What to Expect / FAQ
Attending a Concert: Your Guide to Enjoying the Manitowoc Symphony
We care about you, our audience, and want to make sure you have a GREAT time at the symphony, regardless if you are new to classical music or the whole orchestra thing is old-hat. The following are our responses to the most frequently asked questions we receive.
Getting Tickets and Getting Here
The historic and beautiful Capitol Civic Centre is our home. Opened in 1921, the concert space is one-of-a-kind. It’s hosted the biggest and best acts over the years, internationally renowned. It sounds great. It’s comfortable. It’s pretty to look at. We first performed at in the Capitol in 1952 and have seen it in all its configurations. After the most recent renovations were completed in 2019, ACT TWO, the hall seats 1000. We also perform at events big and small throughout the community to reach new audiences and proudly represent our name.
The Capitol has accessible seating for all on the first level. There is wheelchair access through the front door, the restrooms are ADA accessible and the Capitol does have wheelchairs available on site. The Box Office (920-683-2184) can answer any specific questions.
They’re all good. As the Capitol only accommodates 1000, it’s a pretty intimate hall so there really is no bad seat in the house. That said, our diehards argue the center, downstairs or upstairs, offers the best acoustic.
Pro Tip: If you sit up close you’ll feel more of the performance. If you sit near the back you’ll see more of the performance. If there is a soloist, people often like to sit audience left to get a better view.
Park on Jay, South 7th, or Franklin. Want some space and a view? Park across from the Public Library off of Quay along the river. If the river is frozen I suppose you could park there too, but Legal won’t let me recommend it to you.
Nah. Attending a symphony orchestra concert never requires studying. The goal is that every concert is self-contained. This means everything you need to know will be given to you at the show. But, if you do want more information on the music, great, here’s what you can easily do:
Check out our playlist. Free account is required.
You should be comfortable when you hear the MSO. Dress how you feel comfortable. Yes, some like to bring the ritz and sparkle or even dress in costume for the featured music, especially our October concert. If you love to dress up, do it and be proud. If you prefer to dress more casually, do-it-to-it and don’t think twice. In the end, you won’t be the only one dressed “up” or “down.”
We love you, too. Come early and hang out before the first pitch is thrown.
| Matinee | Evening Concert | |
| CCC Box Office opens* | 12:30pm | 6:00pm |
| Lobby doors open | 1:00pm | 6:30pm |
| Seating begins | 1:30pm | 7:00pm |
| Kickoff | 2:00pm | 7:30pm |
No, once the music starts, the Capitol Police (the ushers) won’t allow you into the hall until a break. Generally, most concerts start with a shorter piece, often an overture, which is 10 minutes or so. If you’re late, after this first piece is your window for slipping in after the bell has rung.
Once You’re Here
Say hello! As soon as you enter the Capitol Civic Centre, you’re among family. This is what music does, it brings us together. We’d love to meet you. Sometimes guest artists join us at intermission or after the show to chat and sell and autograph merchandise. We love meeting our audience, our friends and neighbors, and welcome the chance to hear your thoughts on the music and your experience.
Don’t forget to check-in on social media. Take a selfie with some ushers. And of course, Like/Follow MSO’s Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages. In advance, we like you back.
Drinks need not be gulped, hallelujah. Yes, drinks can be brought into the auditorium. There are even cupholders in the seats on the main floor! Please imbibe responsibly and with live music. And if you haven’t been to the CCC recently, there’s a new bar on the second level—it’s easier than ever to relax at intermission and not have to worry about getting in line at the bar.
We want our patrons to be themselves. Should you wish to check in on social media and share your experience, great. Take that selfie while the orchestra warms up or with friends at intermission. Take that video of the audience jumping to their feet after the show is over.
We only ask that phones are silenced and dimmed so that they’re not distracting those on stage or those sitting nearby. In other words, please be respectful to those around you. We hope that your phone blows up, really we do, we just ask that you keep it to yourself that you’re so popular.
Oh, and no flash photography or video recording please—you don’t want YouTube to suspend your account because you owe someone $.008 in royalties.
If you like something, don’t sit on your hands! Feel free to clap, heck, hoot and holler if you’d like when you hear something that delights.
In olden days the “classical” music audience was, well, downright rowdy. This all changed in the last hundred~ years. Etiquette now dictates that one is supposed to repress their applause until the very end of a multi-movement work. But, not everyone knows this unwritten modern rule and so some folk feel awkward about the whole when-to-clap thing.
Here’s the rub. Much music is like a great novel. After some chapters you need to cry. After others, laugh out loud. Sometimes you may even want to throw the book across the room. Sometimes you simply need to sit in silence and take in your journey. Music is the same.
Our policy is that if the music makes you have an emotional reaction, feel free to express it, whenever this may be. We embolden you to be you and share what you’re feeling. Probably, others will want to join in with you. (Just know this policy of ours isn’t shared everywhere!)
Still don’t want to be the first horse out-the-gate? Watch the conductor and musicians. They’ll give you nonverbal clues when it’s clapping-time, time to say “yahoo” and “thanks.”
Concerts typically last 1.5 to 2 hours. This includes Intermission, which is our fancy way of saying halftime, we just don’t have the marching band or acrobats. Yet.
Sort of! Before the show and at intermission, look for members from our Education Committee roaming the halls. They’re the ones who look like they need a break, tired, and are overworked. Just kidding. They do a lot. At halftime they sell raffle tickets to support some of our Ed programming. If you win, you get 50% of the pot. Of course, if you choose to “put it back,” you’ll make some kid very happy.
What happens after the show?
Have a question that’s not answered here? Send us a message on Facebook, Insta, or by email. If your question is excellent we’ll add it to this list!