Crowded Fire consistently raises the bar with their bold, imaginative, powerful productions, e.g…read more Anna, Bella, Eema; Slow Falling Bird; and Wreckage. One of the few theatres in the Bay Area that regularly produces new and exciting work by contemporary playwrights, CF isn't afraid to take risks. If you're wondering what's the difference between television/film and theatre, go see a Crowded Fire show. I'm a big fan of their work, of the company members, and can't wait to see what they produce next.

I once told Marissa Wolfe (former Artistic Director) that Crowded Fire was "tiny, by mighty". I…read morestand by my statement. They do quirky, thought-provoking work that often explores big ideas. I don't always love everything, but definitely appreciate it. They have consistently good production values and the actors are evenly balanced. For a small company, probably working on a shoestring, that's saying something. If you are in the mood for some good theatre and finding new playwrights to follow, give them a go. Recommended.

Came here to watch "Schick Machine", a musical and theatrical performance by percussionist Steven…read moreSchick, composed by Paul Dresher. The show was interesting and unique, and impressive with its use and interpretation of sound. And with this show being all about sound, the sound quality at Z Space lived up to the task. The arts studio is a quite beautiful community space and theater for a range of artists. The inside of the auditorium wasn't the most updated (seating, flooring, etc), but it had a bit of character, and it worked for the event we attended. There are nice touches throughout the venue, such as stained glass windows, and the lobby is seemingly more modern and inviting, especially before or after a show. Free parking was available a block away on a Sunday afternoon. And the staff was friendly and helpful, at the ticket counter, bar, and inside the auditorium for the event I attended.

When I bring my friends to Z Space, I know for certain that we'll all have a great experience. It…read moredoesn't matter what we see there--whether it's music, dance, a straight up play or anything in-between. It's always intelligent, thought-provoking, funny and way worth the price of admission. Great vibe, great bar, great funky cool space. GO TO Z! you won't regret it.

Something fun to do on a Sunday night with friends and family…read more Shelton Theater Comedy - Cheaper Than Therapy Bartender - Serene, she made wonderful drinks and was so helpful. The deco was so fun. Had so much different arts on the walls. Wow, the show had 5 comedians. They all were so funny. It is a must go see.

Saw Secret Improv VICE. really cool theater and fun show. My boss had asked me if i was up to speed…read moreon classic noir. I kind of was. Then I wnet to this show and I feel like I picked up some really great tips. I understandthe genre a lot more, now. I also saw a very attractive lady sitting in the first row. I was wearing a Fedora and smiled at her as she left the room. If only I had been a bit more suave, perhaps she would have smiled back.

I'm sure Mrs M is not the only one out there who happens to be a big Jane Austen/Pride &…read morePrejudice/Bridget Jones Diary/Colin Firth fan AND a Twilight/Buffy/David Boreanaz fan (and no, I am not using "Mrs M" as a euphemism for my own feminine side--*I* prefer Nathan Fillion as my hunky Joss Whedon hero of choice, thank you very much). If so, I implore you to put down Breaking Dawn for a few hours and go see Pride & Succubus, playing through Saturday at Thunderbird Theatre's current home in deep SOMA. Even if you have only a passing familiarity with Mademoiselles Austen and Gellar, you'll be hard-pressed not to fall in love with this marvel of witty writing (I'd mention a brilliant topical joke or two, but I don't want to spoil it), exuberant acting, and all-around grassroots gumption--in short, indie theater at its liveliest and most accessible (seriously, the staff here will charm you instantly, not weird you out or make you feel uncool). Not to mention the finest concession stand prices in the Bay Area ($2 for a shot of Tequila, and they even provide the salt and lime). But do dress in layers; the barebones venue gets quite hot, even with the nice hand-fans they provide.

The Thunderbird Theatre Company has got to be the coolest, quirkiest, most talented little theatre…read morecompany out there in the Bay Area. The performances are unbelievable and packed with punch. I've never laughed so hard nor was so surprised at how ingenius the productions the Thunderbird Theatre Company are. The actors are amazing. They don outrageous costumes, sing ridiculous tunes, and deliver punchlines better than most comedians on Comedy Central. The Las Vega-Nauts was a cross between super heroes, swiss chalets, and the biggest sin city of the world. What they did with the stage and how the story unfolded was just amazing. And yes, there really was a story there. During intermission, they rallied up the crowd and had a raffle. Guess who won? My future roomie. He was handed a Toblerone. Guess who won the grand prize? Moi!! Guess what I won- a shot of tequila! And yes I downed that puppy in front of the audience. I also got to take a picture with my favorite cast member, our friend, Max Bernstein, Lou Agoni, Waiter and Innocent Victim. We took a picture in front of Paris!Paris! He looked a little like the Mask all green in a tuxedo. My night with the Thunderbird Theatre Company was unforgettable. It also turned out to be themed complete with dinner at Fondue Freds and speaking Swedish!

Good lord, No Graves, No Masters was stunning. It's hard to even articulate how incredible it was…read more Simply jaw-dropping. I had no idea circus could be that good. The Vespertine Circus has some of the most physically talented, incredible, and hauntingly beautiful performances I've ever seen. As someone who has competed in physical activities at various levels, I looked at what they were performing and continuously thought to myself "I don't think I could do that even if I put my mind to it forever". Simply unreal.

"Is this really happening?!" Those were the only words I could eek out of my gaping mouth during…read morelast Friday's living room performance at the Vespertine Circus. Okay, I also managed to say "I'll have the $2 white wine, good sir!" But really, that's about it. There were mesmerizing musicians, an astonishing aerial acrobat and her hooping partner. There were couches and a hodgepodge of chairs filled with the artists friends and family and some random Facebook stalkers like us. But the most surprising attraction had to be the bar in back, serving $2 wine, beer, and soda. *Rub eyes in dream-like stupor.* Like the others have noted, this is an eerily magical place, concealed behind residential walls. Part Alice in Wonderland, part Burning Man, part Dark Carnival...yet approachable enough for average folks like you and me. The shows are $10-15 sliding scale at the door, and while the venue itself may not appear to merit such a cover, the sheer novelty and unexpectedness of everything that ensues is worth the cha-ching, in my opinion.

Mr. Boswell and Mr. Owens were funny from the get-go! The close-up magic tricks they performed…read moreseemed simple but will astonish you and have you scratching your head for the rest of the night. The "mind reading" was my favorite. The magic show is in a small, intimate room that seats about 30 people at Hotel Rex, a venue that reminds me of the lobby of the tower of terror in disneyland. The show lasted about 1.5 hours and involved a lot of audience interaction. Even in last row, you're still only about 10 feet away from the performer. Parking is hard to come by so it's best to take BART to Powell and walk 10 minutes to the venue. The 2 drink minimum is not enforced, but buy your drinks before the show as there is no table service in the room. Sign-in early to get front row seats. The show will make you laugh, keep you in suspense, and completely perplex you. At only $13 brought from Goldstar, it was a very affordable and entertaining show!

Saw someone mention this in my FB feed, and after checking Yelp reviews decided to check it out. It…read morewas a lot of fun! I like close up magic (and this is definitely close up - everyone was first or second row, and no more than 20 people in the whole audience) because sometimes you have some shot at figuring out how they do it. It's definitely not smoke and mirrors, it's sleight of hand and misdirection and general cleverness. Three performers each put on a 30 minute show, so there is variety to it. My favorite was the "mind reading" which was quite remarkable, and no less so for the magician telling you that he did it through reading microexpressions. A great date night

I was lucky enough to get *free* tickets to this show and given that I'd seen it a few years ago in…read moreSan Jose, I had no idea that it was given a fresh upgrade. Cavalia was set on a bigger scale with beautiful backdrops, live music and MORE WATER. So much water that the whole stage transforms into a lake right before your very eyes. It was magical I tell ya. Can you say *majestic*? Try saying that word out loud with me. That is the word that comes to mind when describing the horses. They gallop, trot and take your breath away. The performers are so precise, elegant, graceful and strong. If you haven't had a chance to check out a Cirque Du Soleil show yet and you love horses (or just feel like being entertained) then come check this out. Tips: *Park elsewhere to avoid the $20 parking lot fees. *The only real food they have are hot dogs, nachos and popcorn. Eat beforehand if you're hungry.

Okay, now that I'm no longer upset about getting my first review deleted, I'm ready to try this…read moreagain. Last week I was immeasurably surprised when I was whisked off to see this show, the first time I'd ever gone to any show that took place in a tent (outside of camping, that is). The experience was unbelievable! Being a Horse myself, I love my counterparts dearly, and what a treat it was to watch them perform alongside their human companions and trainers. So well bred and beautiful and all things child-like innocence whilst performing to key throughout the entire show. I squealed like a little girl many times. =) Also of noteworthy attention was the music - more specifically the lady with the amazing voice and the band that played with her. Yes, it was ALL live, not some crazy recording. They were out of this world! Her voice itself sent me to another parallel dimension that had me anticipating for the next moment she would sing. I'm buying their CD next chance I get to preserve the memories. All in all, the show was fantastic, and with the best company ever! I now smile every time I pass their billboards. I even went home with a stuffed horse to reinforce the memories of the wonderful night under the tent and stars. I named her Cava, after the show. Please do me a favour and go catch this show before they're gone. You won't regret it. (So, was that a better first-hand review?) Update: Look! I found this awesome video about the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np8WJ_2TbLA&feature=related

Eagerly looking forward to an entertaining evening by the masterly band of chic freaks and geeks I…read morescurried up the wooden stairs of the quaint and charming theatre that is the "Climate Theatre" a good 30 minutes before the published show time. The show was an intimate affair between performers and audience as they practically rubbed shoulders over the course of the show in the charming & cozy ambiance of the auditorium. Without giving away the story or any of the not-too-infrequent risqué humor, I will attempt to describe the evening of melodious tunes, mesmerizing voices, heart stopping performances, and smouldering beauties. As we all know, the story is predicated on a young naïve girl who stumbles upon a family of other-worldy beings on her way to a party. Talula (Alissa), the matron of the freaks, endearingly labeled as one that shares an acronym with a Mommy In Love (with) Falafels, took the stage with a seasoned vocal that manifested itself from the get go that screamed "I am the first lady here". The songstress's vibrato was impeccable and seemed to suggest years and years of operatic singing (not that I am an expert in such matters). The buxom Madame Laveaux, played by the bodacious beauty Nicole, is a captivating presence that cannot easily be ignored (nay, make that "never"). And Lordy, when she accentuates those God-given bountiful curves wrapped by a diaphanous viel that do nothing to hide those lovely limbs, clean thoughts are the last thing on my mind (Lord, forgive me my trespasses!). As with most singers, the high vocal note is expected and delivered but Nicole's low in the second half that plumbed the depths of the frequency range was eye-brow raising impressive. And of course, we now have the bumbling and innocent Ann, the *ahem* Virgin, whose merry naïve ways happen to be the catalyst that is the reason for this story's existence. Played by the versatile Alison, it was indeed an eyeopener as she went from a naïve waif to a red-hot vivacious vixen that makes one wonder if she was indeed the same giggling girl at the start of the story. Our very own Luke the gay cannibal playing himself, save for the cannibalism, wowed the crowed with an inspiring, funny performance backed ably by his powerful vocal chords that filled the room from wall to wall. His odd humanitarianism and zig-zag attributes that disallow him from eating kitty-cats can only be understood from watching the show. (Now pardon me for this is the part where I get a little sketchy as I was busy ...ummm... critiquing the luscious ladies of the stage that my memory doesn't serve me quite as well) The schizophrenic psychopathic Jekyll&Hyde, played by Sam, was a study in contradiction, switching between amiable party host to not-so-amiable personalities. In one of his many avatars was an oblique humorous reference to Mikado that, I am afraid, escaped a majority of the audience. The imposing Edward ("Cullens"?) literally stood above the rest of the cast with his imposing stature helped in no small part by the ridiculously pale visage as befits any self-respecting, luxury-coffin-dwelling vampire. After the highly entertaining performance, I had a little chit-chat with Sean, the Musical-Director, who revealed that the script was somewhat close to it's final form only about 3 weeks before the premiere! I guess the old habits of cramming for the exams in the last minute never really dies --- they merely resurface in various forms that can leave even Jekyll & Hyde scratching their bi-polar heads in absolute bewilderment. In conclusion, I admit my 5-star rating may have been slightly biased by the fact that I know the Composer. For the complete stranger, you might want to expect a 4-star performance as nothing is worse than arriving with an unrealistic sky-high expectation that leaves you wanting for more. Now Hurry along and catch it before it's limited run closes on October 31st.

In reality, i should have gotten "first to review" since i was the first one to see the show, but…read morealas, Umesh beat me to it. (flips the bird) The Witching Hour blew me away. I knew the show was going to be good, but i wasnt expecting it to be amazing. The singing, the acting, the dark sense of humor all kept me laughing and entertained the whole way through. I could have used a little more blood and gore, but thats just the sadist in me. Everyone did an excellent job with their characters but i was completely smitten with Alissa Deeter (Talula). I was attracted to her take charge, dominating character. Love. Her. Im not big on musicals. I honestly have always had a hard time sitting through them. Beach Blanket Babylon?....good but a snore. (I literally fell asleep) The Witching Hour definitely made me a fan. Well, i should say that it made me a fan of, not musicals in general, but of The Miscreants of Cabaret. The way they interact with the crowd makes you feel like you're part of it and getting a private viewing. Im looking forward to their next show. Trust me when i say i didnt give this show 5 stars just because Luke is one of my favorite people. I said to Luke "if your show blows, dont cry when i give you a 1 star review." I dont sugar coat shit for anyone. Luckily the show was fantastic and the Climate Theater, although small, gave it a nice intimate feel. Get ready Broadway, Luke is coming for ya and he's going to blow you (no pun intended) away! (side not: Luke, now that i know you have an amazing voice, be prepared to serenade me when you jump out of my bday cake)