San Francisco is where a copywriter named Phyllis Diller first stepped out onto the stand-up stage (and stayed there for an astonishing 87 weeks). San Francisco is also where a high school dropout nam... [more+]

San Francisco is where a copywriter named Phyllis Diller first stepped out onto the stand-up stage (and stayed there for an astonishing 87 weeks). San Francisco is also where a high school dropout named Margaret Cho started doing open mics, and where Robin Williams discovered an ex-IHOP waitress named Paula Poundstone, and ... See the pattern? The gender revolution that led to the current renaissance of American comedy started here and continues still, as recent rising stars Ali Wong and Emily Heller prove. Now "Really Funny Comedians (Who Happen to Be Women)" sweeps into Cobb's Comedy Club to introduce you to the next crop of brilliant up-and-coming female comedians. [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-]

Inspired by the beloved classic "Don Quixote", the moving "Man of La Mancha" is one of the best musicals ever to grace a Broadway stage. In this play within a play, Don Quixote is a mad knight, a dyin... [more+]

Inspired by the beloved classic "Don Quixote", the moving "Man of La Mancha" is one of the best musicals ever to grace a Broadway stage. In this play within a play, Don Quixote is a mad knight, a dying old man living in a world of his own imagination as he awaits his hearing in the Spanish Inquisition. Prepare to be captivated by the show's Tony-winning score and book, a treasure trove of some of musical theater's most beloved songs, including "Impossible Dream," "Dulcinea," "It's All the Same" and the ever rousing "Man of La Mancha" with its thrilling, triumphant refrain. Catch this blockbuster musical from North Bay Stage Company, presented at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. [less-]

Even while living the life of a charismatic public figure, talk show host and actor-writer Brian Copeland ("Not a Genuine Black Man") struggles with debilitating bouts of depression. He's taken those ... [more+]

Even while living the life of a charismatic public figure, talk show host and actor-writer Brian Copeland ("Not a Genuine Black Man") struggles with debilitating bouts of depression. He's taken those struggles and channeled them into "The Waiting Period", a powerful solo show chronicling the 10 days he spent waiting for the permit to get the gun he needed to kill himself. With intense honesty and unrelenting humor ("how much would be appropriate to spend on the gun?"), Copeland shares his insider's perspective on the deepest wells of depression. He interweaves his story with interviews of others suffering from depression, showcasing the universal nature of the experience. This show takes place at The Marsh, host to Copeland's previous hit "Not a Genuine Black Man" -- the longest-running solo show in San Francisco history. [less-]

From the top-quality live musical guests to its exceptional Southern cuisine, Biscuits & Blues is the perfect San Francisco spot to enjoy a night of down-home entertainment nearly every night of the w... [more+]

From the top-quality live musical guests to its exceptional Southern cuisine, Biscuits & Blues is the perfect San Francisco spot to enjoy a night of down-home entertainment nearly every night of the week. Located in the heart of the theater district, this intimate venue hosts the best regional and national blues and jazz acts in a comfortable, close-up setting that's open to all ages. Voted America's No. 1 blues nightclub by The Blues Foundation and the Bay Area Blues Society, it's also known for serving up some of the best fried chicken in the entire region, not to mention California wines, microbrews and specialty cocktails. [less-]

Master magician and mentalist Jay Alexander is the new headliner at the Marrakech Magic Theater with his "Mind Tricks" show, a triple entertainment experience of comedy, magic and mentalism. Alexander... [more+]

Master magician and mentalist Jay Alexander is the new headliner at the Marrakech Magic Theater with his "Mind Tricks" show, a triple entertainment experience of comedy, magic and mentalism. Alexander's shows have been praised by everyone from Robin Williams and U2's Bono to Monty Python's John Cleese and the Rolling Stones' Ron Wood. Your evening begins in the Oasis Lounge where you will see world class sleight-of-hand, and a wonderful assortment of drinks and Moroccan appetizers are available for purchase prior to the show. You will then be escorted into an intimate showroom for Jay Alexander's unforgettable performance of magic, psychology and human lie detection that will lift your spirits and have you gasping in amazement. [less-]

Swinging in to close Berkeley Playhouse's latest season is the ultimate musical adventure, "Tarzan"! Created by the combined talents of pop legend Phil Collins, acclaimed playwright David Henry Hwang ... [more+]

Swinging in to close Berkeley Playhouse's latest season is the ultimate musical adventure, "Tarzan"! Created by the combined talents of pop legend Phil Collins, acclaimed playwright David Henry Hwang ("M. Butterfly") and iconic novelist Edgar Rice Burroughs, "Tarzan" tells the amazing story of a boy, orphaned after a shipwreck, who strives for acceptance among the tribe of apes who raise him. When a human expedition enters their jungle territory, Tarzan -- now a man -- encounters others like himself for the first time. Journey to the jungles of Africa in this vine-swinging Berkeley Playhouse production that features a live percussive environment, acrobats, great tunes (including the Oscar-winning "You'll Be in My Heart") and a heartfelt story about what it means to be a family. [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-]

"Solo Sundays", San Francisco's premier monthly showcase, presents select samplings of veteran virtuosos and top emerging talent in the intimate StageWerx theater. Beyond stand-up and storytelling, so... [more+]

"Solo Sundays", San Francisco's premier monthly showcase, presents select samplings of veteran virtuosos and top emerging talent in the intimate StageWerx theater. Beyond stand-up and storytelling, solo theater creates casts of thousands -- plus special effects -- all bursting from a single performer. The results are hilarious and heartbreaking, passionate and provocative, and ablaze with personal visions. [less-]

Finding love isn't easy, nor is making it last. And finding love in San Francisco while trying to get ahead in your career ... you just might have an easier time finding a rent-controlled apartment wi... [more+]

Finding love isn't easy, nor is making it last. And finding love in San Francisco while trying to get ahead in your career ... you just might have an easier time finding a rent-controlled apartment with ample street parking. Co-written by David Steele and Victoria Chong Der and based on original writings by David Steele, with music curated by Noise Pop, "Vignettes on Love" follows six San Franciscans in their struggles with love, betrayal and their own self-destructive tendencies in this fast-paced, La Ronde-style dark comedic drama at Potrero Stage. [less-]

Stand-up comic, writer, actor and director Don Reed ("The Tonight Show", OWN, HBO) returns to The Marsh Berkeley with his long-running, award-winning solo show, "East 14th: Tales of a Reluctant Player... [more+]

Stand-up comic, writer, actor and director Don Reed ("The Tonight Show", OWN, HBO) returns to The Marsh Berkeley with his long-running, award-winning solo show, "East 14th: Tales of a Reluctant Player". Reed relates the hilarious and poignant story of his boyhood in 1970s Oakland, torn between his strict, churchgoing mother's upbringing and his admiration of his father -- who happens to be a pimp. "East 14th" was an off-Broadway hit, nominated for two NAACP Theatre Awards, and an excerpt aired on NPR/WNYC's acclaimed series "Snap Judgment". "The New Yorker" called the show "hilarious" and went on to say, "The audience can't stop laughing ... Don Reed plays all the characters with both ease and inexhaustible energy." [less-]

Steve Silver's "Beach Blanket Babylon" is the world's longest-running musical revue. Since 1974, this San Francisco institution has followed Snow White on a musical comedy quest around the world, wher... [more+]

Steve Silver's "Beach Blanket Babylon" is the world's longest-running musical revue. Since 1974, this San Francisco institution has followed Snow White on a musical comedy quest around the world, where she runs into satirically portrayed pop culture and political celebrities, an impressive array of gigantic hats and one show-stopping musical number after another. Because the show is constantly updated with new costumes, hats and characters, it rewards repeat visits. Among the familiar faces you might see spoofed at this Club Fugazi production: Lady Gaga, Barack and Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton and Adele. Now running for more than 40 years, "Beach Blanket Babylon" remains one of San Francisco's wildest evenings of live entertainment. [less-]

An annual event devoted to showcasing the most talented contemporary playwrights in America, this event features diverse and daring staged readings at Custom Made Theatre in San Francisco. The Bay Are... [more+]

An annual event devoted to showcasing the most talented contemporary playwrights in America, this event features diverse and daring staged readings at Custom Made Theatre in San Francisco. The Bay Area Playwrights Festival is "the" place for theater lovers to catch an array of new works from this year's participants: Clarence Coo, Lauren Gunderson, Nilan Johnson, Hilary Bettis, Bennett Fisher and Mona Mansour. Past plays developed during this incubator have gone on to Broadway stages around the world, and have won every major award in the theater world. For plot summaries on individual staged readings, please check the event description. [less-]

Sweetwater Music Hall holds a special place in California music history. For over 40 years, this Bay Area treasure's played host to artists like Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Sammy Hagar, Bonnie Rai... [more+]

Sweetwater Music Hall holds a special place in California music history. For over 40 years, this Bay Area treasure's played host to artists like Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Sammy Hagar, Bonnie Raitt and members of the Grateful Dead. In fact, it was the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir who helped reopen the club in 2012 with an all-new, state-of-the-art sound system and a revived sense of purpose to support local musicians. Today, Sweetwater Music Hall is a thriving 300-person venue that hosts everyone from rising local talent to the biggest national roots, folk and rock stars, with concerts virtually every night of the week (and an organic restaurant that's perfect for date night). [less-]

Orange isn't the new black in "Black Butterflies", it's a trap -- a fact of America's overwhelmed incarceration system that this bold new drama brings to life with probing insight as it follows a cast... [more+]

Orange isn't the new black in "Black Butterflies", it's a trap -- a fact of America's overwhelmed incarceration system that this bold new drama brings to life with probing insight as it follows a cast of young girls of color who are caught in "the school-to-prison pipeline." As they struggle to survive and escape this stifling web of neglect and calcified courts with their humanity intact, a nuanced portrait emerges of the community of parents, educators and litigants who got them there. See the world premiere of "Black Butterflies" at The Rueff at A.C.T's Strand Theater in San Francisco. [less-]

Interactive science comedy showcase "Eureka!" demystifies science through laughter. Twice a month, San Francisco's PianoFight hosts guest scientists to give a talk on a grab bag of brainiac topics. Me... [more+]

Interactive science comedy showcase "Eureka!" demystifies science through laughter. Twice a month, San Francisco's PianoFight hosts guest scientists to give a talk on a grab bag of brainiac topics. Meanwhile, comedians riff and banter with them, producing a hilarious experience ... that may even be educational. Plus, you can get in on the action by answering the expert's questions in exchange for fun, theme-related prizes. [less-]

Brimming with poetic language and emotional longing, Tennessee Williams' memory play "The Glass Menagerie" is rightly considered a true classic, a work that's lost none of its power over the generatio... [more+]

Brimming with poetic language and emotional longing, Tennessee Williams' memory play "The Glass Menagerie" is rightly considered a true classic, a work that's lost none of its power over the generations. Set in a Depression-era St. Louis tenement, aspiring poet Tom struggles with a mind-numbing job and a smothering home life. His overbearing mother, a former Southern belle, constantly pushes her son to bring home a "gentleman caller" for his painfully shy sister Laura, whose collection of glass animals mean everything to her. But when Tom finally produces a male visitor, the guest's presence sends shock waves through the family -- and the fragile fantasy world they've built may be irreparably shattered. Experience this moving, beautiful production, helmed by acclaimed Chicago director Lisa Portes, at Cal Shakes Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda. [less-]

Celebrated political satirist Will Durst has performed for three elected presidents (if you count Al Gore ... which Durst does) and appeared as a commentator on CNN, NPR and C-SPAN. Now, he's headed t... [more+]

Celebrated political satirist Will Durst has performed for three elected presidents (if you count Al Gore ... which Durst does) and appeared as a commentator on CNN, NPR and C-SPAN. Now, he's headed to The Marsh in San Francisco with "The Durst Case Scenario", his new comedic exploration of a changing America during the "Time of Trump." Hailed as "[q]uite possibly the best political comedian working in the country today" by none other than "The New York Times", Will Durst's latest stage show is a rollicking feast of satire that's timely and as irreverent as the president's latest 4 a.m. tweet. [less-]

Comedy and cartoons make an award-winning combo in this multimedia show at the Punch Line Comedy Club. "Evil Cyborg Sea Monsters" features the art and hilarity of comedian and cartoonist Mike Capozzol... [more+]

Comedy and cartoons make an award-winning combo in this multimedia show at the Punch Line Comedy Club. "Evil Cyborg Sea Monsters" features the art and hilarity of comedian and cartoonist Mike Capozzola, whose work has appeared in TED Talks, "WIRED" and many more. Performed at comic cons, theaters, museums and comedy festivals throughout the nation, the show has elements tailored to every sci-fi and comic book fan as well as every other comedy fan in between. With over 15 years of stand-up under his belt, Capozzola brings the funny to San Francisco, along with special guest Dan Linley. [less-]

Debbie Benton is the all-American girl next door who wants to take her cheerleading career to the next level by joining the famous Texas Cowgirls cheer squad. When she's accepted for the tryouts, Debb... [more+]

Debbie Benton is the all-American girl next door who wants to take her cheerleading career to the next level by joining the famous Texas Cowgirls cheer squad. When she's accepted for the tryouts, Debbie has only a week to raise the money to get down to Texas for her audition. Debbie's girlfriends agree to help her out, and together they begin performing "odd jobs" for the all-too-eager neighborhood men. Based on the smash-hit 1978 adult film, "Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical" contains no nudity or sex -- but this performance at Oasis in San Francisco is still a salacious and hilarious theater experience. [less-]