I've been here a few times over the past few years and it's a lovely theater. Easy walk from Powell Bart, well kept and clean. read more

Marines' Memorial Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

This theatre is for military talks and military history. This theater is for comedy or gay people? hahahah The theater is probably mid-century and it says after World War II. There are events here. It says military history talks for author books. You can't be sacrilegious. read more

Marines' Memorial Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here for SF Sketchfest and it was a pretty cute theater. We were all ushered upstairs and were able to purchase drinks, we ended up getting a couple bottles of water ($5 each). The lobby area did get pretty claustrophobic, so we were excited to get to our seats quickly for a little more personal bubble space. They scanned our tickets as we entered and we ended up with some great seats just a couple rows from the front. The seating is on a tilt and split into three sections (left, right and middle) which allows for extra aisle seats and shorter rows. The seats were a comfortable size but there were no cup holders. The acoustics were good for our show, we saw the Improvised Shakespeare Company. They had five people on mics and minimal props (chairs). It was a rainy day, so chilly as we entered but got a lot hotter with everyone inside. It's probably safest to wear layers. We had a great time though and would definitely come to more shows here. read more

Comfortable little theater walking distance from Union Square. Around a 15 minute walk from Powell Station. Small bar area with drinks, water fountains, and male and female restrooms. They sell their own bottled water from San Diego. I've been here twice most recently for Sketchfest 2020. Not sure about the balcony seats but orchestra is fine. read more

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I saw two shots here three days apart during the 2020 SF Sketchfest.. I saw: 1) a conversation between Brian Regan as interviewed by Todd Barry 2) Chris Redd doing standup with Alexandria Love as an opener The theater is a fine theater, It is intriguing to see all of the U. S. Marine Corps memorabilia and history in the lobby. The Learherneck Loounge only serves wine and beer. No hard liquor. At least during the two SF Sketchfest nights I was there. I set in row B (3rd row) in center seats for both shows. read more

Had the happy pleasure of coming back to Marines Memorial over the years w/ the most recent, being to see "50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL" Trashing the top-selling trashy novel, this is 1 parody you don't want to miss! We had not read the books but could still follow along quite well & enjoy all the innuendo & hidden subtexts....which weren't so hidden! It was *hysterical*! ( And I kinda lie - I *did* read all the 1-Star Amazon reviews beforehand - they were awesome ) This latest visit found us sitting in the balcony for the 1st time & even though we were first row, the seats were so plush that we sunk down & could only see the back half of the stage So note to self when seeing shows from the balcony, be sure to get in 1 of the higher rows.....but that said, just sat on my coat & things were fine! Plus, production had blocked off the stage in such a way so everyone could have a full view.....thanks for thinking ahead! Sound was fantastic, views were likewise great (once my coat was used for elevation) & this play was sooooo incredibly funny..... If you're among those who loved "Avenue Q" or "Book of Mormon", you'll totally ** love & appreciate ** "50 Shades!" too! A must-see for sure in a must-visit venue! Beware though - a small glass of wine will set you back $8 - ouch! read more

Marines' Memorial Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was here on Monday, February 1st at 9:30am for the Theatre Bay Area general auditions. I had gone last year for the afternoon session. This year, I decided to take the morning session. They split the lobby up into a little registration area and a refreshment area. The space was used well. There weren't a lot of people attending that day, so plenty of room to sit down and enjoy a bagel and coffee before heading into the theatre. They don't allow food or beverages without a lid in the theatre, so make sure you finish everything in the lobby. The theatre itself is a good size. I believe it seats 650 people. There were probably 100 of us max, so not that many people. We were able to spread out and watch the auditions. The seats have little fold out tables/desks. Super helpful since I tend to take a lot of notes. If you're not a fan of regular theatre seating, they also have a few plush chairs in the back on each side. Great venue for something like the TBA auditions. It would be fun to see a show here someday as well. read more

I believe this is my first time here but I read that they recently renovated and the bathrooms are new and clean. We were here to see Men are from Mars Women are from Venus. We didn't realize it was like a one-man stand up comedy show. It was entertaining. We had good orchestra seats in Row B, Seats 6 and 8 to the right side of the stage near the front. Good half price seats that we got online; however, it was rather drafty during the whole show and it was already a cold rainy night without having to feel cold during the show. read more

Marines' Memorial Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I go to the theatre occasionally. I like shows but have to be picky because it's usually expensive and since I live in Fremont not convenient for me. This theatre is on Sutter: 609 Sutter St (@ Mason St) in SF. It's inside the Marines Memorial Club & Hotel, 2nd floor. Theatre has No A/C. The Orchestra seats are great. Not a bad seat in the house, well maybe the very first row AA. I don't remember sitting in the Mezzanine or Balcony so can't say about those. Seating is cramped, but I'm short so it doesn't bother me too much. If you're tall ask for an Aisle seat. Bathrooms: separate women's (on the Left) and Men's on the Right out in the lobby near the Bar area. Women has 4 stalls. Parking validation machine next to the bar for the Mason garage. Think it's just a small discount, I think I overheard the Sutter garage is cheaper, but I don't really know cuz I Bart & walk over. You can bring Bottle Water into the theater, just no Open container from the bar or other drinks. No cameras/videorecorders allowed. Tip: If you want to volunteer usher call the Box Office at 415-441-7444. Tell them you want to volunteer usher and they'll hook you up. You have to show up an Hr Early, show ppl to their seats & give them programs, and stay about 5-10 minutes after the show to pick up programs, but it's easy work to see the show for FREE. read more

Saw the Lady Gang live podcast, Lady Hang, here. Other than the lobby area not having great air flow (it was SO hot but nice inside the actual theater), it was wonderful. Nice sized restroom for women and the lobby area itself was rather large with plenty of seating area. read more

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Not the most comfortable theatre, and it's a little weird that they sell their beverages all in coffee cups. I get the need to have lids, but it feels strange to see everyone cupping their cold bevs like we're all at an icy ski resort. The pictures of all the famous people who have played here are way cool and definitely impressive (Andrews Sisters, Cyd Charisse, etc.). And you can see the stage from all of the seats, which is nice! Street parking is theoretically easy to find, and if not, there's affordable valet parking down the block. The other reviews about the close-seats are justified, but if the show's good enough, I can bet you you'll forget about it. Choose wisely! read more

Located at the corner of Mason and Sutter is Marines Memorial - a historic landmark since 1946. Marines Memorial Theater was built in 1926 and seats 650 guests. It's located in the heart of San Francisco's theater district and Union Square. Watched 50 Shades! The Musical, which is a parody of the 50 Shades of Grey. The theater is small and very cozy. My only gripe is the seats are a bit cramped so you'll definitely know your neighbor by the end of the night. If you're tall, there isn't much leg room. Although it's not the most comfortable place in the world, it's good for short musicals and concerts. read more

I came here to watch "Potted Potter" and I loved the show, but this review will be for the facility itself. The facility is very well kept and maintained. The place looked pristine. The seats were very comfortable (although a bit small). The only thing I wished this place slanted their seats a little more, since I'm a bit on the shorter side and anyone who is fairly tall will block my view in this theater. Overall: I think this is a great theater and if you have the chance to see an show here I would highly recommend it. read more

Vintage theater = beautiful, but small and cramped This review is way overdue - the bestie and I came here to watch "50 Shades, the Musical" which is a parody of the popular book "50 Shades of Grey". I had never been to this location and was surprised on how close it was to Union Square. The entrance can be easily missed since the venue is also a hotel. Theater is on the 2nd floor. We were seated in the balcony and unfortunately for me, my seat was behind a lady that had big, beautiful hair. At 5'2 I tried to place my jacket underneath me to give me more height but it didn't help. Luckily we were able to move up one row where there were empty seats. Seats aren't the most comfortable and there just isn't much space. My knees were almost touching the chair in front of me. I felt cramped so I'm not sure how anyone taller than me would enjoy that. Wine and beer is served for I believe $8. Lines were so long to the bathroom that we didn't have a chance to buy drinks. There were only 4 stalls in the women's restroom. Good thing we were already liquored up; bad thing, we kept having to use the bathroom. Overall, play was funny and we probably would have enjoyed it more if the seating was more comfortable. Once the play was done we couldn't wait to leave not knowing there was a mini museum dedicated to the Marines. Would have loved to see that since my brother in law is in the military. Oh well, maybe next time. read more

Marines' Memorial Theatre - Beautiful hair, but sucks when you're vertically challenged and you can't see over or around it during a play - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here yesterday to see 50 Shade of Grey, The Parody! The show was a lot of fun and the theater was small, but very vintage and beautiful. My husband has always wanted to stop by this place because it's also a Marines Memorial and him being a previous Marine, he was excited to hear that we were coming here to see the show. The theatre was on the second floor and if you had the orchestra seats, you would just walk right in. If you had the balcony seats, there was another set of stairs to walk up. Luckily we had orchestra seats so the view was perfect and right in the middle of the stage. After the show, we went downstairs where we viewed the different windows of photos and donated guns, books, clothing, etc of the Marines of the past. Not only did we have a good time watching the show, we had a great time also viewing the mini museum! read more

If you require legroom during a performance, or personal space for that matter, you will likely find yourself a touch uncomfortable here. Luckily, the historic beauty of the space and the quality of the show will probably overshadow that. read more

As a short-legged femme (5'3" or 5'4" depending on my megalomania levels), I should have an anti-evolutionary advantage in airplanes and balcony seating. Instead my knees were pressed against the first row; another inch or two and I would've catapulted the person before me into the orchestra. Because of lovely 1926 ambiance, good site-lines and a sense of patriotism (plus the Sketchfest show was great), I'm more generous in the rating, but I can't fathom anyone taller than 5'5" or a yogic contortionist being able to sit through a 90-minute show. And if intestinal demands make themselves known during a performance, there wouldn't even be room to whip out a jar, much less squeeze squeeze past. I didn't check the orchestra seats, but I'm presuming -- judging from other reviews -- they won't cut off the lower-body blood supply. If ticket prices are the same for both balcony and orchestra, don't even bother with the balcony unless you're in the first row. read more

I love this theatre. It's small and cozy - which means every seat is close. The show (Forever Tango) was spectacular - if only I could dance like that. But what I love the most about this place is the tribute to the USMC - this is actually a private club owned by the United State Marine Corp League - people who raise money for scholarships for children of Marines, etc. There are display windows in the lobby with Marine Corp memorabilia dated back to the Revolutionary War. read more

Don't go here for a musical event! Sound mixing and acoustics are horrible. We went to see the awesome Brazilian star Adriana Calcanhotto. Her first number was mostly acoustic, very little guitar background. We were in the second row center, less than 10 feet from her. Yet we could barely hear her, the mic was turned down so low. Then the show really got started. The drums and bass guitar were turned way up. We could barely hear her at all, only when the drums and guitars stopped for a moment. Otherwise, it was just watching her lips move. At times, the bass was so loud we could barely hear the drums! Towards the end of the show, we left our seats and walked to the rear of the theater where the sound board mixing was going on, and at least there we could hear some of her voice, I wish we had spent the whole show there. I watched the two sound mixing employees: one seemed to be having a bad time and looked very frustrated. The other one was doing nothing, I think he was asleep. If you do attend an event here, I recommend that it not be for a musical one. If you do attend a music event here, get the seats in the rear on the left of the theater where the sound mixing is being done, that is the best of a bad. My wife is Brazilian, and she was so disappointed. Dear Adriana, please return to San Francisco soon, but at a different venue. PS: The seats are very tiny and uncomfortable, so there's that too. read more

A fairly small sub 1000 person performance theatre. Although not ornately decorated, the acoustics are very tight and the seats are in a gradual tilt from front to back so that there is ample room to see over forward rows. Seats are a little small and fairly packed together but not uncomfortable in the way say "coach" is on a 737. I hadn't realized that it was a historical landmark and is housed in Marines' Memorial Club and Hotel. If all the future shows are as intriguing as the Love, Janis performance, I'll definitely make it back to some more. read more

Horribly uncomfortable, the seats here are too small, too close together, and have zero - I mean ZERO - leg room. I am of average height and my knees were against the back of the seat in front of me. No performance is worth this discomfort. And if someone has to get past you to get to their seat, it's like playing Twister in a phone booth. read more

Just saw The Jimmy Dore Show LIVE and it rocked the house. This theatre was terrific and the show was on fire! Love Jimmy and Stef. I hope they come back soon! read more

I also watched Love, Janis here. I didn't notice it being particularly smaller than normal (as far as seating goes). Granted, I'm on the short side (5'3"), but I definitely think this is roomier than the Curran or Geary. The bathroom lines weren't great, but they weren't the worst either (i.e. definitely leaps and bounds better than the Curran which is quite possibly the worst bathroom ever in a theatre). They could use a bit more milling around space for the intermission...but, again, it was really quite okay. I seem to remember the seats being fairly comfortable. The sound was great, and it was essentially a rock show. I would absolutely definitely see a show here again. (and, while not the theatre portion, my friend got married in a private space upstairs in the Marines Memorial Club, and that was a really nice space as well - intimate and warm and classic) read more

I have seen 2 of my favorite shows to date here: Celebrity Autobiography and The Wet Hot American Summer live radio play. It is a nice theater, not too big so you never get a bad seat. There are limited bathrooms, so keep that in mind. read more

Imagine....it is 1890 and you are hitting the night on the town to see the finest opera in San Francisco.....for a close and intimate setting I would hope the Marines Memorial Theater would be around to accompany the great show. I came here last night to see Whose Live Anyway (with the cast of Whose Line is it Anyway?) and couldn't ask for a better venue for this to be in. Greatly situated in the middle of Union Square, this fine gem of a theater is great for intimate settings as the acoustics illustrated decent sound quality. The stage and balcony are beautiful and it seems like every seat is a great one. I'll be sure to come back here to see another great live comedy show. read more

https://marinesmemorialtheatre.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=320947 Was the event we went to see. It was hilarious and a great time. its was a show taking controversial topics and pushing them all the way to the edge without going over. It talks about the truths of the decades and corresponding generations and where the future of America will be if we don't decide to change it for the better. This show will have you laughing and thinking and leave you with different ways to think about situations and how you will or should handle them! read more

Really cool intimate theater. My wife and I saw Puppet Up! last night. It is a puppet improv show (last one of the year :( ). A friend from my improv class told me about it. Said she spent 2 hours laughing! It was definitely worth the money and funny. They did a combination of old and new. Showcasing new technology(using lcd screens and robotics) as well as old skits from the original puppet shows 30+ years ago. There was lots of audience particapation which was cool. read more

Seating here was unbearable, absolutely NO leg room. I was so uncomfortable I had to get up after 45 minutes and stand in the back for the remainder of the show. read more

I attended a special event here and fell in love with this space. Everything from the look and feel to the staff was on point. The actual theater has an older (vintage) vibe to it but they still manage to keep it looking clean and upscale. The seats are so comfy... and do not squeak. Hooray. Anyways I got here early for the event and it looked like all the staff members on deck were rushing to help with whatever the organizers needed. Smooth operation. And they all seemed to really love working there, which I particularly take note of. Once the event started, the staff members by the entrance to the theater were super nice and smiled at everyone. This was one of those events where you would not notice anything stand out because everything went well. Maybe I will host an event here sometime! Winning venue in my book. read more

Saw The Nerdist Podcast Live here for SF Sketchfest 2013 (which was a great show!) Took me a minute to figure out that the theatre was inside what looks like a hotel entrance. A quick trip up to the stairs to the right led me right to it, amidst of the waiting crowd for the doors to open. Will Call, concessions and the rest rooms are right outside the theatre doors - convenient! The theatre has wide floor seating, although each seat was fairly narrow. Still, no bad seat from what I could tell. It's fairly intimate, where even the furthest seats still has a clear view of the stage. Also, the ticket checkers will walk you over to your seat. That was a nice touch. read more

I have now been here for 4 SketchFest shows across several years and I can honestly say this is one of my favorite venues I've ever been to. As luck would have it, not only was I fortunate enough to attend 2 Thrilling Adventure Hour shows on the same night a few years ago, but this past weekend both the Maria Bamford stand-up show and Adventure Time cast conversation were at the Marines' Memorial Theatre on Friday and Saturday respectively. Everything is so clean and I know it's actually really "un-classy" these days to say someplace is classy, but it is decorated in a very respectful and... classy way. It's fun to look around as you wait for the theatre doors to open and see all of the Marines medals and photos adorning the walls. The bar on the theatre level was run by the sweetest man this weekend and he was very patient with the large crowds he was serving spanning the days that we visited. The theatre itself has a cozy feel but is large enough to seat a good size crowd. I have luckily been "on it" enough when buying tickets that my husband and I have had good seats when we've visited and have enjoyed every show we've seen. I just wish we lived closer so we could go more often! read more

This is a much smaller theater than I had imagined it would be. Seating can be a bit cramped. Although, on the positive side of that, it would be hard to get a bad seat here. I went for the first show of Steve Solomon's one man show. It was hysterical. If something else was playing that interested me, I'd go back. It's small, but classic, and has an intimate feeling to it. read more

This has become one of my favorite theaters to see a show Really not a bad seat in the house, plenty of butt and leg room, a place to buy a beer before the show, and reasonable prices! I came here four times in January for SF Sketchfest, sat in different seats/vantage points for all 4 shows and had a great time at each one! read more

Came here for a Sketchfest show and had a great time. We were in the very last seats on the right side on the first floor, but they weren't bad seats! I think the venue is small enough that you never feel really far away. The venue was not overly grand, but felt clean and was rather pretty. They had a small bar set up in the lobby and there was a small amount of room for gathering prior to the show. After the show, they had another one scheduled just half an hour afterward so they ushered us out pretty quickly. That was a bit of a bummer since it would have been nice to be able to exit slowly with our group of friends, but not a big deal. The location is awesome and is super close to Union Square which is great in terms of grabbing food before or drinks after. Parking is not easily found though, so know which garage you're headed to prior to arriving. read more

A gem of a theater in the heart of the city. Not the most comfortable place in the world, but great for concerts and such. read more

This place / building is a very neat place. If you like history, you'd really appreciate this place. The theatre was where Frank Senatra and others held radio shows and there's a memorial on the 10th floor to the American soldiers we've lost in the Iraq War. It was very touching. On the 11th Floor, there is a bar and restaurant that has an amazing view of the city. I wasn't able to eat here but I will definitely come back to check it out again. read more

Intimate is right. I see that as a good thing, though! There is not much seating, which means every seat in the house has a great view of the full stage (I can't say that about the Orpheum where I missed HALF the production due to a right side balcony seat). I had no idea what to expect when I first came and actually missed the entrance thinking it was for the restaurant and hotel - I didn't realize the Theatre was in the same location. I just looked at their calendar and I'm heartbroken to see that there are no other plays scheduled in this Theatre any time soon. I am in love with the location, the volunteers, and the set up within the Theatre. Acoustics are great, too. ***Please please schedule more play and musical productions at the MM Theatre - We will go to them!** read more

Attractive theater on the 2nd floor of the club and hotel. It's not huge so even back row seats are a good view. Bonus points for not using Ticketmaster, so booking online only incurs a $5 service charge, or save that by purchasing in person from 12-5pm weekdays from the friendly, helpful staff. There's a small bar available, though be aware that the seats are pretty closely spaced together, so it may be cramped for taller folks. read more

This is a classical theater, with a sloping floor so you don't have to keep moving back and forth to see around the head in front of you. I've seen three shows here, the most recent (tonight) being "Love, Janis," thanks to Yelp promotions. Every seat in the theater was near enough to the stage that we were directly involved. read more

I was invited by a friend who is a retired Marine to the 234th Birthday party of the US Marines, held here this time every year. In the theatre, there were some speeches, patriotic songs, and honoring of a few...then up to the 10th and 11th floor for dinner and dancing. Well, I gotta say, Marines know how to party..there were 4 bands playing..decent music, unlimited booze, and OK food. The architecture is fabulous. In one situation, I was singing along to a Sinatra song, and the guy in the band handed me the mike, and I finished the song...THAT was fun..(it helps if you're wearing a tux..).lots of folks in uniform, but a really relaxed, fun time. Oops, I just realized there's a Marine's Memorial Club where this review should have been written...sorry. read more