Came here to see Eureka Day in the summer of 2025. Great show, in a fantastic space. Seats are comfortable, restroom options (gendered & gender-neutral) were nice. Plenty of parking in the lot and surrounding streets. read more

Nice little neighborhood theater for plays. I thoroughly enjoyed the play "Waste" tonight.. the acting troop was amazing. Bravo!! some of the audience however... Cellphones...snoring... come on, people! LOL read more

This is a different kind of review for the company. Unfortunately, when I attended a performance, I suddenly became ill (food poisoning from a local restaurant). I couldn't enjoy the performance because I was in the bathroom 90% of the time. Whereas the house could have ignored me and let me be sick on my own, I was well attended to and cared for by the staff, who helped me and ensured I was properly hydrated. Despite trying to manage the performance, they went out of their way to help. I am so grateful for their kindness and care. A special shout goes to Fiona, their stage/house manager who led the charge to help me. These are good people and I look forward to attending another performance in the future. read more

Lovely small and cozy local theater company in Mill Valley which generally shows things not seen elsewhere Creative direction generally good to very good actors. Worth a visit -it's a neighborhood gem read more

Fantastic local theater with lots of parking and great covid policies. Innovative outdoor seating, too. This was my first time attending a performance and I took a friend who loves local theater. We both agreed that the performance would have benefited from an edit and reduction of about 45 minutes in both the first and second halves. At three hours, it felt long, and many scenes didn't advance the plot, build character, increase tension, or anything else. I will browse the upcoming performances, as the tickets are very reasonably priced, but be mindful of the performance length. The theatre is lovely, the staff is very friendly and helpful, and the parking and access make it great. Also, fantastic dining nearby. read more

Fab plays. All the time! We've been subscribers for 5-10 years. Always topical. Love the August Wilson plays.

Ever wonder why Wonder Woman always hogtied her captives? Or why her lasso forced others to tell the truth? Enter the creator of the series: a bonafide bondage perv!! (did I invite you in to read the review or what?!!) Playing through 3.16! Good drama, great comedic moments. Dr Sanjay Gupta was *just* on CNN interviewing Dr James Fallon about psychopath makeup.... and then I came to learn about the life of William Marston through the play, Lasso of Truth. He was one of the earliest inventors of the polygraph. Harvard-educated, this psychologist was also the creator of Wonder Woman in the 30's and 40's. A reference was made in the play about how his invention was not admissible in court, or applicable for functionality for psychopaths. i was warned about the play; it's "out there". rather, I found it truly and wholly entertaining. Themes such as domination, convention, truth-telling, happiness, redemption (yep... there are modern day 90's characters juxtaposed against Marston's life during WWII era, who claim that Wonder Woman was their savior amidst a broken life without hope. Wonder Woman was supposed to stand for strong woman (represented by Amazonian power)... sexy, undeniably beautiful, fortress-like legs, justice-bearing symbol, superheroine! The story is compelling enough. Marston had 2 ladies. The extramarital one served somewhat as a muse for Wonder Woman's creation... silver wrist bracelets and all. And!!!! after he passed from lung cancer, the two women continued on in their own union together. Talk about eyeball poppin'! Great small theater which is very well maintained. When patronizing for first time the other night, reminds me very much so of Berk Rep, Aurora, Altarena, Masquers... y'know.. the other small players in East Bay. Fun time. Overall, the pace of play was good; a few spots were off, I thought. Interplay of comic screens as an art form integrated with real life actors on the stage, makes for interesting art medium. Play is about 2 hours and 40 minutes long, with one intermission. Small cafe there for snackage. Kevin of Mill Valley.. thank you so, so much for the prime seat tix the other night! It was here I tried small wine makers, Moobuzz and Plumberhead! Had I not had to rush to SFO afterward, I most definitely would have stayed for the interactive Q&A session; such a cool idea. read more

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I write to praise the Marin Theatre Company. My wife and I saw Dunsaine last night, the "sequel" to the Scottish Play. I wanted to see it as a Shakespeare completist (including even disputed titles such as Edward III), because I have expanded from the canon to funny riffs such as McHomer. I am glad I saw Dunsaine, and I would not see it again, as I would the original (I was told I can utter the title as someone not in the theatre, either literally or professionally, but to be safe I won't). The point, however, is Marin Theatre Company is, on the whole, excellent. It might be my favorite among the Bay Area stages. Here is the background to establish my bona fides -- a few years back, I achieved a life goal, with another theatre, of writing a commentary for a playbill. I subscribed to Marin Theatre Company for about a decade, when I lived in San Francisco (I've since moved to New York City). I also subscribed simultaneously to ACT, the biggest operation in town; SF Playhouse; Berkeley Rep; Aurora; Cal Shakes; Shotgun; and Marin Shakespeare -- we also went to San Jose before they closed shop. So there were years when my wife I saw more than three dozen plays. My lifetime count, I am sure, exceeds 450 (averaging say 15 per year for 30 years), alas only maybe 20 seen on Broadway. I hasten to add I claim no expertise. I'm a mere audience member sharing on Yelp. We first went to Marin Theatre Company when they collaborated on Tarell Alvin McCraney's trilogy, before McCraney became famous (screenwriter of Moonlight). I don't know if McCraney specified a black box presentation. That is how they did it. it was excellent, I'd say the very best show I've seen done black box. They have been doing all of the August Wilson decades. They have experimented, such as with that Wonder Woman true story (it was okay), and commissioning multiple pieces set within Jane Austen's universe (wonderful). Some of their shows have been profound: Top Dog/Under Dog, and The Whipping Man come to mind. Both those also have themes involving race, which despite the demographic they appeal to (probably whiter than other theaters in the Bay Area, skewing older) they do not shy away from, and that is not to make any assumptions about their patrons, only to say the subject matter does not correspond to the audience members' lives. Marin Theatre Company is LORT D. I am no insider, and I don't waste energy analyzing the classifications. I looked it up for this review. I have to say I can't recall a better LORT D venue. (It's based on revenue. Belonging to LORT, I am told, means access to Equity actors. Many regional outfits are not even eligible for LORT. So any rank within their membership is good.) Back to Dunsaine. The pandemic might have killed off the program booklet. We were given a single sheet of paper with a QR code to access a digital cast list. That is too bad. I have been collecting this ephemera for my adult lifetime. This cast had high school kids from a local magnet program. They were not bad, and I have no complaint. (The script was not in iambic pentameter and it could have been 15 minutes shorter -- but I think that of virtually every show.) read more

I love theater, especially in NYC and London. I went to my first performance last night here to see "Sovereignty". I read some negatives - not enough character development. I don't believe it needed more development - the premise was treaties and what history they had in Georgia and how this great government treated and treat the Native American. I learned a lot and enjoyed the performance but always saddened by Native American history. The theater is small but quant and the stage is large with no bad seats in the house. I have had SHN and ACT season tickets looking for the performances I have seen in other places. I enjoyed most performances but its not NYC theater. Since this is my first season tickets I am looking forward to original plays closer to home. Just wish people would dress for the theater. read more

Don't expect huge headliners at the MTC. This is a small, local theater where every seat is fantastic and the plays are amazing. I just watched The Legend of Georgia McBride here. The sound system was great. The restrooms were clean. Parking was easy and free. People were extremely friendly. Such an awesome find in Mill Valley. Prices are also decent. For example, this play's cheapest ticket was $25 each with a great view. 5 solid stars and I can't wait to watch another show here again. read more

Tonight's play, Straight White Men, was a colossal waste of time and talent. Right off the bat, an actors malfunctioning microphone made loud , painful noises that made the audience writhe. That continued throughout the play , which made it impossible for my wife to sleep through this tedious play. She normally catnaps if a play becomes too boring or stupid. As a subscriber of many years, I have to say this is the worst play I have seen at MTC. The dialogue and action was pedestrian, stupid and ultimately irritating. Not 'entertainment' but rather an arrogant effort to teach me something about 'white privilege'. The irony of producing this play in Mill Valley was perhaps the best thing about it. MTC is producing at lot of new plays. But I am not connecting with them. I may cancel my subscription. SF Playhouse has been rocking in comparison. read more

Saw The Convert last night and really fell in love with this theatre company. They are really doing awesome work there and I'll be encouraging everyone I know to make the trip up to Mill Valley to see their productions. The first thing I imagine someone saying is, "but it's so far!" It's exactly 35 minutes from downtown SF which is really not that bad and it's so nice to get out of the City every now and then. The second thing I can imagine folks saying is, "why leave SF and all the great theatre here to go to Marin." I can definitely say that MTC is taking risks and putting on some amazing plays that I wouldn't get to see at a place like ACT. I also appreciate the diversity of faces and voices on stage. The theatre itself is beautiful and small enough that every seat in the house is good. Tickets are reasonably priced and they have a cafe/bar for food and snacks. You can take your drink into the auditorium as long as it is covered. All in all, I had a great time here! If you have the opportunity to go and see the Convert, please do! It's well done and its power stayed with me many hours after the curtain call. read more

Marin Theatre Company - Front of the building - Performing Arts Near Me - Mill Valley, California

The play house is great. I have been there several times over the past 20 years. It is a fairly small theatre but with great seats in every direction. You really feel like you are part of the performance. Yelp had an event there and as always it was a good event. Drinks were served and they were good. The actual play was ok at best...not my type of play and some others left at intermission...I have been to amazing plays there and some not so amazing....I looked closely to the play BIO and my thoughts were way off...well maybe next time I can see the play I really want read more

Marin Theatre Company - Performing Arts Near Me - Mill Valley, California

have added a star. FINALLY, after a total of 1 1/2 hours on hold, sophie answered the phone. she was a sweetheart and very apologetic. they're having major machine breakdowns and unable to take care of the phones/printers, etc. hopefully, all will be fixed soon. and hopefully, they'll fix their antiquated phone system. thank you, sophie. you were so helpful and so caring. ==================================================== my earlier review, still holds: i am back on hold. it's been 23 minutes, THIS TIME, and obnoxious messages are being barked at the caller every second, along with it ringing. i like your plays, but if you can't afford to people your box office during your box office hours, you're doing something wrong and wasting my time and my friend's time, is not okay. we have been calling you for over an hour and pissed doesn't cover what i'm feeling. so, while you're not helping me, i can't use my phone. am not leaving a voicemail because a friend did that yesterday and NO ONE ever called her back. you have options and you owe it to the people who support you. you can offer us "no music", which is my personal favorite, so i can get on with what i'm doing. or, music, which would be better than what you're doing now. and, if you MUST put us on hold for no less than 30 minutes each time we've tried for two days, to reach you, at least call us back, after asking for our phone number. and DO it. don't say leave a voice mail, then totally ignore us. this is more trouble than it's worth, but we have our tickets and need to exchange them. please work on your phone etiquette. this is the 4th day we've tried to reach you and we keep giving up. and it sounds nutz to say, "one of our friendly associates will be able to help you shortly". give me a break. it's OUR opinion of your associates that matters, not what you want us to think. ayyyyyyyyyyy read more

What a delightful surprise to discover that Yelp is a significant sponsor of the MTC! Traipsed over the bridge last night to see Woody Guthrie's American Song. Amazing performances by an incredibly talented cast of musicians, singers and actors. The house itself is more welcoming and intimate than either of the Berkeley Rep theaters, and looking at the 10/11 season....well, the plays they will be mounting seem more appealing than BR too. I think we'll be back! read more

Broadway, the West End, and the best of American Regional theater meet the redwoods at This awesome theater company in Marin. A jewel of Bay Area theater, we've found their production quality and season rundown to match, nay top, some of the Bay Area's most well known theaters, cough cough ACT, cough cough Berkeley Rep. We got season tickets last year and not a single show disappointed. The theater is alive and well and in true 21st century form in Marin County. So Rad!! Go!!! read more

Such a great little theater with excellent productions, little-known here in San Francisco. Its a very intimate setting and you are very close to the stage. I've seen four or five plays here, all of them really well done. read more

I went to MTC on a Sunday night to see the play Boom. I should preface by saying that my tickets were comped thanks to the Yelp gang, so my experience was exceptionally pleasant from the onset. The community theatre is very intimate. Even though I was seated front row stage left, I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. There is obviously a great deal of love and devotion to the theatre's success. We received warm friendly welcomes from all the staff...everyone from the box office clerk to the concessions worker. A nice touch is the tables and chairs in the lobby where you can enjoy a glass of wine before the production starts or at intermission, and you are welcome to bring your snacks inside the theatre. It's a little difficult to find if you you don't know the area, so make sure you have GPS or a good map. Please support community theatre, it's a great alternative to high priced movie night, and usually a lot more fulfilling. read more

I know that Mill Valley isn't exactly Broadway. You're not going to catch "Phantom of the Opera" or "Book of Morman" here any time soon. That being said, there is still some decent theater in the North Bay. And some of the best shows can be found at Marin Theater Company. I've been catching shows in this charming playhouse since I was a kid. Over the years, I've seen everything from classic plays like "The Women" to more modern productions like "Lasso of Truth" (which told the story of the guy who created Wonder Woman). To be honest, not all their shows have been my cup of tea. But I have always been impressed by the caliber of talent MTC has been able to attract, and the production design is always top-notch. The lobby is also very cute, and they have a small concessions stand for light bites and wine. Bonus - there's plenty of free parking at the adjacent lot. This isn't like seeing a show in SF where you have to pay $25 for a lousy parking spot. All in all, it's nice to see MTC keeping the arts alive in Marin County. We're very lucky to have this theater in our backyard! read more

I thought this play was the consummate statement of existentialism and "be here now-ee-ness". There was a good amount of humor and irony, and the monologue by the character "Lucky" was riveting and delightful. The acting was fine, the costumes and set adequate to communicate. I had no idea what to expect going in, and left feeling content and that I had been intellectually entertained. I thought it was a story of love, despair, hope and dreams. There was a dialogue QnA after the show and many felt the story line was depressing. I did not agree at all. I felt it was a good replication of what we all go through in our thoughts and minds as we go through a day in our lives on any given day at any given moment. Thumbs up and 5 stars for this performance! read more

Came here for the Yelp Event back in November to see "Boom"...wasn't sure what to expect. I had some what of a drive to get there...came from Hayward. I enjoyed the show, it was different but very entertaining. The snack bar is cash only, and the only ATM is in a laundry mat down the street & wasn't working (which I was told never really works). So I ended up going to a convenience store next to the laundry mat, which still didn't give cash back & in order for me to use my atm card there they told me I had to spend at least $10. read more

Aww I adore MTC. I've seen countless shows here, usually to support family members' children in summer camp productions, but I've seen Candide here and it was great! Very tiny and intimate, but extremely well-groomed. I love the plush, bright red seats and the convenient location of this theatre. The ownership changes constantly here, and I sense an upstir of theatre politics amongst the staff, but MTC certainly knows how to put on a show. read more

Went for the Frog and Toad show for kids. Fantastic fun experience for the whole family. Our 2 year old loved it. Highly recommended for families. Make sure you head out there early - parking is a little tight. The staff is very friendly and the performers are great. The cafe might be a little limiting, but there are so many options for food within 5 minutes walk from the theatre, its not so bad. Highly recommended for ages 2-100+! read more

Beautiful Theater with Amazing Performance! First time at MTC, for a complimentary Yelp event to see "Boom". Wonderfully entertaining storyline with some very memorable lines at an intimate venue. Grabbed some wine (and nuts) at the nicely stocked snack bar ahead of time. We were some of the only non-retired attendees in the bunch. "... great thrower of things..." 11/22/09 Adorable Venue. Will Be Back! read more

Last night we saw Topdog/Underdog and I was more than blown away by the emotion, acting and directing. I love Marin Theatre, I really do. This is the way art should be: local and amazing. The play builds up with emotion and tension, and also goes deeper and deeper into the shared history of the two brothers, to a stunning, if inevitable, ending. The acting is amazing: two actors, who rivet the audience, or more precisely this member of the audience. The play ended, the audience sat in silence, some of us with tears and it took a moment or two to come to "reality" and out of the play, and applaud this beautiful production. Go see it. Best thing going on in town, even if there's a lot of cool movies to see too :) read more

Seagull: I've seen some great MTC productions this season, but Chekov's Seagull ain't one of them. I don't understand the need for a company do Chekov when there are so many great un-produced plays from authors like Dario Fos'. Let try Can't Pay Won 't Pay. The actors did a good job with the material, the set was strange and diminishing with a sarcophagus of a piano. In all the, If Chekovs character had been a better shot we would of finished at half time with a draw. read more

They usually have really good plays here. Its very intimate, and opening nights are pretty darn fun. Especially when they are well catered which they almost always are. The Senior director (if he's still there) was the original director of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. his name is Lee Sancowitz (sp?). He had an acting school here in SF for years before taking on Marin Theater. If you have a small show or dance team or what have you that you need to rehearse, they sometimes will rent you out a small back room as rehearsal space, and were pretty reasonably priced. But go here for the plays. They almost never suck. read more

Nice, intimate venue putting out consistently great shows. I've been attending a lot of theater over the past couple of years, but no other venue in the Bay Area makes me as excited as the Marin Theatre Company (though Berkeley Rep comes close). I discovered MTC just this season because of the Brother/Sister trilogy put on in partnership with ACT & the Magic. MTC started the trilogy with "In the Red and Brown Water," which was one of the most emotional and impactful plays I've seen in ages. They showed it was not a fluke with their equally powerful follow-up "9 Circles." I think it's too late to get a subscription this year, but I'm definitely going to bite the bullet next year. As far as seating goes, you really can't get a bad seat in either Theater. The Boyer is more traditional, and the Lieberman's partial thrust is more edgy and interesting. Parking is free & plentiful in the lot next door. Also, they generally have 2pm performances on Saturday and Sunday, which I find to be incredibly convenient because I can usually get to and from the theater without hitting much traffic on the Golden Gate. read more

I've been here 2x in 20 years. Somehow, they need better outreach. Otherwise, its a really nice little community place to see interesting work. read more

We went to see the Convert on 3/13/15 and were blown away by the performance. I've never been to the theatre before so I was not sure what to expect. The venue is quite small, but probably not a bad seat in the house. Everyone was very friendly. Easy to get to, plenty of parking, and walking distance to dine before/have a drink after. I read up a bit more on the actors today as we were wondering if this is considered 'local' theatre. Not even close. While some were from the Bay Area, all of their bios were very extensive. National as well as international stage experience. Although our tickets were comped thru my work-I would not hesitate to pay next time I see something of interest. I was impressed. read more

Overall Marin Theater Company soars. There were many productions over the past 5 years that were amazing - on the top were Boom!, Seven Guitars, Tartuffe. And the last production of Othello now joins the list of stand-out performances. A great cast, it was not without it's flaws but overall completely engaging. It was my first time to see Othello, though a long-time, many Shakespeare production fan - the lead and supporting roles were indeed up to par. Othello's transformation and his deception were excitingly portrayed and directed. Tragedy in its exquisite beauty - cathartic and entertaining indeed. I look forward to 'God of Carnage' coming up soon! read more

Thomas and Sally did nothing for us. We were put off by the gratuitous nudity and crudeness that added nothing to the overall theme, itself a misrepresentation of the abuse of his slave by Jefferson. The actors seemed to be having a hard time being immersed in their characters. We walked out. Last night, Shakespeare in Love was a very different experience. This is a must see, tell your friends, go again, savor the memory production. We loved it. The script is fantastic, with lots of good bits that were not in the movie. The actors really got going and were also the musicians -- clever and fun. So much to enjoy and no point really in criticizing the poor sound stage. Bravo!!' read more

Last night we saw the play, "Circle Mirror Transformation" at MTC. We were prompted to buy tickets after reading the following review in the Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Circle-Mirror-Transformation-review-3773144.php It was our first time at MTC and it's a very nice theatre. The midweek curtain time was 7:30, which seems very enlightened. I'm not sure whether it's at 7:30 or 8:00 on weekends. The theatre has its own parking lot, which connects via a bridge w/ another lot behind other businesses. There are tables and chairs outdoors, but it was chilly last night, so they weren't inviting. There are a smaller number of tables and chairs in the lobby. The theatre has a spacious lobby w/ the box office on the right as you enter. I was given our tickets quickly by the young man working there. Although I had been advised on the website to bring my credit card, it wasn't necessary. The MTC was started in 1966 and the current 250 seat theatre was built in 1987. There is also a smaller, 99 seat theatre. You can read their entire history on their website if you're interested. The seats are comfortable, but you can tell the theatre is "of a certain age" because the space between the rows of seats is narrow enough to require people in the seats to stand up in order for people coming in later to pass by. Small complaint. It's a more comfortable theatre than most and we would certainly return for another production. The acting and production values were excellent and the play was interesting and well written. There was a question and answer period following the performance but we didn't stay for it, Alan because had sat as long as he could, I because I was so full of emotion I wasn't ready for discussion. After we left I was sorry we'd missed it. If you have the opportunity, buy tickets and go. It plays through August 26th. read more

A nice, professional-looking theater with its own parking lot, MTC provided a very nice evening. The performance ("Boom!") was well-acted and well-staged, which is key when there are only 3 characters. Staff and ticketing were easy to manage and I appreciated the tables set out near the concession stand. read more

The actors are top notch, many times so is the directing, stage sets, lighting and the productions in general BUT. . . so many of the plays are dark and depressing leaving the audience with one hope and that is "I hope the next play is better." i don't know who chooses the plays but i am beginning to wonder if they sleep in a coffin. I know theatre goers who have quit buying season tickets because there have been such a succession of depressing plays. Instead of Marin Theatre Company maybe the organization should change its name to The Macabre Theatre Company. As an artist, It is my deepest belief, that all artists, including writers, are responsible for what they put out into the atmosphere. Art reaches people. Art teaches people. The upliftment of mankind should be the objective of all artists in exhibiting their works. Their works can touch on any subject, but the underlying intent of their work should, without fail, attempt to inspire the noblest traits in every human being. Failing this is failing the sacred obligation of true art. read more

I may not be an expert on theater, but I did go to high school, and I did go to a few small performances. The theater has decent seating, there were a few bad spots on the ends, but that's what I get for coming too late. We caught the performance of Boom and it was pretty good for that space. I think if you want to see a good little local show, check out this theater and support your local acty type people! read more

Skelton Crew, the latest, February 2018 production here is brilliant. Fast paced, expertly cast, moving, suspenseful and surprising. This theater company is great. Margo Hall and the others all stand out in this performance. 4/5 shows here are great. It's real theater not just entertainment and so it's beginning to easily surpass the Berkeley Rep by the sheer commitment to substance over flash. And imagine this, there is a free parking lot, plenty of street parking, great and inexpensive nearby dining. It's worth the trek out to Mill Valley. Each and every show is thought provoking. Grand theater! read more

I enjoy dramas, but did not enjoy this one. The Beauty Queen of Leelane was not what I expected. I did not expect the main actress to show up without almost any clothes in one of the scenes. I was completely embarrassed and my wife and I had to look the other way for quite some time. The story was not a very interesting one. It reminds me of the Twilight Zone. There were only 4-5 actors throughout the whole drama. I would not recommend this drama to anyone and especially to a family. read more

Came here for my first theatrical play and it was a great experience. The box office people were kind and quickly found my tickets. Prior to the show starting they offered beverages (for a price of course) and we were permitted to take them in with us. The bathrooms were clean and I even liked how they had information in the bathroom that pertained to the play (that night we were watching Peerless) without you even knowing it until you saw the play and made the connection. Overall great experience. read more

Fantastic venue - I saw Streetcar on closing night. Its within walking distance, which is fantastic, and there's always something intriguing playing. The theater itself is intimate but professional. The little snack/cafe area was very nice, well stocked with what seemed like homemade goodies and a good selection of pre or mid-performance treats and drinks. The seats are comfortable, the staff is polite and professional and the space is situated in such a way that its easy to maneuver without feeling claustrophobic. The temperature inside the main theater fluctuated quite a bit, so its best to dress in layers. The acoustics were fantastic - Stanley's "STELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" reverberated fantastically, and no one was miked. Its a personal pet peeve of mine when the actors are miked - I realize that in some venues there's no choice, but it's so much less organic that way. They also have specials and "pay what you can" nights, so its really community-friendly. I felt like there was a real cross section in the audience rather than a bunch of richie mcrichersons. Then again, it is Mill Valley, so they probably all WERE richies. All in all a fantastic experience and one that I hope to repeat soon. read more