We saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child from balcony row A 106-108. Great view of the stage and the whole performance from there. Not the cheapest seats but worth the modest extra, especially if you are only going to see it once. There are 2, single person bathrooms on the top level, and though they don't recommend waiting there over going all the way downstairs, the hallway was fairly clear for the last 10 minutes of intermission. I wish venues like this would offer a way of providing water without standing in line for 10 minutes, but the staff are helpful and friendly. read more

This theater is great if you are going to watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. They have a small bar that you can purchase drinks from ahead of time so it can be delivered to you during the break of the show. It is a long play, and you don't want to miss out because of deciding to wait in line. Also, during the intermission, the bathroom lines get very long with the end of the line starting on the top floor. Don't be discouraged because they run it very efficiently and it is enough time to get back up to your seating area if you don't dilly dadle. Order your drinks in advance and you are good to go. I would also recommend arriving a little early to avoid the frustration of bag checks which can be lengthy if you arrive just before the show. Overall, expect to pay a little more on snack and drinks but the decore of the theater and the show itself make up for it. read more

See all

This is definitely one of the best theaters in San Francisco. The auditorium was completely re vamp'd for an unusual type of stage show--The Jungle. The show was amazing and the layout was fantastic. The staff that work in the auditorium and at the front door box office are amazing. But the after-hours / call center operation is horrible. Personnel are poorly trained, and take much longer than necessary to do the simplest tasks. After waiting on hold for 10 minutes I spent an additional 15 minutes on the phone with what I thought was a box office, attempting to exchange $500 worth of tickets. The agent kept me on the phone until finally telling me, after I was put on hold twice, that all she could do is fill out the form and send it to the actual box office. when I spoke with the supervisor, the supervisor explained that this was the procedure. All it takes is one bad seed to bring down an otherwise fantastic review. I definitely recommend the Curran for your next theater experience, but do not call and talk to the people in the upstairs call center. They will ruin your experience. read more

Ah yes, the Curran. I have a certain fondness for the Curran and it has nothing to do with going to a show there. It's because all the theater scenes in "All About Eve" were filmed here. In her greatest role as theater diva Margo Channing, Bette Davis sashayed through the front door to find out from venomous columnist Addison DeWitt that her understudy is conniving Eve Harrington. "Eve evil, Little Miss Evil. But the evil that men do..." Jeez, I could quote that movie all day. Well, I saw "Wicked' in its first pre-Broadway run here about a decade ago. Kristin. Idina. "It's time to try defying gravity...I think I'll try defying gravity...And you can't pull me down!" But my most recent visit was something almost as, dare I say it, fabulous...a one-man show by Jonathan Tollins called "Buyer & Cellar", which is about a guy who gets a job as the caretaker of, believe it or not, Barbra Streisand's basement of shops which she showed off in her coffee-table design book (photo: http://bit.ly/1y7eyx0). No, I'm not kidding, and it was quite a hilarious tour de force for Michael Urie who played all the roles, including a fully recognizable Barbra without the drag. Entertaining show but this circa 1922 theater is really showing its age even more than Margo or Barbra. Maybe I'm not the anorexic supermodel I once was, but the seats are maddeningly tight. At a stout 5' 6", I was even having trouble banging my knees on the back of the seat in front of me. Complaints about the dearth of restrooms are justified even for the men. While the period decor is nice, so much needs to be renovated to keep up with the Orpheum and the Golden Gate. The SHN organization runs the theater, so the productions are always top-drawer, often much-anticipated shows on their pre-Broadway runs or Broadway hits on their San Francisco stop of their national tours. That makes the deteriorating state of the theater that much more frustrating. "Nice speech, Eve, but I wouldn't worry too much about your heart. You can always put that award where your heart ought to be." Snap. read more

See all

I can't believe that in 2012 they still don't have enough toilets for female patrons! Also the seats are nice but wayyy too close together. If you are over five feet tall you will definitely knee the back of the head of the person in front of you. THAT SAID I have seen some very thrilling and mindblowing theatre here. So I guess that I will grudgingly return. :-( read more

Curran - Balcony, row D. Nosebleeds, baby! - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have not been to the Curran since the remodel until last evening. This historic theater was built in 1922 and badly needed a renovation since I was here watching phantom many moons ago. Many of the original work was refinished and I have to admit, it's beautiful. The lines to get through the door were extremely fast and efficient. The lines to the bar were also surprisingly quick. Don't forget to pre-order your drinks for the intermission. Makes it much faster to get back to your seats. My gripe? The bathrooms during the intermission. I mean cmon now...you know exactly when it's going to happen. Why can't the staff have everything set up before people start to bum rush the line? The bathroom is all the way below ground level so you're dealing with multiple floors of people. One side of the stairwell should be designated as the entrance and the other as the exit. The staff was not clear whatsoever and it caused mayhem until they were finally able to organize. Yelling at your patrons also does not make up for the theater's faults to get this right. Once you are finally organized, the lines move super fast and the staff in the bathrooms are extremely helpful. Last gripe...Starting on time. Other countries can do it. Why can't we? And folks, please no flash photography during the show. Beautiful remodel with sparkling finishes. Still need to work on some things...overall, 3 stars. read more

I go here only for the musicals and it is quite spacious for what it is from the outside looking in! It is a convenient location as well and the seating arragements to look at the center stage, is positioned well! The interior has a Victorian decor that is still maintained nicely. read more

Curran - Once @ Curran Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I love the Curran. I have fond memories of seeing musicals as a child and ACT as an adult here. The Curran is smaller than the Golden Gate or the Orpheum, which is nice for live theater. Also the location is much better for personal safety when leaving at night. read more

My wife and I had a wonderful time watching Harry Potter! The theater was clean, the staff was super nice and the play was amazing!!! read more

See all

Saw Hugh Jackman on Sun 5/8/11 Mother's Day - matinee 2pm show. I wasn't sure if I could get a ticket at the last minute, but I did. Got seat D22 in Balcony, not bad. It was a good 1-person show, about 1hr45min, No Intermission. He told stories, and sang maybe 20 songs, some dancing. He did have 2 female backup singers. I enjoyed the show & recommend it. After the show, he did sign autographs & people could take pics, not individual pics, but as he walked by. The location is to the Left after you exit the theater. Tons of fans know about this, so it gets very crowded. Bathrooms: Very bottom suppose to have more bathrooms for women, but Mezzanine & Balcony SINGLE STALL (Cramped) w/ Sink. Lines can be Long. Go before the show! Hugh's doing his show until May 15, 2011. Hurry to see it. read more

I saw Harry Potter and the Cursed child from Row G and Row O, and it was epic! The theater was well kept and the bathrooms were clean. Beautiful traditional SF theater. The staff was very friendly and I had no issues ordering cocktails from the bar. Also, use the bathroom on the lower level, with no issues with a long line and plenty of stalls. There is also a nice photo prop in the hallway read more

See all

I am going to be buying my future tickets on the open market from now on. The service I get as a season ticket holder is pathetic. The pricing is double what I could have paid. And they nailed me on feed besides!!! Yikes!! read more

Now this is how you remodel a historic theatre! The Curran is a San Francisco institution and has been hosting concerts, events and Broadway musicals for almost one hundred years. Once operated by the SHN Theatrical Production group for many years, it is now owned and operated by Ms. Carole Shorenstein Hayes herself, and in 2015 underwent a two-year renovation to turn it into the showplace that it is now. Many a time I have experienced a legendary play or musical here, whether if they were Broadway bound shows like "Wicked" and "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" or right off the stage of the great white way ready to make it's national tour like "Jersey Boys," I made sure I immediately purchased my tickets for the latest buzzworthy show. Thankfully the team at both SHN and their new owners is willing to work with third party sellers like GoldStar or Today's Tix and sell really nice seats at really affordable prices. The one lasting image that I always have of the Curran Theatre is how much this "house" as they say, resembles a Broadway style house in New York City, with it's multiple doorways leading to the small narrow lobby, the ornate overhang that serves as the marquee, nothing is left unseen by the naked eye. Imagine my disappointment when I heard that SHN and the Curran Theatre had parted ways because I feared that I would not get the chance to visit this historical gem and its future greatly concerned me. Thankfully, when I heard they were remodeling this venue, even as construction was happening, they were hosting shows by placing the audience on the stage, I knew I would be able to return one day. And once they announced that there was a new musical "Head Over Heels" inspired by the music of the rock group The Go-Go's, I immediately cleared a Sunday afternoon and booked my ticket through my Today's Ticket app on my phone. The entrance to the Curran is the same as before with will-call on the immediate left hand side of the entrance. The line is manageable thanks to the ushers and the employees ready to pass out all the reserved seats once you give them your ID. Upon entry you will notice that the bar in the lobby has been fully updated and given a cool crisp update. More space equals more room for patrons and their drinks. Entry into the theatre is also the same. Today, the ushers could have been a little more on point with their service as they seemed slightly overwhelmed with the amount of people and the direction and program assistance. I was shocked I got a seat so close to the stage considering the price I paid and how last minute I bought my ticket, it was main orchestra fourth row stage left. I got a great view of the show, which was a solid three hours of entertainment. I love supporting live theatre productions and the people that work so hard to put on a show, that it is such an honor to be in their presence as they sing, dance, act. They are literally there to do it all for us audience members, they deserve our appreciation and applause. About the theatre auditorium, I did notice the great job they did in restoring the vaunted ceiling and ornate chandelier that hangs over the orchestra. No detail was left untouched as gold leaf, new wall paper and carpeting was also present. I do believe they used the same seats as before, which made me a wee bit sad since so many other theatres, like movie cinemas, had torn out their seats for more comfortable lean back ones, but since this is a historic venue and seating is a premium, I suppose some things had to stay the same. But this was all about the journey just to get here and I can honestly say it was an honor to experience this on this sunny Sunday afternoon. I can't think of a more enjoyable event than going out with your friends or loved ones and experiencing everything that this venue has to offer. It will be odd to see this theatre now in competition with its former sister theatres, the Golden Gate and Orpheum, to get the best and boldest shows from Broadway but competition is better for the soul I suppose. The Curran should be on everyone's bucket list to experience once in their lifetime and now that it has reopened in all of its glory, everyone can now cross it off their list! read more

See all

Nice theatre and looking forward to the show; HOWEVER, we purchased tickets in the front row of the balcony, solely because we didn't want other people's heads in front of us, blocking our view. There were seats available in the mezzanine, but opted not to purchase tickets there for this sole reason (the available seats were well back behind other seats). So, we get here and are told the balcony is closed and our only option is to take mezzanine row D seats (or I guess not see the show at all), where there are tall people with even taller hair blocking our view of the stage. This is all because the show obviously wasn't sold out and to make the house look better, to the detriment of their customers. Lesson learned: Don't assume you're gonna get the seats that you purchase tickets for at the Curran read more

Curran - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Beautiful theatre inside, and the logistics of seeing a show during Covid were well-thought out and planned (vax check, bathroom lines etc.) Our only complaint was that it was SO INCREDIBLY HOT inside the theatre that it was almost impossible to enjoy the show. Men around us were stripping off coats and even button down shirts, women were almost down to bras. Come on! When you have to wear masks the whole time anyway (understandable), the heat made it almost unbearable. Turn on the AC! All I could think about were the poor performers on stage. 3/5 stars for this reason. read more

Curran - Stage before Harry Potter and Cursed Child - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was a beautiful venue to watch Head over Heels! So fun! Very gorgeous in the inside. The place is clean and the sound is amazing. The problem I encountered was that they have only one bathroom per floor or so! (single bathroom---whyyyy?). Aside from that, I enjoyed my seat option and could comfortably see the stage. The show was a blast too! There are a few parking garages nearby. Edit// Was told that there's a 19 stall bathroom in basement! Good to know! An usher can direct you. read more

We saw War Horse and it was great! Joey and Albert were adorable haha. But anyway, on to the actual theater... It's realllly cramped and our usher was rude. She was bossing around the other ushers and yelled at some audience members from the top of the balcony to their seats in the first row. If there's an issue, she could have walked down and told them more discretely? Especially over photography issues... BEFORE the play even started. Also as mentioned in other reviews, the bathroom situation is a 1-stall deal (even for men, my dad told me). Other than that, the location is great (many many many restaurants around) and a few minutes walk away from BART. read more

Curran - Chandelier on top - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came to the Curran for the first time to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child pt 1 and pt 2. I decided to split up the two shows into back to back nights, because I couldn't imagine sitting down for 5 hours for the show. I thought it was a good call... I was getting a bit agitated after sitting for 3 hours for pt 1. On the first night, we were seated at the very last row- which wasn't really an issue in itself since we purchased the least expensive tickets. However, the problem was that we had a very tall couple seated in front of us... who were fidgeting the whole time. While the show was spectacular, we were dreading going back for pt 2 because of this issue. On the second night, we arrived extra early to try to upgrade our seats. Anne and Ellen spread a little holiday cheer and made our night with some awesome new seats. Thank you so much, the show would not have been the same for us if we were stuck in our original seats. It's also worth mentioning that everyone we've encountered there were friendly and helpful. Their kettle corn was delicious! It is also very nice to be able to order ahead of time. In case you were wondering, the show was on another level. I won't spoil anything, but prepare for a magical time! read more

My husband bought us tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for the Valentines/President's Day weekend, knowing that Im a huge Harry Potter fan! :) I didn't realize that the show was a 2 part series so imagine my surprise and delight finding out that the show was going to be almost 6 hours long! Woohooo!! Parking: We were super lucky with finding a parking spot right across from the Curran theatre and in front of Colibri Mexican Bistro, which is where my husband made reservations for brunch. *Note that it is free street parking on Sundays, including yellow painted curbs in the city. After finishing our brunch, we made our way over to line up to get into the theatre. The show started at 1:00pm and the line started forming around 12:15pm but the line moves fairly quickly. Security: Once we made it to the entrance, there is a security check. They will check your bags and will use a metal detector on you. You will need to go through security twice if you're watching both parts of the show. Seats: Our seats were located in the last row of the Mezzanine section on the furthest right side of the stage (M24 & M26). We got a pretty good view of the stage but the ceiling on top of us, which is where the balcony seats are, blocked our view a bit of seeing the top of the stage. The seats were comfy enough but does make noise if you move around in it too much and the rows are quite tight. Restrooms: Behind the curtains of where we're seated was a single toilet restroom which was really convenient for us since we were usually the first ones to the restroom during the intermissions. However, they are really strict about using the restroom when it's not during intermission since they are worried about letting light in during the show so try to hold it until it's time to break. There are also more restrooms on the lower floors of the theatre. Overall, this theatre wasn't too shabby. They also have a few bars with all sorts of snacks on some of the floors. I do wish that the security folks that work there were friendlier since they're a bit rude and haughty. But the show itself was AMAZING and truly magical!!! I highly recommend it even if you are not a Harry Potter fan because some of the things that happened in the show were super cool!!! :) read more

The theater facilities here aren't the nicest, my seat was actually a little dirty coming in, but it has a nice vibe and very classical decorations. I wouldn't really come here for the facilities, but they have some of the better performances in town, so at the end of the day I come here for that. Tickets can be a little bit pricy, but I've never gotten them for full price. There's usually always the last minute discounted tickets from deal sites, and raffles and winnings from others. read more

Watched the Harry Potter play here. Entering is a breeze, however it is jam packed once you walk through the from door. It's a smaller lobby area so everyone is kinda crammed in there. We went to the bar upstairs to get our drinks and also got a charcuterie box. Downside of this place is the restrooms during intermission. It goes by very very fast but the line wraps all the way up multiple flights of stairs, and you have to get to the way top just to start walking back down. read more

We saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child here last weekend and I thought the theater was rad. The surrounding area was a bit rough (like, we literally saw several people smoking crack on the street while walking to the theater from our hotel, rough) but the inside was beautiful. They had re-carpeted and re-paneled the theater specifically for Harry Potter - it was crimson carpet with an "H" for Hogwarts. I loved that detail. The ushers and ticket takers were all very friendly and hospitable. I highly recommend ordering refreshments ahead for intermission because the line was super long. The only drawback is the restrooms. If you are in the upper level, use the bathroom on the bottom floor before you walk up all those steps. There is no restroom on the balcony level. read more

Loving the renovations (there at 17 stalls in the basement level, ya'll so if you're in the nosebleeds just pop down the stairs and you'll be back to your seat a hell of a lot faster than if you wait for the single stalls in the balcony like you did in the days of yore). Also, in addition to a visual facelift, it seems the beverages and snacks got an upgrade as well. From fun show-themed cocktails to cookies from a local bakery I'm a fan. I might even rank this one over the Orpheum! read more

The theater lobbies and foyer are quite small, but there are several levels so that helps. Drink and snack selections are better than the other theaters. They had frose and also gourmet kettle corn. No long lines for merchandise and concessions. They also have a concessions service where you order and pay at your seat and they can bring it out to you (during intermissions of course). I sat in the Mezzanine, row E, and was still able to see everything quite well, the stage is quite large. My biggest gripe is the extreme lack of legroom. I am 5'2" and a short person. My knees were constantly hitting the seat in front of me and don't even THINK about trying to cross your legs at all without kicking the back of someone's head in the row in front of you. Luckily, I had an aisle seat, so I was able to stick my legs out in the aisle - a true fire hazard. They provide discount parking for 6 hours at the Mason and O'Farrell garage for show goers. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply if you're watching HPATCC both parts in one day (9 hours). Shows seen here - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts 1 and 2 read more

Such a cool venue in Union Square. Came here to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the Curran helped to transform the experience. Absolutely love coming to historic venues like this and can't wait to make it back. read more

Curran - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

The worst venue. Cramped seats. Really cramped. I am 5'4". I fit into things quite easily. But I couldn't cross my legs. If I sat straight, there's a 2 inch clearance to the seat in front. My poor 6'2" husband had to man spread his legs so he can fit. Even worse, a guy larger than him to his right had to sit sideways and have a buffer between him and his girl because he literally can't fit. The seats aren't sloped enough because I had a guy in front of me (he is a few ahead of me in this review board, in fact) that fucking lifted his arm and kept it up to scratch his damn armpit and block my view. Funnily enough, this guy also commented on not being able to see clearly. There is one bathroom on that floor. One meaning a single toilet. Apparently there's a billion in the basement but lord help you line up three flights of stairs to get to it. With a short intermission and virtually no AC, prepare to dehydrate yourself so you aren't totally miserable. The mezzanine view was okay. I saw most but the bottom edge was blocked so I had to inch forward. I thought it was a shorty thing but it turns out, everyone did the same. The only reason this was bearable was because there were two seats next to us that was open so we got to spread a bit. I'll be on the lookout for venue before I buy tickets next time. read more

Small theater that has great shows. Good location, clean bathrooms with a lot of stalls, and friendly staff. The seats themselves could be more comfortable, but I have yet to find a theater with super comfy chairs. Obviously for most people the show that is playing is going to be the deciding factor of whether to come here, but with that in mind this theater would not be the reason why I wouldn't watch a show. No red flags or major disappointments from any of my visits here. read more

A few issues here. First, with their ticket system. It was a pain in the butt getting Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets, but I managed to get some. The system selected my seats, which sucked. For the price point I paid, I got the worst seats in that tier. But whatever. Just glad I got tickets. No refunds or exchanges, I understood that. But they sell tickets way far out in advance, and something came up that I couldn't make the date I selected. I don't expect special treatment, but I was hoping for some sort of consideration. Curran will email me the tickets a week before the show, so that doesn't really work if I have to resell them. I contacted ATG, who said it's up to Curran. They forwarded my message to Curran and said someone will get back to me. Of course, no one did. When I called Curran, they pretty much said I was out of luck and that I could just sell them to someone I trust and vice versa. :/ I understand that that's their policy so I can't fault them for that. But it gets worse. Fortunately, I found someone to sell the tickets to and bought tickets to another date. Just for giggles, after I bought my second set of tickets, I put in another order without going through checkout just to see what seats they were going to offer. Of course, they had better seats than the ones I just purchased. Ugh. Why can't I select my own seats?! I've been able to do that for most places I go to! I then won the Friday Forty tickets to opening night, so yay me, I would actually get to watch the show early! They opened their doors at 7, and the lines went by quick. But they weren't opening the doors to the seats until 7:30, so people were lounging at the hallways and it was HOT. I hoped that the auditorium seats would be cooler, but it was just as hot. Before the show, we were in line at the bar and a gentleman with a tablet tells us we can order through him and he can deliver it to our seats. We could even order our drinks for intermission and he'd deliver those too. We thought it was a neat service so we ordered drinks for the start of show and intermission. The show starts and we never get our order. Intermission time, and still nothing. At the end of the show, we brought up the issue to a staff member, who had vouchers ready. Since it was opening night, it was their first time doing the delivery service. Obviously, they needed to work out some kinks, but I'm glad we were properly compensated. The show itself was great, and I understand that the location had a lot to do with it. Curran did a total overhaul of the place to accommodate the show, and it really paid off. The effects were amazing. Even if this theater is honestly the worst I've been to (sorry), I understand they're trying. I'll be back in January, so I'm hoping things get better. read more

I HATE this theater! The worst experience ever! I was very excited to see the first of the two part Harry Potter Cursed Child play. I traveled from Las Vegas, Nevada and paid a ton of money to stay in a great hotel, pay for flight, expenses and to attend the two-part play. The play is great. HOWEVER, the venue sucks! It was way too hot! I thought I was going to have a heat stroke! I don't understand why the air conditioning system was not on!!!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE ATTEND THIS VENUE TO SEE ANYTHING BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE HEAT SENSITIVITY YOU ARE GOING TO DIE! Curran Theatre YOU NEED TO TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER ON TOMORROW FOR THE SECOND PART OF THE HARRY POTTER CURSED CHILD PLAY. After this experience, I will NEVER return. read more

SO, this review is in regards to three aspects of The Curran Theater: I am a longtime group organizer and have bought many tickets for many shows, and am most impressed with all the aspects of the "new" Curran. First of all, the Group Sales Manager, Anthony, is a consummate professional. He has, in his tenure, mastered the task of dealing with finicky groups and stressed out group leaders. Anthony is unflappable, personable, and detail oriented. No call, question, or order ever goes long without a prompt return. Secondly, the staff in general. From the box office staff, to the friendly "shepard" ushers out front, in the lobby and in the auditorium, everyone had a smile and a helpful way about them. Even the bar staff were un-rushed and efficient. The line for drinks moved steadily. Thirdly, the building; The Curran has been beautifully restored, made modern while still retaining the old-world charm that defines it. I like how the box office is more like a concierge desk than a steel-barred bank teller window. The open-style lounge areas are spacious and yet warmly designed. As for the bathrooms, The Curran has done the best they could, given the age of the building, and the space. What I noticed in the men's room was that some women, who needed to use the restroom without delay, were given all due respect if they needed to use the men's. Someone here mentioned that the show did not start on time.... We just saw four halves of the Harry Potter show, and they all started on time. We have noticed, however that the tardiness of starting shows is the fault of lackadaisical theater goers. read more

Girls week in San Fran. Lucky enough to score Cursed Child tix. Theater decor amazing! Staff ran everything like a well oiled machine. Being a theater buff...always worried about getting back to my seat before end of intermission - not here...organization fantastic. So happy live theater is back! We've missed you! read more

Curran - "Hogwarts" carpet at Curran - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I watched Harry Potter and the Cursed Child I & II last Saturday, December 21. I had a loge seat but as I was about to get settled before the first play, I realized I forgot my new phone in the car where it can be seen from outside. The usher told me that if I go out, I can't come back in until intermission. He was adamant. Well, I got my phone and the few of us who were late were ushered to a small area we could see the show on a tv screen. When it was appropriate we were ushered to our seats after about 10-15 minutes. So much for not being allowed in until intermission. That's just half of my story though. After the first play, I went to dinner in Union Square. On the way back, as I neared Curran, I had a sudden bladder discomfort. So instead of joining the long line to get in, I politely asked the security lady ( I asked another staff who told me the lady's name is Karen. Karen checks people and bags outside the entrance to the ticket booth/will call) if I could go thru that door. She said no, it was only an entrance for those who are picking up tickets. I pleaded with her that I have to really go to the restroom asap. Still she said no and told me to go to Starbucks. I told her, "Wow. You're mean." All the other staff I encountered were helpful, polite, and pleasant. The two stars are for the two people I mention. One star for each. read more

I have such wonderful memories of the Curran back when it was part of the SHN group. I saw my first Phantom there as well as Jersey Boys. I'm sure there were other shows in between but those two stand out not only as wonderful productions but of a beautiful old venue. Fast forward many, many years and the Curran is back with new productions and a sleek new look. I have seen Head Over Heels, Soft Power, and most recently, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, parts 1 and 2. The productions were all great but as with any old theater, there are certain aspects patrons need to accept. There will always be long women's bathroom lines. It doesn't matter if you're at the Orpheum or Mission High School auditorium. It requires timing, patience, and, at times, speed on your part. Snacks at these events will be always be minimal and overpriced. Eat before your show and you should survive though you may need to fork over $6(!) for a bottled water. read more

Oh Curran, how I do love you. Since you rebooted yourself a few years back, you have tried to get hip to the times. The carpeting, the wall paper, the usher uniforms, the paint on the walls, everything screamed "Harry Potter". It was a really wonderful touch that really helped make for a more immersive experience. The box office team is terrific. I know for a fact they went above and beyond for me., which I truly appreciate. The bar staff was friendly, considering the lines, that is saying something. No wonder they are pushing a service where you can preorder and have things brought to your seat at intermission. That would tempt me except for the fact I need to stand a bit, so being in line was preferable. My biggest quibble was with the ushers. he first one I asked, didn't know where my seat was (big hint, it turned out to be almost right in front of him). I had to ask a second usher, who in fact did know. It was a minor inconvenience for me, but with the crowds, you really don't want to be going against the tide. I imagine it inconvenienced some of my fellow theatergoers because I don't move particularly fast. The lines for the ladies room were long, per usual, but move fairly fast. For once, I wasn't in one of the cramped seats, I was in an accessible chair. Even without arms, it was far preferable to the regular seating. I have to say that for such an old theater, the Curran is still pretty cool. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is too. read more

Curran - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fucking rip off. You even have to buy water if you are thirsty on top of expensive tickets. not coming back ever again

The Curran is a beautiful and historic theater that recently got a facelift and was showing the Tony Award winning musical, 'Fun Home'. The Theater is part of San Francisco's haunted and fascinating history and should be lauded as such, but that doesn't change the fact that I paid $138 for tickets to a show that I couldn't see 95% of. I want to love The Curran, but we splurged on center mezzanine seats and found out once the tardy people 3 and 4 rows in front of us sat, that's we'd be seeing none of the show. The seating is built for people who are nearing 6-ft tall to see. And heaven forbid there's a person over 5'10" in the 4 rows in front of you to any angle because their head and shoulders with completely and totally obstruct your full view. I could see the backdrop, and that was it. I can't imagine how horrible it must have been for people with balcony seats because I'm 5'7" and our we thought we had good seats distance wise but I would have needed 3 phone books to sit on in order to be tall enough to see (and pay the favor forward by blocking everyone behind me). It was sad to watch as all the women in rows ahead of me tried to strain their necks, lean into the neighboring seats, switch seating, and sit on their feet to lift themselves up high enough to attempt see anything. It was like we were doing the wave with our bodies, moving in our seats as the cast moved around the stage. At least we were all in it together, I guess. It was distracting and a real bummer and will keep me from ever coming back to or recommending The Curran, unfortunately. The bathrooms are another sore spot. There's just 2 single bathrooms between each level, and with a theater full of people, that just ain't ok. I was thinking that there was an intermission because I heard the ushers talking about how when people come out of the theater, they were giving them special occasion free drink tickets for the bar, but there wasn't an intermission to this show and with only 2 total totals per level, I can see why they likely can't have shows with an intermission unless it's an hour long to rotate attendees through the loo. Speaking of those free drink tickets they gave out- very thoughtful and a nice gesture BUT also kind of an empty gesture. Why give out drink tickets to hundreds of people AFTER the show is over and everyone wants to get out. It was a fire hazard more than anything. 2 bartenders per bar, a line that doesn't move and is barely a line, no pre-poured drinks, people trying to get out of the theater. If they really wanted to celebrate The Curran's makeover and give everyone a drink, they'd have done it in the beginning so people can choose when to get the drink and not go all at once at the end of the night when it's near impossible to use the tickets. We encountered several people trying to give their tickets to us but we were trying to give our tickets away. We all just ended up leaving them on the coat check desk to be tossed or re-used another night. Oh- one other strange thing, we got there at 7:30 for an 8PM show and they hadn't opened the theatre seating yet. Said the cast was still rehearsing... 25 minutes before the show starts? Seemed very odd and I've yet to go to any theater where seating isn't open at least an hour before the show. So don't get there early, I guess. But also don't get there late because everyone in your row will have to get up during the show and exit the row in order for you to get in. There's no standing in front of your chair while the tardy people try to squish by here- there's just no room so you really disrupt the entire place with your tardiness. It's a shame because the place is beautiful, the staff were some of the friendliest around but at the end of the day I paid a hefty amount for a show I could hear but not see, which is not theatre, it's a soundtrack. Most expensive listening party I've ever been to. read more

See all

Nice theater albeit in the sketchy part of San Francisco aka the Tenderloin. We saw the Harry Potter show and it was absolutely magical. Like most theaters it gets a bit cramped inside. You don't need to get here super early like they tell you to, because you'll end up standing around waiting for them to open the doors to the actual seating. My only advice: if you're spending the day walking around and are kinda thirsty, take care of drinking water before you get here. The only water option was $7 for Voss. Which hurts the wallet when you're thirsty and end up buying 3. read more

The newly restored Curran is beautiful. Make sure you get there a little early to oogle the beautiful blue interior, larger than life paintings, and ornate gold ceiling. Having gone to the Golden Gate theater the night before, I really appreciated the new, not-funky seats, carpets, and facilities. Note the seating map was wrong: it showed rows AA and BB in front, which don't exist, so our seats in row A were actually the first row. They were almost-but-not too close, but a few rows back would have been just fine. Our seats also came with a year's membership to the Curran Club but I've yet to see any communications about the special behind-the-scenes type offerings. Tons of folks were hanging out in the lobby after the show with fresh drinks, which was so odd to me. Plenty of tastier, hipper, cheaper options nearby. If you can catch the run of Fun Home, I highly recommend it. A Tony for Best Musical can't be wrong! read more

Curran - View from A101 - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I haven't actually seen a play or musical at this place. I did something much better than that!!!! I took a backstage tour with a good friend of mine :) Using this app called detour, I was able to get a free audio tour showing me around the place along with all its renovations. I was really excited that I was able to take this tour because I've never seen what it was like on stage at a professional theater. We got to go inside dressing rooms and listen to first account experiences from actors and actresses of course on audio but it was still pretty awesome. I would highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in knowing how a theater runs. read more

See all

We saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at this theater. What a beautiful theater! I know they had it decorated for the play but the theater itself was beautiful too. I read a lot of reviews about the seats being smaller and uncomfortable, I did not find that to be the case. I'm not exactly skinny and I found the seats to be very comfortable and of normal size. We were seated in Orchestra row H and had a wonderful view of the stage. The bathroom lines went quickly and you could order drinks and snacks to be ready at intermission. read more

See all