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    Great Star Theater

    4.2 (111 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 6:00 PM

    Great Star Theater Photos

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    Helen L.

    I admired the couple who refurbished this old theater and really put a lot of heart and soul into this theater. Went to see a Bruce Lee movie, Enter The Dragon. It's been ages since I saw it and I had no idea how the story line went. It was a great movie. A little gory but less compared to the John Wick movie. So sad that Bruce Lee died so young and it was great that he brought Kung Fu to the screen. He used to live in the alley next to the theater. This movie showed the old Hong Kong. Before the show, they had a short documentary about the theater. The women's restroom is downstairs. Handicap on the ground floor. They sell wine and snacks.

    is this photography
    Denise C.

    Thank u to the Republic of China for chasing Bruce Lee's ghost around Chinatown im now 40 and u could live in China but they don't either and waste our time eating calculators to not major in math blech

    Rhett B.

    Attended Pink Puma's "Au Room" at Great Star Theater and was reminded why community theaters are so vital to a neighborhood's soul. This intimate 410-seat venue creates the perfect atmosphere where you feel genuinely connected to both the performers and fellow audience members. The theater has such character and warmth. The staff care about making everyone feel welcome, watching "Au Room" here felt like being invited into something special. Chinatown is lucky to have this gem. Support your local theaters.

    The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody
    Lisa X.

    With a reservation for a show coming up, we didn't stay too long in the Marina Green. We hopped into another Uber that took us back to her hotel for a quick refresh and hopped back into another Uber that took us into Chinatown's Great Star Theater on Jackson Street. I'm familiar with the Great Star Theater in name only because my dad's office was in C-Town and he used to take me out to eat and visit places quite often before he passed, but I have never been inside this theater, so this is a new to me experience. My friend brought us two tickets for the Empire Strips Back burlesque parody show. OMG! So good and so funny! The energy was electric and the M.C. who hail from Oakland (forgot his name) was hilarious and was so good at keeping the crowd entertained through the acts. The lighting, stage costumes, and the acts were amazing! We were so impressed. There were quite a lot of Star Wars aficionados there but even if you aren't one (like us), you will still enjoy the experience. My only concern was that I had some anxiety sitting with so many people for 2 hours, but in the end, I was fine and worked through it and enjoyed myself. I didn't know being in the dark side could be so entertaining. Only thing missing, cookies.

    Xmas Burlesque Show
    Paul D.

    Place was cool the cabaret wasn't so good... interesting theme for Xmas.... This was not for the crowd we attended with.... But some impressive performances by the rope climber and dancer....

    Lai L.

    We came here for The Empire Strips Back show. I had my reservations, but hubby is a huge Star Wars fan, so I came for the support. It is a cozy theatre -- a little on the older side, but I like the vintage feel of it. When we walked in, there is a lobby where they sell merchandise and bars on both ends. They only serve. beer and wine, which was fine. We reserved the VIP tables, so we sat front row and it was amazing as we got to interact with the performers. It was nice to be so close to the stage. The lighting was perfect and sound was not as bad as I thought it would be. Surprisingly, I had a lot of fun and it was a great show. The theatre was comfortable and seats were amazing (probably because we were up front). I also appreciate that there were so many restaurants and bars around the area, so we were able to eat before the show and go to a bar afterwards. Overall, great experience. The staff was also good.

    Jenny X.

    Came here for SF sketchfest and the place is a chill place! Super easy get in and out, the place is small. The place also has free water and doesn't check bags so you can bring in your water bottle. The place has good acoustics and it was very easy to find our seats. It was a really fun place to watch improv and I think the experience was just so easy logistically and the show was quite good. A little expensive but it was about right, not too expensive.

    Stage/screen (SF Sketchfest's Puddles Pity Party)
    Annabelle R.

    Attended SF Sketchfest's Puddles Pity Party this past weekend, featuring Michael Greier, the multi-talented and musically entertaining goofy clown. He was HILARIOUS, bringing the perfect combination of comedy and music through unique and interactive performances on stage and clips on the big screen. Yes, the outside of the venue has little appeal, hidden in the middle of Chinatown, but the simple interior of the theater and auditorium was ideal for Puddles to make his way through the aisles and engage with audience members throughout the event. And with stadium seating, every seat had a good view of the stage and screen (no balcony seating). Also, concession stands were located at the rear corners of the auditorium (not in a separate lobby), so no need to miss the show while in line for snacks and drinks. In fact, there were barely any lines, so getting an ice cold soda, some candy, or a glass of wine was easy here, with such friendly staff too. Again, this is a simple theater, nothing fancy or remarkable about the design or decor, and the sound quality could definitely be better (luckily Puddles' incredible vocal talent masked its shortcomings during our recent visit). But for SF Sketchfest events, it's more than sufficient. Beware that parking is difficult in the area though (AirGarage at 555 Jackson was affordable on a Sunday, compared to other parking options).

    Janice J.

    Date night for the bf and I. We had tickets for a previous date but were unable to attend and we were able to repurchase for different night via email with our credit. Keep in mind if this does happen, your booking fee will not be refunded. We came here on a Friday night and it was an easy process and we were able to beat the line. The seats are first come first served and there were ushers directing us to our rows. We had section A where we claimed our seats and we went to use the bathrooms and get drinks. The seats don't have cup holders and our seats were definitely not spacious or comfortable but we made do. The bathrooms are single stall but there's one on the main floor and then one with multiple downstairs. The Empire Strips back was great with a nice music selection and the performers were great! Our MC was engaging and full of personality. Time flew by with each musical number. After the performance was over we wanted to get merchandise but when the time came we were not allowed to buy due to the next show that was performing that night which was a bummer and confused as to why there would be a cutout time when we knew what we wanted to buy. A performance that every one should see at least once!

    Inside
    Yee W.

    Came here to watch THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK on Saturday night and it was amazing. The show was fantastic! Hilarious and entertaining, a must see even if you're not a Star Wars fan. About the theater, this place was very cute and small, but spacious. The chairs were comfortable. The stage was huge. The bathrooms were clean and unique. The vibe was very chill and cool. Right in Chinatown, nice location. With stores and restaurants all around. Wouldn't mind coming here again for another show in the future!

    Al L.

    The Great Star Theater was founded in 1924 by and for the Chinese Opera Community. I remember my mom bringing me here when I was a kid so she could watch the Opera. But the theater closed in 1998 but has since reopened in 2021 as a nonprofit community venue to serve as a theater, cabaret, variety and Chinese opera. Recently, I came to the theater to watch the premiere of Hemmings "The Motor Underground: Chinatown Confidential", a documentary on the legendary stories of San Francisco's Chinatown and its street racing history where host Dan Stoner was on a quest to uncover the truth about a mythical dragster, "The Underdog" and the Chinese-American community's history. It was great to watch this four part doc series here and to set foot in it after all these years. I grew up at the tail end of the Chinatown's hot rod era so it was a very informative and enlightening to watch this. What a perfect venue in Chinatown to host this showing of the documentary. Hope to be able to come again to this restored heater.

    The great star theatre
    Vrushali N.

    Attended the Global desi comedy fest here last night and loved the experience this theatre provided. You can tell just by walking in that this place has some history. We were in the second row and were sitting in folding chairs so can't comment on the actual seats in this place. The stage and the theatre itself are beautiful, and the restrooms are clean and well appointed even though they seem dated.The sound system also seemed adequate but since it was a standup show I don't know how it would sound for a play or dance performance. Philip the guy working the ticket counter was super nice and accommodating. Since we were buying tickets at the venue, he really helped us with the process. His can-do attitude and helpfulness really made me wonder how rare that is these days! Considering my whole positive experience here, and also the dining options in Chinatown afterward, I'm definitely gonna keep an eye on what other events come to this venue.

    Entrance
    Brandee M.

    Nice theater decent size not super comfortable chairs but good audio and not too big. From getting in to sitting it was easy and it wasn't stuffy and a good area with easy(ish) parking depending on when you come

    The pre show

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    1 year ago

    Is there no air conditioning in this place? It is incredibly hot in here with all the people crowded in. Not a fun place to sit

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    10 months ago

    Extremely impressed. Show quality for Pirates was something I would expect in Vegas. Highly recommend!

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    11 months ago

    Such creative shows. Always worth checking out General seating makes it a great place to meet up with friends.

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    Ask the Community - Great Star Theater

    What time do the doors open for the Star Wars Burlesque shows that start at 8pm on weekdays?

    The line was long when we arrived at about 7:15 for the 8pm show. They came through the line first to check IDs for drinks and then once the doors opened a little after 7:30ish there were multiple lines to check tickets. There are doors on both… 

    What's the security here like, any metal detectors?

    We do not have metal detectors.

    Is outside food allowed inside?

    Has the Great Star closed? I was last there for the Peewee show (Dec'17).

    I'm curious too. This article says it has most recently been "shuttered" (in Jan 2018) because of landlord-tenant disputes:… 

    Is it 18+?

    We don't have any age restrictions. But some of the shows here may occasionally have some adult content, so it's best to check the details for the production you are interested in if you are concerned about appropriateness for children.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Great Star Theater

    If you are visiting, check out the show; they're playing The Empire Strips Back right now.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    This non-profit helps people to resolve conflicts -- it's volunteer-based and it's free. In…read moreaddition, it trains volunteers in conflict resolution techniques. The idea is that once you can see things from each other's points of view and start to unobjectify each other, it becomes easier (less agitated) to talk about the problem and to figure out a mutually beneficial solution in a collaborative way. Simple concept, but like many things, harder to realize. After observing the conflict resolution techniques in action a few times, it seems more doable each time as I understand the process better. I learned a lot from CB about conflict resolution techniques. Also how to be a better listener. Very useful as conflicts are part of life and handling them well can build relationships. CB also provides training to schools, and to people interested in learning mediation. More information about this on CB's web site. Low-cost mediation by professionals is also available.

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    Last night I went to Intersection for the Arts' annual auction to see if I could score any pieces…read moreby big shot local artists. There were some amazing deals on art by folks like Matt Gonzalez and Andrew Shoultz, and Intersection doesn't attract a huge bidding crowd, so it's the place to be once a year. It turns my friend is a compulsive bidder, as in, I need to send him to Bidders Anonymous. I may not though, just because it was so much fun following someone around who will throw down a few hundos for cool pieces. The live auction part was my fave -- he almost got a piece by Binh Danh for a steal! I've only been to Intersection for the Arts a couple of times, but the place has a distinct chill vibe with absolutely no pretension. They seem to be really devoted to addressing the issues of their neighborhood too. I went to see a play there through their Prison Project, and while not amazing, it was admirable. With a black box theater and a gallery space upstairs, rotating plays and art shows, it's a place I'll return to again, fo shizzle.

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    We purchased our very first piano from here at the beginning of the pandemic. We figured that…read moresince we'd be staying home more often, why not purchase a real piano!? We made an appointment to come in and Ulysses helped us out. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and helped us through the process. He didn't rush us or pressure us to buy a piano, and he was patient in answering all our questions. We went home that same day to think about which piano we wanted to get and returned a week later to purchase a Yamaha upright piano. Overall, it was a great experience and we now have a beautiful piano!

    Update: Gary responded to this review... and then deleted his response a day later…read more After reading it, I actually understand and respect the appointment-only business model. If customers want a private showroom experience, that's completely reasonable. Plenty of luxury businesses operate that way. The problem was never the appointment policy. The problem was how a potential customer was treated. I live next door and have been curious about this store for a long time. I finally saw you at the business and thought I'd ask about purchasing a piano. Instead of a simple, "We're appointment-only, but here's my card--I'd be happy to schedule you," I was dismissed while you waited for your DoorDash order. As someone who works in marketing and customer experience, this felt like a textbook example of turning a warm lead into a lost customer. Your original response then spent paragraphs explaining why I shouldn't have expected service, but not one sentence expressing regret that a genuinely interested buyer walked away with a bad experience. That said, I'm adjusting this to a 2-star rating because I did see some effort to acknowledge my post, even if it ultimately fell short. Businesses don't earn loyal customers by proving they're technically correct. They earn them by making people feel welcome. A 30-second conversation could have turned me into a customer. Instead, it turned me into someone who will be buying a piano elsewhere. If you already have an appointment, I'm sure the experience may be perfectly fine. But if you're hoping to stop in, ask a question, or get a feel for the place before committing, don't expect much hospitality. That's ultimately why I'm leaving this review--not because the business is appointment-only, but because customer service begins long before the appointment ever does.

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    We are volunteers at Open House, an LGBT Senior Housing in the City. So we were invited to…read morecelebrate together, share a meal & honor our LGBT history and future! We were excited to go to enjoy the Open House Fall Feast, held at the beautiful, historic Green Room at the San Francisco War Veterans Memorial (401 Van Ness Ave). Happy to report you, that the venue is fully accessible. Inside are many updates & building seems well-maintained. We were escorted in to a formal room on second floor, w/round tables & Fall decorations. The doors to the Green Room were open, letting the sunshine in. Bright room with floor to ceiling windows & curtains. Seated & served 150 guests from 2-3:30pm and second seating later (4:30-6pm. Again with another 150 guests ;-) We sat closest to the window. What a view looking out the floor to ceiling windows. The autumnal feast was catered from Mollie Stone's. The full Thanksgiving meal was turkey w/all the fixings, and a nice helping of pumpkin pie to finish! Delicious food! We enjoyed visiting & meeting friends at the table. Can we talk? Oh yes, we talked a lot and spoke of gratitude & love. Lovely, lovely Feast! We thank Open House, Visa, Google, Gielead and rest of sponsors, whose names escape me (Sorry!) Thank you all to; the catering, service staff, set up crews & outside volunteers - You made everyone happy.

    Great Star Theater - theater - Updated September 2026

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