It's fair to say that Marin is no hotbed of nightlife but lately, the rain and early sunsets have…read moreme nesting a bit more than in past years. It's in the midst of this nesting that I've discovered the joys of what the Throckmorton Theatre is laying down. The free, monthly noontime concerts are great as is the always popular weekly comedy night but more recently I've been enjoying the other events offered. In so doing I've come to see the Throckmorton as an essential community asset; they save me a drive to the City while providing right-sized entertainment close to home. When I attend events here I leave feeling thankful for their offerings. In recent months I've enjoyed a Jonathan Richman concert (fab... bring him back!), a concert by a local band, and A Chorus Line, teen edition. That last one left me sorry that I'd missed the previous one-time Broadway shows showcased here and with resolve not to miss another. For a little above the cost of your ticket you can pay to enjoy reserved seats but if you fail to do that you'll find equally satisfying seating on the main floor (they also have balcony seating) if you arrive early enough to snag it. I find myself checking the Throckmorton's calendar with a frequency, these days, that I'd not have anticipated even one year earlier. They've not disappointed yet.

I had not been to this charming theatre in many, many years. It is just as lovely as I remember…read more The art work in the lobby is so interesting. And the interior of the performance hall is exquisite with such detailed woodwork, gorgeous light fixtures and murals. We attended a free musical concert with an outstanding local violinist who featured art on the screen to accompany the music he played. I've honestly not heard a violin played with such versatility. What a treat this show and venue was!

-----Adding to address Annie's comment below: Annie - if…read moreindeed you want to apply consistency across all performers, then when we fly in for the performance on Sunday we will join the show just like a number of other caucasian ensemble performers who had lower attendance and are still being allowed on stage. I plan to have my video on, so will record any interactions in which we're stopped from going on stage, and point to the caucasian students who have missed tech rehearsals this week yet still being allowed on stage. If paam is keeping our money, then we are performing on Sunday. Paam can also issue a refund and we'll be happy to go separate ways. But Paam does not get to take all our money and disallow us to be on stage yet allow others to be on stage who have lower attendance than our kids. Appreciate you doing the right thing. -----Original post: Our experience with the Performing Arts Academy of Marin (PAAM) has been deeply disappointing -- both in terms of fairness and the overall learning outcomes. The program feels heavily commercialized, prioritizing revenue over education or student experience. Tuition is extremely high for what ultimately amounts to very limited technical instruction, the pressure of buying vanity products aimed at parents who think their kids a star is everywhere, and the refund/credit policies are rigid to the point of being unreasonable. I've never written about race or discrimination in a review before, but I feel obligated to address it here because it has affected my daughters repeatedly. In the lyrical squad, choreography has been super simple and non-technical, yet cast placements have shown a clear pattern: the same Caucasian dancers are routinely placed front and center, while my older daughter -- who is a good dancer but not Caucasian -- is continually placed in the back or off to the far side. My younger daughter was once put in the front purely due to her small size in a formation, but it wasn't part of any fair or rotating system that would give all dancers a chance to shine. The final straw has been this: Multiple Caucasian dancers have been allowed to miss tech rehearsals and still participate in shows. Meanwhile, my daughters, who need to miss a single 24-hour window for a required ski team race and assessment (and for which we arranged to return early at significant cost of flying in, tickets already purchased), were told just 3 days before that they would not be allowed to perform once they fly in -- despite knowing their choreography thoroughly and being disciplined, capable dancers. The rigidity applied to them simply hasn't been applied to others. The pattern is painful to watch as a parent. It's demoralizing for kids who have worked hard and earned their place on stage. It's their right and not someone's at the front desk to strip them of who doesn't even see them. At the start of the year parents also receive an extremely one-sided agreement through DocuSign -- which I declined to sign because it was so imbalanced. I can't say I'm surprised. But it is disheartening to pay thousands of dollars for a program that delivers minimal instruction, selectively enforces rules for preferential kids, and ultimately allows discriminatory dynamics to persist. I wish our experience had been different, but based on what we've seen, I cannot recommend PAAM for families seeking a fair, inclusive, or educationally meaningful dance program.

I've sent my daughter here for the Holiday Spectacular one year and she loved it. However, I signed…read moreher up again and she didn't want to go again a year later and was scared to go. I'm not sure why but she said it was scary and wouldn't enter the studio. The holiday spectacular, while adorable-but can be very intense for smaller children. The (little) girls are all expected to wear makeup; such as mascara, rouge and lipstick, which some people may not want their kids to wear under a certain age. The performances are cute, but about 50 kids on stage. Pros: Nice facilities, clean, on trend dance classes (I.e Taylor Swift or Wicked/what's on broadway). Sweet teachers. Cons: Lots of marketing pressure to sign up for classes or your kid won't get into their dance class. Pressure to sign up when is opens or not in. $40 fee just to change a class even if you made a mistake. Their refund policy is not family friendly. I really tried to get my daughter (6) to go into dance class, but she was having anxiety about going. She was scared about going to a new class with new people and just wouldn't go in. This particular performance has about 50 little 6 year olds tap dancing or doing hip hop on stage and a wait list. So, it was a very popular class. However they don't offer refunds. The cost for a semester (Jan-May) is about $700 for a weekly lesson + performance. I think it's just something you should be aware of when signing up to send your kid here is that you may not get any funds back if they can't go for any reason. (Anxiety, injury, work/childcare issues etc.) So, perhaps think about this before you sign up. Recommendation: don't pressure parents so much on sign up day to get into the classes and then don't offer refunds. Offer more "try before you buy" options or options for little girls who might be more hesitant to try new things.

Some of the best Shakespeare in SF Bay Area. Gifted actors and theatre makers giving it there all…read morefor the love of it. The sets are always stunningly inventive; crafted by local Throckmorton Theatre's resident artist Steve Coleman. And, enchanting live music accompaniment with a four piece band! Last summer's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was stellar and magical in all ways. You just can't get better than this for local theatrical summer entertainment; and it's FREE. (Of course donations are very welcomed and well earned.) The stage is set in an unforgettable setting; outdoors in a redwood grove near a pleasant creek. There is even a little refreshment stand! https://www.curtaintheatre.org/

How rare a thing it is to see exceptional Shakespeare- This…read moreyear Romeo and Juliet broke my hard hearted heart wide open!!! Tears. Laughter Joy. and then some. & it was free!!! How does it get better than that?

I write to praise the Marin Theatre Company. My wife and I saw Dunsaine last night, the "sequel" to…read morethe Scottish Play. I wanted to see it as a Shakespeare completist (including even disputed titles such as Edward III), because I have expanded from the canon to funny riffs such as McHomer. I am glad I saw Dunsaine, and I would not see it again, as I would the original (I was told I can utter the title as someone not in the theatre, either literally or professionally, but to be safe I won't). The point, however, is Marin Theatre Company is, on the whole, excellent. It might be my favorite among the Bay Area stages. Here is the background to establish my bona fides -- a few years back, I achieved a life goal, with another theatre, of writing a commentary for a playbill. I subscribed to Marin Theatre Company for about a decade, when I lived in San Francisco (I've since moved to New York City). I also subscribed simultaneously to ACT, the biggest operation in town; SF Playhouse; Berkeley Rep; Aurora; Cal Shakes; Shotgun; and Marin Shakespeare -- we also went to San Jose before they closed shop. So there were years when my wife I saw more than three dozen plays. My lifetime count, I am sure, exceeds 450 (averaging say 15 per year for 30 years), alas only maybe 20 seen on Broadway. I hasten to add I claim no expertise. I'm a mere audience member sharing on Yelp. We first went to Marin Theatre Company when they collaborated on Tarell Alvin McCraney's trilogy, before McCraney became famous (screenwriter of Moonlight). I don't know if McCraney specified a black box presentation. That is how they did it. it was excellent, I'd say the very best show I've seen done black box. They have been doing all of the August Wilson decades. They have experimented, such as with that Wonder Woman true story (it was okay), and commissioning multiple pieces set within Jane Austen's universe (wonderful). Some of their shows have been profound: Top Dog/Under Dog, and The Whipping Man come to mind. Both those also have themes involving race, which despite the demographic they appeal to (probably whiter than other theaters in the Bay Area, skewing older) they do not shy away from, and that is not to make any assumptions about their patrons, only to say the subject matter does not correspond to the audience members' lives. Marin Theatre Company is LORT D. I am no insider, and I don't waste energy analyzing the classifications. I looked it up for this review. I have to say I can't recall a better LORT D venue. (It's based on revenue. Belonging to LORT, I am told, means access to Equity actors. Many regional outfits are not even eligible for LORT. So any rank within their membership is good.) Back to Dunsaine. The pandemic might have killed off the program booklet. We were given a single sheet of paper with a QR code to access a digital cast list. That is too bad. I have been collecting this ephemera for my adult lifetime. This cast had high school kids from a local magnet program. They were not bad, and I have no complaint. (The script was not in iambic pentameter and it could have been 15 minutes shorter -- but I think that of virtually every show.)

Came here to see Eureka Day in the summer of 2025. Great show, in a fantastic space. Seats are…read morecomfortable, restroom options (gendered & gender-neutral) were nice. Plenty of parking in the lot and surrounding streets.

Bead and Roses is appropriately one of the legendary non profit organizations in the Bay Area. For…read moreover the 30 years, B&R has been sending musicians and other performing artists into community locales where people are desperately in need of the healing power of art. Since its inception, B&R has put on well over 10,000 free performances at senior centers, homeless shelters, medical facilities, youth support programs, and many other venues where people need to connect with the outside world and with the creative side of their souls. B&R is also famous for being the favorite charity of many musicians, and its fundraising events feature a Who's Who of the music scene -- ranging from Bonnie Raitt and Neil Young to Santana and Robin Williams. B&R is always looking for more volunteers and support, so check them out!

Excellent mission, organized leadership, and a team that is fun to work with- get involved if you…read morecan! I am a bay area based performer and a huge fan of Bread & Roses. They make it easy and rewarding to give back to the community through outreach performance opportunities. As a matter of fact, they produce 600+ free shows per year with intention of "bringing hope and healing to people who really need it most."

I just attended the play "pride and prejudice last night. I haven't been to this venue in…read moredecades... what an excellent performance: we had about 20 actors on stage singing, beautifully, at a level of professionalism that was startling. This is a musical adaptation of Jane Austen's book, and it is a very engaging production. It's amazing to see Austin's work transformed into a musical with terrific lyrics, very cleverly constructed by Rita Abrams and her collaborator. I'd love to see the lyrics !

Fabulous acting, stunning staging, entertaining story! Perfect cast! Totally delightful evening.read more

I just saw Kinky Boots...a tour de force performance by the leads and cast. Lola was spectacular…read more It is a poignant story that brought me to tears. Great songs and music. There's one week left. Don't miss it!

We all look forward to this time of year when we gather up on Mt. Tam for a pleasant afternoon of…read moremagical sounds and a day with family, friends, locals, and tourists. It's quite a trek to make it up to the theater. Some people hike up and down, 7 miles one-way. Even with the bus shuttles, it's an all day excursion. Highly recommended, it's family-friendly, and the kids have a wonderful time. Food and drinks are allowed, bring your picnic baskets, lots of sunscreen, a blanket, a sweater, portable seat (or rent one), and a hat. I've been here for Hairspray, The Sound of Music (100th anniversary), and this year it's Beauty and the Beast. My son has worked up here as a Cub Scout selling ice cream, good times! Over the years, the price has gone up like everything else in the Bay Area. Parking is now $20 ($15 online + $4 service fee), or you can choose to hike. There will be a music concert on Saturday, June 10, 2017, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first outdoor rock festival. Mountain Play will host a one-day outdoor music festival featuring Jefferson Starship and a concert version of HAIR. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBQVrCflZ_E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b8AhIsSYQ It will be EPIC!

Nastassia recently did face-painting and balloons for our 5 year olds birthday party, and I…read morecouldn't recommend her enough! She was friendly and patient with the kids, and painted everything from a sparkly rainbow lion to a guitar with lightening bolts (my son's request :)) She came early and set up quickly, and made our son's birthday party very special. Thank you, Nastassia!

Nastassia did an amazing job for our Dia de los Muertos dinner! She stayed longer to make sure that…read moreeveryone who wanted to be painted got done. Everyone looked unique and amazing when she was done!

AlterTheatre keeps the edginess intact with North Bay theatrical events. They are based in downtown…read moreSan Rafael and will perform at a different local venue for each production they produce. Most recently this was 888 Fourth Street on the eastern side of downtown San Rafael. Prior to that, they could more often be found in a venue on the west side of town. AlterTheatre is an ensemble place, which means that strong attention is placed on casting, design and script choices. This past year, they expanded their season to three plays, and intend to continue with three for the foreseeable future. I appreciate how they often mix bold new plays in with something more known. With this past season, that meant re-introducing INTIMATE APPAREL by Lynn Nottage, world premiering a new workshop piece by Bob Ernst, and local premiering TWO SISTERS AND A PIANO by Nilo Cruz.

Dedication, passion and provocative…read more No, this isn't a personal ad. This is AlterTheater Ensemble. Performances here are thought-provoking,well performered at various locations for a great and reasonable price. Concessions are all by done by donation (but much deserved for all their effort!) Being a theatre goer AND doer...I know that it's hard to get funding even if you do all of the above--so I highly HIGHLY recommend checking out their website and dropping in for a show. You won't regret it. www.altertheater.org