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Actors Theatre of San Francisco
Category: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Performing Arts [Edit]
855 Bush St(between Mason St & Taylor St)
San Francisco, CA 94108
Neighborhood: Union Square
(415) 345-1287
- Good for Kids:
- No
About This Business:
We're the Bay Area's leading independent presenter of chamber music, vocal and instrumental recitals, jazz and contemporary dance. We present… read more »
20 reviews for Actors Theatre of San Francisco
20 reviews in English
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Review from Peejay M.
North Beach/Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, CA
8/15/2011
Great, small theatre - saw "American Buffalo" on Saturday night, and "Streetcar Named Desire" a couple of months ago. Both acted brilliantly.
Probably sits only about 100 people so you are really close to the stage and truely feel a part of it all.
The set design for both was fantastic in such a small space - the actors' voices carry well (in fact "loudly" when 'Teach' is cursing in American Bufflalo!!)
Gets a little warm in the theatre, and bathroom facilities are very basic - but clean. They offer a small selection of soda and bottled beer to take in, and soft cookies which are pretty tasty. -
Review from Wes M.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2009
The Datebook describes the SF Follies as a more San Fran-specific alternative to Beach Blanket Babylon. But I should note there's a pretty big difference in production values between the two. The Actor's Theatre, for a start, is one of these little black shoebox theaters, very similar to New Langton Arts out in SOMA. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have a venue like this up on Nob Hill, but don't take your out-of-town guests here expecting a Club Fugazi-esque nightclub.
As for the show itself, it had its ups and downs. By far the best part was the stretch with the newly arrived midwestern couple looking for a house and being given a tour of the city by a hilariously smug Gavin Newsom. They should take a cue from BBB and use this as the skeleton plot--ie, have these characters show up in the very beginning and appear throughout, with the essential conflict being "should we even live in San Francisco?". Then they could weave in the historical bits instead of covering it all in a relatively dry and linear first act. My one other general bit of advice would be to have fewer, but more involved skits--at some points they were just trotting out way too many throwaway jokes.
Nevertheless, if you're obs-SF-ive like me, it would be a shame not to give this show a look--you might even learn something new (like the existence of the Brown Twins, for instance).Listed in: Union Square
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Review from Liz S.
5/17/2007
This is my favorite way to see a performance - in an intimate venue, with no hype, and a casual setting. I like to sit down to a play the way you would to your favorite television show - with a drink in hand, maybe a snack, comfortably, and eagerly anticipating what is to come.
I have been enjoying the Actors Theatre for a few years now, and I have to say, this ensemble gives 110% every time. Even when the house has maybe 10 people in it, you would think that they are playing to a huge crowd.
One of my favorite works that they performed was "A View From the Bridge" by Arthur Miller. Wow. So powerful - similar in style to the great film "On the Waterfront" with its grit and raw emotion, beautifully acted and riveting to watch.
Raw emotion would be a good way to describe the acting style of the Actors Theatre. They delve deep into their characters' psyches, often culminating in a catharsis, punctuated by an outburst. And in true ensemble theater style, there is no one starring role - each cast member has an opportunity to build their character and explore its highs and lows, and showcase their talents. Even minor characters are memorable.
Last night's performance of David Rabe's "Hurlyburly" was a perfect example of this. It first premiered in 1984 at the Goodman in Chicago, then had a run on Broadway - recently, it was revived off-Broadway with a cast including Ethan Hawke and Parker Posey. Set in the 1980s in Hollywood, it shows the ugly side of the entertainment world, and downward spiral of excess. Nostalgic for the '80's? You won't be after seeing this play. Eddie's lingering question of "How does it pertain to me?" speaks to how distracted and disconnected we can become, even when surrounded by people.
If you love theater, go see a performance by this company - it's inexpensive (half price tickets usually available through Goldstar), easy to do, and will leave you thinking about it for days to come.Listed in: All The World's a Stage
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Review from Adrienne G.
San Francisco, CA
4/26/2009
Came to Actors Theatre of San Francisco last night to see the SF Follies & had an amazing time
This was their final weekend & somehow I scored free tickets - woohoo
Walk up to an old-timey-looking theater w/ its Marquee / Awning ( I forget what it's called) lit w/ the bulb lights all along the bottom & the sandwich placard outside so we know it's going to be a fantastic, small venue
General Seating - so be sure to get there a bit early. We arrived like 10 min ahead & had no problem locating great seats. Seats themselves are comfy & like those in Opera House Theatre or Lumiere - nice & cushiony; the views are very good & the temp was a bit warm but we had planned ahead so it was a-ok
The SF Follies' cast was an amazing crew! The stage is really close to the audience & while others might be intimidated, these folks gave us their all w/ incredible voices, shtick that was all *shtick* & costumes were fun, elaborate, & man, were there a lot of wardrobe changes throughout the show!
Riffing on SF like nobody's business (but in a loving, innocent, tounge-in-cheek kind of way) we got a true insider's appreciation of the Decades leading us from the Gold Rush to Present Day; Parking debacles, trying to find a home in the various neighborhoods (the funniest part), Going Green w/ Gavin....just to name a few
Would highly recommend coming to Actors Theatre for future plays & if we're so lucky to have the SF Follies extend their performance, would more than highly recommend coming to see this great troupe!!Listed in: Meet You At The Theeatah
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Review from Jessica K.
Roseville, CA
6/16/2008
This theatre is easy to pass up on the street in it's new location so put a little extra effort into seeing the shows.
Running Sam Shepard's "Buried Child" and while some parts are a bit "rehearsed?" ha ha, overall it was a convincing performance and left me with lingering question.
Theatre itself is small, but well maintained and has that cozy feel of a small playhouse, not yet engulfed in money and politics. For the size and the staffing, it is well run and thoughtfully executed. -
Review from Justin C.
2/17/2009
They are my neighbors and I see crew and actors going in there all the time to strike their sets and to rehearse. I wish there were more neighborhood theaters like this.
And yes, they give 100% whether to a packed house or a smaller crowd.
I'm sorry I missed "Buried Child" but will check out their next production, whatever it may be.
In a fucked-up city like SF that has almost completely abandoned the jazz and live music scene for emotionally-vacant electronica and DJs, it's nice to know some of the arts are still around. Bon courage les artistes! -
Review from Malory V.
Carolina, PR
7/29/2010
I just saw Cat on a Hot Tin Roof there. The acting -- especially of Big Daddy's character -- was phenomenal and it was made all the better by the small, intimate theater setting. And they seem to have casted the perfect cross between Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor for Maggie. I only paid $8 to see it (Goldstar, woot!), and in retrospect, that seems like a crime the quality of acting was so great. I didn't even realize until my friend said it, but I don't even think they were miked. I'll definitely be back to this playhouse. It is definitely low budget theater -- the entire play happened without scene changes (with two intermissions) -- but high quality acting.
Other than that, it was a very welcoming environment. But I'd make sure you go to the bathroom before the play or find a place to go outside the theater during intermission. There are two bathrooms, but from what I could tell an older clientele frequents this theater and they uh, yeah, took their time in there during the intermission I had to go.
If you want a little drink or cookie or coffee, they offer that before the show and whatever's left of it during intermission -- and that's nice and inexpensive too. -
Review from Maile N.
Updated - 5/29/2011
I saw "A Streetcar Named Desire" last night, and it was Awesome A+ theatre! The acting was stupdendous, and the stage engineering and set-up was ingenious to capture the inside, outside and a balcony in a relatively small stage area - impressive! On a Saturday evening, every seat was filled and the audience was taken in by the story and acting. Loved it! I'll be back again and again!
Listed in: My SF 'Hood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/30/2010
I caught Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" last night, and luckily I saw it in time as it… Read more »
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Review from Nate C.
San Francisco, CA
9/10/2010
In my first visit to the theater, I caught a wonderful production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof last night. The acting was excellent and as an indicator of the quality of other productions here, I'll be back for sure.
Other pluses: intimate theater without a bad seat, and affordable concessions which they allow you to take back to your seat. -
Review from Liezl C.
Mountain View, CA
3/12/2009
I saw Of Mice and Men here and it was absolutely wonderful! The actor who played Lenny was seriously phenomenal. Love the intimacy of the theatre. Only seated about 100 people.
Seems like plays performed here still appreciate the actual art of theatre! I hope to come back and watch more. -
Review from Mike J.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2009
One of the things I love about San Francisco is the fact that a tiny neighborhood theater like this can still survive and thrive. Unlike most of the small theaters in town, however, these folks will not subject you to a lot of preachy, self-indulgent crap in a desperate attempt to appear "relevant" or "cutting edge." Actors Theater primarily sticks to classics (Stienbeck, Pinter, et al) and does a wonderful job.
One final side-note, as a resident of the neighborhood I get to see first hand all the hard work these people put into their craft. I can't tell you how many times I've walked by here on a "dark" night and seen one of the actors I'd just seen onstage the night before working away on some kind of theater improvement project such as installing new floor tiles in the lobby. Walking by a few days ago I noticed that they've re-done the entire facade of the building, for those of you who have been there in the past you're gonna be blown away by how great it looks!
Those of you that haven't been there yet, check it out, it's very inspiring to see people so dedicated to what they do. -
Review from Arissa C.
San Francisco, CA
6/29/2007
Actors are mediums to ghosts who lay forgotten- but - by a playwright's creative process give birth on stage- the drama that inspire actors and audience alike and relive that same passion once again. Each actor's ability to re-enact and revisit those same tender moments find themselves alive in the characters they play , with the sole intention to redeem an opportunity in enlivening the heart and soul.
This profound accomplishment is only possible through the talented actors who devoted their skills in honing the lines and allowing their character to inhabit their bodies for the evening.
I saw David Rabe's play, "Hurlyburly" - directed by Kenneth Vandenberg with the superb cast from the ATSF. It was a transfiguration of sort- once the first line was 'delivered' there was no turning back. I was transported in Eddie's living room, I could smell the alcohol soaked carpet, heard the music from one of the bedrooms and cringed on the mounds of party favor on the table... My eyes were transfixed by the reality of the scenes and the subject matter they covered... how rough it must have been for 80's ...
I think we have all experienced escapism in one form or another, I connected with Eddie from losing his friend to rising through his challenges and shortcomings and face reality with a certain determination.
The beauty of this transformation began with the stage props that reflected the era, the raw and versatile 'performances' of the actors and the rich dialogue of the characters.
There is only one reason why a play ends- it is to deliver the applause and adulation for a transcendental performance!
Thank you and I look forward to attending more plays here in the future:-)
PS- The theatre is actually small and needs a few repairs...like the roof and needs some remodeling -I checked out their website and if you are able to volunteer or donate to a worthy cause...make this one of them :-) -
Review from Trish D.
San Francisco, CA
11/8/2007
Quirky storefront location. 99 seats. Top notch acting ensemble led by the venerable Chris Phillips, a man with an uncanny sense of truth in acting. Easy access from public transportation (if you don't mind that one big hill UP from Union Square!) and well, just FANTASTIC shows!! Currently running - Camino Real by one of my favs, Tennessee Williams. Past productions include classics like The Rose Tattoo, Hurlyburly, and A Trip to Bountiful (starring Jean Shelton in her first stage role in 40 years). This is theater the way theater fans hope it will be when they pay their hard earned $$$$ at the door. You won't be disappointed.
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Review from Thuyvi F.
7/9/2010
Came here to see "All My Sons" with my husband for our anniversary and I must say for my first drama play it was intense! It took us a minute to try to find the theater cuz we kept missing it but we finally found it. My husband thought it was going to be a big huge lavish place but its a small venue with maybe 40 50 seats. When we first got there we were overdressed becuz we came from dinner but we were like omg this place looks so ghetto and small and run down. We hope this wasnt going to suck. It had that old skool vibe and i was excited to see the play. However I guess theres that saying you cant judge a book by its cover rite. The cast was AWESOME! The acting was so good especially the mom and dad ! The play got super intense and I got emotional cuz i am such a sofTy but I was glad we go to see it! I even made my friend go and she loved it too!
Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Lynn Ruth M.
Pacifica, CA
11/7/2009
I have never seen a better production of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF. The pace of this production is amazing and Keith Phillips is to be lauded for managing to prevent the endless (though amazing and beautiful) monologues from bogging down the movement of the plot. Words cannot describe the impact of this play on every person in the audience. Its message of need, manipulation, love and hate is timeless. You owe it to yourself to see this wonderful piece and talk about it to everyone you know. It ends December 19 and if you miss it, do not hesitate to attend another production by this fine theater company. It is proof that you don't need a huge budget, big name stars and high ticket prices to present fabulous, unforgettable theater.
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Review from Rob R.
1/17/2010
Nice intimate theatre. Tickets were $36 for a nearly 4 hour performance of "Who's afraid of Virgina Wolfe". Acting was great, but the lines were tired. Definitely research the play before you attend.
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Review from Aimee K.
San Jose, CA
8/19/2010
I took my husband to the city last weekend as a surprise. One of the things I had planned was to see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Actors Theatre. I had never been there so had no idea what to expect, but decided to take a chance and was so wonderfully surprised. Both my hubby and I LOVED everything about it from the cute venue to the great staff to the cookies and beverages available. The play was amazing, I just can't stay enough good things about this experience, I haven't stopped thinking about it since. The cast was perfect, we had such a great time. I'll definitely go again. I strongly recommend going, you will be happy you did.
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Review from Ice Cream Truck I.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2010
A friend and I saw 'Suddenly Last Summer' at the Actors Theatre last night. It's a friendly, intimate theater. The hosts were very friendly, welcoming us and offering refreshments for purchase (wine, etc.). The crowd was small, supportive, and very friendly. Bathrooms get a good rating here - - three unisex separate bathrooms that handled the intermission crowd efficiently. Only downside is that the rows are sort of narrow and there's only one aisle, so everyone has to get up everytime someone wants to enter. Also I think the ventilation probably isn't optimal - - there were scenes with lit cigarettes, and a few audience members coughed or had to excuse themselves. But the show itself was strong, well-acted, effective with sound and lighting, though the set was somewhat limited. The stage is small. But I love the intimacy of the theater.
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Review from shannon l.
San Francisco, CA
5/18/2011
We had the opportunity to see "Streetcar Name Desire" last month and enjoyed it immensely. Top notch acting in a very intimate setting. A recommend!
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Review from Robin M.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2010
Wow, I have been to this theater twice in the past 2 years and the recent remodel is simply amazing....I cant even imagine how good SF Follies would have been in the remodeled venue. I recently stopped in to see Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe and the actors were really good. I was expecting quality but this certainly exceeded my expectations !
