Best Halloween-Themed Stage Performances In San Francisco
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (credit: 20th Century Fox)
Halloween is on a Saturday night this year. Seeing as last year's Halloween happenings were "so 2014," we've updated the details about 2015 Halloween-themed shows, like the perennial "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and other San Francisco spooky onstage events. If you're not going to a Halloween party, these are some great alternatives to staying home and passing out candy.
Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. (credit: Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
San Francisco Symphony
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 864-6000
www.sfsymphony.org
Last year, it was "Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," This year, although it's hard to believe, it's already the 40th anniversary of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Fans and first-timers can celebrate in style at Davies Symphony Hall with a spooky orchestral pre-show and a hosted screening of the film. Tickets are online, the show begins at 8 p.m. on Halloween night.
Clay Theatre, San Francisco (credit: Laurie Jo Miller Farr)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Clay Theatre
2261 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 561-9921
www.landmarktheatres.com
With a milestone birthday, The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be getting a lot of play this year. After all, it's the longest-running midnight film of all time. With a running time of one hour and 44 minutes, the Hollywood horror movie spoof shocked and surprised on its release in September 1975 as the first-ever interactive film...and it's still the best. Come in costume for one of two 40th anniversary Halloween screenings; the curtain rises at 11:55 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, Oct. 30 and 31.
(credit: willdurst.com)
Celebrate Halloween With Comedian Will Durst
San Francisco Art Institute
800 Chestnut St.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 888-2868
www.eventbrite.com
Baby boomers, can you fit into your Halloween costume from when you were 21? "BoomeRaging: From LSD to OMG" is comedian Will Durst's hit show, "a tribute to the history, growth, joys, achievements and looming terrors of the Baby Boom Generation in today's youth-obsessed society." In short, the boomer's evolutions and revolutions. You get to wear a costume, too...even if it isn't a vintage one. Doors open for a no-host bar and pre-show snack at 7 p.m. Tickets for the charity event in support of NEXT Village SF (serving older adults at home) begin at $100; gold tickets at $175 include a private post-party with Durst on Halloween night, Oct. 31.
(credit: improv.org)
Halloween Horror Musical
BATS Improv
B350 Fort Mason Center
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 474-6776
www.improv.org
BATS Improv is all grown up. In its 21st year, the group has delivered improvised theatre to 11,000 audience members and 1,300 workshop enrollments every year. Halloween is on their radar once again, when two performance nights taking place on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31. They say, "As always, everything will be made up on the spot — our talented cast of actors will take inspiration from your suggestions, as well as classic horror films like Alien, Poltergeist, and The Exorcist."
Beach Blanket Babylon, San Francisco (credit: Laurie Jo Miller Farr)
Beach Blanket Babylon
Club Fugazi
678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd. at Green Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 421-4222
www.beachblanketbabylon.com
At the intersection of costumes and Halloween, "The Phantom of the Opera" has come and gone at the Orpheum Theatre, the Northern California Renaissance Faire at Cow Palace is over, but you can count on "Beach Blanket Babylon." Time after time, they come up with the most extravagant costumes and outrageous headdresses ever. After more than 15,000 performances, it's the world's longest running musical revue, and it just keeps evolving with time. There's an added show the week before Halloween, but only one show on Oct. 31, at 2 p.m.
