San Francisco Shows Questions?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:54pm

I am thinking of booking a tour to San Francisco next this summer..but I want to know as to when the Xanadu touring Company will be in San Francisco..

June perhaps ? no official anouncement yet? is that right? Will it start in San Diego then San Fran? any dates?

Another thing: what is the name of the drag show in San Francisco where they wear hats with different buildings of San Francisco??

J*

[jwonjy119]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:56pm

I think The Drowsy Chaperone is going to be playing in SF sometime over the summer.

You can check the San Francisco message boards.

[justme2]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:58pm

Beach Blanket Babylon is the show you are referring to JayStarr (the one with the hats).

It's a lot of fun!

[EugLoven]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:01pm

www.SHNSF.com is the website you should use for Broadway national tours. Their shows this season are...
The Wiz
The Drowsy Chaperone
Spring Awakening
A Midsummer Night's Dream
High School Musical
Whistle Down the Wind

The big-hat show (not drag, just over-the-top costumes) is Beach Blanket Babylon. My best-friend's sister stars as Snow White
www.beachblanketbabylon.com
Updated On: 1/8/08 at 10:01 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:18pm

Thanks guys

The SHNSF website does not go further than April 2008.

When is the Wiz? is that a Broadway- tryout?

Which theaters are prettier? Curran, Golden Gate or Orpheum?

The Beach Blanket show is not a drag show? I thought it was... I think I saw a picture at GENRE magazine.. actually this is the picture from their website...

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:37pm

It's probably going to be at least another year before Xanadu comes to San Fran. Spring Awakening is coming in Sept I believe, and last time I heard The Wiz was up in the air as to if it was going to come or not. Out of the three theatres I think the Orpheum is the nicest and largest, followed by the Curran and then The Golden Gate. Orpheum and Golden Gate are in a bad part of town where drug dealers, hookers, weirdos who follow you and harass you, and X stuff is everywhere. Really ugly, depressing place to have big shows come. Beach Blanket is a fun show!! You should check it out. It changes as pop culture changes too.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:44pm

The Curran has the nicest location and tons of shops nearby. The Orpheum is closest to BART but is scary. The Golden Gate is not that close to BART and is quite scary.

Beach Blanket is fun but totally overrated.

Updated On: 1/8/08 at 10:44 PM

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 11:04pm

It sounds great that your friends sister is working in BBB Eugene. It was great when Val Diamond was in it but who plays her part now? I enjoyed it and I didn't think it was over-rated. It's camp and funny.

There should be some real drag shows in SF. If you come in June during the Gay Pride Parade you are sure to run in to something more along those lines. I don't know of any long running shows but hopefully someone else will speak up?

I hope you can come out here Jaystarr, it is a fun place to visit and so much to see. Though don't forget to buy a map! It is a living maze of streets going every which way!

SHN said they don't think they will have Xandu this Summer. I was really disappointed about this too! I don't know what we will have then? Maybe Midsummer Night? We aren't getting Drowsy until late July, early August. You might want to split your trip between LA and SF if you can only visit in the early Summer. Lots of other things to see that aren't Theatre oriented.

Like I mentioned, it is crazy during Gay Pride Parade but it is a good party atmosphere, tons of people, if you prefer crazy well this is the place. You can avoid some of that though by escaping to Golden Gate Park or the Wharf. Great food!

You might find something interesting at the smaller theatres during that time too. Try this website http://www.theatermania.com/San_Francisco/ when you get closer to the time of your trip. It lists quite a few shows and venues in the Bay Area. Have fun!

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 12:57am

SHN does indicate on their website that THE WIZ is intended for a Spring/Summer 2008 run; perhaps that means a late spring early summer run..?

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:03am

Come on you guys. The area around the Orpheum and the Golden Gate theatres is NOT that bad. It's not the f-ing tenderloin, and for the most part, it's very safe. I used to work at the Warfield which is like, a block away from the Golden Gate and when I first moved here, I would walk to the bus stop every night at around 12 or 1 am and I never had any trouble from anyone. As long as you're aware of your surroundings you'll be just fine. And hookers, druggies, crazies? Please. That doesn't keep the tourists away from the Haight...

Anyway, Tis Pity She's a Whore is going to be playing at the ACT theatre in June/early July, try to catch that if you can. It's one of my favorite plays ever and the ACT is my favorite and the most prettiest (just whatever you do, do not sit in the second balcony).

Why are you joining a tour? That's completely unneccesary, SF is the easiest place to explore on your own, the public transportation is super easy to use and mostly all the 'good stuff' is within walking distance of each other.

EDIT: Tis Pity She's A Whore will be playing from June 5-July 5. Go and see it everyone, it's the best play, for real.


Updated On: 1/9/08 at 01:03 AM

[sammin33]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:04am

"It was great when Val Diamond was in it but who plays her part now?"

I believe she is still there.
http://beachblanketbabylon.com/castpage.cfm

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:08am

Oopsies, wrong thread response. Sorry. Updated On: 1/9/08 at 01:08 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:10am

The ACT second balcony is like being on a swing set when it goes all the way up.

[nitsua]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:12am

I've got a soft spot for the Curran. Ivan and I saw Lestat there, and the theatre is gorgeous!

You've gotta try Scala's, in the Sir Francis Drake hotel. I think it's 2 blocks from the theatre. Maybe 3.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:13am

Word. I almost died sitting up there once. Whoever designed the second balcony must have seriously been on drugs at the time.

I saw Lestat at the Curran too. :) Updated On: 1/9/08 at 01:13 AM

[Blue J]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:15am

If Nikki James is still doing The Wiz, it won't be able to come in spring / summer of 2008. She is doing Romeo and Juliet directed by Des McAnuff at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada.

[mll85]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:15am

Speaking of The Wiz, has their been any news about the production. If they're aiming for spring/summer I would suspect casting notice would have been posted somewhere or posted soon. Midsummer Night's Dream might also be playing during that same time frame.

But like Revoultionary said, the area around the Golden Gateand Orpheum isn't that bad, it could be better, but it's not the worst part of town. I felt fine being in the area when I got out of concerts at the Warfield (also in the same area) and that would usually be around 11. And usually the area is kind of dead around that time.

Also like everyone else is saying. The Second Balcony at A.C.T. sucks. When I sit up there feel like I might get a case of vertigo, and I'm worried I might trip and fall into the orchestra.

But my favorite theater is the Curran.

Updated On: 1/9/08 at 01:15 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:26am

I still wouldn't camp out there for Rent.

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:27am

Everytime I go to an evening performance at The Orpheum I am harassed by someone. God forbid I go with any female friends because then the harassment is far worse. It's not that I mind people asking me for money, they don't just do that. They follow you around and call you names until you reach your destination. The area is gross. It needs a major cleanup ASAP! As for "The Wiz", I heard it was in major limbo and people were uncertain if it was even going to come! Updated On: 1/9/08 at 01:27 AM

[sondhead]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:34am

"If Nikki James is still doing The Wiz, it won't be able to come in spring / summer of 2008. She is doing Romeo and Juliet directed by Des McAnuff at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada. "

That could be OK. She wasn't that good and they needed someone much better IMO.

Actually, in general I would call casting the #1 problem of the La Jolla production. They need a better Glinda/Aunt Em and Dorothy and let's not even talk about the Scarecrow.

It's not that they were bad persay, they just need to be much better to ensure any amount of potential Broadway success.

A LOT of their shows have no dates listed... why??

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:38am

Whistle Down the Wind is a tour... just left toronto.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:40am

A LOT of their shows have no dates listed... why??

Probably to cover their rears.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 2:58am

Amen Sista Child.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 6:36am

SHN was telling me that they are at the mercy of Tour delays. They told me not to even trust the posted dates for Drowsy in LA. Though they said Drowsy was asking for a load in date of July 27th. So at least that falls in line with what I expected.

I didn't ask about the Wiz. I am not sure if I want to see it or not. I plan on checking out Whistle for the fun of it. I heard the same thing though about the Wiz. I think that is why so many dates are still unconfirmed. Yet it is still being sold as the Best of Broadway?

I agree too, that the Golden Gate area is tolerable. At least our bums are respectable. They do tend to be friendly but I never found them to be threatening. It is cleaner looking now but the Orpheum really suffers because that Bart Station is a trash magnet. What an eyesore but the Theatre inside is still nice.

I wrote to the Mayor's Redevelopment Dept but I need to be more persistent. The Golden Gate has a great entrance because of it's corner design. It is just getting the Mayor's attention and putting some of his efforts into bringing in some useful business' that can help to support all of those wandering souls. I did notice that the Police do walk the route around the GG but yeah, the dealers just follow along ahead of them. Still they aren't looking for trouble. I wouldn't even walk in my small Town without being aware of my surrounding. You are just as likely to get mugged down on Union Square if you aren't careful. Still it is few and far between. When in the City, you just use your street smarts and don't go looking for trouble.

I did find a pretty good little Mexican Place nearby the GG, so now at least I won't starve there but it would be nice if they had some shops that sold memorabilia. Has anyone gone to that Club nearby 6th St on Market? It's been there for some time hasn't it? I wasn't in the mood after the show but it had security. No, I'm not talking about the strip clubs, a couple of those around for your viewing pleasure but I would think Jaystarr would much rather wander further up to the Castro.

Getting a Cab downtown though was a royal pain! I can't believe it was easier to get a Cab in New York on Broadway than on Market St. With everything so spread out, it really should get better. I'd say make sure you carry some loose change and small bills. It is probably better to use the buses than to bother with picking up a Cab downtown if you just want to get up and down on Market St.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 9:23am

I will probbably go there when THE WIZ is playing at whatever theater.. I was hoping it would be around the last week of June .. bec. I looked at the internet and Gay Pride San Francisco will be around June 28..

THE WIZ is very confusing.. its on the SHNSF website..but there are NO DATES at all.. though its a part of their subscription package for 2007-2008. I would assume this is the production that would eventually go to Broadway.

Per playbill.com on Upcoming shows****************
https://www.playbill.com/news/article/80060.html

THE WIZ
Attached: Des McAnuff (Director),
Re-imagined production of the Charlie Smalls-William F. Brown musical based on L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."


and per SHNSF website :
Based on "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum

World Premiere Produced by La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, CA
Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director Designate; Steven B. Libman, Managing Director; Des McAnuff, Director Emeritus.


..so I guess this is a TRY-OUT for the Broadway Revival.... I am very insterested to see this.. here's come pics from the website... though not much info.






Updated On: 1/9/08 at 09:23 AM