts in an intimate setting. Read about our history!

What are Circle Theatre’s Box Office hours?

The Circle Theatre box office is open Monday through Friday from 12pm – 5pm with limited hours during holidays.

Is Circle Theatre a non-profit organization?

Yes! Circle Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We welcome your support in any amount. Learn More about supporting Circle or make a Donation Today!

What types of shows do you present?

We feature a wide variety of plays, musicals, and concerts every season. Take a look at our current season!

When do the doors open?

On performance days, our lobby typically opens an hour and a half prior to the scheduled start time. The house (the theatre) opens thirty minutes prior to start time.

Where do I pick-up my “Will Call” tickets?

In order to reduce paper-waste and hand-to-hand contact, Circle Theatre is now TICKET-FREE! When you arrive at the theatre for a performance you will give your name at check-in, and then an usher will help you find your seat.

Do you offer discount pricing for those on a budget?

Circle Theatre believes that theatre should be accessible to all. Visit our “Ways to Save” page to find out more about our offered discounts and memberships.

Is photography or recording allowed?

Photography, video, or audio recording of any kind during a performance is prohibited unless specifically sanctioned at the time of a performance.

The event for which you purchase tickets to is a public event, and your appearance and actions inside and outside the venue where the event occurs are public in nature, and that you have no expectation of privacy with regard to your actions or conduct at the event.

Can I bring my kids?

Yes! We have family-friendly main stage shows and concerts throughout the year. When purchasing tickets to a Circle show or concert, we recommend that you take a glance at our content rating so you can best judge whether a show is appropriate for your children.

Can I bring my dog?

Fully certified service dogs to assist persons with disabilities are always welcome at Circle. While we love animals, for the preservation of our theater and safety to other patrons, non-certified service dogs and other pets are not allowed at Circle Theatre during public programs.

Do you sell food and beverages?

Yes! Concessions featuring candy, soda, and water are sold at most Circle performances. Interested in wine and beer? We have you covered! We feature a Lobby Bar Night serving craft beer and wine on select nights throughout the season. See our Season Calendar to see which dates feature the Lobby Bar.

Attire?

While there is no dress code at Circle, we recommend attire that is mindful to other visitors, and comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather and the air conditioning that keeps our performers and audience cool during the summer months.

Security?

We greatly appreciate your cooperation with all necessary security measures at Circle. Large bags, luggage, or other bulky belongings are not allowed inside the theater. Circle Management reserves the right to limit access to The Performing Arts Center for any reason.

Please recognize that you assume any and all risks occurring before, during, and after an event at Circle, including injury by any cause. By attending events, you release management, facility, league, participants, clubs, and their respective affiliates and representatives from any related claims.

Weapons?

Circle Theatre and Aquinas College are Weapon-Free Zones. As private property, we reserve the right to remove anyone from the premises carrying a weapon, including those with Open-Carry permits.

“A private property owner has the right to prohibit Individuals from carrying firearms on his or her property, whether concealed or otherwise, and regardless of whether the person is a CPL holder. If a person remains on the property after being told to leave by the owner, the person may be charged with trespassing (MCL 750.552).”

Food & Drink allowed inside the theatre? 

Yes! All concessions and drinks purchased at our concession booth and Lobby Bar are now allowed inside our theater. We ask that you be mindful of your own trash, clean up after yourself, and please report any spills to our front of house staff.

Please note: excessive wrinkling of wrappers, chewing, or crunching during a performance is not enjoyable for anyone. 

Disturbances During The Show?

Please report any disturbances during the show (security concerns, included) directly to the House Manager located at the back of Section 2, or to box office staff located in the Performing Arts Center lobby.

Lost & Found?

We do have a lost and found. Please contact the box office if you have lost something at the Performing Arts Center. Contact Aquinas Campus Safety at 616-632-2462 if you have lost something elsewhere on campus. Items not claimed within a month are donated to charity.

Is Smoking Allowed?

Circle Theatre, located at Aquinas College, is a completely smoke-free campus. This includes all forms of e-cigarettes and vapes.

Below is some helpful information for you before you arrive for a Circle on the Lawn event.

Where do I go and where should I park?

Aquinas College Performing Arts Center (Circle Theatre), 1703 Robinson Road. Please park anywhere, except for any spots that have been coned-off.

Our “Lawn” area is located right in-front of the main entrance to the Performing Arts Center. A map of the area is located here.
How do I check-in?

Check-in begins at 6pm. Earlier arrivals are not permitted on the lawn until 6pm. We encourage you to arrive AFTER 6pm for the sake of our staff and performers. 

When you come from the parking lot, you will see the Circle Theatre Check-in Table. You do not need to print or provide your tickets. Check-in will be verified by the name your tickets were purchased under.

An usher will then direct you and your group to a space on the lawn. 

Lawn seating is general admission, first-come-first-serve. Bring your own chairs and picnic blankets. Blanket-only patrons will be seated closer to the stage, but there is no designated blanket area. High-backed chairs will be seated on the sides, and toward the back.

What if I’m not feeling well?
If for ANY reason you are feeling under the weather, please give us a call at 616.456.6656 or email us at boxoffice@circletheatre.org, and we will gladly arrange an exchange for a future date at no extra charge.

Are there restrooms available? 
Yes! The PAC is open for restroom use ONLY during lawn events. Please see an usher for directions to our upper lobby restrooms.

I forgot my chair! Do you provide chairs? 
Yes, we have a limited number of chairs for those without, but they are first-come-first-serve. Please see a staff member at the event to request a chair. Chair reservation cannot be made ahead of time.
 
Is there reserved seating for wheelchairs/walkers? 
The entire lawn is level with the sidewalk and completely accessible. That being said, we will do our best to seat those with accessibility needs nearest to the sidewalk.

Can I bring outside food and drink? 
Feel free to pack your own picnic basket with your favorite beverage in a nondescript container. Outside food is welcome! Concessions will be OPEN for your convenience!

How long is the event? Is there an intermission? 
This varies by event. Please check our production pages for more information.

What if it rains? 
We will make rain call determinations at least 4 hours prior to show start. If heavy rain looks inevitable, we will contact you by phone and/or email. Ticket exchange information and alternate dates will be provided at that time.

Where is Circle Theatre located?

Circle is located at the Performing Arts Center at 1703 Robinson Road Grand Rapids, MI 49506 on the campus of Aquinas College. We are centrally located in the Eastown-Gaslight Village neighborhood, approximately 2.5 miles east of Downtown Grand Rapids.

Can I park at Circle?

Yes! Parking is free in our large lot which is shared during the day by Aquinas and Blodgett-Spectrum Hospital.

Where do your performances take place?

Our main stage performances and concerts all take place at the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College. Our Circle Presents educational theatre series takes place at various venues around West Michigan.

Do you have a seating chart?

Yes! You can find it here.

Is Circle Accessible?

Yes! The Performing Arts Center is fully accessible by Wheelchair and other mobility assistance devices. We offer several accessible seating options in the theater. Please call ahead to purchase these seats.

Aisles?

Our aisles are arranged in a thrust (stadium-style) pattern by stairs. Accessible seating is located from the main lobby entrance to the theatre, and the stage and other areas of the theatre is accessible from our elevator in the main lobby.

Assisted Listening Devices?

Circle Theatre offers both T-Loop and sound amplification devices for those who require sound amplification of our performances. Headsets may be acquired at the box office prior to the performance free-of-charge, and those patrons who use hearing aids and cochlear implants with a “T” switch can simply switch their devices over to this frequency during the performance.

How is Circle handling COVID-19?

Circle Theatre is following MDHHS and Aquinas College COVID-19 policies.

As of March 7th, 2022, per Aquinas College policy, masks are not required indoors. Concessions and select dates for Lobby Bar remain open.

We will make official changes to our guidelines if MDHHS or Aquinas College post new policies as they arise.

We have additional information, including our new sanitation procedures, on our Health & Safety Page  if you would like more details.

To keep the air in our theatre continually clean and refreshed, our AC is on, and running continuously throughout the performance. We encourage you to dress for cooler indoor temperatures regardless of the heat outdoors.

If for ANY reason you are feeling under the weather, please give our Box Office a call at 616.456.6656 or email us at boxoffice@circletheatre.org, and we will gladly arrange an exchange for a future date.

Do performances change or get cancelled?

While cancelling or changing programs is extremely rare, it does happen. All programs and artists are subject to change without notice. If an event presented by Circle has been cancelled or postponed, we will do everything within our power to make sure you know. This includes–if time permits–via mailings to your home, email, and an announcement on our website.

What is your refund policy?

As a non-profit organization all ticket sales are considered donations. Refunds directly affect our ability to provide our services to the community, that is why we offer exchanges on tickets for future performances. After the date of your performance has passed, ticket exchanges are not guaranteed. Additionally, we do not guarantee exchanges if you miss or are late to a performance. All Circle Members receive free unlimited exchanges. Non-Members are subject to a small fee for all exchanges. Please contact boxoffice@circletheatre.org for more information.