Blue & Gold Fleet’s Escape From the Rock Cruise is an exciting 90-minute excursion that takes you around the perimeter of Alcatraz to view the island from every angle. As the ship sails, passengers are treated to a presentation complete with sound effects and chilling tales of inmates Al Capone and Billy Cook, not to mention Clyde Johnson’s daring escape attempt. This historical yet entertaining boat trip does not stop at the island of Alcatraz itself, but it does evoke the days when this iconic maximum-security prison was the most feared institution in the American penal system.

Craft beer and comedy merge harmoniously in the Beer Basement at Ales Unlimited, where The Setup draws some of the funniest local and nationally touring stand-ups in the business. The space is small and cozy but the hops and the laughs are big, with performers hailing from such comedic institutions as Comedy Bang Bang, San Francisco Sketchfest and The Comedy Store. So order a drink from Ales Unlimited’s world-class selection of microbrews, wines and specialty cocktails, then head downstairs for a truly underground experience in the heart of the Tenderloin.

San Francisco’s world famous Chinatown holds a wealth of exquisite flavors, but without insider knowledge it can be difficult to find those culinary secrets. Your Sidewalk Food Tours guide will lead you through the streets and alleys of Chinatown, where you will enjoy five flavorful tastings, satisfying your appetite for the exotic. You’ll try Cantonese pork buns, President Obama’s favorite San Francisco dim sum, Chef Han’s authentic Szechuan cuisine, savory Peking duck and egg tarts cooked to a smooth flan-like perfection with a flakey crust. At the end of the tour, you’ll know all of the best spots to eat and can return to enjoy Chinatown’s food with confidence. Vegetarian substitutions can be arranged with advance notice.

Submission is a standup comedy show at the SF Armory Club. Every Friday night, top comedians from the Bay Area (SF Sketchfest, Cobbs, Punch Line) perform their hardest-hitting material and, just to keep things interesting, a member of the San Francisco kink community shares some tips and tricks. Grab a craft cocktail from the bar upstairs and prepare for a night of laughter with a touch of kink.

Come see the Punch Line’s weekly SF Comedy Showcase, held every Sunday for over 30 years. San Francisco has a rich and vibrant comedy scene, and this weekly show has launched the careers of such comedians as Patton Oswalt, Margaret Cho and Arj Barker, as well as the current flock of rising stars such as W. Kamau Bell and Moshe Kasher. Laugh at a lineup of the Bay Area’s top stand-up comics, many of whom have appeared on late-night television, Comedy Central and other esteemed television outlets.

Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and along the San Francisco Bay’s historic waterfront on Blue & Gold Fleet’s Bay Cruise Adventure. This fully narrated one-hour tour features information and history on city landmarks and plenty of opportunities for taking pictures of the unobstructed views of the San Francisco skyline. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available, so you can experience the sights and sounds from out on deck or take it all in from the warmth and comfort of an interior seat — either experience makes for a truly great San Francisco adventure.

Date night’s in the bag on Wednesdays at PianoFight. Grab dinner, drinks, then catch our longest-running comedy show, based on Craigslist posts from San Francisco’s most hopeful, heartbroken and high-strung. Each Wednesday night, we refresh the browser for a wildly different show and a new set of Missed Connections.

Enjoy food and drink samples from five of the Mission District’s most exciting taquerias, mom-and-pop shops and restaurants on this food lover’s walking tour from Sidewalk Food Tours. Sample award-winning pizza, taste the area’s renowned Mexican food — even skip the line at a bakery whose owners won the coveted James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2008. Between tastings, your knowledgeable guide will tell intriguing stories about 17th century Spanish missionaries, the lively punk scene of the 1970s and more. All food and beverage tastings are included with the tour. Please see the full event description for a list of tasting locations.

The floor burns with furious footwork. The air pulses with syncopated claps and castanets as rhythmic guitar resounds. A unique mother-daughter pair, Carolina Lugo & Carolé Acuña’s Ballet Flamenco brings the passion and energy of flamenco and Spanish dance to Peña Pachamama.

Famed local historical figure Countess Lola Montez — aka Rick Shelton — leads this entertaining and informative three-hour walking tour of San Francisco, focusing on the Gold Rush era of the 1850s and beyond. Montez herself was an Irish actress and mistress of the King of Bavaria and composer Franz Liszt, who became a popular “Spanish” dance queen in mid-19th century San Francisco. She’ll take you by some of her favorite haunts, tell you stories of the Barbary Coast and let you in on plenty of other little known town secrets, in this one-of-a-kind drag performance-excursion.

Forget the usual dinner-and-a-movie and head out for a night of laughs instead. Punch Line Comedy Club, San Francisco’s longest-running stand-up venue, presents Comedy Allstars, featuring a rotating lineup of hilarious stand-up comics from the Bay Area and beyond, including top local headliners to up-and-coming stars and comedians with national TV credits, including Conan and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. With stars such as Robin Williams, Ellen Degeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Drew Carey, Chris Rock and more having cut their comedy teeth at the Punch Line, you never know when you’re going to see the next big name in comedy.

Discover the unique Barbary Coast, an exciting area that’s evolved into a food lover’s paradise. On this three-hour walking tour from Sidewalk Food Tours, you’ll enjoy food and drink samples from six of the neighborhood’s authentic mom-and-pop restaurants and ethnic eateries. Explore a world-famous delicatessen that’s presented a salami to the pope, nosh on pizza or rosemary focaccia from a 100-year-old bakery, nibble on decadent handmade truffles and more. Between tastings, your knowledgeable guide will give you an insider’s look into how the foods are made at these eateries along with information about this historical neighborhood. All food and beverage tastings are included with the tour. Please see the full event description for a list of tasting locations.

Take a tour through San Francisco’s history with one of its most colorful characters. Emperor Norton was a prominent businessman who lost it all on a bad investment. He responded to his failure by declaring himself “Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico.” Rather than dismissing him, San Francisco embraced him, treating him as royalty and accepting his self-created currency. Tour guide Joseph Amster incorporates his journalistic and acting talents to provide a one-of-a-kind tour, taking on the persona of Emperor Norton and introducing you to the history of the city’s most unique and interesting sites through the eyes of this larger-than-life unofficial city mascot.

Laugh at a mix of longtime favorites and up-and-coming comedians at #HellaFunny, San Francisco’s hilarious traveling comedy show. #HellaFunny began at the legendary Purple Onion club in 2010 in the North Beach neighborhood, and now carries the fun to venues all over the Bay Area. Catch them when they play Cobb’s Comedy Club.

Celebrate the impressive San Francisco Bay Bridge and its history — which spans over 75 years — by embarking on this 90-minute cruise that sails under both the Golden Gate and the Bay Bridges and passes by Alcatraz Island. Discover San Francisco history and landmarks via narrated headset audio in 16 available languages, which includes information about the city’s natural history, architecture, Native American culture, and, of course, the building of the famous bridges. It’s a stunning and informative way to experience the breathtaking views of the downtown skyline and its historic waterfront.

This Red and White Fleet Cruise launched in 1939 as part of the Golden Gate International Exposition, and it’s still entertaining visitors and locals alike more than 70 years later. After departing from historic Fisherman’s Wharf, the ship sails along San Francisco’s breathtaking waterfront, past the city’s Maritime National Park, under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, and around notorious Alcatraz Island, cruising by many other exciting sights as well on the one-hour voyage. Take advantage of the personal-headphone audio, available in 16 languages, to learn more about San Francisco’s history and world-famous landmarks, while enjoying a full onboard bar with drinks and snacks.

There’s a reason Jay Alexander has been called the Human Lie Detector. With his combination of magic, psychology and mentalism, he can do everything from reading your mind to making objects vanish inches from your nose (and making you laugh the whole time, of course).

You’re in the picture at the Museum of 3D Illusions, a new, world-class museum has arrived in San Francisco, with over 40 completely interactive exhibits. The Museum of 3D Illusions is a place where you can let your mind soar through a world of optical illusions and become a full-fledged participant within the paintings on display. Featuring work from world-renowned artists, the pop-up is great for visitors of all ages and provides the perfect backdrop for terrific selfies and social media posts. It’ll blow your mind.

Combining great Japanese cuisine and live music, Yoshi’s Oakland has quickly become one of the world’s most respected venues for jazz, rock, blues and more. What started as a small sushi bar has blossomed into an award-winning live performance venue with a state-of-the-art sound system and design, occupying 17,000 square feet in the heart of Oakland’s Jack London Square. Yoshi’s Oakland has hosted such legendary jazz greats as Betty Carter, Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Diana Krall, Branford Marsalis, McCoy Tyner, Harry Connick Jr., Oscar Peterson and hundreds of others, and has also expanded its focus to present a variety of musical genres — and even popular comedians.

If you prefer your self-percussive musical clowns with a little bit of soul and funk thrown in, then Unique Derique is the mime for you. His shows at the Marsh are legendary fun for the whole fam, as are his post-performance juggling workshops.

Red and White Fleet’s California Twilight Cruise is a relaxed two-hour cruise with views of the spectacular city lights, live guitar entertainment, light appetizers and a hot or cold beverage from the bar in a warm and cozy atmosphere. The boat features heated indoor viewing decks with large windows and comfortable seats as well as outdoor viewing decks for taking in the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge and the infamous Alcatraz.

Stand-up comic, writer, actor and director Don Reed (The Tonight Show, OWN, HBO) returns to The Marsh San Francisco MainStage Theater with his long-running, award-winning solo show East 14th: Tales of a Reluctant Player. Reed relates the hilarious and poignant story of his boyhood in 1970s Oakland, torn between his strict, churchgoing mother’s upbringing and his admiration of his father — who happens to be a pimp. East 14th was an off-Broadway hit, nominated for two NAACP Theatre Awards, and an excerpt aired on NPR/WNYC’s acclaimed series Snap Judgment. The New Yorker called the show “hilarious” and went on to say, “The audience can’t stop laughing … Don Reed plays all the characters with both ease and inexhaustible energy.”

Chris Porter, who rocked season four of Last Comic Standing and took third place, has been bringing his slightly skewed perspective to the stand-up stage since he was 23, and has since scored his own Comedy Central special, along with appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and the Late Show with David Letterman. A Kansas City native, Porter’s glad to share his extensive knowledge about the unique culture of the American Midwest, and does so proudly without puppets or catchphrases.

With their successful blend of improvised comedy and song continuing to entertain the semi-masses on a weekly basis, the Secret Improv Society’s popular theatrical shows are not so clandestine anymore. A bunch of San Francisco’s best improvisers, comedians and musicians often come out to play with the sharp-witted regular cast, too. It all results in a fast-paced, high-energy revue, featuring plenty of audience input and interaction. Volunteers can even join the fun onstage. No two shows are ever identical, so repeat visits to this Shelton Theater laugh fest are strongly suggested.

Matt Besser and friends will perform their weed material. There’s a lot. THIS SHOW WILL GET YOU HIGH.

After you drop the kids off or put them to bed, turn on Childish. Hosted by real life friends, parents and veteran podcasters Greg Fitzsimmons (Fitzdog Radio) and Alison Rosen (Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend), Childish will help you laugh about the struggles and joys of parenthood, grow closer to your children, learn something useful and maybe even put the spark back into your love life. This is safe for work. As long as you work in a meat packing plant.

Join Chris Garcia and his friends for an afternoon of comedy and exploration, fresh from Chris Garcia’s critically acclaimed WNYC podcast Scattered, in which after the passing of his father, Chris was able to explore his father’s mysterious past in Cuba and his pursuit of the American Dream in a very funny and raw audio limited series. Chris Garcia & Friends will incorporate real stories from the podcast, along with conversation and sets from special guests and their personal experiences. Adam Cayton-Holland, Beth Stelling and Shane Torres join Garcia at the Gateway Theatre in San Francisco.

The Sloppy Boys are an LA-based party rock band comprised of Mike Hanford, Jefferson Dutton, and Tim Kalpakis from the comedy group The Birthday Boys. They’re coming to the Gateway Theatre in San Francisco with an opening set by TSTMRKT.

1 phone call. 1 hour. No names. No holds barred. That’s the premise behind Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, hosted by comedian Chris Gethard (The Chris Gethard Show, Broad City, This American Life). Every week, Chris opens the phone line to one anonymous caller, and he can’t hang up first, no matter what. From shocking confessions and family secrets to philosophical discussions and shameless self-promotion, anything can and will happen!

Everyone’s Favorite HR Manager™ returns with a whole new attitude!

Harmony – Bill Frisell (guitar), Petra Haden (lead vocals), Hank Roberts (vocals & cello), Luke Bergman (vocals & baritone guitar). "Bill Frisell’s Harmony is dang beautiful — and dang approachable. Frisell marries three American musical traditions — jazz, new music and the Great American Songbook — in a remarkable, coherent way. The results are unsurprisingly beautiful, yet unexpectedly approachable. And for all the lofty concepts at play in Harmony, there is no performer-audience gulf.” — NO DEPRESSION.

Pinky, are you thinking what I’m thinking? It’s time to celebrate 25 years of those lab mice with world-domination aspirations, Pinky and The Brain! Join their voices Rob Paulsen (Pinky) and Maurice LaMarche (The Brain) for an afternoon looking back at the animated show, with clips, conversation, Q&A, some character script reads and more! Moderated by SF Sketchfest co-founder and Pop My Culture Podcast host Cole Stratton.

Astronomy Club believes that the best way to overcome racial oppression is to identify it and satirize it. With the help of a special guest Monologist, along with short interviews from audience members, we’re taking stories — from a person of any race — where race played a factor. It could be the first moment you realized someone was being racist to you. Or that moment in the office when you mistook someone for someone else because they’re the same race. Or even that time when you yourself used your white privilege or played the “black card” — you get the idea! Come share your stories on race, and watch as we create a hilarious improvised set and solve racism once and for all! Scheduled to perform are Jonathan Braylock, Caroline Martin, Jerah Milligan, Monique Moses and James III.

Happy Place is the new-one-man show from Adam Cayton-Holland, loosely adapted for stage from his critically acclaimed memoir, Tragedy Plus Time (Simon & Schuster). Cayton-Holland was plugging away in the world of stand-up, steadily climbing the comedy ladder, when the unthinkable happened: his little sister Lydia killed herself. His best friend, his earliest collaborator, the funniest person he knew, gone, in an instant. Life, as he knew it, was forever changed. His family was devastated. They had been there for Lydia every step of the way. They all thought she was going to get through this. But she didn’t. Instead the rug was pulled out from underneath them. Suddenly, everything felt like a lie. Adam’s Happy Place was leveled. He quit stand-up. Nothing felt funny anymore. Just getting out of bed was hard. Through time, plenty of therapy, and constant soul-searching, eventually Adam was able to put one foot in front of the other, to find joy in comedy again. It was, after all, a “Happy Place” that both he and Lydia had cherished. Never shying away from the tough subject matter of mental illness, depression and suicide, Happy Place is a darkly funny exploration of going through the unimaginable, and learning to find your sense of humor again.

Memphis, 1937. Transport yourself for one electrifying evening with Bessie Smith, as she recounts the incredible journey of her life and career, her loves and losses, and the songs that made her the show-stopping “Empress of the Blues.” This musical celebration is packed with Bessie’s legendary hits, “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” “St. Louis Blues” and “T’ain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do.” Directed by Darryl V. Jones and starring Bay Area favorite Katrina Lauren McGraw as Bessie.

Phoebe Robinson is a multi-talented stand-up comedian, New York Times best-selling writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-star of the hit podcast turned TV show 2 Dope Queens, the WNYC hit podcast Sooo Many White Guys and has recently founded her own production company, Tiny Reparations. The company’s first project is a 10-episode interview-based series launching on Comedy Central in 2020. Phoebe is the author of The New York Times best seller You Can’t Touch My Hair & Other Things I Still Have To Explain, a collection of essays about race, gender and pop culture, and her second book, Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay was released last fall. Phoebe will be joined in conversation by renowned interdisciplinary artist, cultural strategist, and social justice activist Favianna Rodriguez. Among her many contributions to advocacy and social change, she has organized with artists in the entertainment industry through 5050by2020.com, an initiative launched in 2018 by Jill Soloway to build intersectional artist power.

Based on real people and real events, Silent Sky is the story of some of the first woman astronomers who helped pave the way to our understanding of both the universe and Earth. Three exceptional women are hired in the early 1900’s at the Harvard University Observatory in jobs called “computers.” Prohibited from actually looking through the giant telescope (that’s for the men), they undertake to discover the answer to “Where do we fit in space?”. Their sources are photographic plates of images gathered by others. The compelling central characters proceed with humor and determination toward their goals, while handling the very contemporary challenge of balance between families and potential romance – and their absorbing scientific quest. The triumphant result of their efforts was the discovery of the key to measuring the distance between objects in space, previously unknown.

Blanca Fiberton is The Miss American Dream Show. Taxes, infomercials and snacks. Everything America loves, Fiberton serves it up with satire and physical comedy. Remember when television was educational after school? Start to learn again with Miss American Dream. You wont even want to tune out for the ads. Written and performed by Sierra Camille, The Miss American Dream Show was birthed in a San Francisco basement and has traveled up and down the west coast for the past year. This is the show that completes Sierra’s Artist in Residence program at Kinetic Arts Center in Oakland, CA and the show is once again hot off the press! Talkbacks will be held with the cast after each Friday and Saturday performance.

Funny Immigrants Comedy Show comes to Manny’s.

A landmark in American drama, Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Our Town tells the story of a small town, Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, in order to tell us the story of every town, the whole world over. Narrated by the “Stage Manager,” we follow the Gibbs and Webb families, residents of Grover’s Corners, through twelve years of life changes — from the mundane in Act I, “Daily Life,” to the romantic in Act II, “Love and Marriage,” to the devastating in Act III, “Death and Eternity.” Through the young lovers Emily and George, their strong and loving parents, and the many other Grover’s Corners locals, Wilder delivers universal truths about what it means to be human. “Oh, earth,” Emily Webb exclaims towards the play’s end, “you’re too wonderful for anyone to realize you.” With humor, wit, and exceptionally powerful storytelling, Our Town offers a unique opportunity for audience members to make precisely that realization. Directed by Michael Barr.

The new Bay Area Thunder team will take on The Georgia Devilz at the Solano County Fairgrounds in exciting banked track roller derby action! Cheer the Thunder’s powerful roster as they look to pick up another victory during this high-flying, hard-hitting showdown.

Hot goss kicks the kiki up another notch in award-winning playwright Ryan Fogarty’s new comedy. This thoroughly modern look at a group of gay friends in the midst of a variety of personal dramas is set to debut at New Conservatory Theatre Center, which is also hosting a number of special pre- and post-show events.

If witches have so much power, then why are they always poverty-stricken? Vinegar Tom is a wild mash-up of desperate women living in 17th century society with modern musical numbers connecting the tale to our own troubled times. This is Churchill at her best: raw, satirical, political, and mad as hell!

Award-winning poet Danez Smith (Don’t Call Us Dead) is a groundbreaking force, celebrated for deft lyrics, urgent subjects and performative power. A poet, performer and multidisciplinary artist, Smith has galvanized diverse communities nationwide with their profound contemplations on race and gender, desire and mortality. Join Smith as they read from and share their new collection, Homie, a magnificent anthem about the saving grace of friendship at a time when our country is overrun by violence, xenophobia and disparity, speaking from within a body defined by race, queerness and diagnosis. Part friendship diary, part bright elegy, part war cry, Homie is the exuberant new book written for Danez and Danez’s friends, and for you and for yours. Danez Smith is a black, queer, poz writer and performer from St. Paul, Minnesota. Danez is the author of Don’t Call Us Dead, winner of the Forward Prize for Best Collection and the Midwest Booksellers Choice Award, and a finalist for the National Book Award, winner of the Kate Tufts Discovery Award and the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry. They are the recipient of fellowships from the Poetry Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Montalvo Arts Center, Cave Canem and the National Endowment for the Arts. Danez’s work has been featured widely, including in the New York Times, Best American Poetry and Poetry Magazine, and on PBS NewsHour and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Kate has everything she’s ever dreamed of… but so does Kate’s husband’s girlfriend. With a polyamory therapist and a sex-positive ethos, Kate begins a polyamorous marriage that goes wrong. A story of his and her. And hers. And his. And sex. And therapy. And love. This follow-up to the award-winning Ain’t That Rich, which ran for seven weeks at The Marsh in the fall of 2017, is filled with emotionally nuanced storytelling. A riveting sexcapade of love, betrayal, and friendship at The Marsh San Francisco Main Stage Theater! “Best Bet” at NYC’s FRIGID 2018 Festival.

Your tour guide will greet you at a historic mansion for the first of four stops that will compose this gourmet, progressive pairing experience. You will stroll along the river in order to access three other key restaurants that contribute to the San Francisco Bay Area Michelin Guide and the Wine Country’s culinary fame. You can expect to spend approximately 30 minutes in each restaurant (more for the mansion) with nice walks in between to balance calories and exercise!

The St. Helena experience in Napa is our brand new culinary tour with wine, presentations and fun demos. Learn historic, fun facts as we walk by significant landmarks in downtown St. Helena. From organic brunch bites through chocolaty dessert, enjoy St. Helena through your tastebuds, while strolling the town with a fun guide. Enjoy local wines presented by the pros and if you choose an award winning cocktail too We are listed in top 15 Best Foodie Tours in the USA by US News and World Reports.

Our Sonoma Plaza Tour is Gourmet Food and Wine Tour’s flagship tour in the north bay from 2014. This experience is a walking, pairing-tour and includes local, boutique wine with four-top restaurant stops. Gourmet Food & Wine Tours features The girl & the fig on each tour. Our farm-to-table eclectic menu items represent Sonoma, the Wine Country, and each esteemed chef. We walk the perimeter of the Sonoma Plaza incorporating history, films, and stories. Each four restaurant stop marries a special, local wine with our culinary dish. Each tour lasts approximately 3 hours and is guided by professional foodies local to the area for over 24 years. Most of the wine we taste can be purchased and shipped to you, provided the state you live in is friendly to wine crossing their border. The Sonoma Food and Wine Tour is the flagship experience and is the very tour that launched Gourmet Food and Wine Tours into business!

Join us for a historic culinary tour in Sausalito. Follow Gourmet Gurus along a culinary experience of Sausalito’s downtown village with colorful, renowned restaurants and optional wine. Given Sausalito’s popularity with local and out-of-town tourists, we have created the town’s first walking tour, interspersing culinary delights with delicious bites of local history. This bayside village boasts a handful of famous restaurants on and near the ferry and is a perfect place to spend a morning exploring the top restaurants with some of the worlds most beautiful views. This tour is intended as a very filling multi-course lunch with wine pairings. It includes 4 sit-down restaurant experiences in all, with an organic chocolate stop for our sweet tooths! A ferry boat or water taxi ride across from San Francisco (not included). Farm-to-table and sea-to-table offerings with Napa or Italian varietals. Michelin Guide or on Michael Bauer’s Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants. Stellar panoramic views of Tiburon, Angel Island, Alcatraz & SF. Learn about Sausalito’s historic significance. Fun, local guides who have worked in the food and wine industry.

Get a Taste of the Bay Area. Your wine professional and guide will greet you at the JCB Tasting Salon for the first of four stops that will compose this gourmet, progressive pairing experience. You will stroll the renown micro-village of Yountville along Washington St. for three other key stops that contribute to its culinary fame due to celebrity chefs that built up the town. You can expect to spend approximately 30 minutes in each restaurant with nice walks in between to balance exercise and enjoy our lovely California weather. Upscale tasting tour pairs the unexpected with a delicious pairing menu and flow of famed or notable restaurants in Yountville. See for yourself how Yountville went from a dot of a farm-town to the culinary epicenter it is today in the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn about Napa Valley, the Michelin brothers, celebrity chefs and practical information that will better help you appreciate varietals Hear about cultural attractions (films, books and series) as well as the history and culture of Napa. Finale at renowned French Laundry Culinary GARDEN, across the street from the restaurant, where we discuss interesting facts about one of the best restaurants in the world. Here we will end with our dessert pairing.

Jack Cimo is a classically-trained Spanish guitarist known for his powerful presence, beautiful tone, and exciting renditions. Having played the guitar since he was a toddler, his devotion to the instrument has directed the course of his life. He has over 20 years of performing experience, and now calls San Luis Obispo, California home. He has worked with Grammy-award winning musicians such as Steve Suvada, William Kanengiser, and Pepe Romero; and has captivated audiences in Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, Costa Rica, and Ireland to name a few. He has been a finalist or prizewinner in various competitions, including winning USC’s Presser Award and taking 3rd in the Sierra Nevada Guitar Festival. He was recently one of two Americans to be invited to the prestigious Joann Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition in Buffalo, NY. Jack is passionate about exploring different styles and has a mastery of Spanish classics, romantic Italian music, and festive Central and South American pieces. His wide repertoire includes everything from Baroque and Renaissance music to avant-garde pieces and The Beatles. The program will feature Spanish, Brazilian, and South American music. Composers include Isaac Albeniz, Leo Brouwer, Villa-Lobos, Francisco Tarrega, and others.

Living Word Project Presents: “Translating Selena” a new play by Richard Montoya for Campo Santo. Directed by Sean San Jose. Inspired by/Borrowed from/As told by a man of flowers and possibilities Mr. Henry de Leon! Vivan los Queens de San Anto! See the beginning of this new piece featuring Richard Montoya, Marga Gomez, Per Sia and more Brown all stars, Brian M. Rivera, Jordan Don and Guillermo Yiyo Ornelas. With design dream team: Alejandro Acosta, Dr. Juan Berumen, Tanya Orellana, Joan Osato, Brittany White, Ashley Smiley and Kyo Yohena Presented in the intimacy of Brava Theatre Center’s Cabaret Space for one week only.

Adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), this funny and deeply touching story of hope, compassion, love and human connection in the digital age has been called “a theatrical hug for turbulent times" by Variety. How good does that sound right about now? Well, spread your arms wide and make your way to the San Francisco Playhouse for Tiny Beautiful Things.

Sarah Ruhl is a force of nature in American theater. Twice a finalist for the Pulitzer, Ruhl first gained acclaim for her new spin on the Eurydice myth in 2003, and her latest play takes a darkly comedic look at how far we’ve come — or, more accurately, how far we’ve fallen short — when it comes to women’s rights in modern-day America. This is pure Ruhl, so expect witty dialogue, a timely-yet-timeless tale and even a bit of witchcraft.

Sarah Ruhl was still in her twenties (and just two years out of grad school) when her breakthrough play Eurydice premiered, ushering her as a bright new star in the world of theater. Since then, she’s been awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, nominated for a Tony and announced as a finalist for the Pulitzer — twice. This relationship comedy is classic Ruhl, seamlessly weaving together the everyday and the surreal as two couples discuss polyamory.

Two-time Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin’s new show titled, How Did You Get This Number?, features signature songs from her acclaimed performances in Finian’s Rainbow, Giant, Big Fish, and Hello Dolly! Hailed as “the redheaded firecracker” (Stephen Holden, The New York Times), she tells the story of how each song became a part of her life and what it means to her. More from writers like Stephen Sondheim, Kander & Ebb, Jerry Herman and long-time friend and collaborator Georgia Stitt fill the program with gorgeous music and expert storytelling. “We suppose there are some things that Baldwin cannot do, but over the past decade we have yet to see her be anything but superb,” says Steven Suskin of Playbill.

Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 caused quite a stir when it debuted in 1884 — on the one hand, a critic at the time called it “nearly perfect,” but on the other hand, some fanboys of Brahms’ archrival Richard Wagner tried to disrupt the premiere and started a commotion that nearly ended in a duel. But don’t worry: there won’t be any fights when the San Francisco Symphony tackles Symphony No. 3, so you can focus on Brahms’ perfection in peace.

In town for the season to celebrate Beethoven’s 250th, the SF Symphony’s current resident artist Anne-Sophie Mutter is about as close to a classical superstar as you’re gonna get. The virtuoso violinist has four Grammys, an impeccable sense of style and just released an album with John Williams, featuring many of his famous movie themes. She’s also given world premieres to a whopping 27 works — and this concert at Davies Hall includes one that was both written for and dedicated to her, Jörg Widmann’s Study on Beethoven.

It’s an old cliche to encourage people to bring tissues to emotional performances like The Pianist of Willesden Lane, so… we won’t. (But seriously — you should.) If the power of the story doesn’t get you (it will), the sublime piano playing of Mona Golabek probably (definitely) will.

The New York Times may have hit the nail on the head when they called Will Eno’s breakthrough 2005 play — and Pulitzer finalist — Thom Pain (based on nothing) “stand-up existentialism.” His latest, Wakey, Wakey, offers a similarly tragicomic look at matters of life and death, and this new A.C.T. production stars Veep and Arrested Development fave Tony Hale.

Eight years after fleeing their home in Iraq, Noura and her family celebrate Christmas, and their new life, in New York City. But when the arrival of a visitor stirs up long-buried memories, Noura and her husband are forced to confront the cost of their choices; the past they left behind. Inspired by stories from Arab-American women and created in response to Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, Heather Raffo’s Noura charts the intricate pathways of motherhood and marriage — and the fragile architecture of what we call home.

Riff Raff will be performing his new music off of Cranberry Vampire.

Experience J.K. Rowling’s world like never before at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in San Francisco. The story of Harry, Ron, and Hermione continues on stage—where the magic is real. It has been 19 years since they saved the Wizarding World. But even when you think the battle is won, darkness comes from unexpected places. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat as this Tony Award-winning spectacle “leaves you gasping in wonder at the magic of it all” (TIME). The entire Curran Theater has been transfigured for the show’s exclusive West Coast production to immerse you in this world where epic duels, extraordinary spells, and beloved characters come to life. “It has to be seen to be believed” (USA Today).

Witness the next generation of magicians and be prepared to be amazed by this young prodigy magician. At a young age, James Chan has already fooled the most brilliant minds in the Bay Area at top tech companies including Airbnb, Google, Twitter, Yahoo, the 49ers, the Olympic Club, the Oakland Athletics, the San Francisco Giants, and the Golden State Warriors. With seven years of experience, he’s a triple threat. James can juggle two diabolos, five balls, and will give you one of the best close-up experiences you’ve seen. First, you’ll be personally escorted to the showroom above a busy restaurant. Then James will entertain you with some of the most perplexing magic you’ve ever seen and leave you with a child’s sense of wonder. And after the show, James will give you a short private magic lesson, detailing how you can be the most popular employee in the office. Witness the next generation of magic today.

Ensemble for These Times performs the World Premiere of Chinese composer Weiwei Miao’s “Blooming Flowers, Full Moon” for piano trio, along with works by 9 women composers: Pulitzer-winning (first in music for a woman) Ellen Taafe Zwillich (b. 1939): “Lament” for cello and piano; American Academy of Arts and Letters’s Walter Hinrichsen Award and Miriam Gideon Prize Victoria Bond (b. 1945): “Binary” for solo piano; American Academy of Arts and Letters Chen Yi (b. 1953): “Ji Dong Nuo”; Opera America Discovery Grant Lori Laitman (b. 1955): selections from “The Metropolitan Tower and Other songs”; Kronos Fifty for the Future Aleksandra Vrebalov (b. 1970): “Passion Revisited”; Connecticut Artist Fellow Jessica Rudman (b. 1982):“Times of Speaking and Silence”’ Theatre composer Ellen Mandel (b. 1957): songs; Emerging New Zealand composer Gemma Peacocke: "Steppe Lands; Audrey Call (1905-2001): "The Witch of Harlem. Musicians: Nanette McGuinness, soprano; Anne Lerner-Wright, cello; Dale Tsang, piano; and guest violinist Ilana Blumberg.

On this walking tour, you’ll learn about Tiburon’s history as a blue-collar, rough and tumble railroad town from 1884 until 1967. You’ll learn about the major events and historic figures of this time, including: The Donahue brothers, who brought the industrial revolution to California by way of Tiburon, the fires that virtually destroyed the town three times and how the town dealt with Prohibition, how Al Capone figures (twice!) in Tiburon’s history. Then you’ll learn about more modern history, including some of the Tiburon Peninsula’s notable residents, the decline of the railroad and Tiburon’s transformation into a suburban community and tourist destination. Find out how the dedication of two families helped maintain Main Street’s early 1900s character, and how conservationists fought hard to maintain the area’s physical beauty and small-town character. Learn about local landmarks like The Railroad and Ferry Depot Museum and its working model of the 1909 Tiburon rail yard, The Arks and the creation of Ark Row.

On this 1½ – 2 hour walking tour, you’ll learn about Tiburon’s history before the arrival of the railroad in 1884. You’ll also learn about the lives of the indigenous people, the Coast Miwok, their first encounters with Europeans, and how they were treated by the Spaniards and later the Americans. We’ll talk about the early Spanish explorers in the 1500s and why it took them another 200 years before Juan de Ayala entered the Golden Gate into San Francisco Bay. You’ll learn about The Tiburon Peninsula’s first European settlers, John Reed and his descendants, and what life was like before the railroad. We’ll visit Lyford’s Stone Tower, the entrance to Dr. Benjamin Lyford’s Hygeia, a vision of Tiburon as the world’s finest health resort and residential community. You’ll also learn about the history of Angel Island, called by some “The Ellis Island of the West,” and how it was saved from commercial development. And you’ll learn about the history of the City of Belvedere, which began in the 1890s as the weekend and summer home of the wealthiest San Franciscans.

PlayGround has announced the lineup for its third annual PlayGround Solo Performance Festival, a curation of the best in Bay Area solo performance, celebrating diversity and innovation, running January 23 to February 9 at Potrero Stage. The festival features 12 double-bill performances by 11 local artists over three weeks, including premier performances by John Fisher, Jessica Bates, Annamarie MacLeod, Trixxie Carr, Vera Hannush, Llano River Blue, Emil Guillermo, and Christopher Magee; also featuring performances by Geoffrey Pond, Houston Robertson, and Talisha Tolliver, bringing fresh development to existing content. In their continuing efforts towards inclusion and accessibility, PlayGround opens their stage to the next generation of performers with a special Open Mic Night on Monday, January 27 at 8pm, hosted by San Francisco drag innovator Polly Amber Ross. This year’s festival was curated as a celebration of the intersectionality and diversity that exemplifies Bay Area artistry, and is a direct extension of PlayGround’s mission and commitment to the discovery of bold new voices for the stage and the development of innovative and timely original content.

RagTag Improv pushes the boundaries of improvised theatre and comedy with a wide variety of shows. Every night is 100% improvised, engaging, and a great way to spend an evening in San Francisco. Live spontaneously — come on out to see something new!

Drag diva Lady Bunny returns to Oasis in San Francisco for three nights of cabaret glory with Pig in a Wig. A dementedly fun time, this show combines raunchy pop parodies, a spoof of Laugh-In, scandalous videos, over-the-top costumes and enormous wigs to create an evening of unforgettable entertainment and irreverent humor. Blending Bunny’s love for the Bay Area with jabs at pop culture, our addiction to technology, political correctness and the gentrification of San Francisco, Pig in a Wig proves why Lady Bunny is the high queen of low comedy.

San Francisco’s Circus Center presents its acclaimed monthly entertainment series, the Circus Center Cabaret. It’s a unique mix of live music and a rotating cast of the Bay Area’s best circus and variety performers, presented in an intimate venue with a full bar. For our January edition, we’re blasting off! Madame Leanne Borghesi, our fabulous Cabaret Chanteuse, is back and ready to take her place among the stars. She’s got the Roger Glenn Trio ready to start a “Disco Inferno” as she trips through galaxies filled with strange aliens doing the hustle. What extraordinary lifeforms might she meet on her way? Only the most incredible circus and variety artists on a San Francisco stage! It may be cold in outer space (and in San Francisco), but it’s warm and cozy in our elegant cabaret theatre. So grab your honey or a buddy and hustle on in to the Circus Center Cabaret!