Previously attended the San Francisco Dance Film Festival's screening of "Gustavia" by Amir Chamdin and Pär Isberg (2024), starring Paris Opera principal ballet dancer Guillaume Diop. This is a story of Gustav Badin who was born a slave in the Danish Island of St. Croix and later adopted and became part of the Royal Swedish Family. He was treated as a foster sibling to the royal children and known to be witty and highly intelligent with an extensive personal library of over 900 volumes of books by the end of his life. The Brava Theater is located in the Mission District. Built around 1926/27 in style of Moorish/Art Deco movie theater formerly known as the Roosevelt and/or York Theater. Pretty spacious and comfy. Looking forward to attending other events here. Located on 24th street and York. read more

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It is a great service and Location experience, personalized ambiance . Yes I like it ! next I will take more time to get food and drinks . Thank you ! read more

Brava Theater Center - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place sucks. Every person that comes here drives their car. It's absolutely insane. There is no parking in the neighborhood for people that live here next to it. They have to be open every night so it's always a pain! I can't even enjoy the shows there because this place makes my life a living hell every single day it's open. read more

It's a solid theater in the area focusing on putting on small productions that often highlight women-led projects. It has a neighborhood feel in that it's smack dap in the middle of other businesses and doesn't stand out as a theater filled with talented people (LOL). But on the inside, it's a bona fide stage. It's actually beautiful. We sat towards the front and it's stadium seating so even if someone is tall, it wouldn't obstruct your view (I'm short so I appreciate this feature immensely). The stage isn't large, but it's functional especially for a creative production. The sound was nice, the vibe, just right. **We saw Larry, the Musical which will run through April 14, 2024. If you have the chance & opportunity, go see this amazing production. The actors are extremely talented & all involved should be proud! As a Filipino American I was in complete & total awe.** read more

Brava Theater Center - "Larry, the Musical" runs through April 14. Go see it, if you can! It's fabulous! - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

We just watched another wonderful show at the Brava Theater Center. The old charms of the theater create a familiar and charming atmosphere. I loved having the option of picking up tickets at Will Call. I am a big fan of having a classic ticket to commemorate my experiences and the shows I see. The local partnership with the James Lick School in the Production of Sponge Bob was a heartwarming sight, and the theater's charms were a delightful choice to host the School's incredible production. It's a testament to our community's talent and dedication. Kudos to the cast, the producer, the director, parent volunteers, and professional paybills that made this experience top-notch. read more

Brava Theater Center - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great local theater in the Mission! I watched Larry the Musical (the first Filipino American historical musical--playing through April 14!) and the venue, production, and staff were fantastic. The theater is much larger inside than I expected and there were clear viewing angles from our seats at the back rows. The location was also a nice change of scenery from the theaters downtown with lots of dining options nearby. Parking can be tough but I managed to find a spot across the street on a Saturday night. I look forward to watching another show at Brava and hope people grab tickets for Larry the Musical during its premiere run! read more

Brava Theater Center - Larry the Musical program - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We watched Larry the Musical at the Brava theater and enjoyed it! Our seats were in the Mezzanine area in the top back but we were still able to see the actors clearly since it's a very intimate theater. The bathrooms are all gender neutral and there are two of them next to each other. They have a small bar in the lobby. Larry the Musical was one of the best musicals I've ever watched! I was educated and emotional over Larry and Dawn's story. The actors can sanggggg! This show needs to be on broadway or even made into a movie because people need to learn that Cesar Chavez was not alone and that Filipinos need to be recognized for their efforts as well. 10/10 highly recommend! read more

Brava Theater Center - Larry the Musical - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Getting there & Parking: I'm not a big fan of driving in San Francisco but this was very easy to get to. Once I exited the freeway, it was just a few more minutes drive and easy to find. There is street parking rather than search for a spot, I opted for the parking garage of Zuckerberg SF General Hospital. Garage was clean, felt safe, had ample spots (keeping in mind this was a Sunday evening), and it cost $8.50 for the less than 2-hours we were parked there. Once you exit garage, turn right, walk a few short minutes up the block and you have arrived. The Area: It's a cool little area. There are restaurants, pubs, stores and some really cool murals painted of the buildings. This particular night there were lots of colorful flag banners strung through the streets, reminiscent of small villages in Mexico. Not sure what the occasion was or if these flag banners are always there, but it was very festive and fun looking. The Theatre: I don't know much about this place but I imagine maybe it was once an old movie theatre? It's a really nice historic looking venue, beautiful architecture, small and intimate. There is not a bad seat in the place. If you are going to a performance here, no need to splurge on the expensive seats because all the seats are good. The whole theatre is like stadium style seating without feeling packed in and squished. We had the "cheap" seats on the first row of the upper level and it was perfect. read more

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Absolutely Gorgeous Venue For Even The "Darker Arts" SITREP I attended the Annual "Shadow Dance" (2022) at year's end and was extremely impressed at the theater metrics of this older venue. THE SETUP There were many different kinds of artist-presentations taking place all over the theater: in the lobby, on the stage, in the hallway corridors, even on the sidewalk in front of the theater itself! MULTI-PURPOSE The entire theater-campus was utilized to its fullest for each and every one of these special performances. It was an added bonus that the large lobby was able to be converted into a "Dark Bazaar" where vendors were able to sell their wares of jewelry, "magical potions" and fantastic costumery & ware for those coming to buy. SEATING Every seat in the house gives a great view of the stage with the gentle-slope format as rows lead to the front. UNISEX BATHROOM The bathroom facilities are quite ample with lots of stalls, especially given the fact that it is a unisex bathroom and you're just as likely to a member of the opposite gender come out of the stall you are about to go into. THE LOWDOWN Great venue. Definitely make time to see a performance of your choice the next time you see it scheduled at this venue! read more

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Beautiful theater. Wonderful staff. Cool little neighborhood. All of the seats are good and have clear sightlines to the stage. Cool mural on the outside. read more

I attended the "We Call It Ballet" show there in early December 2024. It was my first time in the theater. The theater was well kept and clean and all the seats were quite roomy and comfortable. I would've given it a 5 Star but I was a bit uncomfortable with their restrooms. There were 2 restroom locations on the ground floor; one to the right and the other down the hallway on the left. Both restroom were unisex, which I don't have an issue with. The problem was the stalls have gap openings and as people walk past, they're likely to catch a glimpse inside the stalls. I could see out as I was using the toilet. They should've used better doors/designs or used floor to ceiling partitions between each stall for more privacy since all sexes are allowed in the same room. Sorry, no pics to post as it's a restroom after all . read more

Great venue for a musical! You could be sitting anywhere and you will still have a nice view of the stage. read more

Brava Theater Center - View from G5/G7 - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

The space is intimate anywhere you sit is a great view. They support and uplift a community often looked over and give them a stage to share their stories. read more

What an incredible, historic venue in the Mission! How have I never been before?! I'll definitely be coming back again and again. The space is beautifully simplistic in keeping the historic touches of the past, while being a modern performing arts haven. Their line up of shows speaks volumes to the diversity and cultures of this city, especially the Mission. The slope of the theater was pure perfection, as anyone can easily see over the rows in front of them. No seat in the house is a bad one. The seats were nice and comfy, with plenty of leg room. They had a very nice set up at entry for photos, as well as a bar for wine and cocktails. When looking for a cultural show, look here first and get your tickets! read more

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Brave cutting edge impactful theatre. I encountered Brava two decades ago and it is so inspiring how they continue to do such strong work

Love this space in the community. Always amazing shows and cultural events. Been coming for years and never disappointed in the arts coming out of here. read more

We had an awful experience - there were loud, obnoxious patrons sitting behind us. We were getting ready to leave and so I needed to tell the person I was with we were leaving early. The 5 loud women behind us tapped me on the should and told us to "shut up" more than once. Then they began tapping me again and started yelling. Instead of escorting the 5 women out we had to move to the front of the theatre which was worse - to very bad seats and we couldn't see the performance much at all. This night was supposed to be a special occasion and it turned into a nightmare. The performance was awful and the way we treated was worse. We have been to this off beat theatre before and had a much better experience. I don't think we'll return. We will warn others about it as well. The manager tried to help, but her solution just made us miss most of the remaining performance which topped off a bad evening and made it worse. Such a waste of time, money, stress and effort. Such a horrible night. Many persons left early due to the poor performance. read more

Nice theater, air-conditioned, comfy seats. Beautifully refurbished interior, keeping a lot of tg

This community gem in the heart of the Mision we Bay Area natives love and long for is going strong. It was host to a friend's plays back in the day, community benefits, and most recently, the wonderful SF Carnaval King and Queen Competition every spring. Every seat in the house is good but front row is best to experience some of the Bay Area's finest dancing up close and personal. The theater is located near several taquerias and other restaurants. Finding parking on the side streets is nearly impossible so look near the hospital or walk from the 24th Street BART station. As we left the festivities, we ran into a guy who asked about the sound of drums. He explained that the Brava was once the York, a movie theater, and how glad he was the theater is still open. If you love community arts, please support this theater. read more

Excellent venue. Flamenco show was out of this world amazing! Would love to come back to see what else Brava has to offer.

Excellent, eclectic programming. Easy in and out, and street parking is a snap and free on Saturday nights. Saw Zahra Noorbakhsh's "On Behalf of All Muslims" in this beautiful space. read more

Bravo at Brava!! Offbeat & delightful...watching Kamikaze Heart in Brava theatre just made my Saturday night all the more pleasing. The play was attended & ran by local bay area artists. It's not your ordinary circus act but a play that has a little bit of the drama, acrobatic acts, humour, dance, song & breakdancing....BREAKDANCING! I'm a hip-hop enthusiast at heart so it was awesome seeing this incorporated into the acts. The live sound, stage effects & band made the show so lively....inspiring. I had to get up from my seat & shake it... It has been awhile since I've kept in touch with community, cultural inspired events so it was very refreshing to see City Circus! Watching Kamikaze Heart from the historic, beautiful Brava theatre was also idealistic with it's impressive spacious area leading to the stage...beautiful, nonconformist like artwork by local artists hanged & displayed everywhere. read more

Brava Theater Center - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I love this theater. I've seen two shows here and I love everything from the seating (not a bad seat, really) to the sound and light to the cheap wine and snacks they'll sell in the lobby. (White wine only, red stains the carpet if it spills.) It also has a pretty ceiling and that's nice. I like that. I like old buildings. Thank god there are still a few left. Even though parking can kind of suck in the area, I've found a reliable spot (so far).. that makes it even better. The theater is pretty easy to get to, also... from any direction. Sweet. Good on them for doing what they do. I'll be back. read more

I was fortunate enough to catch Phil Kaye and Sarah Kay perform here, and it was a wonderful experience! The Brava is quite unassuming from the outside. If you weren't looking for it, you could miss it and, boy, would you be missing out. Not sure how the venue would do for extremely large events, but the lobby seems spacious enough and the seating is deceptively larger than it looks. Extremely clean and comfortable seats as well. Happy to have witnessed my first spoken word performance here! read more

Came here last Sunday to watch the performance of my friend's play, Love Balm for my SpiritChild, which presents the testimonies of Bay Area mothers who have lost their children to violence. It's a beautiful piece and I am so, so proud of my friend! Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Love-Balm-Project/216832495032469 Tumblr - http://lovebalmformyspiritchild.tumblr.com/ First off, I love that this place is easily accessible by public transportation. I live in the East Bay, and was able to get off at the 24th Street Mission stop and take a leisurely, half-mile long stroll past lots of colorful, wonderful restaurants and shops. I do have a car, and I saw a lot of metered parking available, too. There doesn't seem to be much seating for those waiting for a show to begin. There are a couple of long benches opposite the ticket booth right when you walk in, and some seating past the mini concession stand in the back, but you will more likely stand. The plus side, though, is that you won't stand for long! Shows here pretty much start on time, and they do open the doors about 15-20 minutes prior to the showing. I LOVEEE the feel of the theater space downstairs. It sort of reminds me of some of the spaces at the Grand Lake Theater - sizeable, but also intimate and cozy. I think it was the perfect venue for Love Balm, especially for the community talk backs that happened after the performance. If the place was any larger, it would have made it too easy for people to feel alienated and apart from one another. All in all, I'm glad that this theater grabbed on to Love Balm. I think it shows that they have a real heart for justice and for telling the stories that come from within their own community. Would definitely come here again! read more

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I came here for a class performance. There is street parking. There is a lot of meter parking, but free meter after 6pm. I do not know how to take the bus here, but a lot of my friends say it is a sketchy place at night. About the theater, I was surprised when I walked inside. The outside of the building does not do it's justice. Inside is so much cleaner. The stage might be a little on the small side, but the details on the side of the stage is really nice! It can fit a good 200-250 people in the audience that is. read more

I came here for the music, not this Q and A. This is boring. I came from the South Bay and have to drive 1 1/2 hour back home. Time to stop the questions. I need to hear the second band play. Sorry, I am hear to hear Woodstock 2019 music. I am here to update my review. After the Q&A ended and the music continued, the Santana cover band Zebop made up for the delay in music. They were excellent, bravo to that band! The first band, Liquid Sky was just okay. I felt Jimi did not get into his character. I saw a few times were he tried, but did not carry on. The drummer was excellent and the two guitarist sound needed to be turned up The venue was clean, restrooms easy to get to and of course the bar was convenient to get to, too. I love going into these old theaters, just to see what they look like inside. Lots of restaurants nearby, but no parking lots. Street parking only, if you are lucky and fine one. read more

The Brava is a beautiful, historic theater, lovingly restored and updated in the heart of the Mission, although the renovations were not complete when I attended Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore! (March 2009). (BTW, I absolutely loved this show. I laughed, I cried... I danced! Penny Arcade shares her personal history while addressing sexual and political issues that plague our culture.) read more

Walking towards the theater I predicted the inside of this place to be dilapidated and rot of stale popcorn. However, it was ok compared to modern theaters and did not smell at all! I watched Harvest Of Empire, an inspirational and touching documentary of untold Latin American history. I Recommend read more

This is a nifty place in the depths of the mission. I went here to check out the SF Dance Film Festival..which is a whole other review. But the theater itself is a great spot. It's very clean, great size screen, and the overall setup is lovely! Hopefully I'll be viewing more hipster movies here in the future. read more

I saw Tegan and Sara play at the Brava last night, and it was a really great show. The theater is small and intimate, and we had terrific seats. I am guessing that any seat in the house is pretty good considering the size of the place. Seating was comfy and you had enough leg room to not feel like you could perform a dental exam on the person in front of you. The only thing I wished they had: air conditioning. Granted, it is not usually this hot in the city, especially in the evening. But damn, it was so stuffy and warm in there. But, other than that, I had a lovely time. T&S are adorable. read more

Brava Theater Center - Tegan and Sara at the Brava 7-22-07 - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a quaint and awesome stylized theater not far from BART. I came here for a fun event and was very pleased with how beautiful it was.

This place is old and quaint, also intimate. The crowd is very local, casual. Cute for a mini theatre. The seats leave much to be desired, though each has a plate dedicated to the memories of those who have supported the theatre throughout its history. I hope to witness more variations of Latino artist creations here in the future. read more

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What a nice, intimate theater! Wouldn't immediately think of seeing stand-up comedy here because it's so quaint and historic, but it did just fine during Sketchfest 2015. Was lucky enough to see Jenny Slate perform on January 23. She was equally as excited about the choice of venue and made a few comments about it during her set. Adult beverages are allowed and sold in the lobby. Or at least they were for Sketchfest. And the leg room up in the balcony seats was pretty generous if you compare to similar theaters in SF. My favorite thing about spaces from a different era? They offer some eye candy while your mind wanders. Not that Miss Slate wasn't entertaining on her own, I just like to look around while I listen. If you have the chance to see a live performance at Brava, go for it! Intimate, comfy and not a bad seat in the house. read more

Until recently I hadn't been in this space since oh, I don't know, maybe when it was a movie theater called the York. I was pleasantly surprised and delighted with the facility. The seating is awesome - seats are comfortable, sight lines are great - even if someone large 'n tall and wearing an Easter bonnet sat in front of you you would still be able to see the stage just fine. Sound system was also great for the Sylvester show, important as there was singing and live music in the production. I look forward to a return visit, and hope that "Sylvester" does come back to SF in June as they said it might (not sure if it will be back in this venue but go see it no matter where it is!) read more

Awesome joint where I saw City Circus Kamikaze Heart.... the Cirque De Soleil for the proleteriats and populists! Just goofin on the populist nonsense, but went and saw this "break dancing, modern dance, kabuki contortionism, and circus" performance with the oddest storyline ever and ... well... $14 for that was insane. It was just phenomenal.... It's at the Brava Theater 24th and York in the Mission. It was fantastic. Article here in the Chronicle/SFGATE: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/04/DDTP17AQ5J.DTL&feed=rss.entertainment Seriously... check it out. The theatre itself was wonderful... crumbling in parts but a testament of when people found so many other types of imaginative and creative entertainment than the tube. They support wonderful art here, and you would be hard pressed to find yourself in a bad situation ending up at the theatre. Maybe not during an earthquake, but other than that.... enjoy! read more

Lovely intimate little theater. The Brava Theater is owned and operated by Brava! For Women in the Arts. This wonderful organization works to present the artistic work of individuals who's voices often go unheard. I love the mission of BRAVA and I am so happy that I had the opportunity to attend a lecture at the theater. I purchased a ticket to see author Gabrielle Bernstein speak and was very impressed with the venue. It is discrete from the outside, but once you walk through the doors into the theater you will be completely taken aback by the beautiful space. The seating was general admission for Gabby's lecture (not sure if it's ever assigned). Arrive early to snag a good spot. I sat in the first row of the balcony, and although the seating was decent, I wish I would have arrived earlier to get a closer seat. I highly recommend taking MUNI or BART if possible, since the stops are located close to the theater. I was concerned about parking, but after circling the block a few times I was able to score a spot directly across the street. If you do drive and are unable to find street parking, they offer garage parking down the block at San Francisco General. The best part of my experience at the theater was actually the conversations that I had with fellow audience members and employees. The positive energy of BRAVA and the speakers that they host seem to attract a certain type of personality. Seriously, everyone was so friendly and welcoming! Props to BRAVA and Gabby for providing a safe space for people to be themselves. I loved it and I hope to return soon! read more

Not only is this a beautiful theatre, and not only does it serve the community around it well by hosting a multitude of cultural events that cater to many different facets of San Francisco and the Bay Area, but the people who work here are NICE! I am also writing this review in part to point out something that isn't expressly stated on their website: Yes, the theatre IS WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE! Once inside the front doors, the lobby ramps up from street level, there are ADA-compliant BATHROOMS, and there's a very generously-sized ELEVATOR to ADA seating in the balcony (not to mention the ADA seating in the front of the orchestra area). Some theatres may have elevators, but they are blocked with industrial detritus, are too small to fit anything other than the very tiniest wheelchair, or are down dimly-lit hallways with no signage. None of these were an issue at the Brava Theater, because from the second I arrived, an employee escorted me via the elevator to the ADA seating on the balcony level. He did so with a smile on his face, with wonderful politeness and demeanor, and made sure that there was companion seating for my partner. I also want to point out that while I was unable to find the ADA seating access info I sought on their website, I emailed their customer service, and received an immediate friendly reply with all the info I needed! This may not sound like over-the-top-fabulous service to the average reader, but to those of us who've dealt with the stress of outdated, poorly-equipped, or otherwise frustrating performance venues, this is a HUGE exception and warrants a 5-star review! read more

The very first step I took walking in i was WOWED!! I mean I so loved the theater. I was just amazed that I have never been in this theater!! Then when we were about to sit as I walked into the theater walking up to the ramp I was even MORE WOWED!! I mean this theater is so pretty almost as pretty as the Warfield and opera theater. The stage was great the lighting was ough. Well I am not going to go on and on about how much I loved coming here for the first time alls I can say that it will NOT be my last. Oh by the way I can here for the Latin Film Festival and saw 'El Brindis' in English 'To Life' so loved the movie..... read more

Oh thank your lucky stars that this gorgeous time capsule hasn't been ripped down for condos. A grand entrance way guides you back to an old fashioned cinematic experience that has you thinking, yeah, the back rows ARE the best place for "necking". 05APR09 I stopped in for a showing of The Gits, a documentary on an 80's punk band out of Seattle that was part of the SF Women's Film Festival. A member of the band was on hand to add depth to the story of the female lead singer who was brutally murdered and gripped the hearts and minds of many for years. The seats are a bit creaky and low backed and you will have to really ask to see how handicapped accessible it really is. But once you are settled in, and you look across the stage you will realize that the cliche, location, location, location is so true. The surrounding area is chock full of cheap eats and interesting stores including some funky clothing boutiques (got a dress for $5). Lots to wander around and sample before and after your event. This showcase really gives you a feel for what SF might have been like in years gone by... read more