Conductor Joshua Gersen and the San Francisco Symphony provide live accompaniment to a big-screen showing of Steven Spielberg's sci-fi masterpiece "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" -- the acclaimed... [more+]

Conductor Joshua Gersen and the San Francisco Symphony provide live accompaniment to a big-screen showing of Steven Spielberg's sci-fi masterpiece "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" -- the acclaimed classic that also happens to include the most famous five musical notes in filmdom. John Williams' iconic, two-time Grammy-winning score comes complete with a tonal phrase that the scientists in the film develop to communicate with aliens -- and which went on to become a hit disco song in real life. [less-]

Montreal circus troupe 7 Fingers will make your jaw drop with their ability to blend uncanny feats of acrobatics with avant-garde detours in dance, comedy and narrative that plumb the depths of the hu... [more+]

Montreal circus troupe 7 Fingers will make your jaw drop with their ability to blend uncanny feats of acrobatics with avant-garde detours in dance, comedy and narrative that plumb the depths of the human spirit. In their new show, "Reversible", eight astonishingly talented performers mix theater, movement and music into vignettes exploring the histories of their own families. Moments of sublime grace yield to rushes of pure adrenaline as the ensemble travels through time and space on an epic journey of beauty, emotion and hope. Catch this groundbreaking act as they come to Cal Performances' Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley. [less-]

For nearly 20 years, playwright Lauren Yee’s father Larry has been a driving force in the Yee Family Association, a seemingly obsolescent Chinese American men’s club formed 150 years ago in the wa... [more+]

For nearly 20 years, playwright Lauren Yee’s father Larry has been a driving force in the Yee Family Association, a seemingly obsolescent Chinese American men’s club formed 150 years ago in the wake of the Gold Rush. But when her father goes missing, Lauren must plunge into the rabbit hole of San Francisco Chinatown and confront a world both foreign and familiar. At once bitingly hilarious and heartbreakingly honest, "King of the Yees" is an epic joyride across cultural, national and familial borders that explores what it truly means to be a Yee. Don’t miss the Bay Area premiere of this cultural comedy at the San Francisco Playhouse. [less-]

Ah, long walks on the beach. The crash of the waves. The feel of the sand between your toes. The giant talking lizards -- wait, that one’s not normal … unless you exist in the world of Edward Albe... [more+]

Ah, long walks on the beach. The crash of the waves. The feel of the sand between your toes. The giant talking lizards -- wait, that one’s not normal … unless you exist in the world of Edward Albee's Pulitzer-winning play "Seascape". Leave it to the writer of "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf" to come up with such a bold premise, and then use it as a springboard for an insightful, funny look at the times of big change in life, and the fear that can come along with them. In her A.C.T. debut, artistic director Pam MacKinnon continues her career-long exploration of this icon of American theater, bringing Albee back to the Geary Theater for the first time in a decade. Don’t miss it. [less-]

When it comes to sleek, smart and modern magic, look no further than magician David Gerard, who performs his theatrical illusions and mind reading to sold-out audiences in the Bay Area. Join Gerard fo... [more+]

When it comes to sleek, smart and modern magic, look no further than magician David Gerard, who performs his theatrical illusions and mind reading to sold-out audiences in the Bay Area. Join Gerard for his first shows written exclusively for PianoFight in San Francisco, where you'll witness near-impossible mental and physical feats just inches away from your seat. Through a mix of psychology, misdirection, magic and showmanship, Gerard will create an experience you'll remember long after the show is over. [less-]

"Juke Joint Jukebox" is a cabaret-style tribute to an American icon. A cast full of some of the best vocalists/performers in the Bay Area will sing one iconic song after another and narrate the histor... [more+]

"Juke Joint Jukebox" is a cabaret-style tribute to an American icon. A cast full of some of the best vocalists/performers in the Bay Area will sing one iconic song after another and narrate the historical development of the juke joint. Trace its evolution from its roots in slavery-era community houses through the growth of jazz in cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Explore the artistic Renaissance of juke joint music through big bands and artist like Bessie Smith, Cab Calloway, Frank Sinatra and many more. Finally, you’ll take a glance at the amazing music created during WWII and into the 1960s with Motown and the Civil Rights movement, leading into the Vietnam War. Don’t miss this North California Arts Collective production at the Shelton Theater. [less-]

Larger-than-life New York politicians are all the rage now, so this 42nd Street Moon production of one of the most acclaimed bio-musicals in Broadway history is sure to be both wildly entertaining and... [more+]

Larger-than-life New York politicians are all the rage now, so this 42nd Street Moon production of one of the most acclaimed bio-musicals in Broadway history is sure to be both wildly entertaining and thought-provoking. The mayor of New York City from 1934 to 1945, Fiorello H. La Guardia was a charismatic publicity hound considered by many to be one of the greatest mayors in American history (in fact, there's a good chance you've flown into his namesake airport if you've visited NYC). He successfully rose from a crusading lawyer to Congress to running the Big Apple, fighting the corrupt forces of Tammany Hall while never losing his upbeat spirit or pledge to help those less fortunate. Now, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical celebrating his life fills the Gateway Theatre in San Francisco with exuberant singing and dancing to the tunes of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick -- famous for their collaboration on "Fiddler on the Roof". [less-]

In "Hand to God", fearsome and hilarious hand puppet Tyrone bewitches young Jason, forcing a side-splitting showdown between the forces of good and evil. After his father's death, Jason seeks solace a... [more+]

In "Hand to God", fearsome and hilarious hand puppet Tyrone bewitches young Jason, forcing a side-splitting showdown between the forces of good and evil. After his father's death, Jason seeks solace at the Christian Puppet Ministry, but his quiet life is thrown into upheaval when his puppet, Tyrone, takes on a shocking and irreverent personality of his own. Darkly delightful, the Tony-nominated "Hand to God" explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality and the ties that bind. Catch it at the Altarena Playhouse in Alameda. [less-]

Lizz Winstead has built an amazing career on her hilarious responses to world events. As co-creator and head writer for Comedy Central's "The Daily Show", Winstead forever changed the way people get t... [more+]

Lizz Winstead has built an amazing career on her hilarious responses to world events. As co-creator and head writer for Comedy Central's "The Daily Show", Winstead forever changed the way people get their news. The co-founder of Air America Radio paved the way for such personalities as Al Franken and Marc Maron, all while hosting her own show, "Unfiltered", sharing the mic every morning with Rachel Maddow and hip-hop legend Chuck D. Winstead's been recognized by "The New York Times, The Washington Post", and "Entertainment Weekly"'s 100 most Creative People issue to name just a few accolades. For this SF Sketchfest set at Cobb's Comedy Club, she's joined by comic Laurie Kilmartin. A former staff writer for "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" who currently writes for TBS's "Conan", Kilmartin has performed her hilarious observational stand-up about dating, motherhood and more on "Jimmy Kimmel Live", "The Today Show", Comedy Central, VH1 and Showtime. In 2010 she was a finalist on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" and later co-authored the best-selling book "Sh*tty Mom", inspired by her experiences as a single mother. Don't miss these two hilarious women when they share the stage in San Francisco. [less-]

BATS Improv -- named the Bay Area's Best Theater Company by the "San Francisco Chronicle", Best Comedy Troupe by "SF Weekly" and Best First Date Spot by the "San Francisco Bay Guardian" -- presents a ... [more+]

BATS Improv -- named the Bay Area's Best Theater Company by the "San Francisco Chronicle", Best Comedy Troupe by "SF Weekly" and Best First Date Spot by the "San Francisco Bay Guardian" -- presents a variety show full of comedy fun, including head-to-head improv battles, long-form murder mysteries, musicals and more. Located at Bayfront Theater in the Marina District, every BATS show is one of a kind, using audience suggestions for a unique mix of improv comedy and theater that's never the same show twice. [less-]

Don't expect a sedate classical recital from 2Cellos: Their concerts usually end with bows frayed and the audience on its feet screaming for more. One of the greatest YouTube sensations ever, the duo'... [more+]

Don't expect a sedate classical recital from 2Cellos: Their concerts usually end with bows frayed and the audience on its feet screaming for more. One of the greatest YouTube sensations ever, the duo's raucous rendition of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" blew the minds of more than 10 million people, including Elton John (who invited them to join his band) and Ellen DeGeneres (who invited them onto her show). Since then Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, two of the world's finest classical cellists, have performed massively popular interpretations of works by Rihanna, Nirvana, Coldplay and Nine Inch Nails. A follow-up to the 2017 release of "Score", their recent release "Let There Be Cello" finds the pair exploring a diverse catalogue with their signature boundary-breaking playing style. The collection includes their take on everything from the latest pop hits ("Perfect" by Ed Sheeran, "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi) to hard-hitting rock songs ("Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes) to celebrated classics ("Imagine" by John Lennon, "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen) to never-before-heard original compositions ("Concept2,” "Cadenza") for a listening experience unlike any other. Now, these masters of Ba-rock (baroque + rock) come to the SAP Center at San Jose. [less-]

Count the murders in this comic thriller…and you’ll be wrong. "Deathtrap" twists and turns with devilish cleverness, thrills and plenty of laughter along the way. Nominated for four Tony Awards, "... [more+]

Count the murders in this comic thriller…and you’ll be wrong. "Deathtrap" twists and turns with devilish cleverness, thrills and plenty of laughter along the way. Nominated for four Tony Awards, "Deathtrap" ran on Broadway for a record four years. Written by Ira Levin. Directed by Chloe Bronzan [less-]

This multi-award-winning musical follows a scarred woman who embarks on a cross-country bus trip to be healed by a minister ... discovering the true meaning of beauty along the way. Winner of the Dram... [more+]

This multi-award-winning musical follows a scarred woman who embarks on a cross-country bus trip to be healed by a minister ... discovering the true meaning of beauty along the way. Winner of the Drama Critics' Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical when it premiered Off-Broadway in 1997, and then on to a Tony-nominated Broadway debut in 2014 with a revised version, "Violet" is a moving musical featuring show-stopping anthems, ranging from American-roots to folk to gospel. With a score from Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori ("Caroline, or Change; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Shrek; Fun Home") and book and lyrics by the acclaimed Brian Crawley ("A Little Princess"), "Violet" is inspired by the short story, "The Ugliest Pilgrim" by Doris Betts, astounding critics and audiences alike in two separate decades. As a girl, Violet was struck by a wayward axe blade when her father was chopping wood, leaving her with a visible scar across her face. With enough money finally saved, she's traveling across the Deep South in 1964 towards a miracle – the healing touch of a TV evangelist who will make her beautiful. Although she may not succeed in having the scar on her face healed, Violet is able to repair those scars that are lying deeper than her skin. This will be an intimate rendition on a show rarely done. A "not to be missed" theatrical event for Bay Area theater scene. [less-]

The comic gold at the end of the rainbow this St. Patrick's Day can easily be found at Cobb's Comedy Club in San Francisco, courtesy of more than a half-dozen Irish and American-Irish stand-ups who'll... [more+]

The comic gold at the end of the rainbow this St. Patrick's Day can easily be found at Cobb's Comedy Club in San Francisco, courtesy of more than a half-dozen Irish and American-Irish stand-ups who'll be performing in honor of the holiday. New York-based Sean Finnerty is originally from Longford, and has won several competitions, along with appearing on "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon." Maureen Langan is a popular radio talk-show host and guest, with appearances on HLN, CBS, FOX and MSNBC. Also set to appear are Ger Staunton, Dave Nihill and Katie Boyle, based and originally from Co. Kildare. [less-]

Come see the Punch Line's weekly SF Comedy Showcase, held every Sunday for over 30 years. San Francisco has a rich and vibrant comedy scene, and this weekly show has launched the careers of such comed... [more+]

Come see the Punch Line's weekly SF Comedy Showcase, held every Sunday for over 30 years. San Francisco has a rich and vibrant comedy scene, and this weekly show has launched the careers of such comedians as Patton Oswalt, Margaret Cho and Arj Barker, as well as the current flock of rising stars such as W. Kamau Bell and Moshe Kasher. Laugh at a lineup of the Bay Area's top stand-up comics, many of whom have appeared on late-night television, Comedy Central and other esteemed television outlets. [less-]

"ShowStoppers: An Evening With Garland & Minnelli" is a multi-media concert celebrating the careers of two legendary superstars, Judy Garland and Liza Minelli. The show recreates Garland's iconic 1964... [more+]

"ShowStoppers: An Evening With Garland & Minnelli" is a multi-media concert celebrating the careers of two legendary superstars, Judy Garland and Liza Minelli. The show recreates Garland's iconic 1964 television series as well as highlights some of Minelli's repertoire from her Radio City Music Hall appearances. Highlighted with personal anecdotes, "ShowStoppers" delivers that moment when you catch yourself saying "I can't believe it … " Logan's illustrious career spans four decades from his start with the "Jewel Box Review" at Miami Beach's La Ronde Superstar Theatre in the renowned Fontainbleau Hotel. He has toured extensively across the United States, Canada and was a cast member of the first impressionist/impersonator companies to perform in The People's Republic Of China. Now you can see him live at Oasis in San Francisco. As a featured cast member of "An Evening At La Cage", he opened with the famed show at Bally's Atlantic City and at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, and continued on to perform with the San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami companies, as well as participating in multiple national tours. Mr. Walker extensively studies the celebrities he chooses to portray. He strives to emulate everything from speech pattern and their walk, to hand gestures and bows. His illusions have been called simply amazing and uncanny. His television credits include "Hunter", "To Tell The Truth", "Entertainment Tonight", "Leeza Gibbons Show" and many others. Included in his film credits are "Don't Tell Mom's the Babysitter's Dead" starring Christina Applegate. [less-]

Welcome to a dinner party from hell. In an attempt to find closure after a family tragedy, Debora and Michael invite their son’s bully and his family over for dinner in the drama "Late Company". As ... [more+]

Welcome to a dinner party from hell. In an attempt to find closure after a family tragedy, Debora and Michael invite their son’s bully and his family over for dinner in the drama "Late Company". As the night progresses, pain, loss and rage all come to a head, and there’s enough blame for everybody to have a heaping share. At turns both beautiful and brutal, "Late Company" is a hotbed of visceral tension as questions are raised that no one is prepared to answer. New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco is proud to stage this important work by Jordan Tannahill, a fast-rising playwright in Canada. Directed by Evren Odcikin, named one of “6 Theatre Workers You Should Know” by "American Theatre" Magazine, you won’t want to miss this play that London’s "Telegraph" called “Utterly transfixing.” [less-]

Renowned Bay Area vocal and guitar jazz duo, Tuck and Patti, will make their Feinstein’s at the Nikko debut. In this intimate evening, Tuck and Patti will perform songs from throughout their celebra... [more+]

Renowned Bay Area vocal and guitar jazz duo, Tuck and Patti, will make their Feinstein’s at the Nikko debut. In this intimate evening, Tuck and Patti will perform songs from throughout their celebrated career. For 40 years this unique, genre-crossing vocal/guitar jazz duo has cast its passionate musical spell worldwide, capturing the hearts of lovers, the respect of jazz buffs and the jaw-dropping awe of guitarists and singers. To understand Tuck and Patti, start with the wellspring of love within them, then their music begins to make perfect sense. Married 37 years, Tuck Andress and Patti Cathcart continue to stoke the fires, not only of their own love, but also of their love of life and their passion for making music together. They have a long-standing tradition: minimalist arrangements featuring Tuck's extraordinary virtuosity and Patti's rich mezzo-soprano. Patti, renowned for her remarkable ability to touch hearts directly with her voice, exudes the soft, centered yet powerful graciousness of a gospel singer; Tuck almost wears his brain on his skin, anticipating the thousands of musical decisions he'll have to send to his ten fingers during the course of a performance. See their virtuosity live at Feinstein's at the Nikko in San Francisco. [less-]

After five award-winning solo shows, an off-Broadway run, appearances on "The Tonight Show", Netflix, Amazon Prime, NBC and elsewhere, Don Reed lets loose with his latest one-man comedy-variety show, ... [more+]

After five award-winning solo shows, an off-Broadway run, appearances on "The Tonight Show", Netflix, Amazon Prime, NBC and elsewhere, Don Reed lets loose with his latest one-man comedy-variety show, complete with irreverent sketches, edgy stand-up, short films and music. From original characters to celeb impressions, Reed does it all, and he's a regular at the Marsh, where he's staged hit shows like "Can You Dig It?, East 14th" and "The '80s", among many more. Catch his latest at the Berkeley stage. [less-]

Craft beer and comedy merge harmoniously in the Beer Basement at Ales Unlimited, where "The Setup" draws some of the funniest local and nationally touring stand-ups in the business. The space is small... [more+]

Craft beer and comedy merge harmoniously in the Beer Basement at Ales Unlimited, where "The Setup" draws some of the funniest local and nationally touring stand-ups in the business. The space is small and cozy but the hops and the laughs are big, with performers hailing from such comedic institutions as Comedy Bang Bang, San Francisco Sketchfest and The Comedy Store. So order a drink from Ales Unlimited's world-class selection of microbrews, wines and specialty cocktails, then head downstairs for a truly underground experience in the heart of the Tenderloin. [less-]