Came to see Kristina Wong's Sweatshop Overlord. We got balcony seats, which were fairly priced and it 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. read more

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First time at here to see the Teen Edition of Hadestown. This is a great theater! I like the size especially 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. read more

Located a couple blocks from Civic Center on Market Street. The area has become rather blighted and sketchy. We came to see Eddie Izzard's one man performance of Hamlet. Yes, he performed ALL of the character parts! The theater is small, with a bar and tables in the lobby. The staff were wonderful and super friendly. Restrooms are downstairs from the lobby and were very clean, well maintained. Security guards were at the doors to keep out the 'non-patrons'... Overall, it is a nice 'little' theater. read more

The Strand Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Nice small, historic venue w/ good acoustics. Parking is convenient, too. There are many good restaurants in the area as well.

I went to this theater for the first time and saw Sweatshop Overlord. The theater is located a couple of min walking distance from Civic Center Bart so it's convenient. The theater has a large sign on the front for ACT American Conservatory Theater and it's easy to find. They have 2 security guards at the entrance which is great because the Tenderloin is a rough neighborhood. For that reason I prefer to attend the matinee shows. The theater had a very nice bar area. The theater is small and we sat in the Mezzanine. Sound was good and the seats were comfortable. Ushers and the staff we spoke to were friendly. The show itself was FANTASTIC! read more

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How have I never been here before? The theater is steps away from the Civivc Center BART - so convienent. The staff are phenominal, there are folks at the door waiting to greet you, the bar area is great (I remembered to bring my wine cups!) and there is plenty to choose from. Seating begins about 30 minutes before the show time. The seats are really comfortable and it is small and intimate enough that I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. The sound quality is excellent too. But the best part may be that the bathrooms have enough, ummmm, capacity so that you are not spending the entire intermission standing in line. read more

The Strand Theater - Cute little theater steps from Civic Center BART. Bring your sippy cup and enjoy a wine during the performance. - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

My first time at the Strand to see Small Mouth Sounds and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely be back and *spoiler alert* not just because there's a guy who walks around in his birthday suit for a part of the show. The theater is on the smaller side but I liked the intimacy of it. I bought the tickets super last minute so the only place where I could find 3 seats together was in the first row. I thought that might be a little awkward but it was fun to be so close to the stage and see well thought out details of the production like which books the characters in the show thought to bring to their retreat. I was super thirsty when I got here and to my surprise the cafe/bar here serves a good variety of drinks/snacks and even some specialty drinks like matcha lattes! As long as it's not glass, they allow you to bring the drink into the theater which was nice. No having to guzzle your drink down before the show. The ushers here were the perfect amount of friendly/smiley. I was mailed a 50% off promo code for this show which made our orchestra tickets a steal at $35. If you do buy online, there's a $6 processing fee per ticket. Small Mouth Sounds was amazingly well done. I was really impressed. I will be keeping an eye out for future productions and definitely recommend catching a show here. The theater is in a shadier part of town. Make sure not to leave anything of value in your car and try not to park in any of the alleyways if possible as this area is known to have car break ins. read more

The Strand Theater - Bar area - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have yet to see an honest-to-God show in here, but having lived in this neighborhood for nearly fifteen years now, I can truly say I am thrilled the Strand exists right where it does on Market Street. Surrounded by dollar stores, an excavated site and a virtual who's who of drug-addled derelicts, its brilliant red hue stands like a beacon on an otherwise forlorn block. It stands proudly against the massive Federal building as if to say the arts are here to stay no matter what cutbacks are being implemented in that big cold glass structure. I remember when I first moved to SoMa how the Strand was on its last legs as a porn palace. But $35 million later, look at it now with the big LED screen visible from the sidewalk. I'm hoping it will become as dynamically visual as Philadelphia's Comcast Experience Video Wall (review: http://bit.ly/1Li9EH6). Jamie W. and I took advantage of the free walkthrough that A.C.T. provided in June. The centerpiece is the 283-seat theater, compact by most standards but the seating is more humanely spacious than older theaters like the Curran or the Orpheum where knees and shoulders become paralyzed (photo: http://bit.ly/1Md3o24). I assume "Wicked" won't be playing here anytime soon but a two-person Sam Shepard play? Sure. Upstairs is a 140-seat event and performance space for what I imagine will be more avant-garde productions (photo: http://bit.ly/1gt9bot). There's quite a view of the UN Plaza if there was honestly anything decent to see. I'm actually hopeful they bring back silent film classics to show as that was the original intent. Regardless, it's a welcome sight that will hopefully stem the urban blight in the neighborhood. read more

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A dynamic and intimate performance complex filled with the creative energy of the most exciting artists of the Bay Area and beyond, The Strand had its much-anticipated opening in late spring 2015. Located directly across from Civic Center's lively UN Plaza, The Strand boasts a 283-seat theater, a 120-seat event and performance space, and a welcoming lobby and cafe that is open to city residents seeking a new destination in the Central Market neighborhood. The Strand in the Civic Center is the American Conservatory Theater's (ACT) new theater in the City, supplementing its theater on Geary St. The walls of the original theater is what remains as this theater was rebuilt and reopened in spring 2015. The Strand has a 283 seat theater and a 120 seat event and performance space. It has a large spacious lobby with a café that has seating and tables for patrons to enjoy. We were here to see the comedy of Colin Quinn in the main theater. The orchestra has two sections consisting of eight rows in front and seven rows in back. The seats were large and fairly comfortable. Being 6ft tall, my knees would generally touch the back of the seat in front. But there was about three inches of knee room! This is a big plus for taller people. After the show ended, we headed to the BART entrance which was about a quarter of block from the theater. As we headed down the stairs, we pass many people sitting on one of the stairway that were shooting up. That was not a sight that you want to see after an evening at the theater. Hopefully, this blight is cleaned up soon. read more

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I went to the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) Master of Fine Arts graduating class showcase last Friday, March 17th at 4pm at The Strand Theater. The performance space was upstairs and rather small, but they used the it well. Half was for seating, while the other half was used as the stage. They had a reception afterwards downstairs which was nice. I didn't stay for it, but I saw how they used the layout. Food was spread out on a table by the window to the right of the exit door. Drinks were layed out on the counter of the concession stand. The front lobby is nice and open with a lot of natural light, so it's good space for mingling. I used to see a lot of shows when I was younger in spaces just like The Strand Theater, so this was a little nostalgic for me. Definitely a great space for a smaller show! read more

Saw an excellent play called Black Butterfly, so touching that will bring you tears. Intimate space up there in the top floor, only holds about 100 people. 80 minutes long about juvenile girls and what they go through being incarcerated. How sad when the circumstances define your whole life. Traumatized, not being rehabilitated. read more

The Strand Theater - Cool play called Black Butterfly - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Prithee follow the Strand of mine review To yon cafe within revue venue. Ok, I'll stop. But hey, it's a cafe within a theater so Elizabethan language seems meet. Whenever I work or play late near Civic Center, I'm often frustrated -- nay, vexed! -- that nearby purveyors of quality coffee close quite quickly. To wit, Blue Bottle, Sightglass, Equator close near 7 of the clock. Jackanapes, all! That's why I've been looking forward to the opening of the Strand Cafe. One might say I was holding on to a Strand of hope. Since it serves the theatre-going crowd, belike it remains open in spite of night. Alas, yon new cafe keepeth hours like unto ye olde cafes. Really, I'll stop anon. I was told they're open 8am to 3pm normally (edit: they reopen at 6:30 for showings but without espresso drinks), including today's soft opening. Forgive me, I lose mine Strand of thought in a draught of bitter yet rich and only slightly acidic disappointment. Regardless, I fain commend this shoppe to mine fellows. Hie thee hither, fair coz! In sooth, the brew on offer competes well with that of established merchants. Mind thee, I'm a coffee lover, but not an expert. So should thine palate prove more discerning than mine own: Get thee to a roastery! The pleasant manner, friendly habitude, and comely demeanor of the shop's assistants urge further patronage. I was greeted courteously and bid fond farewell ere I repaired home. And in between was treated with respect despite mine usual slovenly attire. Mine own cappuccino was poured by a seasoned clerk but mayhaps you'll be served by one of the trainees. If so, be kind, sirrah. read more

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Fantastic venue. There are few better examples of upgraded, modernized space than the Strand Theater. This old theater has gone through many changes. But the latest is the best. This is a modern, comfortable venue for live performing arts. Seats are comfortable, auditorium is ultra modern, and best of all the bathrooms are large and clean. there is a concession stand and coffee shop just inside the front door. The staff including the security guards are friendly and helpful. read more

Saw "Black Butterflies" last night and it was my first time in this theatre. The show was in the Reuff Theatre space on the third floor and had intimate seating (maybe 80 seats?) and was well staged and directed. I was really impressed with the space of the theatre overall from the bright red exterior to the vast foyer and cute cafe. My friend and I grabbed drinks at the cafe/bar and were able to bring our drinks inside with us. Generous pours and fair price for the area (and to support the arts!). The show itself was spectacular and the three young women who carried the show did a phenomenal job. I hope ACT does more productions like this in the future! read more

The Strand Theater - Bright red exterior on market street - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a beautiful renovation and restoration to this old theater. The American Conservatory Theater and design team, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP (SOM), has done an exceptional job with the space. This building has been central Market street since 1917. I am glad this area is getting cleaned up. The Strand in the 1980's and 1990's was smelly, nasty and showed double and triple showings of obscure films for under $5.00. The Rocky Horror Picture Show screened at midnight. The new space now that A.C.T has bought the building includes the main 283-seat theater, a cafe, The Rueff which is located a level about the main theater. It is a 1,500-square-foot space that seats 140 people. It has views of San Francisco's City Hall and will be used for special events, education programs and performances. I look forward to attending many more plays here. read more

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A lovely theater that looks modern and well equipped. The cafe in the lobby has reasonable prices and decent stuff. The seats were good quality but I did find myself a little uncomfortable after 90 minutes of sitting in the seat. The bathrooms were lovely and clean. read more

Five stars for the cafe. Incredible service in the mornings. always nails our regular orders and amazing scones and banana bread. If you need a place to study, chill, have a casual meeting, or just sip your tea/coffee/london fog while watching the historical videos they show covering the history of the theater district and the mid-market area, this is the only place in the Civic Center area. Bright, clean, airy, everything. And people have no idea it's here or that it's open even when there are no performances. read more

Strand houses the most uncomfortable seats known to mankind. It'd be more comfortable to watch a performance there while being tortured in an Iron Maiden. Massive, Massive, MASSIVE FAIL!!! Who gives a crap about anything else there. People pay to sit and watch a show. If the seating itself is crap, (which it is) a performance of any type will no doubt suffer. read more

This was my first time at the Strand, which is right on Market. They have a great bar area in the front, with someone to hold the door open for you, which was nice as it was pouring when we went. The theater itself is small and intimate. The entire place looks very modern, and the seats were comfortable. Orchestra seating was close to the stage and it was very easy to see everything. read more

Stranded at the wrong address! Please beware! ACT has several locations in San Francisco. And the theater ticket they issue online doesn't clarify the address of the event being ticketed. Instead these jackasses list multiple addresses and leave it to the victim to guess or to research. So high likelihood of going to the wrong address, if not super vigilant (in our case, we missed part of the play as a result) So they list both the Geary Theater address and the Strand's address on the ticket, leaving it to the victim to notice this nuance and research which theater is hosting the show in question. Assuming you even know beforehand that ACT has 2 locations in SF Why the hell not just list the ONE theater that the person just bought a ticket for on the electronic ticket? Or at least put the applicable address in BOLD. WTF! Maybe ACT likes adding stress and leaving people stranded, in their journey to the Strand? Alternatively perhaps list the address for the Ferry Building, City Hall and maybe Fisherman's Wharf on your tickets as well, if you're just using your ticket to print random information and you enjoy confusing your patrons. Real bummer. read more

My first visit here, last night to see URINETOWN, the Musical. It's not far from the Orpheum Theatre, it's a stones throw on the other side of the street. There were a couple of security outside the door, this was nice as it's a rough area. When you walk in the venue, it's bright and airy and nice. Off to the right is a refreshment area with seating & straight ahead is the box office. The man where you scan your ticket was so nice & informative. Made you feel welcome. I like the seats! Funny, another reviewer hates them. They are basic & rigid & comfortable. Great seats, I thought. I enjoyed the show, for the most part, don't want to turn this into a review. Seen several productions of this musical, including Broadway. Love the venue, it's great. However, as I said, this is a rough area. I attended an evening show, & walked out the door & headed straight towards SF Shopping Ctr. There were shady characters all along the stretch. Walked briskly & no eye contact. Made it back safe! Happy to finally visit The Strand Theatre. It's about time, been an ACT patron for YEARS! read more

Tall people: there is leg room! I was amazed, I sat down in my seat and there was more than two inches from my knees to the seats ahead of me. Not once during the performance did I bump the seat in front of me trying to shift, or lose circulation in my legs because of some crazy angle I had to be in to fit. It is so rare for me to find a theater with legroom that this is a BIG thing for me. The seats are comfortable, 90 minute show with no intermission and I was as find when it ended as I was when I sat down. I'm not a huge person but space is an issue and neither my wife or the person to my other side seemed crowded, I know I wasn't. It's a small theater and I suspect there really isn't a bad seat in the house. I like the shiny but relaxed feel of the place. A doorman to let you in, small cafe with some seats and tables for people to relax before the show. Friendly staff. I came to this theater because of the show but from now on I'm going to be watching their schedule specifically because I loved the ambiance. read more

An intimate, beautiful theater in an old building with a very new face. I saw Love and Information here as a part of ACT's debut performance in the new theater. The play's topic was a fusion of people, technology, and how the two interact -- a perfectly designed opener for this space. The theater itself is much more intimate than the larger Geary, with straight away seating and relatively few rows. A large screen behind the stage involved crisp projection, and cameras above the stage even had alternate shots which were used in some parts of the performance. It was unclear how representative this multimedia approach would be of future shows, but it fit perfectly here and would have been hard to imagine outside the Strand. The building is less opulent and more modern. The lobby is a large open area with the box office and bar integrated into the room. The bar seemed a little less nice than the Geary's, but it's not like nearby options are lacking. If recent trends are any indication, the number of upscale wine bars and trendy bistros nearby will only grow as the area continues its makeover. The Strand is a worthy addition to ACTs theaters and I look forward to returning for the upcoming season! read more

Great venue. Went to an ACT matinee. Got tickets on goldstar. Chester Bailey. Terrific overall experience. Very intimate. Comfortable chairs. Roomy. Arrived early and had a nice glass of wine in the lobby cafe. Recommended! read more

We saw Monstress here last night and enjoyed the show. The theater is modern, clean, and welcoming. The decor is very IKEA-esque, but the staff was very friendly from doorman to bartender. Our seats near the "symphony" were great. Bathrooms were spotless. The only negatives to the experience were getting there and back, (enduring the hellacious piss smell of Civic Center BART), and being hassled by drunks immediately outside the theater. Also the prices are a tad steep, ($25 for two Bulleit shots and a water), and the seats are a bit rough. For the price of a seat it should be at least as comfortable as a movie theater. It is a cozy, clean theater and I would definitely return. read more

Located in a horrible part of the civic center. Usher on her iPhone starting up Siri mid-play. Lets disruptive late arrivers in.

We've been subscribers to ACT for over ten years and love the Geary Theater. This theater, The Strand, is fine but the location is absolutely awful. We have been to three matinee and two evening performances at The Strand. If you arrive right before the show, they allow you in the back entrance and I assume they have cleaned the streets from the Parking Garage to the theater, because on the matinee days we have arrived early - and the difference is profound. On our walk from the garage to Market St., the smell of urine was overwhelming, there were piles of feces in the street and on the sidewalk, puddles of vomit and many used syringes. This past Sunday, as we returned to our car after getting a cup of coffee after the show, we passed some people behind the theater shooting up. In broad daylight. The only bad thing I can say about the theater itself is that the seats are not bolted down and one time, when I stood and leaned against my seat to let another patron pass, the seats fell backwards along with me. Fortunately, no one had yet sat down in the three seats behind me because they could have been hurt. Luckily, I wasn't - just embarrassed and a little stiff the next day. The shows we've seen in this theater have all been great but the disquieting experiences before entering and after leaving this theater have convinced me that I will not be going to the Strand again for a year or two, until they clean up the area. read more

The Strand just opened up not too long ago. I like the manager here, he's quite friendly and nice. The mocha here is great and it allows me to get my caffeine fix when I can't make it all the way to Philz Coffee. Some of the shows they have advertised seems very enticing, I might check it out eventually. For the most part I enjoy the staff and service level from the cafe, oh and you must try the zucchini bread, its amazing. You can ask them to heat it up for you, so yummy. Oh and the hot chocolate is made with ghiradelli chocolate. read more

For years now I've heard ACT talk about how they're so excited to open The Strand Theater. They've gone on and on about the great history of the building and preserving the history while making it new, exciting, and innovative. Well, ACT, I just saw Love and Information, and I couldn't be more disappointed. I love ACT. My family's been subscribers for 40 years straight, and I see literally every regular season play. So I wanted The Strand to be awesome, something great, something beautiful. The Strand is none of those things. It's exposed concrete along with plain white paint. It looks like the cleanest bus station I've ever been in. The floor looks like something they recycled from the worst part of the 70s. Even the letters that spell "STRAND" above the café - I love that they're the restored originals - but in that environment they look like something purchased at IKEA. It doesn't work. They threw out the best parts of a historic theater, and added none of the best parts of a modern space. There are design issues beyond esthetics. The central lobby, box office, and café are all the same room. There's nowhere to mill around and the eight or so seats aren't enough sitting space. Getting there before a show requires either buying something from the cafe or standing around awkwardly like you're at a party and don't know anyone. The theater space was small, intimate, and much more attractive than the lobby (though, again, not a trace of the historic building remains). The only problem is, unfortunately, a huge one: the seats all face directly forward instead of curving to face the stage. Sitting straight in my seat, 3 in from the aisle, meant the stage was in my peripheral vision. By the end of the first act my neck and back hurt from turning so I could see the play. Why is this? I can only assume no one in the design process actually considered the public. And, honestly, it feels like no one involved in the creation of The Strand considered much of anything. I truly hope the plays are good (the actors, set design, and organization in Love and Information were great, for what that's worth!), because the lobby is lifeless, unfeeling, and uninspired, and the theater itself is actually physically painful. It hurts me so much to say this ACT, but you let us down. read more

My husband and I LOVED The Rocky Horror Picture Show! The comedy, while quite risqué, was side-splitting hysterical. We adored the cast, set design, music and cabaret seating. The performers were outstanding and professional. We are world travelers, and this production could have easily been on Broadway or London stages. The Strand DOES have extremely comfortable seating with lots of legroom when presenting more traditional plays. By the way, we are not related to anyone in the performance, and we have no ulterior motive to give such rave reviews except to alert people to this gem of a production. read more

I was told today by the nice A.C.T. Strand theatre box office representative the next play running, "The Unfortunates" will have "two, solid weeks of Preview Nights." WTF? Is there any other theatre on Earth with two solid weeks of preview nights? I'm a suspicious person. What could the A.C.T. Strand be trying to gain by calling the first two, solid weeks of a show "Preview Nights?" Maybe their actors need two extra weeks to get it right before opening night. Ha! (I'm sorry actors.) I didn't question the Strand representative about this matter today but I will when next I am there. read more

Went in tonight to see Caryl Churchill's "Love and Information". I honestly loved it. I don't want to spoil it in anyway but it talks humanity, its funny and waxing philosophical. I'm giving it a solid 4/5 because of its worth as a good social commentary and the environment which is exciting, hospitable and reflection stimulating. It helps you walk through some of the harder things in life while still leaving some room for your own interpretation, welcome to the waltz between individual and social. This is communication from the third. Enjoy being the watchers. :) read more

I saw Small Mouth Sounds on Friday night and was terribly disappointed, first of all up in the Mezzanine we could not hear the actors or truly see their facial expressions which must have made up most of the play as it was supposed to take place at a silent retreat. I had heard it was terribly funny and did not see anything even close to amusing. I have been to many retreats and could have filled pages with hilarious events that took place there from getting poison oak and finding that hysterical, to people all cracking up together for no reason, to the strange behaviors of many under the pressure of imposed silence. So much material and here there was so little! The 6 characters barely changed from beginning to end, we saw them do a series of similar movements throughout the play, stand, sit, sleep, swim... felt like an Andy Warhol film where you watch people live boring lives. One character spoke his litany of woes, ( which we gratefully only heard about 10% of) and hoped the others might also share, they did not. The "guru" apart from speaking on his cell phone simply stated ineptitudes from any self-help guru book. The entire mix was pathetic, not entertaining and certainly not funny. I still can't believe this play got rave reviews or sold out, we have clearly become a audience reduced to pablum they were able to find something in this inane juxtaposition of boring movement and no dialogue to speak of, small mouths indeed. read more

This theater marginalizes disable people!! I saw a play there and they took my walker away from me forcing me to stay in my seat until they brought my walker back to me. Don't patronize this place until they change their policy! read more

I love to spend a quiet half hour in this cafe in the afternoon. The coffee is fresh, the room is light and airy. I also prefer to stop by at 8 am and avoid the line at Starbucks down the street. It's a little more expensive but worth avoiding the hassles at Starbucks. The Strand also makes a great latte...not every small cafe can do this. read more

My friend and I came here to see rocky horror last weekend. They did a fabulous job on that play. We both had a wonderful time. I would go see it again. The theater served snacks and drinks and allowed us to take our drinks to our seats which was a plus. The theatre itself was rather small but we could see the stage just fine and we were in the top level. It was a fun time. read more

The theater is very attractive from the outside. Love the Golden Gate Bridge-esque colour and have been waiting to see what's inside. The decor is modern yet inviting. I didn't like the size of the lobby: it is crammed with a cafe, some seats, a ticket window and staircases leading to the basement and the mezzanine. I only saw the main theater, orchestra level, you could say. Reminiscent of the Yerba Buena Novellus Theater, with seats that were comfortable enough for a couple of hours and had enough leg room. However, after 10 minutes of watching the performance in a second seat from the aisle, my neck was strained. Avoid the aisle seats at all costs if you can. The first row also cannot be recommended as you have to look up if you want to see anything else but the performers' feet. The biggest disappointment was the encounter I had with one of the staff members. She said sternly there are no photos allowed inside the theater - this was during intermission! No reason given. And she asked me to delete the photo I had just taken. You would think they would appreciate any type of publicity they can get, considering the unattractive location of the theater which probably puts a lot of people off going. Well, now they've got it. I will not be back until the staff appreciates their customers instead of acting like a pedantic school teacher. Cannot comment on the cafe but I saw a lot of fellow audience members enjoying their drinks in their seats during the performance. read more