It's fair to say that Marin is no hotbed of nightlife but lately, the rain and early sunsets have…read moreme nesting a bit more than in past years. It's in the midst of this nesting that I've discovered the joys of what the Throckmorton Theatre is laying down. The free, monthly noontime concerts are great as is the always popular weekly comedy night but more recently I've been enjoying the other events offered. In so doing I've come to see the Throckmorton as an essential community asset; they save me a drive to the City while providing right-sized entertainment close to home. When I attend events here I leave feeling thankful for their offerings. In recent months I've enjoyed a Jonathan Richman concert (fab... bring him back!), a concert by a local band, and A Chorus Line, teen edition. That last one left me sorry that I'd missed the previous one-time Broadway shows showcased here and with resolve not to miss another. For a little above the cost of your ticket you can pay to enjoy reserved seats but if you fail to do that you'll find equally satisfying seating on the main floor (they also have balcony seating) if you arrive early enough to snag it. I find myself checking the Throckmorton's calendar with a frequency, these days, that I'd not have anticipated even one year earlier. They've not disappointed yet.

I had not been to this charming theatre in many, many years. It is just as lovely as I remember…read more The art work in the lobby is so interesting. And the interior of the performance hall is exquisite with such detailed woodwork, gorgeous light fixtures and murals. We attended a free musical concert with an outstanding local violinist who featured art on the screen to accompany the music he played. I've honestly not heard a violin played with such versatility. What a treat this show and venue was!

Excellent and fun production of Mamma Mia! by the Novato Theatre Company! The cast was talented,…read morethe music of ABBA was wonderfully performed, and the energy throughout the show was infectious. A thoroughly enjoyable evening of theater that left the audience smiling and singing along at the end. Highly recommended!

It has been nearly 72 hours since the Sunday matinee MMTC/NTC performance of Alanis Morissette's…read more"Jagged Little Pill" and the choreography, the acting, and the music just continue to play in my head!  Morgan Olson and Evvy Calstrom-March are riveting talents with commanding stage presence. You simply can't take your eyes off of them! Music director Megan Schoenbohm, from whom I sat a mere ten feet from, was herself fascinating to watch as she meticulously and flawlessly conducted her musicians from one Morissette hit to another  (while on guitar and harmonica). The intimate and cozy NTC routinely delivers outstanding productions. Add this one to the long list.

If you've never been to one of their musicals, do no hesitate any longer. This is the 4th show…read moreI've seen and as always it did not disappoint. This year's production was Mamma Mia!! The performers were amazing. It was electric and engaging and so much fun. Everyone singing and dancing under the stars of a warm Sonoma night. They have food trucks and beverages for purchase. There are only a few more performances left for this season. They will have a holiday performance in December. Check out the website, transcendencetheatre.org for more information.

Really fun experience to see Broadway performed outdoors and to experience the stage and…read moreperformance transform as the day gave way to the starry night sky. We found ourselves sitting next to small children who were having a small meltdown mid way through, but since it was outdoors, the sounds dispersed and we were still able to hear and enjoy the show. We've been twice. Both times it was a Broadway review. The first time was during the pandemic and we were all lined up watching from our cars like a drive in theater. It wasn't ideal, but it was greatly appreciated and shows how much they are dedicated to both their craft and to the community. They've also been incredibly supportive of health care workers who have so much during the pandemic. This year, we went to their "new" location in Sonoma. There is a VIP area with couches and such, but the non VIP area seemed more fun to me. There was a performance from a local dance school as well as different wineries and beverage you could chose from. There was a food truck or you could pack your own picnic and eat at the picnic tables there. Parking was a little confusing, but there were staff/volunteers that were really friendly and could point you in the right direction. We look forward to going again and seeing a full Broadway musical production.

We were invited to a Canadian costume birthday party. Say what? We were stumped what to wear. Our…read more"go to" place for costumes .. Belrose Theater. We had such a good time looking through the many costumes. The woman (sorry I didn't remember her name) was so helpful in finding just the right ones. We decided on being Canadian Mounties. See pic. Overall, an excellent experience in costume choices, customer service and a whole lot of fun.

To be fair, I've been coming to this studio since I was in my teens (years ago!) so it's not a new…read moreexperience for me. But we went this weekend to see Will Durst and couldn't have had more fun. Even though we worried as it was hot outside, fans were going and kept it cool. Great show. Great ambiance. Really glad we made the show.

My three kids love Rhythms! My older daughter did musicals with them for years and was so into all…read morethe awesome instruction and camaraderie. She also took private singing lessons from Amanda and they really paid off when she went to do her MSA audition (and got in!). My younger son just finished his first musical and immediately after the show, his twin brother was so impressed, he asked to do a Rhythms musical too. This group is organized and at the top of their teaching game but more than that, they have created a community for kids with lots of outside activities and group cohesion. Everyone feels included and welcomed at Rhythms!

This studio is the perfect one for our family! It's small and personal and they care about making…read morethings FUN for the kids! My daughter has done the musicals there since she was four, as well as some dance classes and camps. She's always excited to go and always excited when she's done. You can tell the teachers really love their jobs, and unlike some studios, the admin (Megan) is super kind, clear and helpful in all studio communications! I seriously don't know what my family would have done without Rhythms during the shut-down--the relationships my kid had with her teachers kept her GOING!! I only wish it were closer to my house. LOL! But it's WORTH the drive to have my daughter participating in this amazing community!

One of the best theatre experiences on an ongoing basis-year after yesterday producing wonderful…read moreshows.

Theater night. The Cinnabar Theater's production of The…read moreLast Five Years was an entertaining and intimate experience. We came in support of a friend in the show and enjoyed the small cozy theater's old charm. It provided the perfect backdrop for this emotionally charged musical. The talented 2 person cast did a fantastic -delivering powerful performances that left the audience captivated. The production showcased the complexities of relationships and the passage of time in a truly poignant way. Overall, it was a memorable and engaging theatrical experience. Note: tight parking lot. Come early to make sure you get a space.

I just attended the play "pride and prejudice last night. I haven't been to this venue in…read moredecades... what an excellent performance: we had about 20 actors on stage singing, beautifully, at a level of professionalism that was startling. This is a musical adaptation of Jane Austen's book, and it is a very engaging production. It's amazing to see Austin's work transformed into a musical with terrific lyrics, very cleverly constructed by Rita Abrams and her collaborator. I'd love to see the lyrics !

Fabulous acting, stunning staging, entertaining story! Perfect cast! Totally delightful evening.read more

Some of the best Shakespeare in SF Bay Area. Gifted actors and theatre makers giving it there all…read morefor the love of it. The sets are always stunningly inventive; crafted by local Throckmorton Theatre's resident artist Steve Coleman. And, enchanting live music accompaniment with a four piece band! Last summer's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was stellar and magical in all ways. You just can't get better than this for local theatrical summer entertainment; and it's FREE. (Of course donations are very welcomed and well earned.) The stage is set in an unforgettable setting; outdoors in a redwood grove near a pleasant creek. There is even a little refreshment stand! https://www.curtaintheatre.org/

How rare a thing it is to see exceptional Shakespeare- This…read moreyear Romeo and Juliet broke my hard hearted heart wide open!!! Tears. Laughter Joy. and then some. & it was free!!! How does it get better than that?

Last year in 2025 we saw the Nutcracker. Such a sweet and well put on performance. Prices are much…read moremore affordable compared to the SF ballet. These are students...I think? I loved the different ages and talent. Parking is a bit of a headache. There isn't near enough for what this building can hold. Please give yourself enough time in case there isn't any parking stalls left. There are plenty of bathrooms, but during intermission, they have ropes set up for the huge line that forms. Snacks are sold, however can't be consumed inside the theater. Go figure? You can only eat outside in the lobby area. In the lobby is a table of Nutcracker/Christmas items you can purchase. I wish that there was a live orchestra, but this was my first time going and I don't understand much about this group. It was a recording that they danced to. I do recommend anyone to see this performance and let us know what you think?

This facility is top notch! We had a dance recital here after being in other venues, and wow! The…read more stage was large and equipped with all the bells and whistles, lighting was great, audience seating was wonderful from all the vantage points and spacious and comfortable, and the backstage areas for the performers were ample downstairs. Having more bathrooms backstage would have been helpful.

The Sound of Music (Broadway San Jose) --…read more We saw this yesterday and it was beautiful. The sets were absolutely stunning -- genuinely took my breath away a few times -- and the singing was extraordinary. So much talent on that stage. If you know the movie by heart (I do), there are a few differences. A couple of songs that aren't in the film, and "I Have Confidence" doesn't appear at all. There are some small changes to the story too, but nothing that took away from the show -- a few of the twists I actually liked better this way. One tip: take an Uber or Lyft. Getting into the parking garage took forever because there's only one lane in, and someone at the front couldn't work the machine and held everyone up for about fifteen minutes. Not the theater's fault, but worth knowing. Wonderful show. We'll be back.

Pros: Getting there is pretty easy. There's quite a few hotels closeby for walking distance. The…read morestaff is super friendly. Felt safe. Seats were comfy and spacious enough that we didn't feel packed like sardines. Cons: not ADA friendly at all. If you're ok sitting far away from the stage, there's a couple limited seats way in the back but make sure you sort that out well before a show. It's not something I ever had to worry about before, and it wasn't a problem when I bought the tickets months ago. I had seats in the center of the 4th row and there's no way down other than stairs. The ADA spaces were all sold out and the only thing they could offer was a refund which, no...we'd been looking forward to this for months. So my friend had to hobble down quite a few stairs wearing a boot since she broke her leg a couple weeks ago. The other con, and to be fair I don't know if this is the venue's fault or the artist's, is that the whole time, the tickets said the show started at 7pm. I read every email from Ticketmaster to make sure we didn't bring the wrong kind of bag, what time the doors opened, all that. I planned the drive to the venue based on that. I had VIP Q&A tickets for the artist, which in the past, he'd usually done after the show. Tell me why we sat down for dinner across the street at 525 pm, I checked my emails while waiting for the food, only to see another email that Ticketmaster sent at 9am that the doors to opened to VIP at 515 pm, with the Q&A starting at 530pm. WHAT KIND OF PLANNING DOES THAT ALLOW?? And we weren't the only ones who had this problem. By the time we cancelled our food and paid for what we already had, it was 537pm and I zoomed my friend across the street, trying to find the wheelchair ramps, then having to hobble down all the stairs because this place was built in the 70's and didn't give af about ADA, we missed more than half the Q&A. So that was annoying.