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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emilie is a Super teacher!! Knowledgeable, helpful, and enthusiastic! She's a great choice!…read more Really fun to work with!!!

Best place for musical advice and instruction in the Bay Area. Emilie is incredibly talented and…read morepatient.

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

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

THE JIG IS UP. AIs ARE DOING VOICEOVERS NOW! V/O has always…read morebeen highly competitive, but now AIs are doing them. FREE! Which means your chances of booking anything are approximately zero. What would you do if you needed a voiceover, hire a person and pay them hundreds or thousands of bucks, or get an AI to do it for nothing? These classes are sort of fun, so if you have a lot of money and just want a pleasant diversion, cool, but if you're looking to make this your job, forget it. I did OK as a voiceover guy in the 90s and 2000s, but the jig is now officially up. Save your money!

VoicetraxSF has been nothing short of incredible!…read more Not long ago, my journey into the world of voiceover and voice acting began with extensive online researching... diving into industry websites and influencer socials. It didn't take long before I was being convinced that all it took to start booking gigs was to buy a mic, watch a few TV commercials and build a pillow fort. But something about that felt too good to be true. I wanted a local-ish voice acting resource--one that offered robust training and real mentorship. And that's what I've discovered at VoicetraxSF. The moment I first walked through the door, I was warmly welcomed and my anxiety started to fade. With no background in performing arts--not even an elementary school play under my belt--I was both overwhelmed and terrified to enter this new-to-me world. But the staff scooped me up and I felt reassured that I'd made a good decision. I've taken a handful of mixed, online and in-person classes and they've all been methodically and passionately presented. The courses are relevant to today's voice acting world and the script reading exercises in every class give students the understanding of how to insightfully breakdown a script and deliver an authentic performance. The instructors--working voice actors themselves­--deeply care about student growth and success. Their feedback is honest and constructive, always delivered with support and encouragement. The instructors aim to foster an inclusive environment that is professional and fun. Student engagement is always top of mind at VTSF. For example, each month, a three-hour, free "open mic" Zoom session encourages participants to practice scripts and learn the vital skill of giving clear and concise feedback, all in a truly collaborative and safe space. BTW, what business does that, right? Two of the most valuable lessons I'm learning are: "Dammit, it's acting," as well as the importance of uncovering subtext in scripts. While I'm still absorbing and honing these skills, I know that with the guidance and encouragement of Vicky, Chuck, and Roni--as well as the deep roster of highly talented guest instructors--I'll continue to push past my comfort zone and grow into a credible voice actor. For anyone serious about voice acting, I can't recommend this studio enough!

We saw Prelude to a Kiss on Saturday, October 11 and really enjoyed it! Masquers Playhouse is such…read morea cute, cozy community theater so every seat has a great view of the stage. The space is well maintained and full of historical charm. The ushers were friendly, and the bathrooms were clean. During intermission they offer snacks, coffee, and sodas, and you just donate what you'd like, which is a nice touch. Tickets were very affordable, and it feels good knowing it supports local talent and the community. Plenty of restaurants nearby in Point Richmond, and parking is usually a block or two away but it's a pleasant walk in a charming neighborhood. Definitely worth checking out!

I love this theatre. The last three or four performances I saw here were great fun. Well directed…read moreand all actors giving their best.

Fabulous, comfy seat ng & the food, drink, treats Cinelounge® Marin in Tiburon brings a boutique,…read morethree-screen digital movie theater & performance space. Combining a retro Hollywood lounge atmosphere with luxury seating-- custom loveseats, sofas, and armchairs--and a wonderful 4K laser projection and Dolby Digital surround sound. to give you that home away from home feeling! Savor craft beer, wine, and local selections or gourmet organic snacks. Highlights include Tony's pizza from San Francisco, custom "Spielburgers," and the brand's industry-acclaimed gourmet vegan popcorn. Exceptional Programming: a mix of first-run studio blockbusters, independent cinema, and classic film series. What separates CineLounge from other film options? Special Events: Christian & Camila recognize the value of community, so they host community-focused happenings like karaoke nights, kids' and caregivers' matinees, and supervised "parents' night out" child-care events. Private Rentals: Available for private parties, live performances, gaming, e-sports (PS5), and VR activities. Just wow! What more could one hope for entertainment.

My friends and I had a very disappointing experience at this theater. We purchased tickets for the…read morenew Spider-Man movie about a month in advance and drove nearly two hours to Tiburon to celebrate my friend's birthday. When we arrived, we were told that our scheduled showtime didn't exist. We never received any email, phone call, or other notification that the showtime had been canceled or changed. The staff also told us that we had already been refunded, but no refund had been issued to my account. When I explained this and asked for help getting my money back, I was told there was nothing they could do. They also refused to contact or call a manager to help resolve the situation. As a result, we missed the movie entirely, lost approximately $43, and spent hours driving for what was supposed to be a fun birthday celebration. It was incredibly frustrating to be left without any solution or accountability. Mistakes can happen, but the lack of communication beforehand and the unwillingness to help resolve the issue afterward made the experience much worse. I hope the theater improves both its customer service and its handling of ticketing issues so other customers don't have a similar experience.