Live Performance entertainment in San Francisco
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A
San Francisco Opera
SF has been obsessed with opera since the Gold Rush, and it remains a staple on the social calendar. Bluebloods like Ann Getty always book the Tuesday A-series – the best nights to spot fabulous drag. The gorgeous 1932 hall is cavernous and echoey, but there’s no more glamorous seat in SF than the velvet-curtained boxes, complete with champagne service. The best midrange seats for sightlines and sound are in the front section of the dress circle. The balcony has the best sound but you’ll need binoculars to see the stage, unless you come on ‘Opera Vision’ nights, when a huge screen shows the action on stage (don’t sit directly beneath the flickering high-def monitors; if y…
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B
Commonwealth Club
You know you’ve arrived when the Commonwealth Club asks you to speak. Every US president since Teddy Roosevelt has spoken at the club, the longest-running, most-influential public-affairs forum in the US. Intellectual luminaries and other important figures speak at over 400 annual events. Topics range from politics and economics to culture and society. Many programs are broadcast on public-radio stations nationwide, including local affiliate KQED-FM (88.5).
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Porchlight
This monthly event is no ordinary reading series. Each month six interesting people are invited to recount a 10-minute story, without notes or memorization. The lineup is downright wacky, with people from all walks of life – from school-bus drivers to sex-workers. At this writing, Porchlight had moved to a new venue that serves alcohol, making it inappropriate for anyone under 21; verify current location and ticket information online.
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Classical Revolution
Young up-and-coming chamber musicians – usually recent grads from conservatories around the country – perform live on Sunday evenings at Momi Toby’s Revolution Cafe in the Mission. If you’re a formally trained musician in your 20s, find your tribe here. Arrive early (by 7pm latest) to snag a table.
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Intersection for the Arts
Alterna-theater, jazz, literary readings and an upstairs gallery are all part of this nonprofit arts space, the oldest in SF (opened 1965). Intersection has lots going on, including a literary series, workshops and an ‘open process’ series, which explores the craft of making art; check the website for details.
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Great American Music Hall
Once a bordello, the rococo Great American Music Hall is one of SF’s coolest places for shows. A balcony with table seating rims the main standing-room floor area, the sound system is top-notch, and there are food and drinks. Music ranges from rock, alt-rock and country, to jazz and blues.
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Marsh
The Marsh is a hive of creativity. One-acts and one-off stagings of works-in-progress involve the audience in the creative process. This is San Francisco experimental theater at its most exciting. A sliding-scale pricing structure allows all to participate. Also offers workshops.
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Café Royale
A Parisian tiled floor and semicircular fainting couches lend atmosphere and acoustics to this laid-back lounge, which hosts film screenings, open-mic poetry slams and jazz. Walk by during the day and you’ll sometimes hear musicians rehearsing in the basement studio.
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Curran Theater
The big spectaculars - like the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals - show at the Curran, which opened in 1922 with Broadway-style opulence and crystal chandeliers all around. Avoid the balcony seats if possible, which are cramped with limited legroom.
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Theatre Rhinoceros
By turns edgy, bawdy, serious and experimental, the Rhino mounts noteworthy shows on a shoestring. Despite being a small, no-frills black-box studio, it’s the nation’s longest-running GLBT company. Check the calendar.
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Fillmore
Hendrix, Zeppelin, the Who - they all played the Fillmore. Its 1250 capacity means you're close to the stage. Dig the priceless collection in the upstairs poster-art gallery.
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El Rio
El Rio 'Salsa Sundays' are legendary: arrive at 3pm for lessons; dress sexy. Other nights: awesome specials, eclectic music, pan-sexual crowd.
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Dance Mission
Dance Mission always has something going on, from contact improv to dance jams and classes.
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Counterpulse
Check what’s on at Counterpulse, a performance space for cultural innovators.
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Club Fugazi
Home of ribald, hilarious Beach Blanket Babylon - an only-in-SF must-see.
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Levi's Plaza Park
Presents jazz styles from post-bebop jazz to blues and sometimes a little klezmer.
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Old St Mary's Noontime Concerts
Features a varied repertoire of free classical performances (sometimes indoors).
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Davies Symphony Hall
Home of the world-renown SF Symphony. Season runs September to July.
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