My husband and I are visiting San Francisco in early July and would like to attend a theatre production or musical event. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

We loved Beach Blanket Babylon at Club Fugazi in North Beach. They have a website. It was very funny and entertaining.

Teatro ZinZanni. It's fabulous.
www.teatrozinzanni.org

LOOOVVVEEEED Teatro Zinzani! Dinner and performance, pricey but totally worth it!

Don't know what's currently at the Orpheum, but know that the accoustics aren't great so you need to get the priciest tickets. Go to www.sfgate.com

Have to agree with the previous recommendations. All in all, the big travelling Broadway shows are very hit and miss - usually miss. These roadshows are so scaled down in some instances that the shows are very disappointing. Sunset Boulevard with Petula Clark (last season) was hideous!

Beach Blanket is a San Fransicso tradition that is continuously updated to remain sarcastically current. While I haven't yet made it to Teatro Zinzanni - I've heard nothing but raves from those who have attended!

Sunset Boulevard with Petula Clark??? Surely you are making that up -- one of the funniest concepts I've ever heard of. And was this dinner theatre? What's next? Man of LaMancha with Regis Philbin??

Don't miss Beach Blanket Babylon!!

Anyone know if there's a chance at getting tickets to any of these (particularly Beach Blanket Babylon) at the half-price ticket booth? I used to buy tickets there years ago.

Off the subject to Sandy, I'm moving to Pensacola in the fall and noticed your uwf address. Any theater life around there to recommend? Thanks.

I've never known Beach Blanket Babylon to be available at the half price booth -- or even at full price at the box office last minute. Just reserve your tickets and go!!
But I have had good luck at the half-price booth under Union Square for other shows -- and unlike New York, there was no line to wait in!

sfgate.com is a good site

Check out theatrebayarea.org for theater information. it's also has same day 1/2 price ticket list updated at 11 am.

what is Zinzanni theatre? more thancurious to know.

thanks!!

Teatro Zinzanni is a bit like Cirque du Soleil. It's a circus type performance which includes a dinner---acrobats etc. We haven't seen it yet, but many friends here are raving about it. Beach Blanket Babylon is a SF institution which satires current events in this city and elsewhere and features performers in giant hat sculptures. No dinner but a bar service. Children admitted to limited performances because of the licensing laws, not because of content---musical and great fun. Reminds you of early Second City stuff in Chicago. I think Les Mis is currently at the Curran theatre and Mamma Mia is coming back to the Orpheum. At some point Robert Goulet will be in South Pacific :~( I would book ahead a BBB and have dinner in North Beach beforehand or see Teatro Zinzanni. Our Broadway shows are not too terrific in SF. Oh, there is also a free SFS concert in the park on some date in the summer---you could probably find the info at sfgate.com It's a lovely place to take a picnic. Don't count on great fireworks---they are often fogged out.

Teatro Zinzanni is more theater than circus but the entertainers are talented clowns, acrobats and arial artists as well as singers, dancers and dinner servers! It's in a classic fiberglass "tent", very plush and ornate. "Contessa ZinZanni" (who is currently played by Joan Baez) welcomes you to her "jewel box" and calls the guests her jewels. There is a thin thread of story and entertainment occurs around and between courses.

It is $105 per person (the 5 course meal is included) except on Sat. when it's $135 per person. I can't wait to take more friends. It was a really fun 4 hours.

And when we walked out into the balmy evening, Coit Tower was fully lit on the hill and it was so beautiful.

Thanks for the tips!