We love musicals and have seen many on Broadway over the years…read more This musical is a wonderful production for a small theatre. We liked it so much more than some of the duds we've seen over the years. We didn't like "Matilda" - small, singing British voices rendered the entire musical practically non-discernible; "Spamalot", "Something Rotten" just to name a few. We both agreed that this musical deserves to go to Broadway and I hope it makes it. Amelie is played by Samantha Banks, who starred as Eponine in the movie musical, Les Miserables with Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman has demonstrated her vocal chops in other film credits and on stage. And Adam Chanler-Berat, also with TV and Broadway credits (Peter in Peter and the Starcatcher) had one scene where he held a singing note for so long it reminded me of when we saw Kenny G hold a note on his sax for multiple minutes (his record is over 45 minutes!). I remember seen Adam on the TV show, "The Good Wife". The show is adorably funny at times (If you like "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, you will like this too), great music and lyrics, contemporary, good singing and performances and the 9 yr. old NYC performer, Savvy Crawford is a much better singer and performer than the one who played "Matilda" in NYC, in my opinion. Her diction while singing is so much clearer and her voice carries enough that I didn't have to strain to hear the words or ask, "Does anyone have hearing aids I can borrow?" The show is extended to 10/18. I hope it extends further as I told my niece to go get tickets to see it if she can. I'd see this show again and if it makes it to Broadway where more money will be dumped into costumes and stage props, I'd like to see it again. Unfortunately, there are no CDs for this production, yet. We plan on getting that (the music/lyrics are that good) when a CD becomes available when it gets to Broadway. After the show, we started watching the 2001 Amelie movie. We saw it years ago but couldn't remember it. I would recommend you NOT watch the movie if you're going to see the musical. See it AFTER you see the musical. You will enjoy the musical much more.

I really had no idea there was a theater here even though I've walked by the building often. It's…read moreno bigger than a junior high school auditorium, but it definitely worked for the Theater Rhinoceros production of "Marry Me a Little". Sondheim aficionados will recognize the title as the song that was cut from the original production of "Company" but put back into the revival four years ago as the Act I closer. Loved the song when Raul Esparza sang it in the Broadway revival as an anthem of emotional liberation. Loved the song when the avuncular Bill Fahrner sang it almost matter-of-factly in this intimate staging. Intimate is the key word as there was only one other performer, Caleb Haven Draper, and a talented pianist, Dave Dubrosky. No dialogue, just a series of Sondheim trunk songs (i.e., songs that were dropped from shows before they made it to Broadway) that form a simple storyline of a couple going through the full arc of a relationship. Only this time it's a same-sex couple in the throes of Prop 8. It barely works, but the Sondheim touch really lends wit and gravitas to a show that lasts only 70 minutes. If you're a fan of his music, try to catch it before it leaves. If not, there are upcoming shows that fit the dimensions of this small venue. It's good to know local theater is still alive and breathing in San Francisco.

Apparently, not too many people know about this venue.That may be a reason why it is called Eureka…read moreTheatre Company...Once you see a show at this theatre - you might be tempted to say" Eureka!"... I had a free ticket for "A Very Happy Fella" and I really enjoyed the musical. There is only one deficiency - their seats are beyond uncomfortable, especially if you are tall... There is plenty of street parking around the venue. Overall, it was a good experience...

I go to LEVY every Thursday from Pittsburg for their Thursday evening KPop class and it is WORTH…read more tl;dr: The studio is a great space with everything dancers need and the K-Pop-Up SF class is fun and totally worth a 45min to 1 hour drive every week. CLASS & TIME: The class is $7 and hosted by K-Pop-Up SF every Thursday evening at 7:30pm-8:30pm. Perfect timing coming from the East Bay because toll goes down to $4 after 7:00 and I drive there. I have been on one exhibition hip hop team, one hip hop competition team, one KPop competition team, and one KPop exhibition team prior to taking these classes. None of those teams or their classes have been as welcoming and friendly as K-Pop-Up SF has been when I went to my first class. There is a safety waiver, but the classes arent dangerous and they dont force you outside your comfort level, so it's perfect for all levels and ages (there is a second waiver for minors that requires an adult to sign as well). The teachers rotate each week and each of them teach a little differently and handle different types of songs, but all of them are kind and help with questions when needed. Rock M. Sakura teaches JPop choreography every first Thursday (their J-Pop-Up night) and these classes are always upbeat and fun and usually have slightly easier choreography that is fast and gets you sweating! Mindy teaches boy group choreography every third and fifth Thursday and these tend to be a bit harder in their details and quick, small movements and footwork. Despite that, Mindy makes each dance fun and easy to learn and answers questions really well. Francesca and Cash Monet take turns teaching girl groups on second and fourth Thursdays. Both of them teach well and add sass to the dances. My favorite part of their classes is when they tell you where you can add your own flair and encourage expressing yourself. They helped make dance fun again for me, to be completely honest. LOCATION: Coming off of the Bay Bridge I take the Civic Center and 9th exit and I'm basically there. The parking isnt super great, but there is plenty of nearby street parking. The studio itself is easy to find as Heron is just a small alley, which might look intimidating at first but my friends and I have never had a safety issue here and there are so many people a few feet away on 8th Street. It's really nice inside, the studio has a waiting room, two gender neutral bathrooms, some moveable seating, and so much space. There is air conditioning if the room gets really hot and crowded, so it's never uncomfortable in the studio.

This is a nice, spacious studio space that I take hoop classes in. There are large mirrors along…read moretwo walls as well as big couches at the back of the room; there's even a small waiting room that's sort of half hidden from the class area. There's also two restrooms for your convenience My classes are at night, so the one thing I really don't like about this studio is the location. It's down a side street near 8th and harrison, and even though the street is lit, it feels a bit sketch at night. A few times i've seen people sleeping along the sidewalk. They mostly mind their own business, but as a woman walking solo at night, it made me a bit on edge.

I enjoy humor of the show. Overall pretty good fun with occasional slower parts and somewhat…read morerepetitive music. If you think the actual Jerry Springer show is vulgar, just wait until you see this theater production. Profanity usage is of epic portion. Really not for those who are easily offended. Second half of the show is much better than the first. The theater is quite old and the seats really aren't that comfortable. Intermission is 30 minutes because there is only 2 bathrooms. I can't remember the last time I see such a long time outside men's restroom. Probably never. If you have general admission tickets do come here early. There are only limited seats on the lower floor and the upper floor back row views are somewhat obstructed.

This show was $*#%ing unreal. So hysterical, we almost lost our minds. I wasn't a big fan of the…read moreshow on tv, but we were on the edges of our chairs every second. It was so over the top with french words, one of the women in front of us had to walk out, yes she may have been offended as she wouldn't have this kind of talk in her houselhold! But as Jerry says, "ya can't please everyone". The cast mustave had over 40 people from we I could tell. The only drawback was the fog machine, it was a little annoying to breath it in, but other than that, I wont forget this show anytime soon! I recommend not sitting in the front 5-7 rows.... PS Favorite character was the bad guy, yes he made the show with his smirks, but the baby guy was a close 2nd...

First I must make a confession: I simply cannot sit through any more of the "traditional" holiday…read moreofferings. Nope, can't see "A Christmas Carol". Not able to witness another rendition of "The Velveteen Rabbit". Simply cannot afford multiple tickets to "A Hard Nut". Just goes to show you that when you least expect it, something falls into place...the kids and I piled on to BART and scurried through the bustle of 24th Street on a Saturday afternoon and had a blast at the Brava Theater and Dance Brigade's 20th anniversary showing of "The Revolutionary Nutcracker Sweetie"...the Kidz Version. The theater had been over-sold and there were no seats left, let alone together. The announcer came on and asked everyone who had been saving seats to please give them to the folks standing in the aisles. There were people with bundled up babies walking back and forth, the place was filled with families and children of all sizes and ages. It was loud and pretty chaotic. Then the show began and magic happened! The music is traditional but with some twists and there are lots of up-dated allusions to PC topics and contemporary concerns, as well as some good-natured ribbing of the wealthy who like to "slum" with the "ethnic masses"....nothing heavy-handed, but the point is definitely made. The character of Clara is danced by 3 women, Herr Drosselmeyer is danced by an amazing performer who has pink hair and shocks the family portrayed in the classic story (can't give anything away here, but it's funny).The mice and the Rat King are portrayed by dancers in Zoot suits with ropes for tails, and they perform their numbers with selections from Hip Hop and Salsa sequences. There's a trapeze with wings, a dance number from the Ivory Coast, Taiko drumming....so many sights and sounds that it is hard to capture in print. It is BIG FUN for very little $$. It was $15.00 a ticket and I got them on-line at brownbagtickets.com (it's a great way to get tickets and it's socially responsible by donating funds to great causes). The performance itself warrants 5 stars. The no reserved seating, the over crowded conditions, the hunting down an usher to acquire a program, and finally the numerous screaming babies force me to give 4 stars...still, it was mesmerizing and loads of holiday fun without much in the way of cliches. Well worth investigating if you are not already over-committed. The Kidz Version is only this weekend. I would happily go again to see the regular show. It's supposed to be spicier and probably a bit more pointed in the political references. Oh and I must give credit where credit is due: I have been pre-occupied with kids, holiday business, cards, and all the trimmings and thus "out of touch". 'Twas the ever-alert hubby who heard about this production, and all of us are happier for it. Go check this out!!

I love this show!! Dance Brigade does a wonderful job.read more

Miss their show years ago when it was under the tent. Was able to catch it with kiddos this time at…read moreChase Center. The setup was wonderful. The balloon act was very interactive. She swings by right in front of us and my little ones were thrilled to see her being pushed back to the stage. Awesome performance. Like the rest of Cirque Du Soleil shows. It was nicely designed and executed. the lighting, the set up, the music, the performance and the acts were fascinating. Don't mind watching it again in the future!

We paid $90 per ticket Jan 2024 and with taxes 3 tickets were $367. We saw it in the Climate Arena…read morein Seattle. It wasn't worth the money. At best, I'd only give them $20 per ticket for what we saw. They sold tickets waaaaaay too far up in the arena. You couldn't see a damn thing that high up. And you certainly couldn't see $90 worth. FWIW, that arena is pathetic. The temperature where we were sitting was at least 85 degrees. Everyone around me was complaining it was stifling. The acrobats were impressive, but all the clown show schtick was stupid and not the least bit entertaining. Cirque du Soleil has gotten massively watered down from the first time I saw a show 25 years ago. I'm never wasting my money on a Cirque du Soleil again. And even if I got free tickets, I would have to be desperate to fill my time.

I won tickets through BARTable to see the Smuin Ballet perform at the YBCA Theater a while back. I…read moreended up taking my brother's partner since he didn't want to go. The performance we saw was unusual. Part of it was short numbers performed by two, three, or four dancers at a time; part of it was a slightly longer work that involved most (all?) of the ensemble; part of it was these duet snippets almost previewing parts of a larger upcoming performance. The dancers were amazing. They were really skilled, and it was neat during the intermission to read their bios. It also felt kind of uncanny, because they had recently moved into the regular-person dance studio that I had passed on the bus for years, so I won this random contest to see a ballet company that I had never heard of but whose future rehearsal space I knew well. When I was in college, a good friend of mine was a dance major, so I used to go to all of her shows, and I sometimes spent time with her in the studio while she practiced. I got to know some of her classmates and actually learned quite a bit about dance and choreography just by spending time with her. All of that experience from years before was helpful, because I don't think I would have enjoyed this particular show as much as I did if I hadn't seen all kinds of dance, not just the most traditional, well known forms. If, unlike me, you're paying for your tickets, be sure to find out what actual show you're seeing. Again, some people only seem to enjoy the most traditional forms of dance, including ballet. Based on the show and what I read afterward, Smuin incorporates all kinds of styles. If you're happy with The Nutcracker that you've watched every year since the '80s, this might not be the ballet troupe for you. I'm crossing my fingers that San Francisco can continue to support multiple ballet ensembles. The rich techies in our midst have more money than they know what to do with, yet the arts can't get the funding they need. It's really sad, and proof that taxes are way too low.

This was my first time attending The Smuin's Christmas Ballet on December 8, 2024. I was amazed at…read morethe performance and selection of holiday songs. There were two acts, and this performance in Mountain View was their last one and their next stop is San Francisco. The two acts were 40 minutes with one twenty minute intermission. The first act was more traditional with classical music, and dance/music from different cultures: Spanish, French, Czech, and Jewish. Act 2 was more contemporary, modern songs and the second half started with the song "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by the Jackson 5, children's art work projecting on the closed curtains on stage, and lastly, a reading of A Night Before Christmas. This was a nice touch to start act 2. During the last song of the performance, snow fell to the stage and in the middle section of the audience. A winter wonderland! The only thing during the falling snow was the noise of the contraption that the employee was pulling it was loud and distracting. This holiday ballet performance got me in a festive mood from the holiday classics of "Santa Baby", to "Last Christmas" by Wham. The performances were magical, a delight to watch. The dancers were enthusiastic, the stage was festive, and both acts went by quickly. I wanted the performance to go on forever. I was pleasantly surprised since I had no idea of what I would be seeing and this was my first time hearing about the Smuin Ballet. I will definitely come back next year. The Smuin Ballet will be performing in San Francisco till Christmas Eve, "2024".

This festival, running through July 31, features staged readings of 7 new plays. Each play gets…read moreread once each weekend, with revisions in between based on audience reactions to the works. Yeah, a play isn't a play without an audience, and your watching the play helps shape its future. These plays are still works-in-progress, so there is the occasional rough spot, or spots; I find it to be an exciting part of seeing plays grow to maturity and find it rewarding that my participation may contribute toward one or more plays' future success. It's not really fair to review a play based on a staged reading as opposed to a production, so I will attempt to review the festival itself and not the plays. But I will make a few recs as to stuff I saw the first weekend that you might want to catch the second weekend. First off, the festival is set in the Thick House theatre on Potrero Hill. There are no bad seats as far as sight lines go, but I'm told the back rows can get quite hot. Even the front was sometimes on the warm side. Aside from that, It's a great black box space. Second, there's two seminars. If the one this coming Friday (July 29) is as informative as the one on Sunday was, it will be a must-go for playwrights. Third, staff is friendly and helpful. Light refreshments are available at reasonable cost. I can't speak for all plays, as I haven't seen them all, but so far I can recommend We Are Proud to Present a Presentation, Beautiful Province, and Home Below Zero. Check out the descriptions and see which ones might be for you. But the main point is that I'm having a wonderful time and this festival is totally worth my time.