A.C.T.’s Toni Rembe Theater
The Verdict
"ACT's main stage on Geary Street with 1,000 seats. The building itself is worth seeing, restored after the 1989 earthquake. Bigger productions, classic and contemporary plays. Tickets $25 to $110. Two blocks from Powell BART."
What you need to know
ACT’s main theater was built in 1910 and has been known by several names over the years. It was the Columbia Theater, then the Geary Theater, and was renamed the Toni Rembe Theater in 2021 after a major donor. The building was badly damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and spent six years under restoration before reopening in 1996. It seats about 1,000.
What to Expect
This is where ACT stages its bigger, more traditional productions. Expect classic plays, musicals, and established contemporary work with professional casts and full production design. The interior is ornate in the way early 20th century theaters were: detailed plasterwork, a balcony, and the general sense that the building takes itself seriously.
Sightlines are good from most seats. The orchestra center is obviously best, but the mezzanine offers a wider view of the stage. The upper balcony is steep and far from the action.
Visiting
415 Geary Street, Union Square. Shows typically run Tuesday through Sunday. Evening curtain is usually 7:30 or 8 PM. Tickets range from $25 to $110 depending on seat location and the production. Under 35 pricing and rush tickets are available for most shows.
The theater is in the middle of Union Square’s restaurant and hotel district. Dozens of dining options are within a few blocks. The lobby is small, so getting a drink before the show at a nearby bar is more comfortable than the intermission bar inside.
Getting There
Powell BART and Muni Metro station is three blocks south on Market Street. The 38 Geary bus runs directly past the front door. Union Square Garage and the Sutter Stockton Garage are both within two blocks.
Skip this if you’re looking for experimental or fringe theater. The Toni Rembe is ACT’s traditional stage. For newer, riskier work, check ACT’s Strand Theater on Market Street.
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