Theater in San Francisco

[jbm2]

Posted: 3/11/14 at 1:28am

Headed to SF in May- and would love to catch a few shows there...
Anyone familiar with the theater scene? Which theaters I should look into?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/11/14 at 8:07am

SF Playhouse, ACT, Ray of Light, and outside SF: Berkeley Rep

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 3/11/14 at 9:12am

Check out the TIX Bay Area website. It has listings and discount offers. They also have a discounted same-day ticket booth on the Powell Street side Union Square (opposite the St Francis Hotel).
TIX Bay Area

[NewSynchopation]

Posted: 3/11/14 at 10:26am

As somebody from San Francisco, I would highly highly recommend you go to ACT. Their stuff is usually really good and they are presenting a new-ish show in May called The Suit.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 3/11/14 at 2:43pm

As far as quality goes, your best options are:
-American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T): The Suit, National Tour (Thru May 18 )
-Magic Theatre: Pen/Man/Ship, World Premiere (Begins May 21)

If you are able to make it to Berkeley:
-Berkeley Rep: Tribes (Thru May 11), The Intelligent Homosexuals Guide...(Begins May 16)
-Aurora Theater: Wittenberg (Thru May 4)

If you can make it across the Golden Gate Bride to Mill Valley:
-Marin Theatre Company: Fences (Thru May 11)

The other options in San Francisco are borderline amateurish. Updated On: 3/11/14 at 02:43 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 3/11/14 at 3:13pm

I've enjoyed the SF Playhouse productions I've seen. They'll be presenting "Seminar" by Theresa Rebeck. Also, 42nd St Moon, sorta' our local version of Encores, will be presenting "DuBarry Was a Lady" until May 18.

Quality-wise, these companies typically do good work, but there are occasional clinkers. (And while 42nd St Moon may share a mission with Encores and their shows can be delightfully enjoyable, it IS a small non-profit theater and is on a different level than City Center productions)

Updated On: 3/11/14 at 03:13 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/11/14 at 3:57pm

If you are leaving SF proper you also have Theatreworks in Palo Alto who, at least in the past, were known for producing quality work.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 3/12/14 at 2:53am

Agree with Theatreworks. I would also add San Jose Rep and especially San Jose Stage. The Stage does some excellent stuff in a very intimate 200 seat theater and the tickets are very reasonable. I'm a season subscriber and I continue to be amazed by the quality of their productions given their resources. In SF as others have said, ACT is very good, check out the touring productions on the shnsf.com website. Agree that SF Playhouse and Berkeley Rep are also worth checking into. Maybe Aurora Theater Company also in Berkeley. That's really about it.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 3/12/14 at 3:07am

I live in San Francisco and there is some terrific theatre. We get a lot of tours but some of the smaller playhouses do great plays. SF Playhouse does great work and they are opening a new space soon. In June/July they're doing Into the Woods. I hate that I couldn't see their production of Camelot.

Boxcar Theater is doing a Speakeasy show for a few more weeks. I'm seeing it on Thursday.

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 3/12/14 at 4:19am

If you want something more experimental, there's a new Immersive show called The Speakeasy being presented by Boxcar Theater.

[jbm2]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 1:58am

Heading to SF the weekend of Feb 7... What are the shows to see? I'd love to catch a couple.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 2:23am

Magic Theatre: A LIE OF THE MIND
San Francisco Playhouse: TREE
American Conservatory Theater: INDIAN INK

These three are probably your best bets. Have fun!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 6:30am

If you will be in the SF area before Feb. 1, run, don't walk if you'd like to see Angela Lansbury at the Golden Theatre. (That's located in the Tenderloin, right?). It's a somewhat dodgy section of SF.
Theatre in SF

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 8:08am

Yeah, the Golden Gate is in the Tenderloin and is also the furthest SHN theatre from a BART entrance. But walk in pairs or at a matinee and you'll be fine.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 10:11am

Ha, I know they only pop up every once in a while, but it's always funny for me to see a thread on this board about theatre in my hometown. Especially now that I live in NY! Usually this board is all NY all the time. Glad there are other San Franciscans on BWW!

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:00am

Has anyone seen X's and O's- A Football Love Story at Berkley Rep?



Updated On: 2/5/15 at 01:00 AM

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:11am

I have. It's a takedown of American football through various interviews. I'd say it's not bad, but generally a play of little movement and plays out like a preachy documentary of a not very interesting subject. However, there are plenty of dramatically compelling moments. Like everything Berkely Rep. stages, it's very well produced. I preferred Tree at the San Francisco Playhouse.

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:13am

Thank FantoD- is it a drama with a a stoor does it play out more like interviews?

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:17am

it's a little of both. Like I said, it plays out like a series of interviews, but they do go somewhere dramatically, it isn't just endless interviews with no connection.

Tree on the other hand is one of the most moving plays I've seen in a long time. A testament to the nature of family, it's the kind of play that makes you thankful to be alive. A truly special work.


Edit: just realized you are coming in may, when Trouble Cometh will be playing. I will let you know how that one is.
Updated On: 2/5/15 at 01:17 AM

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:21am

Have tickets to Tree- trying to decide between X's and O's and Lie of the Mind at the Magic.....

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:26am

I haven't seen The Lie of the Mind, but I would say skip X's and O's unless you really like football. It's not worth the price of the ticket and getting to Berkeley from SF is a hassle.

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:28am

Sounds good. I've never been to Magic. What is the quality of their productions?

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:32am

They prefer good acting over good sets/costumes etc. which is what I like about them. I don't see much there and I don't usually like their play choices, but they when they get a good play they do it well. The best I've seen is the Laramie Project: 10 Years Later.

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:32am

double post Updated On: 2/5/15 at 01:32 AM

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:39am

What about Indian Ink at A.C.T?