Came to see Kristina Wong's Sweatshop Overlord. We got balcony seats, which were fairly priced and…read moreit was a perfect view of the stage. It's a pretty small theater across the street from Orpheum Theater. I never realized that Strand Theater was here! Glad to be able to enjoy theater arts here in San Francisco beyond the touring Broadway shows.

First time at here to see the Teen Edition of Hadestown. This is a great theater! I like the size…read moreespecially for shows like this. Every seat seems like a great seat. You're not too far. No obstructed views. I purchased seats in the 2nd row. I felt like I was a little too close but I got to see and hear voice so clearly. The acoustics were great! Despite it being summer, it was very cold in the theater probably for the actors on stage. Be sure to bring a jacket or sweater when watching the show. I sat next to a person who seemed to shake his leg off and on during the show. The whole row was vibrating. Nice lobby with concessions. You can also preorder so your drinks are ready by intermission. Will Call was nice and easy. You can take BART and get off Civic Center. There are places to eat that are walking distance but be sure they are open.

Purchased tickets with ease, was given the option to add to calendar with full info which I always…read morelove! I did two separate purchases with blind seating, we added a fourth person later, it was not possible to select seating purchasing blind. We were completely ok sitting separately. Day of when ticket email came and seats were viewable all seating had been placed together which was REALLLLLLLY appreciated and not expected!! The theater is old, and stunning all the details in the architecture. Due to its age the seating is not elevated which is NO current fault. However it did cause all spectators to move their heads around to see the production. The row above us was empty we ended up climbing up a row in order to see. When I book again I won't book blindly and will select my seats. The production was cast WELL!!!! Chemistry isn't always evident among theater cast, it was present here.. Very present!!! Choreo was on point, vocals were Spectacular, energy was high, not one person in the production skipped a beat!!! We all really thought Hairspray was PHENOMENAL!! Will I return: ABSOLUTELY!!!!!! Great customer service, easy purchasing, small details like grouping tickets purchased separately, PHENOMENAL SHOW......: I'll be back sooner than later!!!!! We used spot hero app to find parking at 520 Mason Street which was underground and secure!!!!! The plus was it was literally around the corner and a one minute walk to the theater!!!!!

I hadn't been to the SF Playhouse in ages, not since it was the Post Street Theater! It's a great…read moretheater with very good sightlines from every seat. I was there for "Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really" and had a wonderful time. The sound system was pretty good; I heard most of everything that was said on stage, but whatever I missed can be blamed on my hearing, not their sound system! Seats were relatively comfortable and the legroom was at par with other theaters. The bathrooms, which were not separated for men and women, were clean with seat covers and plenty of toilet paper. It was a bit strange seeing men walk out of the stalls in the bathroom, but it didn't bother me. I would really prefer that the seat is returned to a downward position, though, and happy the floor was dry!

Watched the nutcracker for the very first time here at the war memorial opera house and it was such…read morea gorgeous production! Parking is impossible to find here so I highly suggest public transportation or a waymo! The nutcracker set was so gorgeous and the first ten minutes had an homage to SF which was so unique and quaint! The dancers were elegant and breathtaking and they really utilized the opera house with all the set changes. Acoustics were fantastic and tickets were really affordable for balcony! Highly recommend seeing all the shows at the opera house

My husband and I attended The Nutcracker in December, and unfortunately the experience was so…read moreunpleasant that we have no interest in returning to the San Francisco Ballet. We were seated in the second row of the orchestra, directly behind a group in the first row who whispered, turned around, pointed, and moved almost constantly throughout the performance. Their level of fidgeting was honestly bizarre and impossible to ignore. They also had a very young child with them who repeatedly made noise and turned around during the show. It was so distracting that I barely remember the performance itself. What I remember is the group sitting in front of us. We wanted to say something during the show, but there was no usher visibly monitoring our section. We also did not feel comfortable confronting strangers directly in a dark theater and potentially escalating the situation. This is exactly why ushers should be present and attentive during a performance, rather than placing the burden on patrons to police one another. When we spoke with a manager afterward, we were told that we could have reported the issue during intermission and possibly been moved. That response was frustrating. By intermission, half the performance had already been ruined, and it did not seem fair that we would be the ones expected to leave the seats we selected and paid for while the disruptive patrons remained in place. We contacted the Ballet multiple times afterward. Initially, the response felt dismissive. We were then offered tickets for one specific date in February, which was not practical because we live in Santa Cruz and could not simply travel to San Francisco on a randomly selected day. Eventually, we were offered tickets to a spring program, but the most logical and appropriate resolution would have been replacement tickets for the following Nutcracker season, since that was the experience that had been ruined. What made this especially disappointing was not only the behavior of the patrons, but the way the Ballet handled the complaint afterward. A sincere apology and a straightforward effort to replace the experience would have gone a long way. Instead, the process felt unnecessarily difficult and left my husband unwilling to do business with the San Francisco Ballet again. For an organization charging premium prices for a formal live performance, I expected better audience monitoring and much better customer service.

I have series tickets, and SF Opera hosts one of my favorite parties in the city - the SF Opera…read moreEncounter experience. This special annual party involves watching an act of the opera theme for the night, and then partying in the opera house the rest of the night. The place is LIT with performance art, themed drinks, art exhibits, a light up dance floor, and music that has everyone from age 17 to 97 dancing on the same floor. They also have a pride concert that is great, if you don't like standard opera. And there's a party after that concert too. The one thing is, though, I can tell they need donations and members. But as a millenial, they way NOT to get me to subscribe is by cold calling. I wish their membership folks had a more streamlined way of me renewing my series tickets, because as a millenial with adhd, a phone call is so exhausting. Like, if they just sent me a proposed bundle of tickets, that I could purchase with a click - that I would rather do than small talk with a Gen X white dude for fifteen minutes to figure out which tickets are right. I grew up watching theater and opera, and I think the Sf Opera and memorial opera house are both must-see destinations if visiting the city!

Recently attended the SF Opera World Premiere The Monkey King by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang…read more Love everything about it--from staging and set designs, lighting, costumes, choreography to all the talented casts. Hurry, you can still see it as it runs until November 30. Having grew up reading The Monkey King, this Opera spoke to me. So excited to have this timeless story come alive in operatic form, such an amazing experience in that the monkey king is a smart, rebellious, powerful being and he learns through his adventures to harness power and balance it with wisdom, humility and responsibility. Very aspirational and yet familiar. Some Chinese Opera (Northern and Southern) nuances incorporated into this Western-style opera. Beautiful and provoking. Looking forward to the next event.

Recently saw "Hamnet" here and enjoyed myself. The play itself was great, but I couldn't hear or…read moreunderstand some of the dialogue. This is not a criticism of the theater; I think I'm losing some of my hearing! It's a good thing I read the book only a couple of weeks before seeing the play, so I didn't miss anything. The set up of theater itself was a bit inconvenient. I was seated in the mezzanine on the far left and had there been people in all the rows when I arrived, I would've had to squeeze through everyone in a row to get to my seat; there's no walking aisle going down to the seats on the far ends. I guess I'd never noticed this before; I usually sit in the orchestra. Also, in the upstairs lobby, there was only seating on one side, so if you were seated on the opposite side and got there early, you'd have to sit outside the opposite door to where your seat is. The seats themselves were pretty much standard for theaters. Some people have complained about the neighborhood, but I find that part of the city to be fine. I've never had any problems there and it's not sketchy at all. Just don't stray too far!

I absolutely loooveeee paranormal activity stuff! Ever since I was little I love spooky stuff!…read moreDefinitely loveee scary movies that's always been my thing. I heard they were conducting a play out in the city for a limited time. My bby and I decided to go on a date out to the city and go watch a play together for the first time. I've been to a couple of plays before but this was my baby's first time seeing a play. I super excited to show him how much fun it is and how different it is in person vs over a screen. No food is allowed inside the theater but can eat your snack in the lobby before entering. Drinks are allowed inside but no recording or taking pictures during the play. It keeps the element of surprise for others to experience for themselves and not be ruined. Which I totally understand, plus the play is soo good you don't even think about your phone. The play was 2 hours long and halfway through they give a 15 break for you to use the bathroom or get something to drink. I absolutely loved the play and this theater! Super vintage and has so much original structure. I will definitely be coming back to watch more plays!

Great small, intimate venue that is very classy and clean…read more What else do you expect when in Presidio. This old Army officer's base has changed alot since I've been here. Many restaurants and businesses now occupy many spaces. if you want access to some cool perks like access to meet & greets, the Members Lounge, and presale; then sign up to become a Member with the Presidio Theater. It was worth every penny and I'm also helping out a small non-profit venue brings great entertainment to the Presidio area. The lounge offers great wines at a discount from their sponsored local bay area wineries. Whites, Reds, Chardonnays. I took the Train, the Ferry, and a Lyft to get here. Seeing Lisa Fischer live on a chill SF afternoon was cool. She took time to meet her fans, thank them, and take some selfies. My seat was first row in AA1. I took some great pics and videos that I have to post on YT because they are beyond the 30 second limit. Her band was the Grand Baton. I left a picture of the setlist she performed. Some great covers and a couple of songs from her album from 1991. If you're not a Lisa Fischer fan, interest fact is that she was tour background singer for Luther Vandross and The Rolling Stones in the 1990s. She was also featured on the documentary "20 feet from Stardom" Such a great film. I actually like her House mix song Into My Life by the Elements of Life (Louie Vega remix) Become a member, check out their schedule, buy the tickets, and come hang out at the Presidio. See you some more on Yelp. 2026

Wonderful peaceful quiet theater hidden inside Presidio National park. Most people I doubt has…read moreever been here for a show unless you are looking for an event or performance here. I have heard of this theater, but never actually went inside of it until now. it's a nice cozy theater with a stage and two level seating the orchestra and the section behind it. Any seat you can have a pretty good view point. I came here for an artist talk called "Art at the Presidio Theatre: Andrew Pick & Ursula Xanthe Young". Andrew Pick, a pastel and oil painter based in San Francisco, trained at both the City College of San Francisco and The Art Students League of New York. His plein air paintings capture the city's streets, skies, and hidden corners with immediacy and intimacy. Ursula Xanthe Young brings her signature blend of intricate architectural motifs, feminine iconography, and dreamlike cityscapes to the space. Her work--well known throughout the Bay and beyond--draws inspiration from the urban world around her, reimagining San Francisco as both myth and Memories. This show was moderated by returning artist Rhonel Roberts, whose own work opened this series. This is a chance to hear the artists discuss their process, their paths, and the shared landscapes that inspire them. Yes, there is much going in this area with one Presidio Go Shuttle bus and one muni bus 43 Masonic that actually comes into this park. The 30 Stockton bus stops by the Sports Basement and it is also a 4 minute walk up the stairs to the Presidio tops park. I happened to follow Ursula Xanthe Young work and found she did a skateboard exhibit at the Minnna art gallery too, so obviously I am going to check it out and that is why both these reviews are now posted back to back

Needs better ventilation. Extremely stuffy air when it's a busy and popular show with lots of…read morepeople in this theater. When on the floor level, person in front of you might block you view if they happen to be tall (welp you can't control that) or fidget a lot. Wish the seats were better set up Amazing how quickly you can get out of this place even at a really packed show. Ushers are great and helpful

My friend treated me and my daughter to see Dracula Ballet here and it was amazing!…read more This old venue near Civic Center is so ornate and unique. People working here were friendly helpful and polite. You could smell the popcorn inside with well-dressed people buying wine at the concession stands, which can be brought inside while sitting on the red velvet seats. On the mezzanine level, two tall guys sat in front of me, blocking the view of center stage. At intermission, I asked the couple in front of me to switch seats so I could see a bit better. However, I noticed the girl in front then couldn't see, because there was a tall bald guy in front of her! Short people should always get the front rows, lol! Well, the music could be heard by everyone and from what I could see, the ballet was striking as it was beautiful.

The only time I've been here was for my friend and colleague's improv graduation show, so I'm…read morebasing my assessment on my impressions that evening, although there could be much more that this relic has to offer. When I first arrived, there was a line almost around the block for the much larger theatre next door. I was blown away that an improv show could pull such a crowd. That is, until a poster in the corner of my eye directed me through a neighboring door and up several flights of stairs to the Phoenix. It turns out the improv show had a huge crowd as well. The space my friend and her troupe (is that how I should refer to them?) was performing in was relatively small for a theatre, packed to the rafters and hot as all hell. I spent the performance leaning against a wall while many sat on the floor since the seating was all taken. It wasn't ideal, but we were there to watch some talented improvers (again, is that a word?) show their skills, and for that reason I thought it was a great atmosphere for such a show. I support local theatre, and this unique setting is exactly the kind of place where you'll find local performances you'd never see anywhere else. I'd like to see if there is more that this building has to offer. For example, is it just one theatre or several? Whatever the case, I had a fantastic time and consider the dated building and strange layout part of the Phoenix Theatre's charm.

The gorgeous Molly R. is in an improv show. (http://www.un-scripted.com/) In this show she sings,…read moredances and makes up funneh stuff. It's a very good show and it's playing right now at the Phoenix Theater. Tonight was opening night and I went to cheer her on. The Phoenix Theater is nice - it's in an odd building - right next to Ruby Skye. It's on the 6th floor of a building otherwise full of offices. The theater is an intimate little black box stage with a small lobby and not a bad seat in the house. I've been here multiple times before and it's one of many really nice rental houses in San Francisco where independent theater companies can house their short run shows. Of course, Un-Scripted Theater Company is fabulous - but, I already mentioned that in my review of them. Every once in a while you have to just be useful as opposed to being funny and cool... there ya go. Goodnight San Francisco!