20 Best Acting Programs In San Francisco, CA (2022 Updated)

Third-year clarinet student here at the conservatory! I've learned some of my greatest lessons in this building, about music and life. Deep friendships and fond memories come from my experience in this school. Faculty, staff, and students come together to provide one of the finest arts-education spaces in the country. Love it!Ivan Ferguson

I came here for an event for The San Francisco Guzheng Music Society. The location has fantastic acoustics and architecture. The room we were in fit just the right amount of people so that the music projected beautifully and the performance was easily seen by all in the theater.Deanna

Comfortable seating for a conservatory. The main performance room is cozy and intimate. The students that run the box offices are very friendly. Big bonus, they have enough bathrooms do there's not a huge line at intermission on the ladies room.Christina Collada

This historic art school is a unique incubator for visual artist's for over 100 years. In addition to exhibits of student's work in hall galleries throughout the buildings the Diego Rivera gallery contains a huge mural by the famous Mexican painter. Other lovely smaller murals are found in hallways in the original Spanish mission style building. The new building houses another art gallery, an auditorium, a cafe and patios boasting panoramic views of the bay, Marin and the North Beach neighborhood. In the massive areas below are painting, ceramics, and sculpture studios as well as media production rooms. The old building is a Warren of passageway s connecting photo labs printmaking and drawing classrooms and a lovely library with its own mural. Entering through the two massive red arching wooden doors you find yourself in a arcade of arches surrounding a bricked patio with a tiled octagonal fountain at it's center. This is the portal to another world. A world full of creativity, imagination and timeless possibility. From Minor White and Ansel Adams to Richard Diebenkorn and Richard Shaw it has provided education to thousands of major artist's from all over the world. Worth many visits as it is ever changing and full of surprises.Toby Kahn

It was once a great school. The professors, teachers and staff were the best but make no mistake, that was then. Now, after SFAI has fired a majority of those people it is well… kind of the bones of what was and nothing more. I was a student there in spring 2020 when they kicked out a bunch of students because of their financial issues. Little to no help was provided to transfer and they weren’t and still aren’t the least bit remorseful. I am sad for this school. However, if you are looking for good views and a historic building with ghosts possibly roaming the halls reminding you of the creative community that use to exist, this is your place.Marguerite Bradley

Everything about the board for this school needs reformation, I’m happy to say I’m going back this fall for studio classes once more and putting my best foot forward as I come back from some having a newfound agoraphobia. Sfai is a conceptual art school that’s excellent at healing the students when enough support is present. I am looking forward to the future and showing up for myself as one of the students who never wanted to leave in the first place. I’m the luckiest bleep alive. And I will create even more art.SoCaliForeign

I'm a male, late 20's student at USF, and this has been my experience: 1) Rigorous – Having had a decent amount of life experience before coming here, I expected it to be easy. I was wrong. As someone who has always been good at math, the math classes were all challenging and required a lot of time and effort to do well in. The same goes for their science classes. I had attended another, easier university before coming here, and the difference was huge. 2) Political/Religious – Being a catholic university in the middle of a very liberal city, there is a good chance that someone will at some point try to shove religion or liberal politics down your throat, with a higher probability of the latter. As someone who doesn't care for politics, I'd prefer if they were left out of the classroom. 3) Small class sizes – All but one of my classes have been under 30 people, with many being less than 20. There are personal, 1-on-1 classes for music lessons in guitar, piano, vocals, etc. There are ample staff to handle any problem and any and all issues I've had were solved quickly. Compare this to a state school with class sizes in the 100's and there is really no comparison. 4) Expensive – With an annual price tag of about 50k, plus the astronomically high San Francisco cost of living, it is incredibly expensive to go to school here. I came here largely because I had a full-ride scholarship, and would have seriously considered other options if I didn't. 5) Amenities – There are several large libraries, excellent quiet study areas, private music rooms with instruments, and the campus itself is quite beautiful. With the tuition comes a free public transit card and gym access, at a very nice gym. 6) Overall quality – The quality of the school overall is very high. I can't say how it compares to the likes of top schools like Stanford, but many of USF's professors have come from those big name schools. The combination of talented, intelligent professors and personal 1-on-1 attention make it a great place to learn and study.Tyler D

I transferred out of the University of San Francisco real quick. The school is expensive, the education is ok but the material is too easy, and the social life is garbage unless you're undoubtedly liberal. The professors were very nice and helpful, but anyone from the administration building is out to get you, ultimately this place is just a big money pit. They'll find a way to fine you and take your money even if you haven't done anything wrong.Alex Douthat

Beautiful campus in the heart of the city but otherwise, a school filled with professors that don’t really care, poor accommodations for students with disabilities, extremely expensive, campus police focuses more on giving you parking tickets and people’s conduct rather than ensuring vehicles are not broken into. Did I mention is extremely expensive and they will not accommodate you well if you need to take time off for medical/family issues.Jake Bilyak

To all the high school freshman posting reviews and rating AMDA 5 stars stop. You do not go there. Do not give it a bigger head than it already has. Attended in 2013-2014 would have been one star if it weren't for some (a few) wonderful teachers. (Stacy Lee, Kathy, Jeff, Tim,and Ray thank you) I am posting this review because they just posted an instagram post about 13 reasons why. They said check this out help is available. Would have been nice if that was ACTUALLY TRUE. However, if you have any sort of mental health problems you are told to grow up! (By teachers AND THE DAMN COUNSELOR) you are told stories of how the show must go on fake it til you make it. If you cannot stop crying you are weak, and theater is just a hobby for you. The teachers name drop and make you feel bad about yourself for not being Jason Derulo.The only person who helped me get help was my acting teacher (god bless him), who sent me to the counselor who told me I was acting like a child and that I need to prioritize. "If this isn't for you you don't have to be here" I told him this is the most depressed I've ever been. No offer to find therapy near me. No weekly meetings. No follow up visit. He suggested I find a new dream. So I did but now I'm 25,000 dollars in debt after 9 of the worst months of my life. Like others have said AMDA is what you make it but if you have any sort of mental health issues don't count on getting any help. PS. The dorms have a large scary roach problem, pretty sure it used to be a mental hospital (how fitting) PPS. I can acknowledge that I learned a good deal in my acting and VPS classes. And that not all the teachers suck.Madison Mitchell

I joined AMDA NYC back in 2021 Fall. This school has changed my life. Incredible staffing who are all working professionals within the acting world and all are incredibly motivated, fun and inspiring. My time at this school has been nothing but positive thus far and, the school continues to get better and better. I have done my own reading into reviews and the bad reviews have definitely changed. I have seen things change here, I have seen things become progressively better for the students here at AMDA. AMDA has become much more of a supporting and safe environment for not just me but for everybody who needs it. You certainly learn a lot here, develop great connections with your teachers and get plenty of opportunities out here. I myself, am certainly glad that I chose this school. Great friends, great classes, great locations, great teachers and all around an incredibly exiting journey.Kallan Fuller

My daughter just graduated in Sept 2017 from NYC in dance. She had a very positive experience from start to finish! Starting with Elliott Kerr, Assistant Director of Admissions. Elliott did a nice job of answering all our questions and helping get all our paperwork completed. Our daughter loved all her teachers and has said through out her program, "this is the right school for me." I feel like the program and the school prepared her for auditioning and the life of a performer! THANK YOU AMDA!Jennifer M

I am currently a full time student and I have had it with this university. Half of the professors are excellent, while the other half clearly show up for a paycheck. The care for individual students has declined significantly over my time there. Access to advisors is nearly impossible now and they respond at least a week later. Further more are the fees they pile on to students. After Covid 19 hit and all classes went online, they still were charging “facility” fees and equipment fees, which in all fairness could be refunded but they were charging them upfront then expecting students to reach out for a refund. And on top of all of that is the mandatory student health insurance plan that you can not waive even if you have your own insurance. They are acting like a for profit business that tries to nickel and dime people the entire way. I gravely do not recommend this Academy. Avoid it at all costs. Am I happy with the with knowledge and skills gained? Yes. Would I do it again? Absolutely not!Vero V

After making it explicitly clear to every recruiter that called and texted me that no, I was not in fact going to enroll here, nor was there any chance of me enrolling here… They STILL sent me a very nice book in the mail out of the kindness of their heart. One of the nicest books I've received for free, all sorts of pleasant little stories to read and pictures to look at. It's a book about an art academy, with many happy students, what sports the students like to play, lovely descriptions of the surrounding San Francisco scenery and cultural vibe, stories about an instructor's life in the studio. The print job was quality. Beautiful. Overall a very therapeutic read. For the price point, you definitely get more than you pay for so I would recommend it to a friend for sure. *Please don't tell them I beg you, after all their kindness, but… I skipped the boring parts. I'm sorry. But I promise I didn't throw it away. I recycled it.Chloe Holt

This school is just a complete hot mess. I am a current online fashion stylist student and I can honestly say that the best thing about this school is the staff. You have to pay a registration fee each semester for classes and apparently it goes up every year. I was told that after all my grants, scholarships, and federal aid, I would only have to pay $18 out of pocket. But just yesterday I received a bill of over $1000. I recommend that you find a more reputable school because I amAbreasha Washington

My experience at the Barrow Group has truly helped me not to give up as an actor. After moving to NYC in 2009, my very talented friend recommended that I take classes at The Barrow Group. I trusted his recommendation because he was very knowledgable about the class options in the city. I am so thankful that I found the Barrow Group!! I really missed my theatre community from Graduate School and the Barrow Group became my NYC home base. I have taken four classes with Lee Brock and I have learned so much from her. She helped me go back to the beginning…back to those years before all of the training…Lee helped me go back to the 'Story.' She helped me to focus on what truly matters…telling the story! The teaching style of the Barrow Group is extremely accessible to actors. You can get a feel for the teachings style by reading Seth Barrish's book "An Actor's Companion: 99 Bit of Craft." It is so wonderful!! -BrandyBrandy Caldwell

I am starting my fourth class tomorrow. Obviously, I love this place. The teachers are friendly, down to earth, and REALLY know their stuff. It really is amazing, the learning curve, and how much you do learn during just one class, let alone three. The teaching methods are so great, it makes you almost feel like what you have learned should have been common sense. I've attended one of their shows (so far), and it was really an inspiring experience, with just superb acting. Whenever people ask me about my experience here, I cannot recommend The Barrow Group enough.Tomo Lovric

An extraordinary theatre company and school. I had studied for many years with some of the best and most highly regarded teachers in the acting community but it wasn't until I found the Barrow Group that I felt I became a good actor. Seth Barrish has created an astoundingly simple approach to the work that makes acting fun again. And truthful and real. He and his co-artistic director Lee Brock have created a wonderful home for some of the most passionate and talented artists I have ever had the privilege of working with. I couldn't recommend them more highly!Peter Lewis

If I could give them a minus star, I would be happy to do that. Do not waste your time nor your money, this so called "art school" is good for nothing. From teachers to admins, everything is a constant unpleasant situation to deal with. Teachers really DO NOT TEACH anything, students have to find out and learn everything mostly by themselves; teachers are stuck up, they thing they are the biggest deal and that the students are nothing unless they get to have a favorite one. None of the students here study and work, most of them come from rich families that pay for them to do "something in life" and that something will certainly be nothing because hardly one gets to have a decent, paying job after being ripped off for years. For rich people this is certainly not important but not for poor or middle class people that want to advance in life and make big efforts to get loans and on top of that pay monthly tuition. We ended up investing about $85,000 for a basically useless degree. They break their student's spirit, they belittle, ignore, degrade them; make them feel they are not entitled to any success if they are not the star of the class. My child worked extremely, extremely hard to try to make his dream come true but ended up completely sick and hopeless. Lastly, teachers steal student's ideas and nothing you can do about it because they have students sign an agreement before beginning of classes. First they tell them that those ideas are worthless, of course. Look for better options. California is full of excellent and transparent schools, colleges and universities let CCA out, it isn't worth it !!!Gabriela Saez

This is a soulless school, with excellent faculty sprinkled occasionally throughout. They present a great and forward thinking image on the outside, and on the inside try to cheat students and faculty alike. Their first priority is outside appearance, and one of their last is the students. Trying to get things fixed here when they inevitably screw up your schedule or take away your scholarship or any number of other things mid-semester is like going to the DMV, if the DMV was worse than it already is and charged you $30-45 thousand a year. This is a greedy institution so disorganized their financial aid documents even say "Please return to the Financial Aid Office by 12/31/1967." CCA is only slightly better than Academy of Art University in terms of being concerned about your education experience or personal well-being. Go somewhere else.Christian Hawkins (C. Grey Hawkins)

Well when I went there it was known as Rock ridge elementary School LOL and then it changed to arts magnet elementary School and that's when it became divided and kindergarteners were going to the same classes as the high school and college students which was actually really cool I met a lot of good friends and learned a lot of neat stuff education should not only be free but you should be able to learn what you want to learn which is what I enjoyed the most by going to classes with older students and being treated as an equalum bad at shuk nac tic

I had a hard time with this school. I started in January 2020, so certain circumstances were out of their control. However they got remote classes up an running fast, which was very impressive. That’s where they get 1/2 stars you see in this review… I joined the school having been to another film school in Australia. So I had some previous education and experience in the industry. I found that the school’s teaching methods of filmmaking, that they teach you in the first semester, a little strange. Instead of teaching industry standards of what crew members do what, they teach you with small low budget short films in mind. For example they teach you that the 1st AD (First Assistant Director) does the set schedule and does the slates at the beginning of each take, NOT the 2nd CA (Second Camera Assistant) which isn’t industry standard anywhere in the world. Which sort of makes sense, for short films. But if you don’t have any film experience outside of film school it can make real film sets overwhelmingly alien. This was something a fellow student said to me after we graduated and I felt that to be a big issue. Especially for a school that prides itself as a school run by filmmakers for filmmakers. As an international student I was impressed by how accommodating and friendly Alfretta (Head of Admissions) was. She got the required visa documents to me very quickly and even replied to emails on Sunday morning at 4am PST! When I arrived she was like a second mother and was very welcoming and kind, giving advice about living in San Francisco, which made the move to a new city and new country all the more easier! Unfortunately though during the pandemic, like most of the staff she felt the pressure and her temperament change very fast. Especially seeing as she was being over worked, and she had an additional pressure with the pandemic raging on, they struggled to find new students. Another surprise came when I applied as an international student. To secure your spot at the school as an international student, the school expects you to pay $20,000USD upfront. This I was told was assurance for the school, to guarantee that you would in fact be coming to the school. Which is no small amount money, but goes towards tuition, which was around $41,000 according to the website when I applied. This did unfortunately cause issues with payments down the road and it didn’t seem like their billing team was on the same page about how much had to be paid each semester. They are also criminally aggressive with getting payments from students, it’s very unsettling. They even went as far as threatening me with my visa, saying they’d cancel it if I didn’t pay. Basically threatening deportation. On top of that, in my third semester I was accidentally charged $15,000 extra! I found that I had to argue with the billing team, that this was an error. He was very rude and told me several times that I was wrong, until I wrote everything out for him, showed proof of payments and I even had to rope in Jeremiah (School President) and Fred Ritzenberg (Professor and Student Advisor) to help resolve this issue. The in person classes that I experienced from January to March were great at least 40% of the time, for me having previously attended film school this was learning what I already knew. Which I had expected, but I found myself having to teach my classmates lots of things about camera settings, lenses, lighting, script writing and crew roles. Which isn’t a good sign. However the atmosphere at the school before the lockdown was awesome! The best thing about the school was the classes that Fred Ritzenberg taught. When I was there, he taught; Script Writing and Business of Film. He’s an excellent teacher and a very nice person. However during the pandemic Jeremiah (School President and Founder) had to take leave, that meant for a while the school at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown went to down hill fast. As a whole SFFS is a sinking ship. The pandemic was it’s iceberg. Don’t get me started on teachers that had to be fired or the registrar Eric.Mattia De Luca

Wish I could give the school a zero. I'm a veteran. I filled out an application in August and wasn't sure I was going to go due to timing issues. I received a call from the VP Alfretta Clark on Friday. I thought it was a follow up call from the school but it ended up being an harassment call. She was upset that I didn't call the school and let them know if I was coming or not. She was VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. She started calling me names and started to bring up the money I would get for attending the school. She kept throwing it up in my face. I think she was jealous. IF YOU'RE A VETERAN BEWARE!! I think these people pray on the pay that they would receive from going there. I asked for her superior's information on the phone and through email and she would not give it to me. I thought I might go to the school at a later date. I found out that I could of taken online classes so I might of went when I originally planned but she denied my application based on her emotions. Alfretta Clark is a horrible and entitled person. To call a stranger with that kind of attitude is inexcusable and deplorable. Her words were "You should be calling us!" like her and her school were better than me and all the veterans that attend. I never heard of the school before finding it through the VA. She needs to be more careful with her words because you never know what a person is going through in life especially veterans who served this country to protected her and her school. Without us there would be no school. That level of respect needs to establish at San Francisco Film School before they receive any more money from the VA. I'll be following up tomorrow. I will try and talk with the President and see if he's more level headed and respectful. It will be hard though. They stopped answering my calls after they disrespected me. I want reciprocity and an apology ASAP! I wont stop until I get it.Threal

Hello, I'm Dave Stern, a freshman student in the A.A.S. Degree program at San Francisco Film School. I'm also a US Air Force veteran . I consider myself very fortunate to be able to attend this fine specialty & technical school for Digital Cinematography online. And as needed , in person. The resources, equipment and above all, the instructors and support staff are top notch. Thanks to their collective decades of "real world" industry experience, their many awards and global connections. In my instance, I am also dealing with several handicaps from a near fatal car accident. The school and instructors have been beyond accommodating . They took the time to understand my personal situation and have been able to help me succeed with my program in any way practical. I highly suggest to anyone interested in cinematography, screenwriting, acting , videography, editing, sound, marketing and more, they consider San Francisco Film School. Highly focused on a students success to fast track creating art and craft in the real world.David Stern

Just rating the theater and not the the performance,the theater upper seats are not made for men above 5"9 and above 6 feet or people with hip and knee replacement in the upper balcony especially in the "lodge" section I'm 6'2 and 240 and I thanks god that the person next to me in the lodge section on stage left wasnt there, I could angle my knees, it still was brutal or otherwiseI, probably would of left. when we got there the staff didnt say this way ladies and gentlemen, I did buy the cheap seats for 179$, they yelled not ask "ticket person holding tickets first then you toss your wallet and keys into a bin for metal decorator. Which I dont think it pick up my belt buckle, then someone scan your ticket and sent you on your way to wander and find your seats. if you want to get someone attention how about a light flicker instead of yelling thru your maskRobert Smith

I love this theater and all of the productions I have seen here over the years. I thought I knew all I needed to know about this building until the other night when I took the elevator to the Sky Lobby Bar on the 3rd floor. I discovered the top-floor Garret Room, a private space for performances, receptions and meetings. I am so glad this building built in 1906 was saved and preserved.Bella Fica

Great show. Food and drinks on both the top and bottom floors with a small stand in the middle. I definitely recommend reserving yourself a table during intermission. You can order your drinks and food ahead of time and they are ready at the start of intermission so you don’t have to wait in line. Great date night.Lee Pierce

Learn from the best. When I was 19 years old, I was accepted to the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute. It was the highlight of my life at the time. The great teachers back then were Harv Dean and David Gideon. I went to school here part time for 9 months to learn acting at its very basic. If you can afford going to the school and want to learn acting from the aspect of the instrument, then I highly recommend going here. The most important thing I learned from this school, is that even if you attend the classes and do your scene work, you need to be out pounding the pavement and looking for work in the industry, an agent and possibly a manager. I would not call the school glamorous but it does show great pride and respect for people who walks through their doors. If you are serious about acting and show business, this is the place to be. Take a look at the names of the superstars that have graced these doors!.C H

Although I am old enough to be the GRANDmother of most of the students, I had the honor to chat with Lee Strasberg himself, one morning, years ago. He spent nearly a half hour on the phone with me – a total stranger. I had acting aspirations back then (I am a freelance writer today). And I have never forgotten his generosity, wisdom, and graciousness to me – someone he would never meet in person. I love stopping by whenever I can, to donate theatre books, costume pieces, and just sniff around who's doing what. A cool place, and a wonderful energy, carrying on the great Lee's tradition of realism, heart and acting from the soul!!!Cynthia Hawkins

So cool, in a jimmy fallon interview, lady Gaga said she went here for 10 years! As a little monster I give this institution 5 stars! A Star is born! ❤️👏James G

Welcome to the "empathy gym!" That's SF Playhouse's mission. The company prides itself on being a place where you can sit in the dark with an audience and witness a part of other peoples' lives. For a couple of hours, you have the chance to feel what others are feeling, and are changed as a result. That's the power of theatre. SF Playhouse produces shows that engender empathy. You feel for the characters and their struggles. It's not always serious, mind you. The comedies and musicals are just as entertaining and thoughtful as the dramas. The Playhouse produces classic shows like Sunday in the Park with George, and brand new works through it's Sandbox Series. They're all excellent. Do yourself a favor and check out the Playhouse's current and upcoming shows. You'll be glad you gave your empathy muscles a workout.Kristin Bass

This place is a dump. Nice people I am sure and I hate to be a jerk but they charge over 100 for seats down front. I would expect something significantly nicer at this price point. Dirty, old and ran down. It stunk inside the theater something awful. MASKS AND VACCINE REQUIRED STILL OCTOBER 2022. I need to read more carefully as this was not in the ticket email. Passsssssss for us. Had we known we would not have come. No interest in sitting for 2 hrs with an uncomfortable mask. No drinks allowed. 2 hrs you cannot even have water. Why? Again this place is not nice. Started late which is unacceptable and unprofessional. Just an all around bust. Also not sure. If this was just chance but 60-70% of the crowd were 60 plus. Won't be back. Feel cheated.Brandon Cable

I don’t want to comment on the show or whoever works on the stage. The thing I really can’t understand is – there are only two restrooms with labeled “Men” and “All Gender”. I can’t even imagine what was the mentality of the staffs to make a decision like this. They basically denied half of the population- women exist. Only Man and whoever else is. After the show(the show was great btw), I saw a male trying to use the “All gender” even when the “Men” restroom completely empty. I couldn’t make up what was in his mind to decide to make this action. The partitions in “All Gender “ have a 2ft height gap from ground, I don’t think it is comfortable for anyone to use as a mix gender restroom.No One

My niece bought tickets for my birthday. I have never been here and did not know it existed. We got there a little early and waited outside. Masks are optional. They checked our ID and vaccine card. Then they walk you in and to your seat. Some seats are behind a table so if you order food and drinks you have some place to put them. Other seats have no table in front of them..but you can turn your seat around to use the table if you want. They also have balcony seating which would have been cool seats…they all have tables. The waitress came over right away to take our order. My mom was the only person to order and it was a bottled water…wayyyy to expensive. We ate before we went…so we did not order food…it did look good though. The show was fantastic. I really loved the lighting and acrobats. The performers were very entertaining and very fun to watch. The way they acted was like a loving family… It was hard to turn away because you just did not know what you would miss. I would come see another show for sure.. It would be great as a mothers day gift..ir a date night experience… Incredible.Kimberly

$6.50 for a small cup of mediocre lukewarm decaf. No waiter in sight after it was served. Show started 22 minutes late. Super tight seating – perfect for viral spreading. No one wearing masks even though the confirmation email says to bring a well fitted mask? That’s the experience, and the show hasn’t even started… It was a terrible way to start a performance that we were really looking forward to and set a poor tone. We thought the acrobatic performers were pretty amazing however, and put on really impressive performances. It was a lovely tribute to SF and represented the diversity and culture of our city. Overall, the show was actually an hour long if you subtract the fluff. I’d appreciate it if the people in charge of production would be more attentive to these aspects of the show in the future.Angela Ingel

We went to the Dear San Francisco show, and it was awesome. Fun, energetic, and very entertaining. The acrobats are incredible;the way they move around on the poles and the other objects can make you forget for a moment that gravity exists. The other parts of the show are awesome too – we especially loved the Chinese yo-yo – I won’t say any more so not to spoil it, but suffice to say it is a really cool scene to see live on a stage. Also, the visuals and music of the entire show are great. Definitely recommend.David Duchen

ODC has so many classes for anything you'd like to experiment with. This was important especially when I was a newbie dancer. It's really an institution and it's hard to find comparable offerings in even bigger cities. The facilities are nice and look "pro" and the Rhythm & Motion dance workout is a great way to get cardio and learn dance in a no pressure zone with multiple offerings per week you can jump into. If you want "true" dance classes and workshops where you learn a set choreography for the entire class, you'll find it here too.JP G

The salsa classes here are a blast, and there's a class for every comfort level. I usually buy a five-pack, which is $65. So worth it. Sometimes you go to a salsa club and pay cover and take a rubbish class beforehand. Here, you pay but you get great instructors, you learn a lot, and you have a ton of fun. The crowd that comes tends to be super fun, too. Once a month or so, the open up as a salsa party after class. Why not try it? First-timers get their first class for $5!Homer Ong

Rhythmn and Motion is the best dance and cardio workout I've ever experienced. The joy of dance and exercise among the students and staff is motivational and the community really cares and supports each other. It is non-judgmental. No body cares if you walk into a wall or move the wrong direction. There is no better place to get in tune with your body and movement. Rhythmn and Motion classes give you energy for your day to come alive and thrive.Richard De Francesco

The Herbst Theatre is an absolutely amazing venue and historical feat of architecture right on downtown San Francisco. The exterior is exquisite and so is the interior with much of the building being open to the public on weekdays. All of this made for excellent features for our blend of 3D projection mapping and lighting as our team illuminated the exterior entrance and main hall proscenium for the recent event, "Reimagined". Thank you to the wonderful and professional staff for all the help with the event!Lumenarius

Excellent acoustics at Dress circle. Had impressive experience at Seong-Jin Cho’s Piano Recital a few weeks ago. The group sales John was excellent in assisting my reservation for 21 people field trip to this concert. Hope to attend concerts in the near future. On top of that, I bumped to an very dear old friend of ours. We haven’t seen each other for over 20 years! What a sensational evening!!!!!Pno Ens

Completely unassuming and I bet most locals have walked past this theatre without thinking twice. Inside of its doors though are many hidden treasures- historic and artistic! Significant treaty signings and amazing masterpieces can be found inside of the grand wooden doors. Jump on the $7 tour that starts at the symphony to experience the wondersDavid Maddison

Fun little theater. Saw avenue q here. The theater is a quick walk away from the Civic Center BART which was great. It's also right by Hayes street so there are a lot of great food/drink options around for a meal or drink before the show. There's also a small little bar inside the theater which can get a little long because there seems to be only one bartender. The theater itself seems to sit about 60 people max and the views from ever seat was great! It probably goes 8 to 10 rows back theater seating style.Xavier Ching

Very cozy theater. Not a bad seat in the house as far as viewing the stage is concerned. Seats were in good repair and clean too. Wish they were a little wider since we got sandwiched by people taller & wider than ourselves, but not the end of the world. The bathrooms are starting to show their age, but were functional. Nice little bar with sodas for $2 and limited snacks like candy and cookies. Staff was friendly and helpful. If another production comes into town, we wouldn't hesitate to return.Tanya M

We had heard the sound track last summer and enjoyed it immensely. The theater is small and the seats are comfortable. I didn't really see a bad seat in the house. The theater is clean and the bar service fast. The performers did a good job. This is sort of a Muppets for adults. Definitely not for kids under 15 years of so. We look forward to seeing other shows here.PG Brickhouse

Went there in person once. The theatre has great atmosphere and plays lots of classic movies. The staff was nice and passionate about their work. However, they can really improve their website and contact information. There is NO WAY to find any film schedule online. Their official website doesn’t have a film schedule but only show schedule. I left a comment on their twitter but no one replied. And the phone number is NOT in service. Hope they can make movies more reachable to audience!lingwei ouyang

Beautiful venue. I've been here a few times for the Moth Grandslam event (a story-telling contest). I'd highly recommend checking out the Moth, but I also recommend coming to the Castro Theatre for any event. It's very centrally located near Market Street, and it's right by the muni stop. The Theatre itself is spacious with vintage architecture. Really cool to be in an older theatre that has been so well taken care of.Andrew Litwiller

The Castro Theatre is now only available for private functions, so we were disappointed when we weren't allowed to look around inside. Still a great area to visit though, I would highly recommend visiting The Castro. Lots of cute little book shops that also sell candles, gimmick toys etc. Most places are dog friendly too.RasedS Alonhfs

Full disclosure, I work here, but recently I signed up for a songwriting workshop so I feel I can honestly offer feedback as a client. Having little to no musical experience I was not sure what my role in class was going to be; I love writing & singing little ditties when I am driving, or shopping, or cleaning, or skiing… pretty much wherever – you get the idea. Well, the songwriting workshop has been perfect. I was welcomed in and invited to collaborate with some VERY talented people. They took my punk rock song about people who don't use their blinkers and turned it into something quite fun and before you knew it, they had me play bass on some songs. I AM LOVING IT!!! If you are still reading this, and thinking of taking a class – just do it. If you are curious about a workshop and want to play with others, come check out our show at the Boom Boom room on Wed. Sept 18th! ALL ORIGINALS, including "Turn Indicator."Renee Richardson

I've been taking band workshops at blue bear for a couple of years now as well as a vocal class & a 1-day harmonica workshop. It's all been top rate with excellent teachers who are super knowledgable & personable working musicians. I also love that they are there to teach the kids music & do outreach in the schools. And their director Dennis is awesome & so responsive to feedback. I think this is a wonderful resource here in SF, and I like that besides the main campus there's band workshops at Lennon studios in SOMA. I look forward to having fun at "bandcamp" every week! And to top it off, we get to have graduation showcases at real venues like Boom boom room – nothing like unleashing your inner rock star! Highly recommend 🙂Josie Valderrama

There are many dreams we have; from being a winning pitcher in game 7 of the World Series, to rocking out in a band. Blue Bear has no expertise in the area of sports – but having appeared onstage 3 times in bands at Bay Area clubs after 40+ years away from music was truly a dream come true. And it wasn't a "feel bad for the old guy" move – each band learned their tunes, practiced and prepared and then as a team each band had a ball onstage. If you've ever toyed with the idea of taking what ever musical skills you have on stage – drop your inhibitions and get on board with Blue Bear. My only regret – I've move away from SF and may never get another class there! But I haven't stopped playing!Richard Lang

I have the BEST review to share, 5 star service! Taylor Holtemann is actively helping me find my next position, and has such a warm, welcoming personality that I feel very comfortable working with her. She truly listens to what's important to me and what cultural fit is best. Without Taylor's guidance, I would still be looking for a solid recruiter who can provide the excellent service she has.Lesley Casemero

Wow what an experience!! Taylor helped me land my dream job and I couldn't be more grateful. My experiences in finding a new job typically make you feel like you're just a number, but Taylor was so engaged, supportive and helpful. She kept me informed and truly helped to make sure that I was not only a good fit for the company, but that they were a good fit for me. 5 STARS!!Mariel Chevalier

I've LOVED my experience working with 80Twenty! I've been lucky to work with Ryan Pigg, Sarah Bang (when she was there) and Taylor Holtemann and they have been like a perfect extension of my own team and have found me two amazing roles for my sales organization. From their communication and work ethic to just how lovely they are to interact with.Lindsay Rios

Saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and it was amazing!! Go see it! We used Spot Hero App to get a huge discount on a parking garage one block down. The Curran is very cool, there is an elevator from the main floor to the restrooms on the lower level but it doesn't go up to the higher levels so you must take the stairs. The carpet and wallpaper are in Harry Potter themes. On the second floor the is a booth to buy House merchandise as well as one to buy Cursed Child merchandise. The first floor has a Cursed Child merchandise booth as well. The Curran also has wonderful snacks. I recommend the snack package when you buy you tickets. We were able to use two tickets for non alcoholic frozen lemonade in a keep sake cup.Fluffy Cat

We wanted to do something special in the city. Big fans of Harry Potter and wanted to see the show before it closed. The theater is tucked in among other buildings and has charm on the outside. It was weird that they allowed you to go in an hour early but then the lobby gets so jammed packed it's almost chaos. All the staff was friendly and helpful. Big bathroom is downstairs and is super fancy and was always clean. They had an usher helping traffic to make the bathroom traffic go faster. Downside, if you needed to go to the bathroom, you better run out as soon as an act was over with, otherwise you'd be waiting awhile. The seats were okay, not the super comfortable. I'd go back and see another show.Chloe Martins

Curran Theater is a smaller sized theater that benefits from its size through excellent sound quality. We saw Harry Potter and the cursed child here and we were able to hear every word clear and crisp. Though we were seated at the back of the orchestra section I am certain we would have seen and heard just as well in the mezzanine because again, the theater is a decent size but not too big. Other amenities include modern and well maintained bathrooms downstairs, and a concession stand offering a selection of typical theater fare. One gotcha though, no outside food allowed, that said theater staff are efficient and likes are not unmanageable. We had a GREAT time here. We'll be back for the next show!Alexander Herrero

We visited a stand-up comedy show here. This cozy little theater is kind of hidden away at the end of a narrow hallway, and then it's actually in the basement. The bar has a very nice "twenties" feel to it, and so does the theater itself. I loved the comedy show and the location, definitely recommended if you like some good laughs!Bart Samwel

I took acting classes there when it was called Stagegroup Theater and Wendell Phillips was running it back in the late 70s. I was just thinking about it today. l loved learning the phonetic alphabet to help with accents.JoJo Justice

I took acting classes, when the school was called jean sheltons school of acting. I liked my acting class. This was late 80s. It was very expensive. Danny Glover would give out scholarships.nicole creswell