This clever comic stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "The 39 Steps" turns a cast of just four actors into more than 130 zany characters with a mix of film noir panache, spy novel thrills ... [more+]

This clever comic stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "The 39 Steps" turns a cast of just four actors into more than 130 zany characters with a mix of film noir panache, spy novel thrills and more than a touch of Monty Python-esque absurdity. The two-time winner of both Tony and Drama Desk Awards, "The 39 Steps" is a fast-paced and funny whodunit about a man accused of a murder he didn't commit, who flees from the authorities and encounters a string of hair-raising adventures, as well as an unlikely love connection. Brace yourself for an onstage plane crash, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance in this Ross Valley Players production of "The 39 Steps". [less-]

Experience both laughter and chills as Charles Addams' weird and wonderful characters creep their way into Half Moon Bay's Coastal Repertory Theatre for "The Addams Family Musical". In this fiendishly... [more+]

Experience both laughter and chills as Charles Addams' weird and wonderful characters creep their way into Half Moon Bay's Coastal Repertory Theatre for "The Addams Family Musical". In this fiendishly delightful award-winning musical comedy, Wednesday Addams -- now a grown-up princess of darkness -- has fallen for a normal boy from a respectable family and has invited him and his parents to the family mansion for a meet-and-greet gone gothic. Sit back and savor the horrific hospitality of Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Grandma, Lurch and everyone's favorite weirdo, Uncle Fester, as the special occasion brings out the best -- and worst -- in everyone involved. [less-]

Originally commissioned for the A.C.T. Young Conservatory, "Homefront" is a passionate and powerful musical that tells the story of remarkable young people courageously struggling to come of age in a ... [more+]

Originally commissioned for the A.C.T. Young Conservatory, "Homefront" is a passionate and powerful musical that tells the story of remarkable young people courageously struggling to come of age in a world rocked by conflict. The play follows Emma Kolmeier and her two young siblings as they flee from Germany to escape World War I, leaving everything they know far behind. The family settles in southern Illinois, where they make new friends and begin to confront harsh persecution as America enters the war against Germany. Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous and riveting moment in history, the Kolmeiers experience the first twinges of romance, dream of the future and forever redefine their understanding of home. Watch the youth cast bring the siblings' transformative journey to life on stage at San Francisco's Strand Theater. [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-]

From a showdown with a violent felon in small-town Nebraska to a childhood listening to anti-conformist rants in San Francisco, Dan Hoyle's solo show "Each and Every Thing" takes you on an emotional o... [more+]

From a showdown with a violent felon in small-town Nebraska to a childhood listening to anti-conformist rants in San Francisco, Dan Hoyle's solo show "Each and Every Thing" takes you on an emotional odyssey that crisscrosses America to explore how we experience the world in the digital age. Award-winning actor and playwright Dan Hoyle's production depicts his search for true community, spontaneity and wonder in today's fractured and hyper-connected world, making pit stops at a Digital Detox retreat in remote Northern California, the intellectual temple of Calcutta's famed coffeehouse and a soul-baring confession in Manhattan. [less-]

Amir K's impressions are so scary good, he might be possessed -- then again, even demons can't be this diabolically funny. Recently starring on the reboot of "MADtv" and the MTV prank show, "Jerks wit... [more+]

Amir K's impressions are so scary good, he might be possessed -- then again, even demons can't be this diabolically funny. Recently starring on the reboot of "MADtv" and the MTV prank show, "Jerks with Cameras", Amir made his big screen debut in the Best Picture-winning "Argo". But he's also making his mark on the comedy club scene, racking up wins in the Ultimate Laff-Down, OC's Funniest and Tommy T's stand-up competitions. Born in Tehran, Iran and raised in Southern California, Amir is an American original: His comedy is a melting pot of character work, storytelling and improvisation shaped by a multi-cultural upbringing. This is a guy who can make anything funny -- even calling the cable company. Find out how when he headlines the Punch Line in San Francisco. [less-]

Out with the old, in with the Neo-Future! Called "a hotbed of energy and creativity" by the "San Francisco Chronicle", the San Francisco Neo-Futurists are blazing a trail to the future of theater. The... [more+]

Out with the old, in with the Neo-Future! Called "a hotbed of energy and creativity" by the "San Francisco Chronicle", the San Francisco Neo-Futurists are blazing a trail to the future of theater. Their spirit of artistic adventurousness had them named the Bay Area's Best Theater Company in the "San Francisco Bay Guardian"'s 2016 Readers Poll. Now the Neo-Futurists present their latest daring, genre-defying work (or should we say works?), "The Infinite Wrench". Presented at SAFEhouse Arts, "The Infinite Wrench" is comprised of a series of two-minute plays designed to shift the conventions of live performance with the irrepressible, the honest, the WTF and the new. [less-]

The hair is big, the shoulder pads are bigger and the drama is blown totally out of proportion in D'Arcy Drollinger's "Bitch Slap". An outrageous sendup of classic '80s soap operas and telenovelas, th... [more+]

The hair is big, the shoulder pads are bigger and the drama is blown totally out of proportion in D'Arcy Drollinger's "Bitch Slap". An outrageous sendup of classic '80s soap operas and telenovelas, the story centers around Diana Midnight, the head of a fashion empire who struggles to maintain power and control over her most prized possession: the patent for shoulder pads. Don't miss all the high-camp hijinks -- adultery, blackmail, shocking confessions, evil twins and, of course, amnesia -- when "Bitch Slap" comes to San Francisco's Oasis. [less-]

For much of his career, Alfred Hitchcock was inspired by San Francisco. Now, Left Coast Theatre Company is going to repay the favor with "Twisted Hitchcock," an evening of hilarious and irreverent one... [more+]

For much of his career, Alfred Hitchcock was inspired by San Francisco. Now, Left Coast Theatre Company is going to repay the favor with "Twisted Hitchcock," an evening of hilarious and irreverent one-act plays. The suspense, the glamour ... the mommy issues: These parodies of three of Hitchcock's masterpieces all have an LGBTQ bent. "Master Bates" is set in the infamous and creepy Bates Motel. "The Trouble With Mary" wonders was it an accident or murder (and where did she get those fab shoes?!). And in "Birdsploitation," five birds decide to queer up the system and go off-script. Don't miss this rambunctious night of zippy one-acts at Shelton Theater. [less-]

Actors Mona and Terry are on an ambitious quest to tour their play, "Great Moments in Human Achievement", across the country ... by bicycle. But as they pedal across the nation reenacting history's hi... [more+]

Actors Mona and Terry are on an ambitious quest to tour their play, "Great Moments in Human Achievement", across the country ... by bicycle. But as they pedal across the nation reenacting history's high points, finding a place to do their laundry proves just as challenging as their unruly audiences. When the day is done, can our heroes manage a great moment of their own? An exuberant comedy about all the potholes on the road to sheer brilliance, "The Making of a Great Moment" pedals its way onto the Z Below stage in San Francisco. [less-]

You're probably just as exhausted by the ridiculously depressing news cycle as we are, but that's exactly why Kirsten Greenidge's "Zenith" is worthy of your attention. Though it focuses on a news-wort... [more+]

You're probably just as exhausted by the ridiculously depressing news cycle as we are, but that's exactly why Kirsten Greenidge's "Zenith" is worthy of your attention. Though it focuses on a news-worthy incident that is decidedly shocking, the play's intent is to explore the complex reasons behind it -- to organize some sense of understanding as to the perpetrators' motivations. The story centers on Angela, a loving aunt with something very wrong behind her perfect facade ... To find out what occurs in this complex and mysterious play that cuts to the core of human nature itself, you'll have to make your way to The Costume Shop at American Conservatory Theater to see this San Francisco Playhouse production of "Zenith". [less-]

"HAiR" celebrates peace and love, taking you back to 1960s New York as young hippies try to make sense of their lives in the shadow of the Vietnam War. As the "tribe" -- a group of politically active ... [more+]

"HAiR" celebrates peace and love, taking you back to 1960s New York as young hippies try to make sense of their lives in the shadow of the Vietnam War. As the "tribe" -- a group of politically active bohemian youths -- fight against conscription, Claude has to decide whether to resist the draft as his friends have done, or succumb to the pressures of his parents and conservative America. "HAiR" is filled with unforgettable songs, like "Aquarius," "Let the Sun Shine In" and "Good Morning, Starshine," which all became anthems of the anti-war movement. Filled with unbridled energy and infectious songs, this stunning production at the Great Star Theater in San Francisco provides an electrifying look back into '60s hippie counterculture. [less-]

A hilarious and heartwarming portrait of love in a nontraditional family, "La Cage aux Folles" has been one of Broadway's biggest hits for more than 30 years, earning nine Tony Awards, including Best ... [more+]

A hilarious and heartwarming portrait of love in a nontraditional family, "La Cage aux Folles" has been one of Broadway's biggest hits for more than 30 years, earning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Revival. This boisterous and vibrant musical comedy invites you into the lives of Georges and his lover Albin, who moonlights as Zaza at the couple's popular St. Tropez drag nightclub. Problems arise when Georges' 25-year-old son comes home with his fiancée ... and her conservative parents. Watch as the flamboyant couple's family dynamic gets hilariously turned upside down. Written by Harvey Fierstein, the musical features beloved Jerry Herman tunes like "The Best of Times Is Now" and "I Am What I Am." Get in on the wig-flying fun as "La Cage aux Folles" celebrates love, romance and being true to who you really are at San Francisco Playhouse. [less-]

Popular since its premiere in 1845, Felix Mendelssohn's moving oratorio depicts the biblical drama of the Old Testament prophet "Elijah" through spectacular arias and stirring choruses, as he struggle... [more+]

Popular since its premiere in 1845, Felix Mendelssohn's moving oratorio depicts the biblical drama of the Old Testament prophet "Elijah" through spectacular arias and stirring choruses, as he struggles to rally his people to faith, is persecuted and banished to the desert, but ultimately receives a flaming chariot ride to heaven. The San Francisco Choral Society mounts a sure-to-be impressive concert performance at Davies Symphony Hall of what's considered one of the great vocal works of all time, starring soprano Marnie Breckenridge, contralto Edith Dowd, tenor Brian Thorsett and baritone Eugene Brancoveanu, along with the acclaimed East Bay Children's Choir and the California Chamber Symphony. [less-]

With their successful blend of improvised comedy and song continuing to entertain the semi-masses on a weekly basis, the Secret Improv Society's popular theatrical shows are not so clandestine anymore... [more+]

With their successful blend of improvised comedy and song continuing to entertain the semi-masses on a weekly basis, the Secret Improv Society's popular theatrical shows are not so clandestine anymore. A bunch of San Francisco's best improvisers, comedians and musicians often come out to play with the sharp-witted regular cast, too. It all results in a fast-paced, high-energy revue, featuring plenty of audience input and interaction. Volunteers can even join the fun onstage. No two shows are ever identical, so repeat visits to this Shelton Theater laugh fest are strongly suggested. [less-]

A recent winner of the San Francisco Stage Magic Competition and a finalist at the Rooster T. Feather's and Wharf Room Comedy competitions, Ryan Kane will astound and amuse in his show, "Please Enjoy ... [more+]

A recent winner of the San Francisco Stage Magic Competition and a finalist at the Rooster T. Feather's and Wharf Room Comedy competitions, Ryan Kane will astound and amuse in his show, "Please Enjoy Responsibly". Kane began honing his craft as a teenager on the streets of Old Sacramento where he attracted audiences with his deft magic and charming personality. In his show, minds are read, whiskey bottles appear out of nowhere and a paintball gun is fired at the man responsible for it all. Don't miss his San Francisco appearance at the EXIT Theatre. [less-]

You're the one in control of the characters' love lives in "Swipe Right", an improvised show about online dating in San Francisco. As the improvisers encounter metaphorical forks in the road, the audi... [more+]

You're the one in control of the characters' love lives in "Swipe Right", an improvised show about online dating in San Francisco. As the improvisers encounter metaphorical forks in the road, the audience will vote to help choose their fate, hopefully putting the characters on the path to love. Regardless of the final outcome -- marriage? kids? a drink in the face? -- laughs are part of this new show at Un-Scripted Theater Company. [less-]

Long home to an electric comedy scene, the Bay Area has spawned some of the biggest names in stand-up, from Margaret Cho to Patton Oswalt, and it continues to breed the next generation of hilarious st... [more+]

Long home to an electric comedy scene, the Bay Area has spawned some of the biggest names in stand-up, from Margaret Cho to Patton Oswalt, and it continues to breed the next generation of hilarious stars, like Vahé Hove and Chris Schiappacasse. Every Friday, get a sneak peek of who is up-and-coming in San Francisco's comedy scene, when a fresh line-up of San Francisco's best comics -- including many who have been seen performing on HBO, NBC, Comedy Central and more -- take the stage at the beautiful Variety Preview Theater in downtown San Francisco's iconic Hobart Building. Once there, splurge on food and drinks for a good cause. Proceeds from the sales go to Variety Children's Charity of Northern California. [less-]

From musicals made up on the spot to unscripted comic book mayhem, absurdist clowning, imaginary long-lost TV show pilots and much, much more, the annual San Francisco Improv Festival offers the lates... [more+]

From musicals made up on the spot to unscripted comic book mayhem, absurdist clowning, imaginary long-lost TV show pilots and much, much more, the annual San Francisco Improv Festival offers the latest and greatest in innovative spontaneous comedy. None of it is written, all of it is made up as groups with delightful names such as Buddy Puzzle, Bingewatch, Jetzo, Orange Tuxedo and beyond descend on PianoFight for an epic five days of comedy gold - with a full bar onsite. [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-]