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Actors Theatre of San Francisco
Rating Details »
Category: Performing Arts [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Nob Hill, Union Square855 Bush St
(between Mason St & Taylor St)
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 345-1287
- Good for Kids:
- No
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12 reviews for Actors Theatre of San Francisco
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!!
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.
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).
Saw the pre-opening night performance of this classic and it was amazingly good. Christian Phillips nails "George" and the other three artfully assist him. Very entertaining, intimate theater.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
My review may be biased to the fact that I am the costuming and set designer to Hurlyburly, but i am honest to say that i am very proud to bring Hurlyburly to the great San Francisco theater audience. Hurlyburly challenges the human spirit in a world that has been complicated with feelings and emotions. Rabe sets the play in the men's world that is filled with drugs, sex, and money. Instead of driving towards the lifestyle Rabe's character accept it and make sense of the meaning of the soul in the muddled times.
HurlyBurly has a limited run til June 23rd, i feel very fortunate to share this play with my bay area home.
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 :-)
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.
