Off-Market Theater

I would’ve given 4-​stars for the shows, but the theater is horrible due to the poor air ventilation.
I went to see a show called Mondy Night Foreplays last night at Off-​Market Theater. The show was great! It was entertaining, but the theater is horrible. I recall now why I haven’t been back to any shows at this theater for 5 years. After last night’s show, I remember it’s the poor air ventilation at this theater that drove me away. I feel really bad for the performers. They had to perform under the spot lights in this tiny theater with no air ventilation. It was horrible. I felt suffocated and had to leave early during the intermission. If I didn’t, I might have fainted.

Have gone twice for the SHIT show. Very funny show and even better actors. Meet at the bar afterwards, can’t go wrong.

You wanna see new exciting works produced by local playwrights, actors, comedians, singer, etc? Go see a show here. Whether it’s Pianofight, City Soulo or any other, this is where you will see some excitings things on stages so intimate, you’ll forget the characters/​performers aren’t your longtime friends (or enemies;).

Dave Chappelle came to see City Solo @ Off Market Theater last month! Wow! Crazy and cool… to know that he supports solo artists too.

What OMT lacks in stage space it makes up for in number of stages. While attending a friend’s improv show I noticed the numerous mini-​theatres tucked away behind its long narrow corridors. Sardines-​in-​a-​can are expected but consider that cozy. $ 15 for your typical performance seems much (some performers opt to sell through Brown Bag tickets — strongly encourage any performers to go through them as they donate some of the ticket sales to charity) but there are some great acts which show up. A hub for talented and young thespians but what about some music? Can OMT host open mic/​acoustic sets?

The Position is now playing at this very wonderful, small, avant guard theater. It is a MUST SEE production. It kept us riveted the entire time. It is a small intimate space, with highly professional actors.
So exactly what is The Position? It’s not just a job; in a world ravaged by 80% unemployment and mass social chaos, The Position represents security and fulfillment. The Concern has selected six finalists from more than half-​a-​million job applicants, flown them to a remote compound, and provided them with every luxury and diversion, including golf, paragliding and skeet shooting. When they arrive, the six candidates are stripped of their clothing and identities, informed that the laws of The Nation have been suspended and that they will be recorded around the clock while they compete for the one job that they believe can give them hope in a hopeless world.
Featuring Kate Jones, Asher Lyons, Gabrielle Patacsil, Eric Reid, Dan Williams and Laura Zimmerman as the six finalists, The Position cast is rounded out by Jessica Cortese and Evan Winchester as employees of The Concern who administer the application process.
Gold star has $ 10.00 tickets or you can purchase them at the front door for $ 20.00. It is money well spent to see a quality full length drama in the city. No one under 16 admitted.
Parking is available at the Metreon Lot.
Website:

alright so on reflecting all the lovely memories of residing in SF… with my move away this wknd =(.the local arts is really that thing i will miss the most (okay maybe all the eats/​bars too).
reconnected with an old friend who produced and performed in a show here– City Soulo, which is actually still playing:
okay plug one done.
the setting– like Jen pointed out is intimate, actually everything about this art house is comfortable and you naturally feel close to those around you in anticipation of the show. the sound quality and lighting really supported the technical aspects of each solo artists’ very different– yet connected stories.
Nicole, Thao, Vanessa and Zahra really shared hilarious, wonderful, insightful stories that were very San Francisco in all of its distinct, beautiful and exotic realness.
Some of the cast even asked me and my cuz to grab a bite at Mels afterwards!!! How cool is that? You dont need 3D glasses (yep, skip Avatar) to feel immersed and emotionally captured with these 4 stage-​killers… try to catch the show this Sunday!
PS– only for the guys
if you don’t know, shows like these is where you will find the most intelligent, attractive women in the city. skip the bar if you are tired of the sausage party.
don’t believe me?
based on the # of lady revs to doods, well that would be like a 10:1 ratio!!! yep, thank me later!

I just saw Merry Forking Christmas… it was great! We laughed, we cried, it was better than cats. Seriously, my friend was crying from laughing so hard. The show is very interactive… as the audience got to vote (by cheering) for crucial decisions. At first, I thought we were going to vote with forks… but the «forking» is more symbolic, you know a fork in the road.
The venue is pretty small and homey. Parking is easy to find but the place is very sketchy. Hide your valuables.
Also be warned, DO NOT COME EARLIER than the will call area. We got there around 7:20pm, when the will call started at 7:30pm. The gate in front of the building door was locked, there weren’t any signs posted to tell you were at the right place, and no one answered the buzzer when I rang it… we thought we were at the wrong place. However, we decided to try again in ten minutes, and the gate was opened with someone to greet us.
You can drink alcohol in the audience. Some people brought their own and the cast gave people some bud weiser cans in the beginning and end. A very fun environment.

We saw the Santaland Diaries, based on David Sedaris’ True Holiday Tale here and I thought it was great. I felt the one man show was an impressive take on the sarcastic and dark comedy tale.
Theater is located on the 2^nd floor. There isn’t a noticeable «Off Market» sign so just look for the street address (965). Unlike some Unilocalers who think this area is sketchy, I disagree. Located just a few blocks from the huge parking garage on Mission and 5^th. This makes for easy and convenient parking and lots of dining choices before the show.
There are a few bars/​pubs close by. The Tempest or The Chieftain on 5^th St. right around the corner from the theater.
Yes, it’s a very intimate theater (about 70 seats). I think that adds to the charm and coziness. There is a small concession table that offers wine, beer and cookies which is a nice touch.
I recommend checking out a show and support your local theater. Who knows you just might love it.

Another small theater I would have never known about if it weren’t for Goldstar. The tiny theater is located upstairs on the 2^nd floor and seats less than 75. I’m really beginning to love the intimacy of small theater companies.
We just saw «I Heart Hamas» and definitely recommend it to anyone who isn’t sensitive to issues of race, religion, or politics. and wants to learn about Palestine. It was completely candid, funny, depressing, and thought-​provoking all at once. Jennifer has serious huevos for doing this one-​woman show! See it!
Tip: Goldstar for cheap tickets! Oh, and ladies, I wouldn’t suggest walking here on your own, unless you’re looking to score some rock, or get holla-​ed at by bums in wheelchairs.

Well the building is a little bit like what you might expect if the Shining took place in an office tower, but the actual theater, once you elevator up to it, is cozy and fun. Simple, no-​frills, but host to lots of laughter and the kinds of shows that encourage audience participation.
Check out «Shortlived 2.0» if you have a chance (over the next two months). Each show is a series of 8 shorts, and after every 3 shows, 4 shorts get cut according to audience voting, and 4 new shorts are added. It’s clever way to showcase young, broke screenwriting talent and they totally encouraged rowdiness from the likes of me. And it makes for a cheap, fun night out. Some of my favorites from last weekend’s show were «Self Important Planetarium» and «The Boyfriend Store.»

Five stars for all the laughter that occurred here while watching hilarious «SHIT (Stop Hating on Imagination Time) Show» performances!
Instead of spending your Saturday night watching SNL (a generally shitty show), bring your friends to a SHIT Show performance and you’ll definitely have an awesome time. One of my friends brought me along to one of the shows a few months back and I actually laughed out loud… multiple times! I know you don’t know me, but if you did, you’d know I never laugh out loud at shows or movies. The material is so funny that I find myself and my friends quoting it weeks after the show and many of the actors/​writers seem to be bound for greatness.
I think I’ve been to 3 or 4 SHIT Shows since, and they honestly just keep getting better. This black box theater is very small (~50 seats), so if you hear about a show you like, you better act fast because it will sell out. I believe this theater generally supports drinking in the audience so feel free to BYOB, buy some beer or wine from the theater bar, or heck, I’ve been to shows that start with a free beer give-​away!!! I know you’re down.
Judging by the very limited interactions that I’ve had with the guys who manage the theater (PianoFight, I believe), they all seem to be pretty cool and just into making sure people have a good time watching quality shows.
This is definitely a small operation that I will continue to support by bringing my drunk friends along for late-​night shows followed by more drinking and Jack-​In-​The-​Box bingeing!

Small Intimate Theater.
It was my first time here and i attended FORKING (which by the way was freaking hilarious!)
The staff was fantastic and very accommodating to this special Unilocal discount night.
Sure its in a semi sketchy street… but once you enter the gates… you’ll be sure to have a good time!
If they host more shows like FORKING, i’ll be sure to visit this theater again!

i’d never heard of this theater until the folks from Forking did a special $ 10 show here for us Unilocalers. the show was hilarious, and the theater was small and intimate — if you’re in the front row, you’re basically on the stage!
i like small intimate theaters like this, and i’d definitely go back to see other shows. it’s a good place if you’re on a budget too — i think most shows range from $ 10-​$ 20 i did feel like it would be a little scary getting out of there if there was a fire tho…

Attended the Unilocal showing of «Forking» here last night. Definitely a great show that I recommend everyone to check out. The theater is definitely smaller than many of the other venues I’ve been to, but then again, the shows here have smaller budgets and may be first runs.
As others have said, it’s got about 50 seats or so, but with standing room included could probably hold about 75. One issue that I did have is that the set up of the seats doesn’t really allow one to sneak out of the theater unnoticed. Odds are, you will be walking directly in front of the actors & the stage if you need to step outside for whatever reason.
One other thing to keep in mind, is that it’s between 5^th & 6^th on Mission and the area can be a little sketchy at night… We had an interesting encounter with one guy who addressed me as «Mr. Norton» and wanted to guess where I got my shoes while we were walking to the theater. Just something to be aware of if you’re going to check out any shows here.
I will definitely coming back here soon!

The play I saw last night, Forking, was the second show I attended at the awesome Off-​Market Theater. The theaters are really small (seat about 50 people) and intimate. The plays I’ve seen have been $ 10 — $ 20 and super entertaining!
You can often find parking nearby but lock the doors because the area is slightly sketchy…
Here’s what I thought of Forking:
Forking is SO the new spooning!!! ;)
Three sexual females and three sexual females living together is bound to lead to some great comedy. Letting the audience choose whether characters will hook up is bound to make it even funnier. Then, add free Firestone beers (donated by Firestone) for the whole performance to the voting audience, and you have the recipe for AMAZINGNESS!
* How cool is it that Off-​Market Theater let a ton of people drink beers and get drunk at their show?!

My band performed here last night. It may seem small when you enter in, but it just adds to the intimacy. I was definitely sweating after our 30 minute set, due to the small space, the lights, my attire, and the performance adrenaline, but it was definitely good times and well worth it.
For a venue that isn’t built for music, it’s actually pretty good. The people who ran the stage that night were very nice, too. I kinda wish that they didn’t set up the seats since we wanted people to stand up. It’s a rock concert, people! You don’t sit and watch; you listen and dance!

Recently walked right by this theatre when specifically searching for it (it’s an easy miss) — as I had tickets to the Book of Liz (David & Amy Sedaris play– very funny/​quirky). The ambiance of the entrance and the overall building is definitely gloomy and corporate-​like; you would never expect a small theatre to be inside. The theatre itself is cozy and warm. They served wine before the show and you are able to actually drink during the play… which is great (especially if the play you happen to see isn’t so great. on that note, the wine was not needed for Book of Liz).
I went with a big group of friends– this is the perfect theatre for that, as you all can sit close to each other (it’s first come, first serve seating) and you feel like you are in your own private theatre. Cool venue for sure.

Went here tonight with some friends to watch a play called The Book of Liz. The place reminds me of when I was at the Sundance Film Festival where they have random places where films are held. This looks like an office building of some sort because we went up to the 2^nd floor and into a hallway and then in a big room with about 40 seats. It’s small and intimate so no seat is a bad seat. The seats are a little leveled so your view can’t be too obstructed (I’m 5 feet tall so that says a lot because my view is almost always obstructed).
The bathroom is very white, it’s worse than hospital white. Haha, not a bathroom I’d explore alone on a quiet Saturday evening. All in all a great way to spend a Saturday night with friends. Oh and that show was performed by 4 people playing like 15 different characters. It lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes and cost $ 25.00 plus $ 1.00 for service charge. I’m all for independent artists too!

I am biased, I know. But really, this theatre is awesome. Why? Because how often can you go to a play, bring your friends, a bottle of wine and make it a crazy night out? Well, as often as you come to the Off-​Market theater and see their shows.
A black box theater, this intimate space allows for the imagination to run wild. A lot of hard work, time, energy and heart goes into the shows here. Definitely worth the trip. You are in for a unique experience.