San Francisco's Limelight
- ckesta
- Sep 19, 2024
- 4 min read
San Francisco's theater tradition dates back to the days when this was still a frontier town. A bygone era when Lotta Crabtree began her illustrious career dancing and singing songs for the gold miners as a child. Eventually she became the 19th century version of Meryl Streep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Taylor Swift all rolled into one. Her namesake fountain at the corner Kearny and Market streets was built in 1875, and is where 1906 earthquake survivors sought missing loved ones. To this day, at 5:18am every April 18th a small crowd gathers at Lotta’s Fountain to commemorate the earthquake and fire.
The Crabtree Fountain
Groundbreaking choreographer and dancer Isadora Duncan, a local girl whose work graced the stages of New York and Europe in the early part of the 20th century, died accidentally and tragically. Sam Rockwell, Annette Bening, Danny Glover, and Wynona Ryder are just a few of the famous actors who learned their craft on the stages of San Francisco before moving on to greater fame.
Groundbreaking productions such as Angels in America and Wicked premiered on the stages of San Francisco before becoming theatrical landmarks in their own right. If fact, Wicked is soon to be a major motion picture to be released in 2024.
From vaudeville to AI generated multi-media events, this city's performance tradition is reflected in its unique theater spaces. San Francisco boasts everything from grand Broadway-level venues to small non-equity, black box theaters-in-the-round. We even have Shakespeare in the Park too!
The Victoria Theater in the city's Mission District can claim the fame of being the oldest theater still operating in San Francisco. Opened in 1908 as Brown's Opera House, it primarily featured vaudeville shows. In the 1930s it later changed its inclination and name when it became a movie theater under a new moniker - The Victoria Theater.
The Victoria Theater
Over the last hundred years the Victoria has been a house of burlesque, a cinema, and a space for community events. For many decades, its latest incarnation has been a legitimate theater that punches above its weight class in terms of the productions they mount. The Victoria Theater has shown everything from Hedwig and Angry Inch to its current production, Legally Blond: The Musical.
Ft. Mason was a military depot but is now an arts and performance complex including three theaters: The Cowell, the Magic, and BATS (Bay Area Theater Sports) our local improv theater company. In addition to its theater spaces Ft. Mason also offers dining options and one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge in the city. BATS (Bay Area Theater Sports) is truly a premiere improv theater company. Since 1986 BATS has improved upon the improvisational style of theater perfected by the famous Second City troupe in Chicago. In fact, like Second City's Los Angeles counterpart, the Groundlings, BATS mounts productions and presents performers which rival those more famous companies.
In theater there is Broadway, then off-Broadway, then off-off Broadway, then non-equity theaters, then there is the ATA. If BATS is San Francisco's own premier improv theater company, Artist Television Access is the premiere venue for, "culturally aware, underground media and experimental art." Smaller than most theaters, ATA excels in non-narrative, experimental, and multi-media productions The shows may be odd but they are rarely boring.
Lorraine Hansberry was a local San Francisco playwright who is most famous for writing the groundbreaking play, A Raisin In The Sun, but tragically died soon after the play's first successful run. The Lorraine Hansberry Theater is what I would call Off Broadway, but still puts on ambitious productions. It is the premier venue for African American productions like The Gospel at Colonus, as well as local black playwrights and performers.
Club Fugazi, found in the little Italian enclave of North Beach, opened in 1913. For over a hundred years, this little club that could, has been an integral part of San Francisco culture. It was a popular venue for the early Beat poets in the 1950s. Artists as diverse as Thelonious Monk to the Grateful Dead graced its stage over the years. However, it wasn't until 1976 when a little cabaret show called Beach Blanket Babylon premiered.
This somewhat corny, but lively show centered on a central plot line, say Snow White seeking her Prince Charming. The production always stayed relevant because it wove in cultural and political icons of whatever era it was in. Known most notably for the over-the-top costumes, and especially the wigs. For 30 years legendary performer Val Diamond closed each show in her signature "San Francisco" hat displaying elements of the city, such as the top of the TransAmerica Pyramid and cable cars. A hat so large in fact, it had to be suspended from the ceiling with cables. For almost half a century Beach Blanket Babylon was the must-see show whose famous patrons included everyone from Liza Minelli to Queen Elizabeth II.
After Beach Blanket Babylon ended its run, an even more, San Francisco-ee show has become its latest must-see event. Club Fugazi's current show is called, Dear San Francisco. It is an homage to San Francisco history, literature, and culture. This clever production utilizes Cirque du Soleil-like acrobatics, multimedia installations, and spoken word. It really is a love letter to the city.
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