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EXIT Theatre
Rating Details »
Category: Performing Arts [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin156 Eddy St
(between Mason St & Taylor St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 673-3847
- Good for Kids:
- No
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California Revels
- Category:
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- Neighborhood:
- Uptown
Celebrate the holidays with the 2009 Christmas Revels. Tickets are available to yelpers at $2 off or more at www.calrevels.org/Yelp.htm.
42 reviews for EXIT Theatre
Saw Zombie Town here on one of it's last nights, and I am waiting as patiently as I can for the Stallion Show to make it's debut. Great alt theater venue.
It will be linked forever in my mind with the term "Dildos and Daldas," obviously because both are available just outside the door. If you need such things. At night in the TL. Of course you do.
Being so close to Halloween, we had ourselves a Zombie-filled weekend and Exit Theatre was a big part of our undead fun
Friday nite, we visited Metreon for Zombieland ( & if you haven't seen it yet, DO! )
Sat nite, we had tix for Exit Theatre's ZOMBIE! A musical about 2 lovers from Colma who go to extreme measures to stay together. Very tongue-in-cheek & very funny!
The Theatre is divided into 2 super-small venues. Exit & Exit Stage Left. We were in Exit & it holds maybe 50-60 people.....which means there's no bad seat in the house. 1st come 1st served
Sound quality is great - didn't need earplugs & drinkys are allowed into the theatre - in fact, you can take in any Cafe item (woohoo!) and prices are awesomely CHEAP!
Crowd totally into the show & looked like the actors were having a great time too. Would totally come back to see another Play
Too bad I couldn't also fit in Zombie Town - which is also playing at this theatre - for my Zombie trifecta - hopefully they'll extend the show??
Only warning & kinda bummer - a homeless lady goes "Come Here" & grabbed Sis & me ( like literally laid hands upon us ) as we were entering the Theatre. We physically shook her off & at 1st thought it might be part of the show......it wasn't!
I attended the Zombie! A New Musical. The actors had amazing voices to go along with their acting skills. I definitely admired their versatile talents. The rooms were "intimate", to be put it nicely. Actually, it was really cramped where I was sitting.
EXIT Theatre gives you the alternative theatre experience and would go back. Don't walk in and out of that area alone!
Was there to catch Christian Cagigal's "Now and at the Hour" mime/mind-reader/magician/storyteller show (http://christiancagiga...), which I highly recommend because dude is good (also more fun than the normal bigger magic shows, since it's with a small crowd - but sit in the front rows to get the best views).
Really liked the venue. Intimate setting to catch a show (Stage Left seats maybe 30-40 people max). Didn't get a chance to hang at the cafe or see the Exit Theater itself, but will return for other shows. Support the arts, ey?
Great play to see--Zombie Town, debuting October 9th. I think it only plays for another week or so. It wasn't scary, just funny. Very unique. A handful of actors played multiple parts, which was unique. I loved the female actress the best. Without her, the play wouldn't have been nearly as good. She has talent! Friendly staff & set is very quaint, up close & personal. The food is unbelievably inexpensive. The only drawback of the place is that it is stuffy inside & very cramped. I went to the Exit Left Theatre.
I watched "7 Sins" with two friends in February. The performance was surprisingly good for a theater that looked, well ... not so great.
The EXIT is in a shady part of town so be careful. We definitely cabbed it there and back and I would recommend that. The theater itself is tiny and there are some seats in the front reserved for "VIPs" or people who paid twice as much to watch the same show as you from 5 feet closer than where you are sitting. We got the next row behind the VIP seating and we didn't miss a thing.
The theater is such a hidden gem and it's worth supporting.
The Exit is great. There are three venues in one: The Cafe, Exit Theater and Stage Left, and sometimes there's more than one show going on at a time. The cafe serves beer and wine, delicious sake cocktails and snacks. The Main Exit Theater is my favorite. It feels a bit like a cabaret with little tables to set your drinks and snacks on and a beautiful exposed brick wall.
The only downfall is that the location feels a bit sketchy but it's super close to Powell Bart so it's easy to get there, but you'll feel safer if you have a friend to walk the two blocks with you!
This review is fairly overdue.
I came here with the always awesome and affable Bill B. for a viewing of their adaptation of Don Quixote. It wasn't called that but I can't remember what it was actually called. Overall it was a quality performance. I'm sorry I can't remember the details but it made me want to try and read Don Quixote again, I can tell you that much.
As for the theater itself, yeah, it's cool. Have a beer and a nice snack in the theater. It's all good.
So in the end it goes like this:
Food? Check
Drinks? Check
Intimate setting? Check
Quality performance? Check
I think it would be excellent if they did No Exit at the EXIT. It is a small and black box enough theater that the urgency of the characters could be adequately felt and I think it would cool to say "I'm going to see No Exit at the EXIT."
I'm corny like that.
Hmm, I think I'm actually getting the hang of these fringe theaters--after having been to the Rhino, the quirky, winding hallways of Exit were downright familiar. Although the Exit is altogether a more sprawling operation, with 2 different theaters, and another around the corner. Plus it's got rough-streets cred that shames even 16th & Van Ness (or New Langton Arts' 8th & Folsom, for that matter). And the cafe area here would actually be enjoyable in its own right.
While I've been here multiple times, I can't beat this review of the show from my first visit (somewhat indirectly on Yelp's dime, I might add):
"I'm Yours" (or was it "Deranged By Love"?), a Don Quixote-meets-Midsummer Night's Dream love quadrangle that's a quintessential specimen of fringe-theater spunk, complete with puppets, songs, and spontaneous breakdown into interpretive dance. But in the end it lacked the balls-to-the-wall zaniness of, say, Pride & Succubus, and it frequently got bogged down in long stretches of dialogue, which were a far cry from Boston Wedding's bounce-a-quarter-off-it drawing-room wit-fests. At least Christian Gagigal, who plays the innkeeper, has a resonant voice and style that naturally enraptures you when the dialogue is good and and keeps you placated when it's not so good (I hear he also does a magic show).
Hmm, I think I've got this theater critic thing down--now I just need to start working in words like "riveting" or "soporific"--oh, and speaking of that, it gets real hot in there; do NOT stuff yourself on buttery curry, naan and Rolling Horse beforehand, or even the best shows may feel excruciatingly, suffocatingly long.
Walking to the Exit from Powell Street BART (as the TL assaults your senses) is a far cry from walking down it's dark halls (which, while dark, are also warm and welcoming. As walls can be, anyway). I liked the cafe-style of the seating - tiers of bars and stools as well as traditional ... er... folding chairs are available, depending on when you arrive. Drinks were reasonable and I jumped right on that sake option. A very pleasant, but also unique and intimate, place to see a play. And of course, they have very fun, quirky offerings.
"I'm Yours" fits into the "whimsical romp" category of plays. Watching this show, you could look over and see me smiling and engaged, at times pondersome*, at times full of wonder at their use of puppetry, at times held in suspense on behalf of the serrendipidously entangled quadrangle of lovers** There were a few holes in the plot, and I thought it ran a bit long, but overall I recommend "I'm Yours." I expected a bit more irony and wordplay, it being a Don Quixote-inspired production, but I was also digging all that Shakespearian dramatic irony.
*That's a word, damnit
*Not that I really know, since I don't typically glance over at myself and note my expressions. Just suspend your disbelief at my review writing as I did for the improbable outcome of those characters, mmkay?
Go see "The Monk" currently showing at Exit Left. It's a satirical Shakespearean-style tragedy set in Gothic Spain. Romance collides with demons, witches and Catholicism.
PLUSES: the you can take food and drinks from the Exit Cafe into the theater with you, and the PRICE of tickets is fantastic!
Proprietors are Passionate!
And been at it a long time.
Hello Richard, Hello Christine.
Currently: http://www.theexit.org...
Soon: http://www.cuttingball...
Avant GardARAMA! an evening of short experimental plays by Cutting Ball Theatre. EXIT on Taylor 8pm JUL 18 - AUG 16 (Tickets go on Sale June 1st)
Avant GardARAMA! showcases plays that radically experiment with theatrical form.
And of course, the San Francisco Fringe Festival!!!!
The 17th annual San Francisco Fringe Festival will be Sept 3-14th, 2008.
WHAT IS FRINGE THEATRE ... ?
IT'S Dangerous Theatre, where anything can happen ... Intense Drama, Comedy, Multimedia Performance, Clowns, Musicals, Eclectic Absurdism and yes, Undiscovered Treasurers!
Volunteers needed: http://www.theexit.org...
Home Page: http://www.theexit.org...
7 Sins was not very good but we liked the theatre. "Running the Gauntlet" is not much fun as you walk down the street to get to the theatre..oh well.
We saw a great show here last night and the venue was great although I would not walk around here alone at night.
I loved the fact that the theatre was intimate and the comedian was actually funny. Our last Cobb experience was not that great to say the least! It taught me that some times the less famous comedians actually want to make the audience laugh!
We saw 7 Sins: James Judd's One-Man Show and couldn't stop laughing. He was brilliant.
Classic tiny black box.
It gets very hot in there if you are dancing. If I was an audience member, I imagine I would yawn from lack of oxygen, being used quickly by the dancers.
The dressing room(s) are efficient and useful, perfect for 8 women to share the mirror, lights, and fix each others' hair and makeup, stretch, run in place, etc.
The intimacy of the theatre is delicious.
Will update soon.
There are two theaters (or three?) within one building (first time I have been in a drama-multiplex), each running different plays concurrently, and a cafe where you can get food and drink to take to your seat.
The room where I saw Chemical Imbalance last night was a little black-box set up proscenium-style with about 70 seats and a slightly elevated stage. It was intimate without feeling crowded and there were no "bad seats" in the house.
The ladies that run the cafe seem to call the shots, so be kind to them and they will take care of you. Drinks and snacks are reasonably priced and served with a smile, and self-serve pretzels were available free of charge. I'm not used to taking food and drinks into live theater, so I felt a little guilty every time I tipped back my bottle or put my hand into the pretzel bowl, but it enhanced the experience once I overcame my theater etiquette training.
The neighborhood can be a little intimidating in that uniquely Tenderloin way upon leaving the show, so I wouldn't recommend walking home from the Exit alone to many theater goers.
The box-office and the productions were run efficiently, and everyone I encountered was polite and helpful. Overall, it was a great experience, and I look forward to seeing more shows at the Exit Theater.
The Exit Theatre hosts the San Francisco Fringe Festival each year. This year was the second time I've attended one of their unique offerings.
The theatre itself is located in the Tenderloin just a block and a half away from Market Street and the BART/Muni underground. A block and a half isn't far unless you're walking alone in the Tenderloin but luckily it's close to Market and there's usually a pretty good representation of SF Police in the area.
I like the Exit Theatre a lot. The people who work there are nice, they put on great local talent, and the prices for shows are very affordable.
I saw the Fringe play Cruel and Unusual which is a commentary on the US government and their views about torture. When is it torture and when is it interrogation? Very intense play but well done. Needless to say I needed a stiff drink after!
Check out what's happening at the Exit Theatre and get your local culture on!
Yeah Exit!
I love the EXIT. It's in my neighborhood and there's always a ton of stuff going on there. They've breathed life into the Fringe Festival for such a long time, and I just wanted to write something in appreciation. The Exit Theatre is a great San Francisco institution now.
Tiny black box theater that creates initmacy between the audience and the performance/performers. They sell beer and snacks or you can bring them with you. Bring cash too. Why walk two blocks to the ATM in the TL at night if you don't have to?
Costs about the same to see an original performance here as it does to see a mind-numbing, formulaic, Hollywood studio produced Brad Pitt flick. It's not the Old Vic, but it's community theater at it's finest!
The Exit Theatre is one of the last, small local theatres left in San Francisco and thank God they're still here. They're pretty affordable to rent, offer cafe service and have a great staff.
Such a cosy and intimate theatre to watch a show, particularly entertaining Chemical Imbalance (Thanks to Yelp!).
We sat on the high seats in the back and no worries, every seat in the theatre is a good view.
We had the quiche for preshow, it was microwaved and unfortunately, the temperature wasn't very even on the entire quiche with the insides still a lil cold but overall it was edible. We also had a bowl of the free pretzels with us inside the theatre. The brie, cheese and bread plate did look good. Next time....
The show was very entertaining and great casts! Gabriel Diamond as Henry Jekyll/Mr Hyde was a cutie! He didn't look frightening at all.
However, the surrounding areas of the theatre is indeed very sketchy and really really intimidating. Some of the folks on the streets looked like they consumed the potion from Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde!!
Here is the deal with All of the Exit Stages: They all just rock.
I first met Christina when I came in town wanting to do a show. At that point it was .dot com hell and trying to rent a theater space in San Francisco was a year out affair, as there were very little options.
She was more than accommodating to me, and she was more than incredible when the asshole that I was working with dropped out leaving me in the hole. She refunded half of the entire amount I put down. Something...most people would never do at such short notice and with extreme understanding that assholes reside in theater.
I have done numerous shows with different ensembles on the various stages since that time, and have both performed and seen hundreds of Fringe Shows. I'm always continually impressed with the courtesy and professionalism of the Exit Theater Main stage, Studio, and The Exit on Taylor.
This week, I get a call from a friend who is at The Exit on Taylor. He is going through the same situation the first time I ever rented the Exit.
I was honored both him and Christina thought of me. And as I know there can be asses in theater, I'm proud to help out with this incredible venue with improvisation.
Long live the Exit. Come and be see what is playing in this iconic space. You will never leave disappointed seeing theater there.
The contribution that Christina and Richard have made to the San Francisco theater scene can't be measured.
I've had a love affair with this theatre - as a performer and audience member - since I saw a raucous fringe production called Mondo Andronicus some time ago.
In terms of accessibility the location is great. In terms of vomit, urine, and crack smoke, it could be better. But in any case, it's my favorite theater in the city. Fringe Festival aside, the Exit has almost singlehandedly propped up small theater companies in SF.
BRAVO!!!!!
Saw another great production at the EXIT Theatre last week: "I'm Yours, or Deranged by Love." LOVED IT and I highly recommend it to all. It's sort of a dramatic romantic comedy based loosely on Don Quixote (I know that concept may be difficult to grasp), but it comes together very well and the actors keep you entertained every minute.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/23/2007
Saw Chemical Imbalance with the Yelp crew and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I sat in the front row and… Read more »
Dark, twisted, exquisite and intense. The Exit Theater is a small theater house on the edge of Union Square and the Tenderloin. The seediness of the neighborhood plays into the details of debaucherous plots of death, dispair, conspiracy and murder.
I saw "The Maids" on Saturday... This play was wrought with emotions of hatred and desire. Caught up in the drama.. it was definitely a play to be seen and to be subjected to the domination of pleasure and the submission of virtue.
Fall in love with this house. It's edgy, it's intriguing. It has all the makings of a house for the slightly pshychologically disturbed.
See you on the dark side..
Went to a Show "The 13 Steps" performed by Christian Cagigal's @ EXIT Theater. To tell the truth, my first impression was, "woow, this place is so Ghetto!" The entrance was a bit smelly and the air conditioner didn't work functionally. Other than that........LOVED IT!!
My first time experienced a "little" theater performance. A "U" shape of 30 seats surround the artists, close and cozy. You could drink and nibble on snacks as you're entertained. Sets range from dramatic to Spartan, but you can always count on an erudite, sassy performance. Ticket price ranges from $5~$20 or free with donation.
My friend won tickets to Christian Cagigal's magic show here. Apparently there are a bunch of theaters on the first floor of this building. We were in the cafe for his performance, so it was very small and not even much like a theater, which is perfect for his show, since it involves a lot of audience participation.
In the cafe, they sell wine, beer, coffee, tea, some munchies (pretzels are free) and root beer floats(!). We rode public transportation (and ate at Naan 'n' Curry a couple of blocks away - yay) so I don't know what parking is like, but I would guess not great. Also, it's in the deepest darkest T-loin neighborhood, so put on your tough-guy or -girl facade and barrel your way in there!
Exit Theatre has some of the best black box space I have ever seen. It is small, intimate and feels like you are in a bar that happens to have a play going on 10 feet from your chair.
"Chemical Imbalance" was a great show, with excellent stage fighting and bloody effects. To be able to fight and kill so convincingly while being in the lap of the front row of your audience takes serious skill.
The beer and food being allowed in the theater is a unique treat, I definitely want to see more shows here.
I had the privelage of performing at The Exit in December. I'm a fan of black box theatres and this a great little one. There are 3 theatres in there, The Exit, Exit Stage Left, and Exit Cafe (I think thats the name). I performed in The Exit and loved the intimate setting and caberet like setting. You can order drinks before the show and sip while you watch, which is a rare.
The Exit hosts a lot of new or experimental shows which is great for newcomers and playwrights getting off the ground. You can find some really great shows here. I definitely recommend checking it out.
The theatre is intimate, accessible, and convenient to public transportation.
On 11/10/07 I saw the closing performance of "Mathew 33:06" and found the show engaging, thought provoking and the acting powerful and believable.
This the the quality that deserves to be seen on Broadway and a real gem for our city.
I will definitely be going back to the Exit Theatre in future. Theatre is alive and well in San Francisco.
mayhem, murder, good vs evil
chemical imbalance at the exit
support your local theatre!
if there ever was a destination in the tenderloin, exit theatre just might be it. this is a nice little sweet theatre. i came here and watched chemical imbalance here recently. thanks, yelp!
for my complete review on chemical imbalance, click this link
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
anyway, there's really not a bad seat in the house. i sat in the very last row and was able to watch and listen to everything. sweet! i like that about small theatres.
finally, it appears that there are several plays going on at once. so perhaps you can buy one ticket and watch multiple shows? you know, like you did it in high school. come on. confess. i know some of you did it... um, actually, on second thought, don't do it. screwing hollywood and megaplex is one thing, but do not screw small local theatres. they are a treasure to our community. so support your local theatres!
i had the distinct pleasure of seeing chemical imbalance at exit theatre last night, and feel compelled to give the place five stars for the following reasons:
-the theatre in which we saw chemical imbalance (they have two of them, as many have already noted), is small enough to feel intimate, but not so small as to feel claustraphobic, or as though i was watching a play in someone's basement.
-you can bring food and beverages into the theater. which means that you can drink a beer and stuff your face while enjoying the show. be careful, however, that you don't spray beer out of your mouth while laughing, because chemical imbalance was one funny play, and nobody likes beer spraying from the mouth of the person sitting next to them. especially while out at the theatre.
-the cafe had a variety of food and drink at exceedingly reasonable prices. they have a variety of beer ($3-4), some wine ($3.50), and a lovely selection of food for $5 or under. i had the brie, bread & fruit plate, and they were NOT stingy with the cheese, let me tell you.
-the people running the place were quite pleasant and seemed to enjoy what they were doing.
-if chemical imbalance is any indicator, their repertoire is certainly of a high, and unique, caliber. i'm definitely interested in checking out their other plays in the future.
the only drawback was the neighborhood, as others have mentioned. it was a bit of a crackhead gauntlet from the corner of mason & eddy to the theater, but the place isn't so deep in the 'loin that you wouldn't be able to run to safety from a rampaging crackie if you needed to..,
Exit Theatre hosts the 2007 San Francisco Fringe Festival with 38 productions! Theater goers have been enjoying this fun and eccentric production ranging from musical theater with high doses of crazy , uncensored antics to comical shows spanning a zany universe! What makes this even more interesting is the intimate set of the small theaters incorporating the audience into full participation through their reactions and laughter. What makes it even more unconventional is the ability for you to bring food and drinks during the show- tables abound to set those plates and glasses.
SO how do you know if the person you are dating is completely into you or not? Sure they call you and ask you how you are doing, go out to dinner movies etc... but how do they really feel about you?
Here's a spin- don't wait till next year- find a play that speaks volumes of what you've been wanting to KNOW- for instance- "IF the world gets swallowed up by a black hole tomorrow, What would you do in those remaining hours? This was the premise of the play I saw last night- with my date in tow. Given this venue to finally ask what I've been wanting to know- the play answered it through many paradigms- that covered the importance of those few hours, what they truly mean and with whom you would cherish to spend it with. Without having to
dispel the content of the play-, I'm sure you can come up with a few thoughts on own- my favorite one was the reporter arduously at work- STILL presenting the news (ala Cooper Anderson)- finally giving up the stoic heroic antics for "I love u's" to his family- ON LIVE TV (which I'm sure would have been a top rated youtube video clip)!
I'm not sure whether the play ended on a happy note or not- but I did get to pose that very same question last night- I won't say what he said- but it did put a really big smile on my face. That was the happy ending to the play!
PS- Find the answer to your question tonight- here are some of those plays to choose from:
(Please note that some plays may not be at the Exit- check posting for location)
Company/Performer ---------- Show Title
Victoria Doggett -- Kiss My Booth
Live Evil -- Heavy Metal Playground
Homeboy Liquors Productions -- The Stetson Manefesto
Deep Sea Divers -- You Go First
Stevie Lee Saxon -- Korean Badass
Kim Harmon -- parts is parts:
Comedy on the Square -- Frisco Fred's Cabaret!
The Drama Mamas -- Low Hanging Fruit
Kurt Bodden -- Class Notes
UpMarket Productions -- RM3
Dona Budd -- Terrible Voice
mugwumpin -- Tesla's White Pigeon
tba* -- 1 Quandary Place
Terri Tate -- Shopping as a Spiritual Path
Amy Tobin -- Organic Boxed Chicken Stock
U.S. Theatre Companies
inFluxdance -- Found and Lost: Goals for 2002
AHOLE-TV -- TeleMongol
The Nonsense Company -- Great Hymn of Thanksgiving / Conversation Storm
Wild Child Presents -- Her Kind: The Life & Poetry of Anne Sexton
Yellow Taxi Productions/Steven Henegar -- A Strange Black Passion
Truth & Lies Prods -- Embarrassment & Death
Courtney McLean -- Super Glossy!
Rick Huddle -- Border Crossings
Cody Daigle -- Abundance
Noel Williams -- Party of One
International Theatre Companies
The Chaos Factory and The Quickening Theatre -- The Children's Museum
Silk Purse Productions -- The Falls of Vincent Millay
Matt Panesh -- Monkey Poet Stand-Up!
Emily Morwen -- Spotless
Robert Hawke -- Fuck You Cancer
Non-Traditional Venues
Steven Karwoski -- Adventures of a Substitute Teacher
RIPE Theatre -- & billions more
Rising Phoenix Theatre Co. -- Barroom Philosophers
SF Buffoons -- The Hashheesh Eater
Soft Shell Cab Prods. -- i hate my friends
Banana Bag & Bodice -- The Sewers
foolsFURY Theater -- Turn of the Screw
H. R. Britton -- Jesus Rant
Be warned....the front row will get wet.
They should have told us that when we sat in those prime seats in the front row of the theater. It was a very interactive experience when the blood splatter landed on my jeans. I wasn't bothered by this at all! I thought it was awesome....especially when during intermission they offered me a towel and cleaner to clean myself up.
Beer and pretzels in the front row? Any day please! They have bread and brie and snacky food you can enjoy while watching the show.
Its a cute little theater nestled into the heart of the Tenderloin. If you can, walk there with a gentleman in tow, you will feel safer walking in, and make him feel like the luckiest guy in the world. Only if its with me and my +1 of course.
Thank you Yelp for this amazing opportunity to visit a theater I don't think i would have ever thought of visiting. Chemical Imbalance was a fantastic performance, a well written take on the Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde story, and a great way to spend my Thursday night. Being Elite has it's privileges for sure....
Edit: upon further review....why did i give it 4 stars? it was 5 star worthy for sure. sorry for the snap judgement...i wrote it half drunk. Cuz you served me beer!!!
I also attended the Elite Event showing of "Chemical Imbalance" and the experience was delightful. It was a nice intimate setting with comfy chairs and plenty of leg room. The only thing that made the experience a little uncomfortable was the lack of A/C or some sort of ventilation. It does get pretty stuff after a few minutes. I would surely consider coming back for another show here.
Yes, I'm writing this review as a "theatre person" - whatever the hell that means.
This place deserves its due.
Yes, the neighborhood is grimy. You will always smell a combo of urine and fried chicken as you walk from the Powell BART down Eddy to get there. Yes, there's usually someone passed out on the street, someone else yelling to no one, and, if you're a woman, someone making a comment on your ass, even if you're dressed in a mumu.
Yes, the theatre doesn't necessarily have air conditioning.
But man, is this place a gift to every experimental or small or fringe or whatever you want to call it theatre artist that comes to San Francisco. Not only have Richard and Christina (the people who've been running this space for over 30 years) made the SF Fringe Fest possible and available to international, local, and upcoming artists alike, and not only have they nurtured great art and great audiences within their own community, but every small company in San Francisco has performed in at least one of their spaces (the Exit Theatre, the Exit Stage Left, and the Exit Cafe are all at 156 Eddy - if you go around the corner to Taylor, there's the Exit on Taylor). Many of these companies could not have survived without the support that these two amazing people provided (and continue to provide) and so many of us consider the Exit our artistic home - where there's room to try anything, be anything, and truly GROW as theatre makers.
And yes, the ticket prices are always reasonable. The choices at each theatre are so varied and diverse and exciting. Besides the Fringe Fest., there's a DIVA Fest. in the spring (and occasionally, they'll still do an Absurdist Fest. - which is where it all began). And who can criticize a theatre where you can eat and drink while you watch the shows?
The Exit is the heart and soul of the San Francisco theatre scene. If you haven't been, well, dammit, go!
Wish I could remember to go to the San FranFringe Festival one-person plays more often because it's really worth the creative energy flows and low cost to see something that may eventually be picked up for twice the price on off-off Broadway in New York...seriously folks...even if ya don't have the bucks...ask the FringeFest if you could even volunteer in exchange for some tix. Don't know why I miss the dates ...damn...work has got me too busy for the REAL life fun...or is it that SanFran is soo filled with transients that my acquaintences are moving away faster than you can say real estate bubble burst...rich bastards..AND fat bastard...like Austin Powers said...someone stole my mojo.
Caught the end of the Fringe Fest, a thoughtful and utterly strange play called "Tesla's White Pigeons". Mad shouts to any venue that brings in independent theater to town for affordable ticket prices. Places like the Exit foster true community.
Great place to see low-key, off-beat plays. rock on.
Come for the absurdist sketch comedy and stay for the cheap beer in the cafe at intermission.
