African-American Shakespeare Company’s production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof excises neither “redneck” nor the n-word from the original script. Director L. Peter Callender “hasn’t changed a word,” aside from creating his own hybrid of playwright Tennessee... More >>

Between 1853 and 1861, Fort Point was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prevent entrance of a hostile fleet into San Francisco Bay. The fort was occupied throughout the Civil War, but the invention of faster, more powerful rifled cannons made brick forts obsolete. In 1886, the... More >>

For lovers of laughter, the next few weeks (Jan. 24-Feb. 10) will be an orgy of hilarity filling every crevice of this city, from prestigious museums to dingy video store basements. Inventive and inspired, the 12th annual Sketchfest offers everything from competitive erotic fan fiction to... More >>

This city's theater scene is chock-full of improv. Whether you're new to it or a grizzled veteran, you won't have to hunt too long to find a venue. Each Friday and Saturday night, the Shelton Theatre hosts its own brand of "secret" improv theater. The stage at the Shelton has given such... More >>

Wayne McGregor, commander of the Order of the British Empire and resident choreographer for the Royal Ballet, is known for physically demanding work that draws on surprising and wide-ranging collaborators, from architects to neuroscientists. Thanks to S.F. Ballet, two of his pieces have reached... More >>

Four comedians anchor the weekly stand-up show The Business, and they’re all extremely smart and funny. Alex Koll has dramatic hair on his face and head, Sean Keane is bringin’ self-deprecation back, and Chris Garcia is mean and angry, yet somehow also gentle. But we bet they all hate... More >>

Still reeling from the stiletto-sized hole in your heart since The Golden Girls Christmas Episodes closed for the season? Us too. But you can wipe the glitter-encrusted tears from your eyes, because Trannyshack is back with drag renditions of the popular, cosmo- and shoe-obsessed HBO series Sex... More >>

Every San Franciscan has a list of local activities they haven't done that the average visitor to this city probably has. For us, that was Beach Blanket Babylon, the North Beach musical revue famous for its huge hats and culture-skewering whimsy. The show comes recommended by seemingly every... More >>

Comedians are “always depressed,” we hear. After we’re done fervently hoping it isn’t true, we wonder how “funny” and “depressing” ever came to be separate categories, especially post-Mitch Hedberg. At Previously Secret Information, they aren’t, sort... More >>

Hedwig, of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, doesn’t typically place others’ whims above her own, even if those others are her audience. But last summer’s sold-out Boxcar Theatre production of the glam rock musical forced the petulant but witheringly witty diva to hear the cries of... More >>

The unGoogleable inheritor of the Trannyshack art-drag scepter is known as Some Thing; each Friday brings a new theme via semi-pun. It could be simple, such as Some Thing Good, or it could be A Li’l Sumptin’ Some Thing, which is funny but what are you going to wear? The first show... More >>

The Audium was started in 1965 by composer Stan Shaff and equipment designer Doug McEachern. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays, and you have to be there on time — they lock the door. The room fits 50 people or so. There are chairs arranged in a semicircle. There are something like 180... More >>