Great indi theater venue with (at least one) great act(s) - Brian Copeland's "Not a Genuine Black Man" (the others sound great, too, but can't vouch for them... yet...) ...Yes, as other yelpers mentioned, the seats are a bit squirmy and tight, but isn't that consistent for close and intimate, affordable, and inspired art venues? Just be prepared to find a front row seat if you have really long legs (it's first come first seat arrangement.) But how can you complain? It adds character, i loved it. Brian Copeland's show was plain awesome, everyone should go. read more

The Marsh is a venue for a huge variety. Its down to earth and so warm and inviting.

I love these small random theaters in SF and this one did not disappoint. Very small and intimate like you are watching a play in your living room, I got my tickets at GoldStar so they were very affordable. read more

Of course I'm prejudiced! These guys have helped me grow as a performer and I imagine they will continue to do so. That's what The Marsh is: an incubator and a showcase for new talent. They care about what they do, and they do the hell out of it. The Marsh rocks! read more

Saw an Echo Brown show here last night called "black virginity is not for hipsters". It was my first time at the Marsh and I'm already hooked. Great location and wonderful staff. Very small space but every seat is great. We happened to go on a night with crazy hot and humid voodoo weather in SF so the windows were open and the sounds from the street were a bit distracting but the actress was a pro and we were so captivated by her performance that we almost forgot we were baking. It was wonderful--even in gentrified SF--to see a one woman show with a black actress and black folks in the audience. I'm happy to support a place with the wherewithal to foster that. read more

This is the kind of Sanctuary for Strange Culture that makes San Francisco great. I've walked by this place a million times and seen the posters for oddball one-man shows and have meant to go to one forever. So finally, I saw "Grandpa It's Not Fitting" there last night with a friend. I actually won a pair of tickets through a listserv I subscribe to, but the show was excellent and we both decided we would have been happy as paying patrons (I intend to be a paying patron there sometime soon). Key aspects of the venue? 1) Small and intimate - not a bad seat in the house. Got to compliment and shake hands with the performer afterward. 2) Self serve cookies and coffee (and tea and coke and other stuff) with everything costing $1. Cheap, delicious, caffeinated theater fare floats my boat every time. 3) Truly professional-quality performance. Lighting and staging done well, sound (most live but some pre-recorded) crystal clear. The show itself? "Grandpa" was a wonderfully weird show - it was a comedy with no real quotable one liners, and not exactly belly laughs, but smart writing, sharp political satire, and engaging acting throughout. Will Franken's ability to portray a zillion characters, change scenes about every two minutes, make joke after joke that was un-PC even by San Francisco standards, and never miss a beat over the course of a frenetic hour and a half was thoroughly impressive. read more

This is one of the best things in the Mission. They have two rooms: The main one (small theater, much nicer, with a bar area to the side) and a second stage (next door, above a cafe, clean and serviceable but felt more like a high school multipurpose room). Saw Jeff Greenwald's "Strange Travel Suggestions" on the upstairs second stage (I will never look at horchata the same way again). Despite the spartan surroundings, it was still an excellent show. We easily got a seat front row and center, given the small space that meant we were about 10 feet from him the whole time. Add to that the fact that tickets are usually cheap (~$20, sliding scale) and you have yourself a winner. I can't wait to go again and see something on the main stage this time. About the only thing negative was that at the Upstairs stage, there was only one restroom and there was a bit of a rush for it before the show (and since it's such a small space there's no ability for people to be using it once things start). read more

[[NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN]] at the MARSH for a limited run last two weekends. Made me laugh, cry and pensive. Life in San Leandro in the late 70s was so aptly captured. I choose to leave and never look back nor return. Brian Copeland is funny, talented, and is brave to have remained in the town that treated him and his family with as much disdain they could muster. He brings his hit solo show NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN to San Jose, California. GO SEE IT. read more

Just saw Wayne Harris in "The May Day Parade". The one-man show is both funny and poignant. Unfortunately it is only playing 3 more Saturdays at the Marsh. You really should go see this play. It is 75 minutes, non-stop covering less than a day of a life of a man (boy actually). Wayne is engaging and versatile, playing an 8 year old boy, several women and several men, all convincingly. This piece should be seen by sold-out crowds and 11/22, 11/29 and 12/6 will be the last three shows of this extended run. Go see it while you can. I cannot recommend it highly enough. PS - you can watch the show for as little as $15! That leaves you a ton of money to eat on Valencia St. (between 22nd and 23rd), one of the best restaurant rows in the city. (Great for High school kids, but probably not yuonger) read more

Not fancy, but a great place to see local talent! Prices are reasonable and the shows change so you have many options.

This is one of my absolute favorite places in the city. The first time I came to The Marsh it was because my aunt was doing a "Marsh Rising" show. I was unsure about one woman (or person) shows. I think I had conflated them with one man bands. Thankfully they are not the same thing. Flash forward 8 years or so and I've seen enumerable shows at The Marsh. We've even gotten The Marsh equivalent of season tickets. It's such a treat to see such amazingly talented people in an intimate setting. I see a lot of concerts and theater (or at least I did before I had a toddler) and I fancy myself pretty discerning. These performers consistently blow me away with their ability to write and perform a variety of different roles in ways that are often both moving and hilarious. The stories are personal and ring true. There is a lot of talent showcased at The Marsh, but some of my favorite writers/ performers are Brian Copeland, Don Reed and Dan Hoyle. AND they have a youth theater program. Can't wait to check that out! read more

What a local treasure this place is! Such support for artists and always thought provoking works...and reasonably priced & well located in the Mission (& the founder was smart enough to buy the building way back when so you know it will stay around)...Very moved and impressed by Brian Copeland's personal piece about suicide, The Waiting Period.. And just last week saw the marvelous, clever and beautifully presented Grey Matter, a one woman show that spoofs our omnipresent tech industry & its workers -- very funny and loved it -- Julie Katz is very impressive as a writer and performer! read more

This is a really great local space that provides a venue for independent shows. I recently had the pleasure of seeing the fantastic and funny Don Reed's 'East 14th'. The theater is intimate but not so small as to be oppressive. Go often, bring a friend! read more

Was here last weekend, and was so impressed with the theater, the staff and the excellent show. The theater was comfortable and intimate but you did not feel squashed in the audience. Toilets clean and staff had a great upbeat, friendly attitude. Their upcoming acts look great to, can't wait! read more

We came here recently to see "The Feisty Old Jew". What a fun show! I would definitely recommend it to anyone in need of some good laughs from a talented performer. The theatre is very small which we liked, and made the exchange between performer and audience that more intimate. The people working the theatre were friendly and the bathrooms were clean. What more can you ask for? I will definitely come back to this theatre! Also, it's in close proximately to Bart so public transportation is a breeze. Thanks Marsh! read more

i have been to the Marsh many times and have seen some great theater there but "Black Virgins Are Not For Hipsters" was beyond remarkable. Echo Brown is fantastic. She is so evocative and effective that i found myself giggling, then crying, then amazed. The show covered a huge array of topics - some EXTREMELY difficult ones - but handled so humanely that it was never overbearing or too difficult. Her imitations are hilarious and spot on. She is SO talented, beautiful, funny and graceful - i am sure this is the beginning of an incredible career. She left us all (a coinage borrowed from her): considerably more "soul rich". read more

A cute little theater venue with some great little performances, Like Dan Hoyle's "Real Americans". They *could* do a better placement of reserved seating so that 3 empty seats are not left on either side. How about 2 and 4? Otherwise, it's worth going to if you're invited. read more

I went here for the first time on Tuesday evening to hear a reading of a coworkers play about two brothers and two sisters. This is the first time I had been to the Marsh. We had excellent seats and because we got there early enough, a straight line to the stage. I can't imagine a bad seat in the house. It is small enough to accommodate every vantage point. This particular reading had a $5 per person donation but it also provided unlimited free wine as well, so the net gain was good on the consumer end. read more

The Marsh is a great little independent theatre. I went here to see a magic show. The theatre itself was much smaller that I ever would have imagined it to be, and the seats are red vinyl that you can stretch back and lounge in a bit. Bathroom was tiny, but hey, you're not there to use the bathroom or at least you shouldn't be...just a necessity at times. It was announced that there is a theatre upstairs as well, and I wouldn't have guessed off-hand that there is even a theatre upstairs let along an upstairs! The only negative thing I can report is that the heating wasn't turned out.....I was cold, and so was my nose. But overall, I enjoyed the venue, I enjoyed the show, and I'll definitely be back! It's not far from 24th/Mission Bart. read more

the one-liner: a great, small community theater with intimate seating and a bar. came here with a friend who took me to see E. 14th St. (the show is great, by the way -- definitely go see it--he's one talented man!) the seats are great -- the way they recline reminds me of reclining seats on german ICE trains where the back slides down and the bottom slides forward. the program mentioned that they were raising funds to replace them -- i hope they keep that reclining feature! there's a bar in the back that has coffee and other drinks. parking shouldn't be hard to find in the neighborhood, and it's decently close to 24th and mission bart. also close to great restaurants (spork is right next door!) and ritual coffee for your before- or after-show enjoyment. you know, about the seats -- i actually found them comfortable. well, either too comfortable or too reminiscent of college auditorium seats -- i was kinda falling asleep during the show, but that's definitely not a reflection of the performance at all. just a lethargic afternoon. i should have stopped for a coffee beforehand! read more

Marga Gomez "love birds" was fantastic!! Hilarious and very entertaining... I think I laughed a few tears too! Will definitely see her again!! read more

I saw Will Durst in his most recent one man show here on Tuesday. I love The Marsh for it's approachable pricing and the intimacy (yeah, it's tiny) of the theater. Great evening. read more

Safiya Martinez "So You Can Hear Me" great performance!

Am loving the remodel. It's so much cleaner and still has that study/speakeasy feel.

saw E 14th st...with Don Reed...one man show about a boy growing up in Oakland, caught between the life of his conservative mom & stepdad(jehova witness) and his Pimp dad, at the ghetto end of E 14th. Fantastic show. Charachter morphing, dancing, funny, tender dialog and just plain real, entertaining & professionally done. Not since the one woman show of Lily Tomlin & the one man show of John Leguizamo have I seen such an honest & entertaining look at the life of a person in a solo show. The theatre is intimate & low budget & fits the style of performances. 4 stars to theater...5 stars for the show! read more

If I lived in NCal I'd be at The Marsh all the time! Just loved the Daughter of a Garbage Man - intelligent and hilarious. And their line up of other artists was equally impressive. A very homey, warm and venue. And there are some great restaurants nearby. Go check it out! read more

Clever and diverse programming (e.g. Dan Hoyle's "Tings Dey Happen" , Rebecca Fisher's "The Magnificence of the Disaster" ). Intimate venue located in the eclectic Mission district. You won't regret catching a show there. read more

This little theatre is very much like a cool dive, off Broadway showcase. I have seen at least 3 mainstage productions, that were hilarious, such as "Not a Genuine Black Man" by Brian Copeland, and several other Marsh Rising performances by new performers coming up in solo storytelling. All compelling. All very poignant. read more

This is my first time going to The Marsh and I loved it! I will definitely be back! I saw "Vital Signs" and it was a great show. In the program, they advertised other shows and there are so many I want to watch. The theatre is small, enough to fit 60-80 people. They have some well-known performers and according to the reviews, I undoubtedly should not miss them. read more

A fun little space with just enough seating to give you an intimate experience. This is a big plus if you enjoy what you are watching, or a bit of a negative if you get stuck in a bad show - you have to walk past the actor to leave! I really like the fact that the ticket booth is in the quaint little cafe beside it - the staff are very friendly and you really get the feeling that you are on the fringe. Price point was great, but be aware that you may see a show with little or no talent - conversely, you may catch the next up-and-coming in an intimate setting for less than $10 read more

We saw the incomparable Geoff Hoyle perform in his own work, "Geezer" here and it was wonderful! But I suppose this space is to critique the theater itself so... Seats are funky and old but comfy. It's a tiny, intimate theater which allows for everyone to get a great view of the post-stamp sized stage. read more

The Marsh is one of those unique SF experiences. It is completely dedicated to solo performance, from classes to world class theater. Not all of their shows are great, but you have to admire the variety of performers they support and how dedicated they are to getting people up on stage. I highly recommend their classes. After taking Ann Randolph's "From the Page to the Stage" I now have not one, but two solo shows, a nice following, and a wonderful community of people who aren't afraid to tell their stories. I particularly loved Dan and Geoff Hoyle, Marilyn Pittman, and of course, Ann Randolph. read more

What a great little community theater. It's small, but I really like that. So much better than over sized venues where you feel like you'd have a better view if it was on TV, and you could just watch it at home. I love intimate little theaters. This one was especially fun! read more

Love the Marsh. Always great, local, affordable, comfortable theater. Nice to participate in a San Fran treasure. Just say Dan Hoyle's "Real Americans". Man, that guy is AMAZING. Go see it. Really. You'll laugh. And think about some things. And feel really glad that you live in a place like San Fran and can go see plays like this on a Sunday afternoon for $30. read more

ohhh, weee: great shows in a really really small venue. The kid next to me laughed and laughed! And so did I! I saw "Cirque Do Something" with two internationally acclaimed clowns Unique Derique and Moshe "YooWhoo" Cohen. So simple yet so entertaining! read more

It is just cool to me that there is a theater in SF that focuses on solo performance. I saw a show in the downstairs venue and it was intimate the seats were comfy, the staff was friendly, they had soda and cookies, and the show was pretty good. read more

small but not intimate - a bit worn with springee seats. but, the refreshments are cheap and you really do get the feeling that the theatre exists just on the edge of survival in order to support the really important part of the experience - the act. and the act was fantastic. A bonus goes for the location - the Marsh is surrounded by great variety of places to get food or have an after dinner drink. all in walking distance. ** If you want to go to a community centered theatre just to admire the theatre - the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley is really nice. read more

Went last night to see Marga Gomez GREAT show B4 she goes off-Broadway in April. Sliding scale $10-15 so GO SEE IT! Theatre is 2 blocks from 24th st Bart & 1 block from DOSA! A MUST SEE! read more

What a fabulous place for independent theatre ! Went here to see "Tings Dey Happen" last week & was thoroughly impressed. Will definitely be back! One word of advice though - get their early or you won't be able to sit with your friends. read more

We drove from the burbs on a Friday night to see the show, "Steve Seabrook: Better than You." Traffic sucked getting into the city but found parking 2 blocks away from theater. The staff is very friendly and accomodating. There are no bad seats at this theater so don't bother to buy the reserved seating. My husband and I and our16yr old son got cozy seats in the back row (still only 5th row from stage) It kind of felt like you were watching a one man show in someones attic. I love that you could go see a smart funny show in the city for $15 a ticket. This theater is the deal of deals. Enjoy the show! read more