Prior to my most recent trip to the Bartell, I'd only been once before in college as part of a drama assignment to see other productions around town. I hated the musical I went to and hated the seats even more - the seats and backs of the chairs were supposed to adjust to your natural posture but were so old that you either had to perch on the edge to sit up or end up leaning so far back you couldn't see the stage. Woof. It was such an uncomfortable experience on every level that I hadn't been back.
Flash forward a decade and I found myself back for a show. In my absence they had done some renovations and the seats are now quite comfortable with a perfect view of the stage. Sound was good and the small size of the theater made for an intimate experience.
We were seated in the last row and the light from the booth was a little distracting, but otherwise it was a happy experience.
Bonus points to the Bartell for the gorgeous tiles that make up the front exterior wall - on a sunny day it's one of the prettiest things downtown.