Theater in San Francisco

Learn More About San Francisco Theater

San Francisco has a long history as a thriving community for theater, and the area has dozens of high-quality theater venues. A number of San Francisco theaters have won Regional Tony Awards. San Francisco even has its own unique style of improv comedy, where the shows will last for two hours, include an intermission, and follow a single story.

San Francisco frequently hosts productions before they move to Broadway. Many famous Broadway shows got their start in San Francisco. Some of those plays include American Idiot, Fences, Legally Blonde, Mama Mia, and Wicked.

If shows have already made it to Broadway, they’ll often come on tour to San Francisco and play at either the Golden Gate Theatre or the Orpheum Theatre. The Golden Gate Theatre dates back to 1922. It originally opened as a vaudeville house and was later converted into a movie theater. The theater went into decline during the 1970s and was ultimately renovated at the end of the decade. When it opened its doors again, the Golden Gate Theatre became one of San Francisco’s most important performing arts venues.

If you head down Market Street a little ways, you’ll find another of San Francisco’s most important venues: the Orpheum Theatre. The original Orpheum Theatre was built in 1926, and the venue was renovated in the late 1990s to make it more suitable for Broadway theater. The Broadway hit Mama Mia! was first performed at the Orpheum. You might also see the venue referred to as SHN Orpheum Theatre, after its owners. The Orpheum seats over 2000 guests.

Looking for something more kid friendly? Both Oakland’s Oracle Arena and San Jose’s SAP Center host productions of Disney on Ice.

More Theater Shows in San Francisco

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