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Brava Theater Center
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Performing Arts, Music Venues [Edit]
2789 24th St(between Hampshire St & York St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 647-2822
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 2 pm - 5 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
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40 reviews for Brava Theater Center
40 reviews in English
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Review from Eric C.
8/16/2010
Came here for City Circus in May. Called day of performance to get will call tickets and picked them up right before the performance. I don't think there was a parking lot, but for an evening performance street parking (meters) was free.
Small theater, no assigned seating, and really enjoyed the performance. Well, except for some annoying audience members that kept screaming when certain of their friends were on stage. Understandable I guess, cuz the actors are local and the tickets are cheap! -
Review from Ria J.
Oakland, CA
1/24/2012
Small, older theater with stadium style seating, so that all seats have a good view of the stage. We came here to see New Fire which was original, courageous, and heavy.
Review for the play:
New Fire seemed to be made more as a catharsis for the oppressed than for the appreciation of those unfamiliar in contemporary indigenous culture. I loved the singing, dancing, and symbolism. I was also impressed with multi-media background. While the acting was strong and moving, the dialogue was slow and heavy. The audience seemed to appreciate the weight of it, but there were not many white & Asian people there. I think the story would appeal to a wider audience as a ballet or modern dance with the background and storyline provided by a program and the multi-media, rather than dialogue. The dance and music sections were most effective at tapping directly into emotions and intuitive comprehension. -
Review from Simon S.
Pacifica, CA
1/18/2012
Not to be missed is Teatro Vagon's explosive new production of the Reginald Rose courtroom classic, "12 Angry Men," now playing at Brava Studio Theater in the Mission. Here, director David Acevedo has shrewdly gone back to the original 1955 all-male Broadway version - somewhat toned down in the Henry Fonda film classic and later rewritten for a mixed gender cast as "12 Angry Jurors." The original stage play is tougher, more aggressively on the edge of violence, and surprisingly if sadly more contemporary in its treatment of bigotry and racial profiling.
In a nutshell, a jury of twelve decides the fate of a ghetto youth accused of murdering his father. Eleven out of twelve are ready to send him to the electric chair, in what initially appears to be an open-and-shut case. They're also very eager to get it over with and go home after a long hot day in a courthouse with a broken air conditioner - bad luck for the accused. But a lone holdout, known only as Juror Number 8, is troubled by "reasonable doubt."
Against the rising frustration and enraged protests of the other jurors, Number 8 insists on reviewing the evidence until they are absolutely sure they're not wrongly handing down a death sentence. Step-by-step and one-by-one he sways the other jurors to overcome their prejudices and personal motives, for the sake of a young man's life. And there's a lot of hatred and personal baggage on this jury. In the course of the play, every man on stage is psychologically exposed - some shatteringly, some to profound self-insight.
The role of Number 8 is performed superbly by Steven Otiz. It's a tricky portrayal of an ordinary man of intelligence and compassion, not a crusader or a saint. Sticking to the legal principle of doubt, he fends off every kind of personal attack, never taking the bait but using all the persuasive skills he can muster, in order to make the other jurors stop and think. His character and indeed the whole play never lectures down to us. It's all about conflict and dialog, while the other jurors bring out the play's social themes in their characterizations.
Marte Mejstrik is electrifying as the bigoted Juror 10, giving a brave and unflinching interpretation of one very ugly character. When he gestures to the world outside, spewing hatred against "those people," it's impossible to forget that this play is happening in the real-life barrio right now.
On the flip side, CJ Smith plays an aloof executive who can only be swayed by logic. Bill Tankovich is wonderful as a flip-flopping advertising man whose weakness is all too familiar. Douglas Marshall is also strong as the Middle European immigrant and moral outsider who eventually stands up to those who underestimate him.
Every actor on stage is excellent, but of special note is Armando Rey as Number 8's most stubborn antagonist, Juror Number 3. Haunted by his own demons and a bitter relationship with his own estranged son, this is one angry man who cannot separate personal conflicts from the case at hand. Rey gives a finely measured performance as the play's most menacing and ultimately tragic character - a role that could have been merely bombastic in other hands, but here is worthy of a nominated screen performance.
A word should be said about the show's production design. Extremely minimalistic with only a table and 12 chairs, a small hanging window frame, and a false wall representing an adjoining washroom, the entire show is done in Brava's upstairs dance studio - a space so intimate the actors are sometimes literally in the audience's lap. But don't expect a "storefront" effort here. Lighting designer Carson Duper has done a remarkable job creating a film noir shadow world of window patterns crisscrossing the whole stage, brilliantly defining the space as a very convincing other world. One startling effect occurs when the entire set dims down to reveal whole scenes played inside the washroom - its front wall magically disappearing to show the action within. From the moment you step into this intimate space, graphically powerful stage lighting tells you that you're in for a very real and very special night of theater.
Teatro Vagon is a new company which has done only one show previously, the highly acclaimed "Boxcar" - another gritty, hard-hitting drama about men. It could be that they're tending to specialize in a kind of theater not often seen anywhere else. If so, it would be a welcome addition to the San Francisco scene. We'll see what they come up with next, but for now they are two for two hits - both of them tough and powerful masculine dramas with first-rate acting, direction, and design. -
Review from Carla B.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2011
I've lived in the Mission for years, and somehow managed to overlook this amazing gem. I discovered it when they hosted a small circus act, and went with some friends. It's a charming, smallish venue, with a nice stage, the show was fun, and it is just two blocks from my apartment. I'm so happy I stumbled upon this place - now I keep an eye on their calendar, and have gone to several more shows there. In fact, I already have tickets to another event next month. If you live in the neighborhood, definitely keep an eye on what comes through! They seem to host more obscure artists and acts (and good ones!) that you may not be able to see elsewhere in the city.
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Review from Sabrina A.
San Jose, CA
3/7/2011
We saw Devil Fish here. So cute!
It was a super small scale Cirque de Soliel for $26 a person plus some minimal fees. I found them through Yelp and found our whole experience really great.
Ordering online was easy. We showed up and it's not in the best area but luckily we found parking right off the main street. We didn't see any lots, so I think it's all street parking. We also were able to hop into one of the many taco places nearby and grab some quick, cheap food. It was easy to find and even showing up just 10 minutes early the lines were easy to navigate and it was clear where to pick up our will call tickets. The staff seemed friendly and managed to keep everything moving.
It was first come, first serve for seating but just 10 minutes early and we got seating in the front on the right and I honestly thought most seats would provide a good view and acoustics.
The theater has some real charm, painted walls, glass lights, big stage and overall it felt like a community theater. I loved it! I felt the theater was just big enough and yet small enough to feel intimate and yet not like a high school stage.
Clean and well maintained.
Cute charm.
Affordable.
Good show! -
Review from anjou k.
Oakland, CA
3/30/2010
I don't always make good decisions, but I recently made a super good one.
I decided to cancel cable and use the extra cash to check out independent theater productions. A couple of the shows I attended were at Brava Theater.
I am so impressed by the programming, building, and space. I like performances that can be entertaining and thought provoking at the same time, which is why this whole theater thing is so much better than TV. I highly recommend it. But even if you don't cancel cable, do check out a show at Brava Theater.Listed in: Cancel Cable and Experience…
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Review from Uncle Fishbits Aeneas X.
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
5/20/2009
Awesome joint where I saw City Circus Kamikaze Heart.... the Cirque De Soleil for the proleteriats and populists!
Just goofin on the populist nonsense, but went and saw this "break dancing, modern dance, kabuki contortionism, and circus" performance with the oddest storyline ever and ... well... $14 for that was insane. It was just phenomenal.... It's at the Brava Theater 24th and York in the Mission. It was fantastic. Article here in the Chronicle/SFGATE: http://www.sfgate.com/...
Seriously... check it out.
The theatre itself was wonderful... crumbling in parts but a testament of when people found so many other types of imaginative and creative entertainment than the tube. They support wonderful art here, and you would be hard pressed to find yourself in a bad situation ending up at the theatre. Maybe not during an earthquake, but other than that.... enjoy! -
Review from Charmian D.
San Francisco, CA
5/25/2009 2 photos
Bravo at Brava!!
Offbeat & delightful...watching Kamikaze Heart in Brava theatre just made my Saturday night all the more pleasing.
The play was attended & ran by local bay area artists. It's not your ordinary circus act but a play that has a little bit of the drama, acrobatic acts, humour, dance, song & breakdancing....BREAKDANCING! I'm a hip-hop enthusiast at heart so it was awesome seeing this incorporated into the acts. The live sound, stage effects & band made the show so lively....inspiring. I had to get up from my seat & shake it...
It has been awhile since I've kept in touch with community, cultural inspired events so it was very refreshing to see City Circus!
Watching Kamikaze Heart from the historic, beautiful Brava theatre was also idealistic with it's impressive spacious area leading to the stage...beautiful, nonconformist like artwork by local artists hanged & displayed everywhere. -
Review from lenea m.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2008
The very first step I took walking in i was WOWED!! I mean I so loved the theater. I was just amazed that I have never been in this theater!! Then when we were about to sit as I walked into the theater walking up to the ramp I was even MORE WOWED!! I mean this theater is so pretty almost as pretty as the Warfield and opera theater. The stage was great the lighting was ough. Well I am not going to go on and on about how much I loved coming here for the first time alls I can say that it will NOT be my last.
Oh by the way I can here for the Latin Film Festival and saw
'El Brindis' in English 'To Life' so loved the movie..... -
Review from Cyn W.
Arlington, VA
3/30/2010
How have I lived in the Mission for this long and not known about Brava?
Saw a play at Brava Theater a few weeks ago. The play was just mediocre, but the theater blew me away! It's beautifully ornate, intimate, and full of character. According to their website, it's a 70 year old vaudeville house currently operated by a women's art collective. I'm proud to support them and very grateful to have them in our neighborhood. -
Review from Abendigo R.
San Francisco, CA
3/14/2007
Thank god theaters like this still exist in SF. My friend Jordan recently took me to the Richie Havens show, which was incredible. The seats are comfortable. It's very intimate. Acoustics are great, and lighting is solid. If there's ever anything you dig running at Brava, I highly recommend you check it out. Very old-school, probably seats 500. I'm not sure.
If you don't know who Richie Havens is, he sang Freedom at Woodstock and plays guitar like an Hamza el Din on the oud. He was part of the New York coffee house scene with Dylan way back in the day. And his energy is like a mad Sufi during some dervish in the Middle East. -
Review from Shanna K.
2/4/2007
I love this theater. I've seen two shows here and I love everything from the seating (not a bad seat, really) to the sound and light to the cheap wine and snacks they'll sell in the lobby. (White wine only, red stains the carpet if it spills.) It also has a pretty ceiling and that's nice. I like that. I like old buildings. Thank god there are still a few left.
Even though parking can kind of suck in the area, I've found a reliable spot (so far).. that makes it even better. The theater is pretty easy to get to, also... from any direction. Sweet.
Good on them for doing what they do. I'll be back. -
Review from Miel H.
San Francisco, CA
4/15/2009
Oh thank your lucky stars that this gorgeous time capsule hasn't been ripped down for condos. A grand entrance way guides you back to an old fashioned cinematic experience that has you thinking, yeah, the back rows ARE the best place for "necking".
05APR09 I stopped in for a showing of The Gits, a documentary on an 80's punk band out of Seattle that was part of the SF Women's Film Festival. A member of the band was on hand to add depth to the story of the female lead singer who was brutally murdered and gripped the hearts and minds of many for years.
The seats are a bit creaky and low backed and you will have to really ask to see how handicapped accessible it really is. But once you are settled in, and you look across the stage you will realize that the cliche, location, location, location is so true.
The surrounding area is chock full of cheap eats and interesting stores including some funky clothing boutiques (got a dress for $5). Lots to wander around and sample before and after your event.
This showcase really gives you a feel for what SF might have been like in years gone by... -
Review from Justine W.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2010
I came here for a class performance. There is street parking. There is a lot of meter parking, but free meter after 6pm. I do not know how to take the bus here, but a lot of my friends say it is a sketchy place at night.
About the theater, I was surprised when I walked inside. The outside of the building does not do it's justice. Inside is so much cleaner. The stage might be a little on the small side, but the details on the side of the stage is really nice! It can fit a good 200-250 people in the audience that is. -
Review from M. B.
San Francisco, CA
3/12/2009
Are you kidding? Run down part of town??
What a bunch of gooses!
It's on 24th! Very near Bryant! Run down...oh lord...don't let the suburbanites keep you away from this beautiful and ambitious theatre.
They seem rent the large space (mostly) to touring projects and local shows while also creating their own vision in the 2nd space.
Don't let this local gem go to waste! -
Review from Sondra C.
Bensalem, PA
3/6/2009
The Brava is a beautiful, historic theater, lovingly restored and updated in the heart of the Mission, although the renovations were not complete when I attended Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore! (March 2009).
(BTW, I absolutely loved this show. I laughed, I cried... I danced! Penny Arcade shares her personal history while addressing sexual and political issues that plague our culture.) -
Review from Bert K.
7/20/2007
Cool place for latin sounds. Small theater so get there early for choice up close seating.
Close by fine puerto rican food at El Nuevo Fruitilandia. -
Review from Valarie A.
San Francisco, CA
6/3/2007
It was great to go out to Brava on a Saturday night in the Mission. The theatre is walking distance from my house, so parking or muni was not an issue for the evening.
We strolled over to the theatre and for the first time, there were more women on the sidewalk, than a typical Mission Saturday night.
Picked up our tickets for the show at will call and immediately walked in to our seats.
The crowd was full of absolutely beautiful women for a great night out.
The theatre is completely quaint. A couple of flower arrangements on the stage and the lights dimmed, it set the perfect stage for the act.
A standing ovation to this little theatre supporting women in the arts. I'll be back for many more shows. Thanks for a great night out! -
Review from J D.
Oakland, CA
1/21/2009
--In the interest of disclosure, I am now a volunteer here--
I'm new to the area and wanted to get involved with an arts group that needed a hand. I fell in love with both the space and the work they are doing there.
I've been heading down to BRAVA for their last several shows and have enjoyed myself. I became a volunteer (unpaid) after a few visits and have seen the place a bit more close up.
After having visited the theater about 15 times, I have never felt unsafe or out of sorts. I've now enjoyed productions, films, and performances by outside groups there and look forward to the season.
Most recently, we attended the $5 MLK Day event where they showed a King documentary and the I Have a Dream speech. It was wonderful to see these in a community space. -
Review from Claudine C.
San Francisco, CA
2/17/2010
Hooray for independent theatre! This beautiful old building has a ton of history behind it and was designed and built by the same architects behind the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, and the Fairmont and Cliff House in San Francisco.
Currently, it's run by a women's art collective dedicated building community and supporting multicultural and feminist works including art, spoken word, theatre, etc.
Inside, it's almost like a mini Orpheum but is much more intimate and almost cozy - hardly a bad seat in the house!
Tim Barky and co., with the awesome Carlos Aguirre from Felonious, was able to show off their elegiac meditation on the afterlife - The Bright River - here to grand effect. I recommend catching it while there are still shows available.Listed in: The Arts
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Review from Leon G.
San Francisco, CA
4/5/2011
I called in advance and put 6 tickets on hold. "should I pay now? - No, I'll put it on hold - you pay when you arrive". An hour drive later I was told that there was a mistake - "There are no tickets left. Sorry". Now I have to explain to my friends why they arranged and paid for babysitters and drove for an hour. Amateurs. I'm NEVER coming back to this place.
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Review from Jenya F.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2010
I, personally, like small independent theaters. Brava Theater has small stage and audinece space; and no matter where you sit, you can always see the performance. this theater has very interesting and even shocking history. It's very beautiful and old building with its own character. I look at that theater, and I can say I am in San Francisco. For some reasons, I see this theater is in San Francisco style.
They usually have great performances. I went to watch "The Beebo Brinker's Chronicles" - amazing play, very professional actors, and beutiful stage decoration. -
Review from Josie D.
San Francisco, CA
3/29/2011
I went to see the Vagina Monologues it was totally awesome. i am happy to support this venue and look forward to going back again!
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Review from Ken L.
2/13/2010
What is there not to like? This place is awesome.
I saw Tim Barsky's - "The Bright River" here recently. Great hip hop play, great venue, great night.
That is all. -
Review from jen n.
Long Beach, CA
7/23/2007 1 photo
I saw Tegan and Sara play at the Brava last night, and it was a really great show. The theater is small and intimate, and we had terrific seats. I am guessing that any seat in the house is pretty good considering the size of the place. Seating was comfy and you had enough leg room to not feel like you could perform a dental exam on the person in front of you. The only thing I wished they had: air conditioning. Granted, it is not usually this hot in the city, especially in the evening. But damn, it was so stuffy and warm in there. But, other than that, I had a lovely time.
T&S are adorable. -
Review from Angela H.
San Francisco, CA
6/19/2008
I tend to like smaller venues, and this one was pretty intimate and a relatively good size. I saw Tegan and Sara back-to-back here. Freaking awesome.
The first night for some reason it was unbelievably HOT inside! Literally sweating in my seat. It must've been at like 85 degrees in that venue for some reason. We were in the back and still had a pretty good view.
The second night we were up near the front on the side. Much cooler (temperature-wise), and the view was awesome!
There's street parking; though, there's also a huge parking lot near 23rd and Potrero (just go up 23rd toward Potrero Hill...it's right across the street from the hospital. You won't miss it). Though it costs money, it's definitely cheaper than other parking structures I've parked at in the city.Listed in: I Heart Music
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Review from Robert C.
San Francisco, CA
10/26/2010
Went to this place for the first time since it was a movie theater (a long time ago!) the other night. I love old theaters and they haven't changed it much, so points for that. The staff was very friendly and welcoming (not to be taken for granted in San Francisco, especially when you're dealing with artsy types). One glitch-- we and some others went into the wrong space and sat there until the show was almost on until someone who works there realized what happened. No one's fault, really. The first theater was too cold and the second one was too hot, however.
The play itself-- Reluctant-- had its moments, but not many. My friend and I were sort of able to piece together the story later, but I guess fractured narratives and convoluted plots are the essence of cutting edge theater, and that's never gonna change. I guess.
Most of the play was a monologue, and sometimes the sound effects got in the way of hearing what the actor was saying. See above. I suppose.
But all in all, it was a nice experience. Oh, I forgot to mention that it was free, too, courtesy of Free Night of Theater.
Bravo, Brava! -
Review from M K.
San Francisco, CA
3/6/2010
I saw "The Bright River" at the Brava Theater, and the theater is gorgeous. What a beautiful building, and I am so glad that someone is preserving it. The plays and acts that perform at the Brava are also very interesting, cutting-edge plays and music. I'm grateful that the art, theater, and music community has access to a venue like this.
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Review from Gourmet G.
San Francisco, CA
9/3/2005
Opened in 1926 as a vaudeville house that later morphed into a second-run movie theater, the building now houses what is possibly the only female-owned and operated theater in the country and serves as home to Brava! for Women in the Arts. The renovated, 300-seat Deco space is the setting for plays largely written by women and minorities, as well as workshops for both children and adults in most aspects of theater production, from writing to directing to acting. Five stars for being there for voices that might otherwise go unheard.
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Review from Tyson F.
East Bay
11/21/2010
If the artistic director is dope, then you know everything the theater does will be too.
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Review from Lauren S.
5/15/2008
hip hop + circus + feminist venue = my idea of brilliant.
http://www.citycircus.org -
Review from Bruce S.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2009
My first visit to Brava Theater Center was for the Devil-Ettes' Go Go Spectacular. A great show in a VERY nice theater. Now that I know it's there, I'll be checking their schedule for reasons to return.
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Review from Lauren S.
Stockton, CA
2/26/2008
How freaking cute is this place?! I love how small and quaint but so pretty inside. The cloud painted panels with all the beautiful trim is just incredible. Saw the U.S.S. Metaphor here a couple nights ago- and just loved it.
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Review from marisa e.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2010
A great theatre, beautiful on the inside, with a wide variety of well done shows. Just saw Beebo Brinker there, which was a great time with a lively audience. And, as an added bonus, I got to see Mad Men's Joan there, who was watching the show and having a drink afterwards...
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Review from niesha d.
Berkeley, CA
7/27/2008
wonderful venue that has interesting performances. Also does a lot for the community.
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Review from April M.
San Francisco, CA
4/4/2006
One of my favorite theaters in the Mission, I've seen a bunch of superb productions here, always with heart and passion. It's a great space that has been preserved and renovated nicely, and girls, it's worth supporting because of their commitment to women and the arts. Bravo for Brava, ha, yes I am that cheesy.
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Review from Kalvin C.
San Leandro, CA
1/8/2009
Beautiful in all the wrong ways... I love the way it looks and the seats are clean and comfy, HOWEVER it is in such a run down part of town. I honestly did not feel safe walking from here to the BART station.
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Review from Len S.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2009
I went to Brava last night to see the premier of Brian Thorstenson's "Over The Mountain." I have to say that I'm in love with the space. There's an unfinished feeling to the exposed concrete and sections of peeled away plaster. I feel like this is the way it is because budgets being what they are prevent the company from finishing the old building, but here's what I say, keep it just that way, it's perfect in its threadbare way. It's a wonderful space with metal tresses over head. The sky blue of the ceiling is a nice contrast to that slightly rusted metal that hangs precariously over the audiences head with its attached lighting instruments and other apparatus. Go see a play there, it's well worth the trip, and if you can, go check out Brian's play Over the Mountain, wonderfully moving, which will run there till the 25th of April I believe...
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Review from Elizabeth C.
San Francisco, CA
3/31/2009
What a beautiful building. Brava Theater brings great shows to their little gem. I saw The Vagina Monologues in Spanish not to long ago and I had a wonderful time attending this show. I felt fine, not scared to walk down to Bart. The neighborhood Brava is in has lots of little restaurants and cafes to explore, if you're into exploring. If you're ever planning on coming down to any shows, I do recommend you come with enough time to find parking. But over all they put on a hell of show.
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Review from Jill k.
Oakland, CA
6/7/2010
its community spaces like these that make the bay area so great. keep up the good work, brava!
